As promised, here’s the annual 1st of January round-up from Awkward Movements crew. More on the way that will keep the page updating, but had to get a start on things as these lists seem to get bigger each year. So many good labels, new artists and stunning releases that kept it as one of the best in a while.
Big ups all releasing, check the rundowns below.
KEITH P
In no order, sorted by format (sort of)…
Favourite LP:
Aybee – Worlds [Deepblak]
Pali Meursault – Offset [Doubtful Sounds / Universinternational]
Gorgon Sound – Gorgon Sound [Peng! Sound]
Bill Orcutt – A History Of Every One [Editions Mego]
Young Echo – Nexus [Ramp Recordings]
Mdou Moctar – Mdou Moctar – Afelan [Sahel Sounds]
Hieroglyphic Being – Imaginary Soundscapes 9 [Mathematics]
Various – Grime 2.0 [Big Dada]
Top 12″ / 10″ / EP Releases:
Dubkasm – Victory! [Sufferah’s Choice Recordings]
Legowelt – Elementz Of Houz Music (Actress Remixes) [Clone]
Robert Hood – Black Technician [Music Man]
Ipman / Kilawatt – Jigsaw Dub [Lion Charge]
Noches Suenos (Mala & Simbad Super Dub Mix)
Itinerant Dubs – Itinerant Magic [Itinerant Dub]
Sensate Focus – Sensate Focus 1.66666 [Sensate Focus]
Rezett – Firebomb [The Trilogy Tapes]
Bill Callahan – Expanding Dub [Drag City]
Alias G – Attention [Unknown To The Unknown]
Copeland & Gast – Ukmerge [All Bone]
Machinedrum / Sun Ra – Views Of Saturn Volume 3 [All City]
Suns Of Arqa – Muslimgauze Re-mixs [Emotional Rescue]
Top Reissues:
Ike Yard – Ike Yard [Desire]
BFC / Psyche – Elements 1989-1990 [Planet E]
John Fahey – The Transcendental Waterfall: Guitar Excursions 1962-1967 [4 Men With Beards]
Sheriff Lindo And The Hammer – Ten Dubs That Shook The World [EM Records]
Muslimgauze – Islamic Songs [Staalplaat]
Top Cassettes:
Filter Dread – Space Loops [No Corner]
Kassem Mosse – The Siege Of Troy [Ominira]
Bass Clef – Acid Tracts Vol. 1 [Magic + Dreams]
CHXFX aka Nochexxx – Spacecide [Feral Tapes]
Foodman – 「IROIRO」 [Digitalis]
CDs I Bought:
Various – The Outer Church [Front and Follow]
Hacker Farm – UHF [Exotic Pylon]
Mike Cooper – White Shadows In The South Seas [Room 40]
Various – The Conet Project [Irdial]
Best New Store:
Rewind Forward (www.RWDFWD.com)
Best New Label Find:
PDXINDUB
Film Of The Year:
This Ain’t California (Dir. Marten Persiel)
RAYNULDS
In no order…
Best Singles:
Pearson Sound – Starburst EP [Hessle Audio]
Levon Vincent – NS08 [Novel Sound]
Gesloten Cirkel – Hole [Berceuse Heroique]
Florian Kupfer – Lifetrax [LIES]
Pangaea – Hadal 001
L-Vis 1990 – Ballads EP [Night Slugs]
Jack Murphy – Reference 003
Jeremih – F U All The Time (Kowton Refix) [White]
DJ Spider & Marshallito – Infinite Potential [Subbass Sound System]
Anthony Naples – RAD-AN1 [Rubadub]
Best Albums & Compilations:
Livity Sound – self-titled [Livity Sound]
Oneohtrix Point Never – R Plus Seven [Warp]
Kyle Hall – The Boat Party [Wild Oats]
Think And Change [Nonplus]
Halha [Downwards]
Donato Dozzy Plays Bee Mask [Spectrum Spools]
Special Request – Soul Music [Houndstooth]
Four Tet – Beautiful Rewind [Text]
Logos – Cold Mission [Keysound]
Lumigraph – Nautically Inclined [Opal Tapes]
Best Other Things:
BRUK Radio
Free Rotation
The last hour of Hessle Audio at Fabric
Wifey
Field Maneuvers
Karenn Live
LZRDM
The Lift Place
World Unknown
buying Staat Aus Glas on Discogs after “some drinking”
DAOJIA
Top 15 Wax List:
