I've had a bit of a live music binge this year, in total I've been to 56 gigs, three 3-day festivals and I've seen 159 individual live performances.
70% of these have been in London, although I've been to gigs in Cambridge, Belfast, and the two ATP sites at Minehead and Camber Sands.
I have tried to pick out my 20 favourite performances from these and I've put them in order below. Where possible I have linked to my review of the show and I have embedded other people's amateur video footage as well.
1. Swans, Koko, November
An amazing show. the highest compliment I can pay is that it made me not want to see any more live music for while, I couldn't see how anything could follow this.
my review (londonears.com)
Most of the performance is on youtube, though I've embedded the 49-minute version of 'The Seer' below.
2. Boredoms, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
The Boredoms two extraordinary sets at Jeff Mangum's ATP had my number one space for most of the year.
my review (the 405)
Here is a spliced together video of highlights from it.
3. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Forum, November
Delighted to see these guys on my actual birthday. A cracking set from them once again, including an epic new song which may be titled 'Behemoth'. Heavier than their earlier years, but still thrilling.
4. Jeff Mangum, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
It seemed unlikely a few years ago that any of us would see Jeff Mangum play live, but to see him twice in a weekend was something else. As a lot of Elephant 6 people were in the area this was as close as anyone could have hoped to a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion. my review (the 405)
5. Deerhoof, ATP curated by the National, December
This was a performance by a band at their absolute peak, so finely honed at the end of a three month tour. The best show I've seen them play.
6. Orbital, Brixton Academy, December
Quite a spectacle with all those lasers, but perhaps the best thing about this Orbital show was the way they have invigorated their classic material to sound completely contemporary and cutting edge. A bit like Kraftwerk did with the Mix, I reckon.
7. Japandroids, Upstairs at the Garage, May/ Belfast Mandela Hall, August
Two gigs, two different cities. The London show at the start of the tour probably just shades it in terms of live experience, but both were great.
my review (slowthrills.com)
8. Dan Deacon, Scala, September
Certainly the best interactive live experience of the year. Dan Deacon took on the challenge of a sold-out Scala and made the place move on his every whim.
9. Bo Ningen, Portland Arms Cambridge, September
I saw these people twice but their slot as part of the Wish You Were Here festival in Cambridge was a revelation. A genuinely fresh approach to psychedelic noise.
10. Atlas Sound, Scala, July
A jet-lagged rambling solo show by Bradford Cox, full of surprises and underlining his prolific talent.
my review (londonears.com)
11. Cocorosie, Royal Festival Hall, August
my review (londonears.com)
12. Ty Segall, Tufnell Park Dome
13. Grizzly Bear, Cambridge Junction, August
my review (slowthrills.com)
14. Bonnie Prince Billy, Hackney Empire, February
my review (slowthrills.com)
15. Tim Hecker, St Giles Church, January
my review (slowthrills.com)
16. Sharon van Etten, Scala
my review (slowthrills.com)
17. Joanna Newsom, ATP curated by Jeff Mangum, March
my review (the 405)
18. Wild beasts, ATP curated by the National, December
Billed as a gig where they would just play 'Smother' in order, they iced the cake by playing a long encore which featured about half of 'Two Dancers'. That made my night that did.
19. Metz, the Old Blue Last, November
I checked these guys out on the recommendation of a friend and i was amazed by the reaction to them. Cameras everywhere as well, which resulted in this rowdy video.
20. Calexico, Kentish Town Forum, October
my review (the 405)
most visited venue: The Lexington, Pentonville Road, London. (6 shows) The Scala, in the same street, came second with 5 visits. Both fine music venues in my opinion.
most seen band: Bizarrely, no single act managed to make it to three viewings. The acts I have seen twice are: Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten, Tim Hecker, Alexander Tucker, Bo Ningen, Echo Lake, RM Hubbert, Japandroids, Public Service Broadcasting, Sir Richard Bishop, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, Peepholes, Darren Hayman, Jeff Mangum, Boredoms and Joanna Newsom.
best support bands: The Men (supporting Lee Ranaldo), Rob St John (supporting Meursault), Cadence Weapon (supporting Japandroids).
