Let's give credit where credit is due. This has been a year for the little guys. Many of the best albums this year came from virtually unknown artists or released on smaller labels. These guys seemed to come out of nowhere and showcase to the world what they're capable of. There were also some great releases from more popular names, but these unsung hero's managed to hit me the hardest. Instead of going to painstaking lengths to try and put these albums in numerical order, I decided to list them alphabetically.
Best Albums Of 2007:
Airiel - The Battle Of Sealand (Highwheel Records)
This is much more of a straight forward hard rock album than the shimmering shoegaze sound found on their Winks & Kisses EP's. The clear highlight is "Sugar Crystals" featuring Ulrich Schnauss on electronics. One can only dream what a whole album with this combination would sound like. I found some of the tracks that didn't feature Jeremy Wrenn on vocals to be somewhat disappointing. Maybe it's just because it's what I'm used to, but his voice seems to fit the aesthetic of the band a little better. Seeing them live was one of the highlights of my summer and apparently a follow up to The Battle Of Sealand is already in the works.
Burial - Untrue (Hyperdub)
Burial has gotten surprisingly popular despite the fact that he's such a reclusive artist. That doesn't bother me though. As long as he keeps making music this good I don't care if I ever see a photo of the mans face or catch a live show. Being so shy toward the public eye makes his mysterious music even more intriguing. This is an album dripping with brooding atmospheres, chopped up R & B vocals and clicky percussion. The dubstep label it's been given does get under my skin though. There are so many mixed genres in this album it shouldn't be limited to just one category. Regardless of repetitive beats and percussion at times, I'm glad I decided to check him out because he's one of the best discoveries I've made all year.
Caribou - Andorra (City Slang)
Dan Snaith has been hailed as a musical genius, and for good reason. Name an instrument, any instrument, and there's a good chance he knows how to play it. This is evident on his 4th album Andorra which is probably his best produced and most mature album to date. Combining so many sounds together would be disastrous for most, but Caribou seems to pull this off with ease. I have yet to hear a bad album from this guy, and seeing his live show is on my list of things to do before I die. This is 60's psychedelic influenced rock at it's finest.
Ckid - Down With Ghosts (Monotonik)
This is the perfect soundtrack for those dreary winter nights when you feel like all hope is lost. Right off the bat the similarities to Dntel were evident; the melancholy, deadpan vocals, fuzzed out beats and subtle guitar manipulation. Down With Ghost is more shoegaze influenced and far far superior to Dntels latest effort which I found to be somewhat of an atrocity. Think of it as the Life Is Full Of Possibilities Vol. 2 album that never happened. Ok, enough with the Dntel comparisons, I'll let you form your own opinion.
http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp188.html
Flutterspot - Suitable For A Desire To Share (Monotonik)
Thank God for net labels! Another freebie released on Monotonik, this album gives some of the bigger name IDM artists a run for their money. Flutterspot is clearly influenced by the wabbly synth pads of Boards Of Canada, but lends a flair on this album that is all his own. Shadows of Autechre and Aphex Twin are also evident and from beginning to end the production really shines for someone so new to the electronic scene. Ok, so it's not the most original thing out there, but who needs originality when you have music this good?
http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp181.html
Freescha - Freeschaland 2xCD / Christmas Lights (Attack 9)
Freeschaland is a 2 disc collection of demos, unreleased tracks and early out of print EP's. I had the tracks from the Vol. 1 and 3 EP's prior to this release and was surprised they were pressed to cd at a slower rpm. I was so used to listening to these tracks at a higher speed that it makes Freescha's already slower than molasses style almost unlistenable. Maybe that's what they were shooting for though? The second disc is full of demos and unreleased goodies that's definitely worth hearing if you're a Freescha fanatic. The real treat was the Christmas Lights CD that was sent along with this album. Yet another disc of demos supposedly created around the time of Kids Fill The Floor. This was limited to the first 50 customers who bought Freeschaland, but I believe is now available for purchase on it's own. Britney Spears...wait, I'm not even gonna go there.
Jatun - S/T (Other Electricities)
If there's an album I listened to more than any other this year, it has to be this. With a debut this good, it makes you wonder what they're capable of in the future. The perfect combination of melancholy and uplifting tracks makes this a very enjoyable listen from beginning to end. "Ghost and Grey" starts things off with a bang, full of shimmering guitar work, electronic percussion and vocals that seem to compliment the music perfectly. It's such a great opening track and gives the listener a taste of what they're in for for the next hour. Recently adding a third member to the band and at work on new material, the sky is the limit for Jatun.
