Demon of the Fall
Not being able to imagine myself as the object in a love song decreases my enjoyment
User

Reviews 3
Approval 100%

Soundoffs 1
Album Ratings 3193
Objectivity 89%

Last Active 12-22-22 3:44 pm
Joined 02-23-17

Review Comments 33,656

 Lists
01.17.24 Demon's top 100 albums* (v_3 yrs) ♦04.05.23 Demon reshuffles / purges 5s
01.11.23 Demon's Dazzling 2k22 list01.27.22 Demon's ongoing '22 - NOT FINAL ♦
01.07.22 Demon's top 38(+2) of '2111.11.21 5/5 gg pogchampion ♦
09.02.21 Demon's 2(.1k) top 100 albums ♦05.27.21 List contains good music...
04.01.20 Demon’s quarantine jams01.08.20 Demon's 2019 ranked
01.09.19 Demon's top 24 of 201810.31.18 1,000 ratings - my top 75 albums!

Demon's top 100 albums* (v_3 yrs)
101Placeholder
Thought I Would Have Been Somebody By Now

Some notes:

*My top 100 (rough order) discoveries made within the last 3 years(ish), it's a little over that timeframe and so the cut off point is around Dec 2020 (because I was busy compiling, Christmasing, procrastinating etc.)

*To count as a 'discovery' it must be a release by an artist that I hadn't previously rated.

*I have included a couple of notable exceptions in the form of artists I had heard previous to the deadline, but I didn't enjoy all that much to begin with. I feel they 'belong' within last 3 years and thus are included. I don't believe they fall outside of these parameters by much anyway.

*In some instances there are artists with more than one release. I have also omitted some 'secondary' releases even though they would have qualified. The reasoning is logistical and to highlight as many artists as possible. Occasionally I felt additional entries were warranted, whereas at other times I decided to use 'honourable mentions' as I thought this was sufficient.
100Messa
Close

Doom / Post / Stoner / Psych
99Sonny Rollins
Saxophone Colossus

Hard Bop / Cool Jazz
98Jaga Jazzist
What We Must

Post Rock / Nu Jazz
97Vladislav Delay
Anima

Ambient / Glitch / Dub

The sound design here is astonishing, yet it feels as though there are hidden depths I'm unable to grasp at this stage. I love the almost hypnotic groove Vladislav creates with his creative sense of rhythm. Regardless of the barrier to entry, this is one of the most impressive things on the list in certain aspects and I will be spending more time here for sure.
96Kostnateni
Úpal

Avant black metal / Turkish folk

AOTY runner-up 2023 - more artists should move away from the traditional earlier forms of black metal and embrace the avant-garde and / or skronk (exhibit #1)
95Hinako Omori
stillness, softness​.​.​.

Ambient / Art pop / Progressive electronic

AOTY 2023
94Citrus
Pits Are the Pits (25 Gold = Rare = Debris...

Shibuya-kei / Indie rock / Noise pop / Neo-psych / ???

Hyperactively sending you hurtling through a wide-ranging set of styles this is A LOT to take in. However, it's remarkably cohesive for such a diverse and unrelenting compilation... oh yeah, this is a COMPILATION. Extraordinary really. This is a recent fresh-of-the-shelf discovery and should be treated with caution perhaps (hence #94) but honestly this could end up being way higher given the appropriate amount of time
93CMAT
If My Wife New I'd Be Dead

Indie pop / Alt country

"Countrypolitan"

"Emphasizes Pop-oriented orchestration and songwriting while reducing the role of Country instrumentation and rhythms; often featuring lush string arrangements and group backing vocals." - right, who knew that was a legitimate genre description?

Anyway... this was my one indie-popified album of whenever I actually discovered this in 2022. It's charming. It's not very country. It's full of humour, fragility, personality and has some darn good hooks and pretty instrumentation not typical of countrified stuff (ahh, so this is the politan bit from above I guess). I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't reappear on any of my future lists, but I certainly don't regret that it happened
92Amon Duul II
Phallus Dei

Krautrock / Psych rock

I'm really tempted to copy-paste Sammich Bubble's leading comment on RYM here but reading it is giving me post-ranking anxieties (even though this list is not an exact science)... why is this at #92?

