Ben Frost – All That You Love Will Be Eviscerated (Mute) – A supplemental EP to 2017’s dark political album “The Centre Cannot Hold”, this is dark melancholy cinematic crusty electronica.
Penya – Super Liminal (On The Corner Records) – Afro-Cuban (And therefore percussion groove-heavy) deliciousness plus just a little bit of electronics.
V/A – 1+1=X (Erased Tapes) – A collection of exclusive music from each of the artists on the Erased Tapes, created around a single recording session with the same instruments. the Kiasmos track is a standout
Ocean Wisdom – Wizville (High Focus Records): Twista-style vocal gymnastic hip-hop with boom bap beats from Camden, featuring guest spots from Dizzee Rascal, Meth, Roots Manuva and others.
Logistics – Hologram (Hospital Records) : Neurofunk Drum & Bass (slightly jazzy and shiny rather than gruff) from a vet.
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy (Atlantic): Is she still okay? I can’t keep track. Have listened to this more than almost any other album this year tho.
Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer (Bad Boy): Not sure I can add anything to the discourse about this other than to say that its relistenable as hell.
The Summer Kills – Last Night We Became Swans (Self-released): Hammock + Matthew Ryan. So like… post-rock but also anthem-y.
Findlay Brown – Not Everything Beautiful Is Good (Nettwerk): This years’s heartbreaking guy-with-acoustic guitar selection. His voice makes me sad.
HAERTS – New Compassion (Arts & Crafts): In the way that their first album was super Synth-forward, this one integrates real percussion and guitar to make for a more balanced indie dance experience.
Editors – Violence (PIAS): Editors are basically targeted specifically at me at this point. Baritone vocals over dark guitar synthpop and big choruses. Yes please.
CHVRCHES – Love is Dead (Virgin/Glassnote): Shiny 80sy Femme Vocal Synth Goodness (there’s a reason i’m not a music writer) Meant for big speakers.
Solar Fields – Ourdom (Sidereal): Spacey New Age but intense and atmospheric. (also if you haven’t heard his Mirror’s Edge soundtracks, get on that)
Andy Cooper – The Layered Effect (Rocafort): The DJ/Producer of Ugly Duckling. Clever rhymes, funky production, silly verses. Mostly about how “old rap used to be better but theres still some good stuff out there”
Marcin Wasilewski Trio – Live (ECM): One of my favorite current pianists in great form with part of the Tomasz Stanko (RIP) band. Includes a cover of “message in a bottle” and herbie’s “Actual Proof”