M83 - Digital Shades (Vol. 1) (Gooom)
I'll be the first to admit I have a short attention span when it comes to ambient music. I've had a tough time getting into Brian Eno's longer pieces and I think there's definitely a right time and place for some of William Basinski's hour long compositions. This was not the case with Digital Shades. I found it to be easily accessible upon the first listen, possibly due to the short track lengths and occasional vocals. Being a solo project from Anthony Gonzalez, I'm still not sure why he decided to label it as an M83 release. Either way, this is some of the most beautiful music I've heard all year. The album works as a nice teaser until their next studio album which is due for early '08.
Manual - Lost Days, Open Skies And Streaming Tides 2xCD (Darla Records)
Jonas Munk creates some of the most lush sounds the world has to offer. Having a moderate following of devoted fans, I still think he doesn't get anywhere near the attention he deserves. This is another 2 disc collection of rarities, unreleased tracks and compilation appearances. Due to the fact that I've heard about half these tracks before the release, the initial impact didn't hit me quite as hard as some of his other works like Ascend or Golden Sun. However, some of Manuals best tunes are scattered throughout. Even if you have most of these tracks on MP3 it's worth the price alone for the artwork and packaging design. Fold out digipack panels and stunning photography compiled by Jacob Skott (Aka Syntaks) proves that actually buying CD's can still pay off.
Near The Parenthesis - Of Soft Construction (N5MD)
The name says it all. Eleven tracks of softly constructed sounds that remain mellow throughout, but still manage to be extremely layered. This is an album filled with rolling baselines, subtle percussion, gorgeous synth tones and the occasional sampled conversation. This is only his second album, but it sounds as if Tim Arndt has been doing this his whole life. With so many detailed sounds and buried layers, a good pair of headphones definitely enhances the experience. Being one of the best new signings to the N5MD roster, I already can't wait to hear what he'll do next.
A Place to Bury Strangers - S/T (Killer Pimp)
Seeing this band live is like a religious experience. Being quoted as New York city's loudest band, I wanted to witness the mayhem first hand. Believe the hype people! An immense wall of sound combined with strobe lights and thick fog made for quite a disorienting experience. By the time their set was over I could barely remember my name, never mind stand up. This might not sound like a good time to a lot of people, but I loved every second of it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Of course listening at home just isn't going to be the same, but it's the next best thing if you want to salvage your eardrums.
port-royal - Afraid To Dance (Resonant)
Although they're my most recent discovery, I believe this album deserves a spot as one of the best. This is some of the most emotionally moving music I've ever heard. They seem to have a way of getting the listener to completely forget about the outside world and have them focus intently on each and every note. One of the biggest things I've noticed about their style is the momentum shifts many of their tracks take on about halfway through. Being able to shift seamlessly from intense, crunchy drums one minute, to beautiful ambience the next is certainly a talent that many others strive to achieve, but can't pull it off quite as well as Port-Royal. Some of these lengthy, epic tracks take some time to get into, but patience and repeated listens surely pays off in the end.
UNKLE - War Stories (Surrender All)
War Stories was a nice surprise from a group who I've more or less put on the back burner recently for more experimental music. Although far less electronic and more of a "full band" type of sound than their previous efforts, I think this is their most mature record to date. Highlights from collaborators include Gavin Clark, Ian Astbury, Autolux and 3D of Massive Attack. To all you haters who think DJ Shadow leaving the group after the first album was a bad idea; I urge you to listen to this, then listen to Shadows latest album. I rest my case.
Underworld Oblivion With Bells (Traffic Inc.)
I have an incredible amount of respect for Underworld as they were one of the driving forces that sparked my interest in the electronic music scene. Without them, I probably wouldn't be into half the stuff I am today. Oblivion With Bells came as another nice surprise after the lackluster A Hundred Days Off. It might be a strong statement to some die-hard fans, but I would rank this album right behind Second Toughest In The Infants as their second best release yet. "Faxed Invitation" is one of the highlights, showcasing strange yet compelling lyrics and beautiful synth washes that recall some of their earlier work. The only downside to the album is "Ring Road". Let's just thank our lucky stars that Karl Hyde never pursued a rap career. I still like to listen to this track though, as I find anyone rapping with a British accent to be hilarious for some reason.
Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye (Domino USA)
Listening to Ulrich Schnauss is probably the closest I'll ever come to flying. He has a knack for making music that sounds lighter than air, but at the same time incredibly dense. Goodbye is certainly a step above his debut, Far Away Trains Passing By, but still falls just short of A Strangely Isolated Place, which I feel is his masterpiece. The track "Shine" is almost too ethereal and moving to put into words. It's one of those tracks that you just have to hear to believe. Also releasing a 4 track EP and a handful of phenomenal remixes this year proves that Mr. Schnauss is on top of his game.
Various Artists - One Five Zero 2xCD (N5MD)
N5MD has come a long way since the humble beginnings as a mini disc only distributor. Many of the recent releases on this label are showing much more diversity with guitar influenced work instead of strictly electronic music. It seems like every time I go back to their website they pick up some incredible new talent that no one has heard of before. This, coupled with consistently mind blowing album art is evidence why this is my favorite label. Highlights from Near The Parenthesis, Keef Baker, Bitcrush, SubtractiveLAD, Proem, Lights Out Asia, and the rest of the N5 mafia. This massive 2 disc compilation is the perfect starting point if you're interested in getting to know any of these artists a little better.
Close Calls; Other Albums/EP's Worthy Of Mention:
Amorph - États D'Esprit (Boltfish Recordings)
Bola - Kroungrine (Skam)
Caspian - The Four Trees (Dopamine Records)
Cheju - Diode (U-Cover Transparente)
Cheju - Trip Switch EP (Cold Room Netlabel)
Christ. - Bike EP (Benbecula)
Crisopa - Medicamentosa EP (++sensor)
Dead Eros - Cycle EP (Monotonik)
DELAYSCAPE - Formator EP (Musicartistry)
DELAYSCAPE - Peaks And Limits EP (Cold Room Netlabel)
Explosions in the Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (Bella Union)
Fieldtriqp - None (Unlabel)
Keef Baker - Redeye (Hymen Records)
Kettel - Through Friendly Waters Re-Issue (Timothy Really)
Kettel & Secede - Perspeeks EP (Merck)
Legiac - Mings Feaner (Sending Orbs)
Lights Out Asia - Tanks And Recognizers (N5MD)
Odd Nosdam - Level Live Wires (Anticon)
Odori - For Roslyn Heights EP (En:peg Digital)
port-royal - Honved EP (Chat Blanc Records)
Prefuse 73 - Preparations (Warp Records)
Proem - A Permanent Solution (N5MD)
Proswell - Bruxist Frog (Merck)
Rumskib - S/T (Darla Records)
Secede - Vega Libre EP (Sending Orbs)
SubtractiveLAD - Decay As A Lifestyle EP (N5MD)
SubtractiveLAD - No Mans Land (N5MD)
Sunosis - Warmed (Rednetic Recordings)
Telefon Tel Aviv - Remixes Compiled (Hefty Records)
Ulrich Schnauss - Quicksand Memory EP (Domino USA)
William Basinski - Shortwavemusic (2062)
Various Artists - Intelligent Toys 4 (Sutemos)
Various Artists - Music Volume Four (Benbecula)
Upcoming Releases Due For 2008:
Autechre - Quaristice
Belong - Colorloss Record EP
Bitcrush - Epilogue In Waves
Bitcrush - The Signal Flare Ep
Bitcrush - Shimmer And Fade Re-Release
Casino Versus Japan - TBA
Colin Everingham - TBA
Dntel - Early Works For Me If It Works For You Vol. II
Fieldtriqp - .333
Freescha - TBA
Jatun - TBA
Kettel - TBA
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
Machine Drum - Want To 1 2?
Massive Attack - TBA
Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
Portishead - Third
port-royal - Flared Up (Port-Royal Remixed)
Proem - Darkerstill Re-Release
Secede - TBA
SubtractiveLAD - Apparatus
SubtractiveLAD & Bitcrush - TBA
Telefon Tel Aviv - TBA
WHY? - Alopecia
By the looks of it, 2008 has the potential to be even better than 2007. There are already so many releases I'm looking forward to and the year hasn't even started yet. I hope you found this enjoyable and possibly sparked your interest in one or more of these albums or artists. I'm still playing catch up, so I know there's a lot of stuff I haven't heard yet. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'm always down for a good music discussion as well so feel free to comment. Thanks for reading.
-Derek
Fieldtriqp