1) Jaw Jam – The Truth EP [Tuff Wax] – https://soundcloud.com/tuffwax/jaw-jam-the-truth-from-twx-012
2) Alizzz – Whoa! [Arkestra] – http://www.rushhour.nl/distribution_detailed.php?item=71405
3) DJ Rashad – Rollin’ EP [Hyperdub] – http://boomkat.com/vinyl/662857-dj-rashad-rollin-ep
4) Girl Unit / Morri$ – Night Slugs Allstars Vol. 2 Sampler [Night Slugs] – http://boomkat.com/vinyl/631587-girl-unit-morri-night-slugs-allstars-vol-2-sampler
5) KMFH – The Boat Party [Wild Oats] – http://www.redeyerecords.co.uk/vinyl/40217-WO-13K-kmfh-kyle-hall-the-boat-party-lp
6) Om Unit – Threads LP [Civil Music] – http://omunit.bandcamp.com/album/om-unit-threads-lp
7) OL & Yoin – Sink EP [Fine Grains] – http://finegrainsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ol-oin-sink-ep
8) Bonobo – North Borders [Ninja Tune] – http://ninjatune.net/release/bonobo/the-north-borders
9) Thundercat – Apocalypse [Brainfeeder] – https://bleep.com/release/44343-thundercat-apocalypse
10) Blacksmif – 23 Waist [PTN] – http://boomkat.com/vinyl/867273-blacksmif-23-waist
11) Kode9 – Xingfu Lu / Kan [Hyperdub] – http://www.phonicarecords.com/product/view/114158
12) TC – No One / Tap Ho (Taxman Remix) – http://www.redeyerecords.co.uk/vinyl/30639-TCDP006-tc (Taxman remix is unstoppable and worth the purchase just for that haha – idgaf about TC)
13) Rustie – Triadzz / Slasherr [Numbers] – https://bleep.com/release/42235-rustie-triadzz-slasherr
14) SDC – Correlation EP [Royal Oak Records] – http://boomkat.com/vinyl/820231-space-dimension-controller-correlation-ep
15) Various – Mosaic Vol. 2, Part. 1 [Exit Records] – http://www.surus.co.uk/exit-records/the-palace-22278.aspx (even if just for Machinedrum’s ‘The Palace’)
Some Extra (Free) Mentions:
Rome Fortune – Grind – https://soundcloud.com/factmag/rome-fortune-grind-produced-by
Mr. Carmack – Say Yes Or Say No (Aaliyah Flip) – https://soundcloud.com/forwardthinkers/say-yes-or-say-no-aaliyah-flip
The White Lights – Ode To King Krule – https://soundcloud.com/white_lights/ode-to-king-krule (this boy is ridiculously talented yet ridiculously unknown)
Vanguard – Echohunter – https://soundcloud.com/amdiscs/vanguard-echohunter-2013 (actually just got released after being free for a good while)
Disclosure – Tenderly (Tom Wrecks Remix) – https://soundcloud.com/tomwrecks/disclosure-tenderly-tom-wrecks
Falcons – Vrooom – https://soundcloud.com/oaklandfalcons/01-vroom
Lakim – Future Bounce – https://soundcloud.com/soulection/lakim-future-bounce-free-dl (nice Crystal Waters rework)
Tiger Tsunami – Re:Antarctica EP – http://tigertsunami.bandcamp.com/album/re-antarctica-ep
Om Unit – Offcuts (just as good as the Threads LP, trust me) – https://www.facebook.com/omunit/app_174467896086030
Shackles – Let You Know (Tigerblood Remix) – https://soundcloud.com/trap-door-official/letyouknow-tigerblood
Cid Rim – Draw (Dorian Concept Remix) – http://thisisluckyme.com/ (number 7 in the LuckyMe advent calendar for this year, favourite track thus far)
Some Favourite Artists Of This Year (perhaps not previously mentioned up there, and in no real order):
Thriftworks, Ta-Ku, Nuages, Kaytranada, 123Mrk, Andrés, Tuff Wax (Yoin, Lockah, Jaw Jam), MAKO, Guised (Official), MssngNo, Blackwax, Klient, Seath, EPROM, Cashmere Cat, Two Fresh, Flume, Flatbush Zombies, Moderat, Ghost Mutt, Slackk, Bondax, Paul Woolford / Special Request, Huxley, Kahn, DJ Clap, ISLAND…..
Probably heaps of stuff I missed, this year I’ve had the blessing / curse of finding so much amazing material I’d previously slept on (and thats when indulging in new music all day every day). If the list were to include everything I’ve been enjoying it the browser scrollbar would become about a nanometer in height and moving it would cause you to skip 10 pages…
JIMMY MONSTA FUNK
Top 20 Tracks:
Alone – Has God Left This City [Underground Resistance]
Anthony Nicholson – Pathways & Sidesteps EP [deepArtSounds]
Black Boxx – Black Boxx EP 3 [Ferrispark]
Black Narcissus X – Black Narcissus X [Signals]
Daren Ager – Summer In Detroit / Halcyon Days [Subwax Excursions]
Denizo / Alex W – Detroit Techno Archive I [Detroit Techno Archive]
Eddie Fowlkes – Special EP [Detroit Wax]
Esteban Adame – Cause & Effect [Ican Productions]
Fabrice Lig – Hmong Dignity [Subject Detroit]
Jam City – Club Constructions Vol. 6 [Night Slugs]
Jay Daniel – Scorpio Rising EP [Sound Signature]
Legowelt – Elementz Of Houz Music (Actress Rmxs) [Clone Jack For Daze Series]
Lil Mark – Pulling Strings [Eclectic Avenue Records]
New York Transit Authority – Swarm / Hard Work [Lobster Boy]
Oliverwho Factory, The – 2Morrow [Madd Chaise Inc]
Pirahnahead – Red Steam On Mars EP [Old Future Music]
Shed – The Dirt / Fluid 67 [50Weapons]
Terrence Dixon – Lost At Sea [Surface]
Phantom Planet Outlaws vs Tr One - The Muscle, The Beets [Apartment Records]
Victor Santana – Seven Series 01 [Chaval Records]
Top 5 LPS:
Floorplan – Paradise [M-Plant]
KMFH – The Boat Party [Wild Oats]
Lonnie Holley – Just Before Music [Dust-to-Digital]
Terrence Dixon – Badge of Honour [Surface]
Tom Trago – The Light Fantastic [Rush Hour Recordings]
Top Gigs:
Kraftwerk at the Tate Modern
The Hydra: Blueprint Feat. Underground Resistance, Jeff Mills, Robert Hood & James Ruskin at Electric Brixton
Top Films:
Sound City (Directed by Dave Grohl)
Spirit of 45 (Directed by Ken Loach)
The Great Hip Hop Hoax (Directed by Jeanie Finlay)
When Bjork Met Attenborough (Directed by Louise Hooper)
David Bowie: Five Years (Directed by Francis Whately)
Bobby Womack: Across 110th Street (Directed by James Maycock)
PAUL ACKROYD AKA KAMIKAZE
The Top Albums List, plus Top 40 Countdown Show:
#40 : Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold [What’s Your Rupture?]
#39 : DVA Damas – Nightshade [Downwards America]
#38 : Bill Orcutt – A History Of Every One [Editions Mego]
#37 : Okkyung Lee – Ghil [Soma]
#36 : Jar Moff – Commerical Mouth [Pan]
#35 : Chris Watson – In St Cuthbert’s Time [Touch]
#34 : Mike Cooper – White Shadows In The South Seas [Room40]
#33 : Laurel Halo – Chance Of Rain [Hyperdub]
#32 : Ignatz – Can I Go Home Now? [Fonal]
#31 : Nick Brooke – Border Towns [Innova]
#30 : L.B. Dub Corp – Unknown Origin [Ostgut Ton]
#29 : Ras G – Raw Fruit [Leaving]
#28 : Sleaford Mods – Austerity Dogs [Harbinger]
#27 : Tom Trago – The Light Fantastic [Rush Hour]
#26 : DJ Rashad – Double Cup [Hyperdub]
#25 : Melt Banana – Fetch [A-Zap]
#24 : RP Boo – Legacy [Planet Mu]
#23 : Torn Hawk – 10 For Edge Tek [Valcrond Video]
#22 : Cakes Da Killa – The Eulogy [Mishka]
#21 : Cellular Chaos – Cellular Chaos [ugEXPLODE]
#20 : Los Siquicos Litoralenos – Sonida Chipadelico [Sham Palace]
#19 : Shannon & The Clams – Dreams In The Rat House [Hardly Art]
#18 : Eric Copeland – Joke In The Hole [DFA]
#17 : Hacker Farm – UHF [Exotic Pylon]
#16 : Gunnar Haslam – Mimesiak [LIES]
#15 : Lonnie Holley – Keeping A Record Of It [Dust To Digital]
#14 : Josephine Foster – I’m A Dreamer [Fire]
#13 : Mary Lattimore – The Withdrawing Room [Desire Path]
#12 : Kink Gong – Voices [Discrepant]
#11 : Jason Crumer & Joseph Hammer – Show ‘Em The Door [Accidie]
#10 : Kuupuu – Sisar [Em]
#09 : La Femme – Psycho Tropical Berlin [Born Bad]
#08 : Tal National – Kaani [Fat Cat]
#07 : Death Grips – Government Plates [Third Worlds]
#06 : Rashad Becker – Traditional Music Of Notional Species Vol. 1 [Pan]
#05 : Idassane Wallet Mohamed – Issawat [Sahel Sounds]
#04 : Jerusalem In My Heart – Mo-7it Al Mo-7it [Constellation]
#03 : The Focus Group – Elektrik Karousel [Ghost Box]
#02 : Broadcast – Berberian Sound Studio [Warp]
#01 : Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Two : Mississipi Moonchile [Constellation]
Labels of 2013:
#20 : Ostgut Ton
#19 : Ghost Box
#18 : Hyperdub
#17 : Honest Jon’s
#16 : Invada
#15 : Born Bad
#14 : Sacred Bones
#13 : Sahel Sounds
#12 : Night School
#11 : Awesome Tapes From Africa
#10 : Room40
#09 : Staalplaat
#08 : Editions Mego
#07 : Pan
#06 : Em
#05 : LIES
#04 : Sublime Frequencies
#03 : Macadam Mambo
#02 : Constellation
#01 : Dust To Digital/Parlortone
Top 12 12″s:
#12 : Anika – EP [Invada]
#11 : Necro Deathmort – EP1 [Distraction]
#10 : Alan Johnson – Goron Sound [Blank Mind]
#09 : Demdike Stare – Testpressing Series [Modern Love]
#08 : Incite Hu – Gift [Haffenchlamm]
#07 : Samantha Vacation – Samantha’s Vacation [LIES] (+all other LIES releases)
#06 : Tumido – Luft [Interstellar]
#05 : FKA Twigs – EP2 [Young Turks]
#04 : Helm – Silencer [Pan]
#03 : MZKBX – Dumm Beat [Macadam Mambo] (+all other MM releases)
#02 : Quanah Parker – Oblivion [Quanah Parker]
#01 : Villalobos + Loderbauer – Turbo Sematic (ft Tea Time/Azeem) [Perlon]
Top 20 Compilations and Reissues (excluding Muslimgauze):
#20 : Broken-Hearted Dragonflies – Insect Electronica from Southeast Asia [Sublime Frequencies]
#19 : VA – London Is The Place For Me Vol. 5+6 [Honest Jon’s]
#18 : Finis Africae – A Last Discovery [EM]
#17 : VA – Five Days Married & Other Laments – Song and dance from Northern Greece, 1928-1958 [Angry Mom]
#16 : The Heads – Inner Space Broadcasts Vol 1 Part 1 [cardinal Fuzz]
#15 : VA – The Crying Princess/Scattered Melodies [Sublime Frequencies]
#14 : Clothilde – French Swinging Mademoiselle [Born Bad]
#13 : VA – Kassidat, Raw 45s From Morocco [Parlortone]
#12 : Naffi Sandwich – Hoochie Pooch/Space Alligator; Freddie Viaduct at Naffi HQ 1979-83 [EM]
#11 : VA – Voltaique Panoramique Vol 1 – Popular Music in Ougadougou & Bobo-Dioulasso 1968-1978 [Kindred Spirits]
#10 : Lena Hughes – Queen of the Flat Top Guitar [Tompkins Square]
#09 : Birgitte Alsted – Agnete’s Laughter [Dacapo]
#08 : VA – Rocket Infinity – The Global Rise Of Rocking Music 1942-62 [Canary/Mississippi]
#07 : Hailu Mergia – & His Classical Instrument [Awesome Tapes From Africa]
#06 : VA – Greek Rhapsody – Instrumental Music From Greece 1905-1956 [Dust to Digital]
#05 : Dur-Dur Band – Volume 5 [Awesome Tapes From Africa]
#04 : VA – Ethnic Minority Music of Southern China [Sublime Frequencies]
#03 : Mathematiques Modernes – Le Visiteur Du Soir [Medical]
#02 : Karel Goeyvaerts – Pour Que Les Fruits Murissent Cet Ete [Cacophonic/Finders Keepers]
#01 : VA – Longing For The Past – The 78rpm Era in Southeast Asia [Dust to Digital]
Muslimgauze Top 7 2013 Releases:
#07 : Tandoor Dog
#06 : Suns Of Arqa Remixes
#05 : Drug Sherpa
#04 : Satyajit Eye
#03 : Islamic Songs
#02 : Turkish Berlina
#01 : Al Jar Zia Audio