One of my most unique listening experiences of the last few years no doubt. Phallus Dei is truly wild, tribal and almost ritualistic in nature. The heavy emphasis on percussion that's commonplace in Krautrock is a feature I've increasingly grown to appreciate in recent times. Hopefully more to come.
91O’Flynn x Frazer Ray
Shimmer

Future garage / Deep house

Seemingly overlooked release with masterful lush production, hypnotic beats and immersive nocturnal vibes for those late nights
90The Necks
Aquatic

Avant-garde jazz / Minimalism

A fifty-odd minute improvised jam session split into two parts, Aquatic develops and builds upon its motifs gradually, hitting some hypnotic grooves in the meantime. Rarely does such impressive musicianship also offer complete serenity.

Another recent discovery which if given time, will likely become even more essential.

Honourable mention: Hanging Gardens, AHQR
89Christoph De Babalon
If You're Into It, I'm Out Of It

Breakcore / Jungle / Dark Ambient / Darkside

Thicc dark atmosphere created by masterfully produced eerie ambience which is then interspersed with contrasting DnB explosions. Almost playing on its unnerving bleakness. The ambient segments are some of the best I've heard and worth the price of entry alone.
88Rhododendron
Protozoan Battle Hymns

Noisy math rock / Brutal prog

How to construct complex (mostly) instrumental prog jams without collapsing under the weight of your own ambition, exhibit #1 2021 edition
87Burnt By the Sun
Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution

Mathcore (+ maybe a lil' grind)

Representing metallic core of all guises for the entire(? - okay ALMOST the entire) list. BBTS is technically proficient, menacing and heavier than a ten-ton truck. There's a little more nuance, flair and panache than these previous stereotypes allude to, but then it seems old habits do (sometimes) die hard.
86Xploding Plastix
Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents

Nu Jazz / Jazzstep / maybe some breakcore influence?

like if Venetian Snares went jazz and wrote the sound-track to a daft spy comedy. Conceptually rather silly, yet a surprising amount of sonic depth to uncover. Mostly this is just a blast of energetic fun that refuses to take itself seriously.
85Siouxsie and the Banshees
Juju

Gothic post punk
84Ornette Coleman
The Shape of Jazz to Come

Avant-garde / Free jazz

This is absurdly listenable considering the skill on display. Admittedly I haven't returned to it all that much (damn you Mingus / Coltrane), but Coleman's classic was a staple for a while that I'm thankful to have witnessed
83Gas
Pop

Ambient / minimal techno / drone

Drifting through a peaceful forest, the album - I mean, is there really anything more to say? It took me way too long to understand the appeal of Gas, but revisiting them with Pop proved to be part of a fulfilling journey
82Blind Idiot God
Blind Idiot God

Noise rock / Math rock / Avant-garde metal / Psych / Dub

Apparently this weirdo offering was released in the year of my birth and potentially influenced many things (that I don't particularly care for). Forward thinking to the extreme, this complex, classically-influenced and bizarre journey is held together masterfully by its overall production / aesthetic. I mean the concluding segment is comprised of instrumental dub tracks because they can, presumably (I will begrudgingly accept other explanations).
81Paik
Satin Black

Space rock / Shoegaze / Drone

Now this is a viiiiiiiiibe, just a completely immersive wall-of-sound gazey number that pulls you into its orbit. It's simultaneously a lot (of reverb!) yet remarkably unobtrusive on the whole. One of the later editions to this list, I think there's potential for growth here.
80Pure Reason Revolution
The Dark Third

Prog rock / Alt rock

A contradictorily 'fresh' take on modern prog, fuelled by erm... not reinventing anything at all in fact. Its achievement is tastefully providing a plethora of engaging melodic hooks without succumbing to the all-too-common pitfalls associated with the wider genre.
79Camel
Mirage

Symphonic Prog rock / Camel

In a hilariously dunderheaded move, a significant Opeth sympathiser hadn't heard Camel until relatively recently. So let's just forget this happened for a moment...

Camel scoff at the flatulent bombast of many of their contemporaries by creating a lush, majestic soundscape to immerse yourself in. Intertwining melodicism of the highest calibre, without the nonsense. Mirage is a refreshing oasis in a barren desert.

And no, the next album won't be prog, the back-to-back entries were merely a coincidence... that a relief!
78Stimming
Alpe Lusia

Deep house / Microhouse

All-rise for the Sputcore!

A wonderfully produced slice of texturally rich goodness, which rose to prominence here when a wild Pots appeared and stoked the flames for an otherwise hidden gem. (Seriously, this is still at under 200 ratings on RYM!)

