Researching a lot of the ‘best of half of 2011’ list albums, I have to say it gets harder and harder, especially getting older but also as niche marketing gets more and more insistent to find the truly new or interesting sounds. They are out there, but you wade through a lot of ‘haven’t-I-heard-that-before?’ before you do. I’d be really happy if I never hear another folkie singer-songwriter (stand up Bon Iver, Noah and the Whale), female singer plus xeroxed kooktronica (EMA!) or generic latest guitar band copy or getting stale originals (Naked and the Famous, TV On the Radio, Kills – although I like the last two they’re a guilty pleasure of nothing new).
One that came up tangentially not even on the main list over at Stereogum was Grouper…a woozy hazy nu-gaze hovering over a skyline somewhere…reminds me in part of Low or a comatose Slowdive – it just shimmers. Beautiful stuff. Although you can mark it’s influences, it exists in it’s own world of sound. That’s usually the mark of something new.
Also recent hit of well, something probably powdered is The Weeknd, with their (well his) free album HouseOfBalloons which seems to detail copious drug use and sex (what? A RnB/hiphop album doing that? NEVER!)- but with a post dubstep sensibility (did I really write that? How fucking Guardian am I getting? Get me a CIF post now!) mixed with modern RnB soul – really those who are bleating – and bleat is the right word, Adelesheeple – about how amazing Adele is should listen to this, modern RnB meets The XX – it’s the mood and production that also matters:
Yes that’s a Siouxsie sample!
And another album from Washed Out is a Very Good Thing Indeed – although it does wash over you, it’s a pleasant experience, and I’m pretty sure like the last album it’ll grow into your subconconcious:
So it’s good to see ‘chillwave’ mature and grow into something new, dubstep, electronica and indie move into rnb and hiphop (or is it the reverse?) and the haziness continue.
Onwards – I have loads more LPs (or albums as you kiddlewinkles say) to listen to!
Leave a Comment! Be nice….