Urban75 Album of the Year 2017 - The Results!

[belboid]

Here we go then, the most important date of the year, and still plenty of time to order things in time for you know what...

 

[belboid]

30 - Jane Weaver – Modern Kosmology

Gleaming modern psychedelia, her cut-glass vocals floating over musical backdrops that melded the mesmerising repetitions of krautrock with early 80s synth pop, eerie folk and obscure soundtracks.

 

[belboid]

29 - Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins

More gorgeously layered offeringf from Brooklyn's finest neo-folk, pyschedelic, popsters.

 

[souljacker]

Fuuuuuuuuck. Forgot to put my selections in.

 

[clandestino]

Woo! It begins!

 

[belboid]

28 - Thundercat - Drunk

Whimsical and sombre, funny and meaningful, sometimes all at once. Seventies funk, R&B, even bits of punk and fusion.

 

[belboid]

27 - Fever Ray - Plunge

Back after eight years, Karin Dreijers politics are written on her body, and she's asking you to dive i.

 

[belboid]

26 - Blanck Mass - World Eater

A brutal electronic blitz, responding to a year of 'anger, violence, confusion and frustration,' but still sweet and hypnotically melodic.

 

[belboid]

25 - Transcendence Orchestra – Modern Methods for Ancient Rituals

Playing a Buchla Music Easel, harmonium, shruti box, bass guitar, hurdy gurdy, symphonie, glockenspiel, hand bell, Electro Harmonix 45000, Strymon Blue Sky, Strymon DIG, and Roland RE 101 Space Echo, it's "an experiment in acoustic and synthetic symbiosis which is deeply influenced by the atmosphere and acoustics of the rural location of Cats Abbey resulting in a set of recordings which can aid to the transformation of consciousness." Okay

 

[clandestino]

26 - Blanck Mass - World Eater

A brutal electronic blitz, responding to a year of 'anger, violence, confusion and frustration,' but still sweet and hypnotically melodic.

Saw him at End Of The Road this year - to say it was intense and brutal would be an understatement. Not bad going for five in the afternoon.

 

[belboid]

24 - Hey Colossus - The Guillotine

Just when you thought they couldn't get any better, they do. A ferocious call to arms.

 

[killer b]

Solid list so far.

 

[redsquirrel]

Predictions for #1 anyone?

 

[belboid]

=22 - Zed Bias - Different Response

Modern UK soul delivered in the 160 BPM format

 

[belboid]

=22 - Kendrick Lamar - DAMN

Many lists' Number 1 of the year. I really don't understand why. Bored the pants off me.

 

[clandestino]

Predictions for #1 anyone?

Bjork?

 

[killer b]

Predictions for #1 anyone?

Some bollocks like the LCD Soundsystem

 

[belboid]

21 - Do say make think - Stubborn persistent illusion

More Canadian post-pink. I really should check this lot out, they sound good.

 

[redsquirrel]

Bjork?

Possible, but while getting reasonably high she's never won.

Some bollocks like the LCD Soundsystem

Hmm, that could be a possibility.

I can't think of anything obvious like Cave this year.

 

[belboid]

=19 - OCS - Memory Of A Cut Off Head

It's the mellower version of The Oh Sees, still pyschedically splendiferous.

 

[mauvais]

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile still in there I reckon. But I forgot to submit.

 

[belboid]

= 19 - Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent

(Post) Punk Rock! Yeah

 

[belboid]

18 - Iglooghost - Neō Wax Bloom

A story about a void named "Mamu" and its destruction by two falling eyeballs. Yes, really.

 

[clandestino]

=19 - OCS - Memory Of A Cut Off Head

It's the mellower version of The Oh Sees, still pyschedically splendiferous.

Yay! Something that I voted for made the list. I didn't think any would make the cut this year. My number one record, which probably helped with the placing.

 

[belboid]

17 - Juana Molina - Halo

Argentinas first ever spot in the UAotY? Electronic folky pop, it's what they're known for, isnt it?

 

[killer b]

Possible, but while getting reasonably high she's never won.

Hmm, that could be a possibility.

I can't think of anything obvious like Cave this year.

There'll be some great stuff in the top 5, but I reckon it's a year for something dull and worthy in number 1. The lower order is always best anyway.

 

[belboid]

16 - LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

Back seven years after 'breaking up', they're still electronically urgent and angry, and all too aware of the ludicrousness of everything.

 

[killer b]

well, there we go. delighted to be proved wrong so swiftly.

 

[belboid]

Some bollocks like the LCD Soundsystem

Apparently not!

I was similarly unsure what was a clear favourite, even as I compiled. A few things looked possible, but most ended up quite far off.

 

[belboid]

Some traditions are maintained though