Blissfully creative and very much worthy of greater widespread exposure.
77Sed Non Satiata
Le Ciel De Notre Enfance

Skramz / Post rock

"Vi som älskade varandra så mycket" (copy / paste!) were an important band for me back when I discovered them in 2019 and from that day I yearned (yet somewhat failed / procrastinated) in finding similar artists who could seamlessly blend the raw emotion of screamo with the fragility of post-rock. There were mixed results but here are one of the success stories.

*Yeah, this is an EP (only one on the entire list). And I added Post rock even though Skramz is there - but this is a very prominently post rock-leaning piece of screamo.
76Liturgy
H.A.Q.Q.

Avant-garde black metal / Totalism / Glitch

Lessons to be learnt from this, for Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix is absolutely no HACK!

- How to HAQQ off / trigger the black metal traditionalists. Exhibit #1
- How to push the boundaries of repetition but not use it as a crutch. Exhibit #1
- How to embrace totalism's potential thus breathing new life into an often tired genre. Exhibit... hmm #2

(spoiler alert: 'someone' went one better, although admittedly Hendrix got there first, so respect!)
75Knoll
Metempiric

Deathgrind / Grindcore

Swerving the tendency for heavy bands to be HEAVY and not much else, there's a remarkably nuanced take offered up by Knoll here. This is mostly done through a (…dare I say it?) masterful use of noise and most of all S P A C I N G. The result of which causing those full-throttle beatdowns to feel just that bit more impactful. It helps that the on-point production provides one hell of a thicc atmosphere, where the eerie passages certainly aren't an afterthought.
74YAYA KIM
a.k.a YAYA

Jazz Pop / Art Pop / Trip Hop / Tango Nuevo / all of the things

That one time where starting a new release grind actually paid off early, in January (2022)! I guess if you're going to release a 2 hr 20 min TRIPLE album, then at least do it during the dearthiest (not a word) time of the year.

YAYA's ability to supply us with bountiful morsels of seemingly anything and everything in the art pop-orientated world and beyond is mightily impressive. Each disc offering up a different bent on her sound (including shifts in production), increasing the rewards when enjoyed as separate pieces.
73Daughters
Daughters

Noise rock / Post hardcore

There are many Daughters, but this is the only one I'll miss now they've all flown off into the netherworld, presumably never to be heard from or glanced at again. Anyway, the music is some belting, bouncy party-noise anthem-core, splicing the better parts of consonance with the not so consonants with plenty to appreciate on both sides.

Ugh. Job done.
72Suffering Hour
The Cyclic Reckoning

Atmo black / Disso death / Gothic rock (?)

False advertising. I didn't suffer while hearing this and it isn't even an hour long. Anyway... you know this isn't your usual brand of dissonance for disonnances sake because well-known hooky dopamine chaser and (actually nice) user bloc has this 4.5d on RYM. It's one of those 'creates interesting nods to consonance out of an otherwise dissonant formula' sort of deals. Another thing I discovered (just now, same source) is that apparently the quirky guitar tone which provides this with a unique flava, is born from an 80s gothic rock influence. Interesting stuff.

Short version: I mean this riffs for dayzzzzz m/ m/ m/
71Murmuure
Murmuure

Atmo black / Ambient / Avant-garde metal

Oh look, another black metal but-not-really-black-metal release (i.e. the best kind) by some mysterious French guy who improvised the compositions. Where the recording process spanned several years such was the dedication to his craft.

The key to the success of Murmuüre is the sound design, which although is traditionally black metal in its lo-fi aesthetic, also incorporates elements of dark ambient, industrial, glitch and noise into the mix to produce an intriguing sonic palette further removed from the confines of the genre.
70Bill Evans
You Must Believe In Spring

Cool Jazz

Perhaps the greatest accolade to bestow upon newly discovered music is that undefined sense of connection. Occurrences where despite not understanding all of its contents, or what may have motivated the protagonist(s) to produce it, the ability to move you is still present. I didn't know the story behind Evans' posthumous release during my initial forays into his work and despite that I was already being swept away by its melancholic charms. It's a beautifully majestic and striking work, sombre yet not without hope.
69NoMeansNo
Wrong

Post hardcore / Math rock / Noise rock

Released what is now approaching 3-and-a-half decades ago, Wrong is a turbulent whirlwind of frenetic art-punk energy that still feels relevant today. Technical, chaotic and eclectic, it's the music of a 'serious' band who deliver it in a way that's anything but. Also, despite the skill involved, many of these songs are preposterously anthemic.
68Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band
A Special Album

Nu Jazz / Downtempo / Ambient Dub

Kudos to Potsy for another one of his obscurities. This Norwegian collective served up precisely my vibe of chilled dub beats with a teaspoon or two of funky flair. Simultaneously providing plenty of sustenance for second helpings. Surprisingly versatile meal that's still smoooooooth on the way down.
67Tokyo Gakuso
Gagaku: Court Music of Japan

Gagaku

An ensemble plays faithful renditions (apparently) of traditional ancient Japanese court music. These compositions are eerie, dissonant and without any semblance of western structure. It was Tim Hecker's album 'Konoyo' that alerted me to the existence of Gagaku and I can see why it could be considered an appropriate accompaniment to the noisier, 'musical' side of drone. This has an almost meditive, surrealist quality despite the potentially very distant and alien nature of the music. Beyond that my points of reference are modest, but I'm informed this is a high quality recording of the style and remains the most satisfying of the few that I've heard.

Jazz musician Herbie Mann also released a Gagaku-inspired fusion album in the 70s, which was mostly very cool (but didn't make the top 100)... https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/herbie-mann/gagaku-and-beyond/
66Noise Trail Immersion
Symbology of Shelter

Mathcore / Post Metal

I forgot this was on here, apologies to myself for somewhat false claims re #87. This is like if Ulcerate went mathcore and added some blackened elements, kind of. It's heavy, it's dense, sometimes suffocatingly so. The production is a triumph. Releases in this guise either don't have the weight, miss intricate nuances through the chaos, atmosphere suffers etc. This doesn't make such mistakes. Mars love this and so should you.
65Fela Kuti
Alagbon Close

Afrobeat / Afro-funk / Jazz-funk

The bouncy, funky, hypnotic grooves of Kuti's work were a feature of the last year. In reality 'Alagbon' is here to represent the man, rather than any concrete judgement on where this stands within his body of work. I guess this struck me as a slightly smoother, more digestible, (perhaps?) leant on repetition to a greater degree etc. In reality I've only touched the surface of understanding Kuti's discog, but his sound is infectious, vibrant and captivating.

Honourable mention: Sorrow, Tears & Blood (perhaps Zombie, Gentleman, Roforofo Fight and Expensive Shit too!)
64Funeral Diner
The Underdark

Skramz

As mentioned previously with Sed Non Satiata, I was very much on the lookout for skramz that incorporated those melancholic post-rock elements with aplomb. This delivered and held up surprisingly well (albeit perhaps less spectacularly than it once did). A somewhat honorary inclusion at #64, seeing as it's one of the first I discovered here - recognising the impact it had over the past few years).
63Mesa Verde
The Old Road

Skramz (again!)

Okay this is placing here for the following reasons a) let's get my skramz phase out of the way, the back-to-back approach is an unsightly beast when I'm endeavouring to come off as 'oh so eclectic' (lol jokes, maybe!) but I can't have it clogging up the upper echelons either. b) I couldn't remember how to spell the damn band's name, which is a red flag in itself and c) I don't actually have to explain how this sounds and am hoping the entry for #64 is enough, okay bye
62City of Caterpillar
Mystic Sisters

Skr... Post hardcore / Post rock

Here's City of Caterpillar with their stellar surprisingly-not-actually-skramz album from the other year. A mature yet creative tour-de-force of post-everything that's sometimes invigorating, other times contemplative. Using post rockisms from their former selves for shiny new purposes.

Note: this is an 'authorised exception' as I heard the S/T some time ago, but as it hadn't truly clicked with me this was a new experience which alerted my perception (seems appropriate given the band's evolution!)
61Fishmans
Long Season

Dream pop / Neo psych

An exhibition of how warm and comforting soundscapes somehow wormed their way into my heart, despite previously being a melancholic, grumpy demon (I blame Stereolab!)... anyway, yeah this is a viiiiiibe, a seamlessly lush, slowly developing 'continuous' piece that could honestly stand to be a little longer. I mean YOU probably know Fishmans.

