2020 Music

There was some good music though. But still, overall, I found most of the albums I heard rather average and pedestrian. I feel the previous year was a bit stronger. At first I thought that I would not be able to stretch my top to have proper 10 records, but as I sat to remember the albums that I had spent some considerable time with and enjoyed, a clear top ten emerged. As always, there are some honourable mentions. 

I can confidently say that one such album was by far the winner and left quite an impression in me this year. And it was a happy accident that I have found the band I have never heard before. The Orielles are a young quartet from England. They are clearly inspired by Stereolab but I can't really pinpoint their other inspirations. There might be a bit of twee and Sarah Records bands such as The Pastels or The Field Mice, but that's not really important. The fact is that Disco Volador is the second album of The Orielles and they have grown leaps and bounds on their new records. The album is really interesting to listen to and has catchy tunes in abundance with the signature space age disco twist and one of the most pleasant female voices you will ever hear.

Here is the list:

  1. The Orielles - Disco Volador
  2. Choir Boy - Gathering Swans
  3. Jesu - Terminus
  4. Widowspeak - Plum
  5. Nothing - The Great Dismal
  6. Kaki King - Modern Yesterdays
  7. Caribou - Suddenly
  8. Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd - Another Flower
  9. Skalpel - Highlight
  10. Pia Fraus - Empty Parks
Choir Boy became a pleasant surprise with their 80s-inspired romantic sound, which is more pop than goth. These things are usually very easily spoiled, especially with such kind of vocals, but the whole album is strong and never becomes unbearable.

I never paid too much attention to Jesu, but this time the new album is just a perfect combination of rhythmic fuzzy drone.

Widowspeak, Pia Fraus and Caribou are returning names that I will always enjoy, so no surprises here. I never cared too much about Nothing but The Great Dismal is just a quality shoegaze record. Skalpel is a Polish electronic/acid jazz duo who blends beats with jazz samples and I really admire the excellent result. Really looking forward to see them live once we have a chance. 

There was another record that I enjoyed this year but decided not to include in the list. Lost Horizons is a project by Simon Raymonde and another 4AD veteran Richard Thomas. Their 2020 record In Quiet Moments sounds and feels like another This Mortal Coil classic, however, this year only saw half of the album released, with the full LP coming next year. 

Honourable Mentions:
  • Badly Drawn Boy - Banana Skin Shoes
  • Bob Mould - Blue Hearts
  • Wire - Mind Hive
  • Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Patchouli Blue
  • Roisin Murphy - Roisin Machine
Another of my own discoveries this year is the Budos Band who I have never heard of before. Usually, instrumental music rarely catches my attention the same way as the music with vocals, but Long in The Tooth is an excellent record with plenty of energy and lots of funk and jazz rhythms. 

Devendra Banhart had a new EP Vast Ovoid that I thoroughly enjoyed this year and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Devendra. He is like a fine wine, only gets better with years.

I don't have a favourite song this year, most probably it is something by The Orielles or Choir Boy, with some of their tunes being strong contenders. But just for the sake of variety, I nominate Gazin by Ringo Deathstarr. It is not just a great shooegaze track, it's a celebration of shoegaze that perfectly catches its mood and tone. Besides, it contains lots of references and tongue-in-cheekiness. If someone wants to know what shoegaze is, let them listen to this song.





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