Showing posts with label Orbital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orbital. Show all posts
Listen: the best album releases of the month, April edition
April turned out to be a very strong month for new albums, I had to compile the selections below from a long list of 21. Thanks to @almal100 on twitter I've been able to update this with Trembling Bells and Bonnie Prince Billy, as I hadn't noticed it on Spotify yesterday.
So I now have eleven albums that you can play via that fancy new embedded play button. The only one that can't be played is the excellent Actress album, but you can browse it over at Honest Jon's shop site.
ALBUMS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN VIA SPOTIFY
Human Don't Be Angry 'Human Don't be Angry'
my review on the 405.
"This is one of those albums that has impressed me more every time I've played it. It has managed to make Malcolm Middleton's musical range wider by showing how well he can work with instrumental melody lines whilst underlining what a fine guitar player he is. I suspect that Human Don't Be Angry may well be more than a side project for him in the future."
Lower Dens 'Nootropics'
my review on the 405.
"Weaving melodies that hark back to Jana Hunter’s solo records, with mechanical, often bleak instrumentation, the music here echoes the lyrical concerns – fear of the future, concerns for the development of the human race, and about our relationship with technology. This is an album that will reward repeated listens and unravelling and should be welcomed for its ambition."
Trembling Bells and Bonnie Prince Billy 'The Marble Downs'
It is an absolute joy that this album exists in 2012, as on the surface it is so out of place you almost have a double take at the release date. It is fantastic though, Will Oldham is in great voice and Trembling Bells are as good as ever. Some great some playing and songwriting, and it made me smile too. All good.
Death Grips 'The Money Store'
One of the most frustrated and angry releases of the year so far, a collision of distorted beats, hip-hop and industrial electronica. I didn't get around to reviewing it, but here is a link to David Zammit's fine review, also published on the 405.
Alexander Tucker 'Third Mouth'
Tucker's second album release of 2012, if you count January's collaboration with Daniel Beban under the Imbogodom name. This follows on where his last solo album 'Dorwych' left off, further developing his explorations with psych-folk, and adding some subtle electronic touches along the way.
Orbital 'Wonky'
They are well and truly back, and 'Wonky' is their best album for many a year. It's impressive that it manages to sound like Orbital whilst embracing recent musical developments such as dubstep. New collaborators like Zola Jesus and Lady Leshur underline this with their contributions.
Bear in Heaven 'I Love You, It's Cool'
This synth-based act have been working on their songwriting since their last release, as this new album is packed full of catchy and well-constructed songs.
Lightships 'Electric Cables'
Lightships is the new band led by Teenage Fanclub's Gerard Love, and this is one of the most impressive TFC-related releases for a long time. It's pitched somewhere between prime melodic TFC and the later Pastels records and it's very lovely indeed.
Sea of Bees 'Orangefarben'
Sea of Bees is essentially the alter ego of songwriter Julie Baenziger and this is her second album. It is a record that has been created in the aftermath of a relationship that has come to an end. It has some heartbeaking lyrical moments but ultimately it ends up as something quite cathartic. Brave and successful cover of Leaving on a Jet Plane as well.
Maps and Atlases 'Beware and Be Grateful'
Straddling the difficult middle ground between math-rock and catchy indie, this second album from Maps and Atlases succeeds in pleasing both parties. It manages to gel those camps together with some success.
Battles 'Dross Glop'
I guess it is a bit unusual to include a full album of remixes in this list, but I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a collection like this so much. The remixes are from the likes of Kode9, Gang Gang Dance, Hudson Mohawke, Shabazz Palaces, and eYe from Boredoms, and many of them bear little relation to the originals. Well worth hearing.
NOT AVAILABLE TO LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
Actress 'R.I.P'
The first stand-out electronica release of the year in my opinion. This is a more abstract affair than Actress's previous album 'Splazsh', it sits closer to the ambient works of Burial and Aphex Twin than conventional beats and breaks, and I reckon I need to listen to it a few more times before I have the words to do it justice. It could singlehandedly get me right back into this kind of music.
So I now have eleven albums that you can play via that fancy new embedded play button. The only one that can't be played is the excellent Actress album, but you can browse it over at Honest Jon's shop site.
ALBUMS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN VIA SPOTIFY
Human Don't Be Angry 'Human Don't be Angry'
my review on the 405.
"This is one of those albums that has impressed me more every time I've played it. It has managed to make Malcolm Middleton's musical range wider by showing how well he can work with instrumental melody lines whilst underlining what a fine guitar player he is. I suspect that Human Don't Be Angry may well be more than a side project for him in the future."
Lower Dens 'Nootropics'
my review on the 405.
"Weaving melodies that hark back to Jana Hunter’s solo records, with mechanical, often bleak instrumentation, the music here echoes the lyrical concerns – fear of the future, concerns for the development of the human race, and about our relationship with technology. This is an album that will reward repeated listens and unravelling and should be welcomed for its ambition."
Trembling Bells and Bonnie Prince Billy 'The Marble Downs'
It is an absolute joy that this album exists in 2012, as on the surface it is so out of place you almost have a double take at the release date. It is fantastic though, Will Oldham is in great voice and Trembling Bells are as good as ever. Some great some playing and songwriting, and it made me smile too. All good.
Death Grips 'The Money Store'
One of the most frustrated and angry releases of the year so far, a collision of distorted beats, hip-hop and industrial electronica. I didn't get around to reviewing it, but here is a link to David Zammit's fine review, also published on the 405.
Alexander Tucker 'Third Mouth'
Tucker's second album release of 2012, if you count January's collaboration with Daniel Beban under the Imbogodom name. This follows on where his last solo album 'Dorwych' left off, further developing his explorations with psych-folk, and adding some subtle electronic touches along the way.
Orbital 'Wonky'
They are well and truly back, and 'Wonky' is their best album for many a year. It's impressive that it manages to sound like Orbital whilst embracing recent musical developments such as dubstep. New collaborators like Zola Jesus and Lady Leshur underline this with their contributions.
Bear in Heaven 'I Love You, It's Cool'
This synth-based act have been working on their songwriting since their last release, as this new album is packed full of catchy and well-constructed songs.
Lightships 'Electric Cables'
Lightships is the new band led by Teenage Fanclub's Gerard Love, and this is one of the most impressive TFC-related releases for a long time. It's pitched somewhere between prime melodic TFC and the later Pastels records and it's very lovely indeed.
Sea of Bees 'Orangefarben'
Sea of Bees is essentially the alter ego of songwriter Julie Baenziger and this is her second album. It is a record that has been created in the aftermath of a relationship that has come to an end. It has some heartbeaking lyrical moments but ultimately it ends up as something quite cathartic. Brave and successful cover of Leaving on a Jet Plane as well.
Maps and Atlases 'Beware and Be Grateful'
Straddling the difficult middle ground between math-rock and catchy indie, this second album from Maps and Atlases succeeds in pleasing both parties. It manages to gel those camps together with some success.
Battles 'Dross Glop'
I guess it is a bit unusual to include a full album of remixes in this list, but I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a collection like this so much. The remixes are from the likes of Kode9, Gang Gang Dance, Hudson Mohawke, Shabazz Palaces, and eYe from Boredoms, and many of them bear little relation to the originals. Well worth hearing.
NOT AVAILABLE TO LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
The first stand-out electronica release of the year in my opinion. This is a more abstract affair than Actress's previous album 'Splazsh', it sits closer to the ambient works of Burial and Aphex Twin than conventional beats and breaks, and I reckon I need to listen to it a few more times before I have the words to do it justice. It could singlehandedly get me right back into this kind of music.
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