Honourable mention: Uchu Nippon Setagaya - which I find ever-so-slightly more erm intrusive(?) relatively speaking but it's a very creative accompaniment that's also an essential part of my rotation
60Backini
Threads

Downtempo / Nu Jazz

Apart from eclecticism I also want to showcase some really obscure shit to make myself look cool. The last few entries are too obvious, so here's a classic Demo downtempo number, with it's accompanying brethren, nu-jazz. There an interesting use of samples (plunderphonics?) contained within and a suitably smooth sound palette. I recommended this to Sammich and he was most whelmed, which is a sign of erm something or other. But Pots enjoys it, which is reassuring!
59Macaroom
Homephone TE

Glitch pop / Art pop / Indietronica

Deceptively complex with subtleties aplenty, the emphasis here is on the glitchy soundscapes and less on the pop. However, the latter has its moments, they're just used comparatively fleetingly yet with unexpectedly surgical execution. A rewarding listen which offers greater rewards the deeper you delve.
58Four Tet
Rounds

Folktronica / IDM / Downtempo

Unlike the mechanical nature of many electronic artists (particularly those in the realm of IDM), Four Tet's use of acoustic sounds and warmth infuses his music an organic feel - something which I feel is especially true of Rounds.

One of the most enduring 'older' releases here, at least in terms of how long it's stayed with me in some form of 'wider rotation'.

Honourable mention: There Is Love In You
57!T.O.O.H.!
Order and Punishment

Tech death / Avant-garde metal / Grind

A Czech (this!) outfit with a fittingly absurd name (the long-form 'The Obliteration of Humanity' isn't much better), this is a bizarre yet satisfying take on the tech-death formula. I likened these guys to if Atheist went grind and hired a pirate as a vocalist and yeah, let's go with that

Honourable mention: Pod vládou biče, which is less concise and marginally worse for it, but ups the prog by including prolonged curiosities such as traditional folk elements
56Faust
Faust

Krautrock / Experimental rock

Writing something (ANYTHING!) for this caused me to stare into the abyss for a few minutes, which I suppose generated memories of witnessing it for the first time. Even more perplexing is how Faust conjured up such a unusual collection of sounds back in 1971. Tape loops, musique concrete and twisted sound collages are quite far removed from what most would expect from 'rock'. Literally one of the most forward-thinking, boundary stretching things I've ever heard. I mean the result isn't the easiest to penetrate admittedly, but this initial intrigue eventually morphed into enjoyment. There's something quite wonderful about this unique tapestry of noise that eventually wormed its way into my consciousness.

Random thought: did this influence This Heat's S/T? Asking for a friend. It's also a bit of a precursor to industrial perhaps.

Honourable mention: Faust IV
55Defeated Sanity
The Sanguinary Impetus

Brutal tech death

These Germans are just cut from a different cloth. Instead of naming themselves 'Gorecorpse Apocalypse Annihilator' (or some such nonsense), they let their music do the talking. Regardless, "Defeated Sanity" is perfectly apt, as these mind-bending compositions and thicc hellish atmosphere can make one feel like their grip on reality may be slipping away.

Unbelievably complex and filled with intriguing little subtleties that take eons to unpack (I'm still trying!) this is not your average death metal album
54.O.rang
Herd of Instinct

Post rock / Experimental rock / Neo-psych + (dub, tribal ambient, drone, krautrock?)

Once I discovered this band was essentially a continuation of the wonderful Talk Talk (but without Mark Hollis) my interest was immediately piqued. However, Orang are a completely different beast here. Full of vibrant yet off-kilter percussion. The looseness and focus on rhythmic adventurousness coupled with the psych freak-outs, feels like 'Herd' could be post-rocks answer to krautrock and perhaps Can in particular. To me, this appears to be a much more suitable point of reference than a few 'GY!BE without guitars' comments I've seen elsewhere.

...either way this certainly isn't Talk Talk, but on this occasion that's absolutely fine by me
53Bambara
Stray

Punk Blues / Post-punk / Gothic

Immediate gratification shots fired. Infectious grooves. Anthemic choruses. Punchy yet smoky production. Nocturnal vibes. Insightful storytelling. No this isn't a Nick Cave album, although it doesn't stray (geddit?) too far from that wheelhouse.

Tricky album to place, because on a good day it deserves more, yet on a bad one it's perhaps 'replaceable'.
52Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra

Synthpop / Chiptune

Listening to this in the present-day armed with the knowledge of musical developments in the field of electronic since, should render it kitsch, obsolete and lacklustre. Then why do these playful, danceably-catchy selection of sounds evoke feelings of comforting warmth, when their contemporaries Kraftwerk left me cold? The infusion of more exotic styles is perhaps part of YMO's arsenal here, laying down that classic trick of conjuring up a sense of 'faux-nostalgia' for my Western ears.

Alternatively, maybe YMO is just really good fun?
51Human Remains
Using Sickness as a Hero

Grindcore / Tech death / Mathcore

Technical wizardry? Check. Insanely creative (especially for its time!). