Best of 2020

 

A little late with this, but 2020 was a terrible, slow year, so some time for rest is needed. This may be the smallest list so far, but quality over quantity, am I right? So let's just get on with it.

 

 [top to bottom, left to right, in case you still don't know how this works]

Genoasejlet - Hvordan Mennesket Betvang Havet

More of the usual Janushoved beautiful brand of Ambient, and nearly 2 hours of it! During the label early years, this wasn't my favorite project, thought it was pretty bland actually, but since they decided to release the multiple tapes albums, it just kept going better and better... and it's now my most listened to Janushoved project? Yeah... weird how things go. Be careful who you call ugly in middle school.

Sonja Tofik - Anomi

An artists that I was eagerly waiting to release some proper full-length. Another gorgeous, icy Ambient album that could easily be released by Janushoved, Posh Isolation, Northern Electronics. Goes on some interesting directions, with field recordings, organs, and singing.

Sarah Davachi - Cantus, Descant

Her magnum opus maybe? Double album full of pipe organs, pianos, and mellotron, and... oh! She's singing too? And it sounds super 70's? What more do you want?!

Lisa Lerkenfeldt - Collagen

Another one who was due some big statement. Tape saturated Ambient that is not afraid to go into noisy, experimental directions. "Music For Three Combs" is such a simple and cool concept, which is also responsible for the artwork. Look it up!

Midori Hirano - Invisible Island

Ambient/Electronic experiments which have the paino as base but do much more with it. Shorter songs, sometimes blissfull, sometimes hauting. Synths and other elements are added too. Sounds like a soundtrack to some heady video-game.

Anna Von Hausswolff - All Thoughts Fly

Anna tries again to go solo organ, but much, much more sucessfull this time. Intricate, layered songs, with well thought out structures, and kinda catchy. Away from the pompous Metal inspired Gothicism of 'Dead Magic', more grounded, more "earth-y".

Lea Bertucci - Acoustic Shadows

One of her most interesting albums so far, acting as a composer/"conductor" only. Two pieces exploring the monstrous natural reverb of this specific place. First one weirdly reminds me of Hermann Nitsch.

J. Carter - Rejoice!

Beautiful drone-y Ambient with many acoustic elements. Some voices here and there, some soft feedback (as this project started out as a super melodic Industrial/Power Electronics and then made an almost fully transition to the softer side of things).

Stephen O'Malley - Auflösung der Zeit

The slew of live solo guitar records he last released was very underwhelming, so yeah, I came to this one with low expectations, but was in turn blew away. Honestly, this one is amazing! More raw, wild, feedback-y. רומיאו is such and incredible recording, with its use of huge insite natural reverberations, it's indeed huge sounding, I enjoy more than any Sunn O))), but with this one, 'Auflösung der Zeit', he finally proves he doesn't need some "gimmick" and can very much so do some interesting solo guitar.

Jumping Tiger - Demo

Prurient + Black Leather Jesus doing some minimalist Power Electronics homage to early Japanoise. Yes, it's THAT GOOD!

Merzbow - StereoAkuma

Speaking of Japanoise... Surprisingly enough, Akita-sensei come up with some new, non-archival, recording (technically a live record, but whatever) that is actually super good, on par with his early 90's output! Really, it quickly beacme one of my favorites. Masterful Harsh Noise, with some interesting dynamics (whoever did the mastering job, well done 👏 ). At first I thought that the acoustic break was a super head-scratching moment, but now I "get it". Also, the fact that the whole thing is no more than 45 minutes, is a plus. Well, as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Strings & Timpani - Voice & Strings & Timpani

Super underrated Jazz (or as it's tagged on Bandcamp, "alternative jazz") guitar-drums duo from the always great Hubro label. Sounding almost close to Math/Post-Rock territory, with loops and addtional synths and whatnot, but just Jazz-y enough. With this album they decided to double the line-up, adding one more drummer and guitarrist, plus a couple of vocalists, and then you get something that almost goes into some Art Pop direction. It's actually really hard to describe and I can't recommend this enough. 

Erlend Apneseth - Fragmentarium

Another amazing album from Hubro.To be honest, I really didn't enjoy that much Erlend's output with his trio; his playing is cool, as is the other guys involved, but nothing was really sticking with me. This one on the other hand, this solo album, which actually significantly expands his ensemble, is an outstanding blend of Jazz and Nordic Folk; a couple synths and other influences to keep things really interesting and fresh. Only bad thing I can say is that it's too short, need me some more of this.

Still House Plants - Fast Edit

Still House Plants kinda also does the Math Rock/Jazz thing (with just guitar and drums + voice) but is much more wild and unique and unhinged. Leaning more on the Free side of things, is a band that takes a lot of liberties with the harmonization, with moments where each one is doing their own thing, but it just works. It's also weirdly catchy? As far as Free Jazz can go. Also some interesting production and editing choices.

Boris - NO

Boris is also here, doing their own thing. One moment they're doing their brand of Sludgy, Psychedelic Post-rock, then suddenly they're full on Shoegaze/Dream Pop, and when you least expect... Boom! Boris is Hardcore now! Can't tell you how excited I was with NO. Likewise, most things they have released, especially the ones that fall into the Post-Metal camp, don't interest me at all, it's all very underwhelming. But when they hit that sweet spot, oh boy! Vein, which I already posted here, is one of my favorites, because it combines their early Sludge phase with some ear-piercing Crust, super influenced by the early Japanese Hardcore bands, a side of theirs that was not super evident until that point. So how amazing is that they try doing it again, 14 years later, and turns out even better?! Although the production is not as noisy, it doesn't matter, as everything else is top notch. They even manage to throw some of theirs more atmospheric leanings and make it sound in place.

Sutekh Hexen - Yule XV

Another great live recording from another great unique masters of noisy music. Pretty much picking up from where 'Salem' left off. Nice structure and dynamics, heavy, atmospheric, overwhelming. I would say it's underrated, but it was a digital only release, so that's probably why... but the cover art is amazing, the sound is amazing, get this now!

Starcave - Final Sins

Was also eagerly waiting for this full to drop. Finnish atmospheric, lo-fi Black Metal. Slow/Mid paced, super melodic, cosmic synths. All good, super solid, reminds me of Circle of Ouroborus a bit. The artwork is great, also check out this amazing obi! Such care with the aesthetics.

Axis of Light - Axis of Light

Another expected great debut. Also super raw and melodic Black Metal. Energetic, tight performance, noisy production. 

Couch Slut - Take a Chance on Rock 'n' Roll

The best contemporary Noise Rock band, always with the best artwork. Gnarly vocals, inventive and dynamic songwriting and instrumentation. Solid all the way through. So underrated, take a chance!

14th Generation Toilet Hanako-san - Meinichi

I don't even know where to begin with Hanako-san... Imagine an updated version of GISM, which is also a solo Idol project, horror themed, throw in some sense of humor and you're halfway there. Maybe I'll do a full post about it.

And that's it for now. Most of them you'll find on Bandcamp, so go support these artists.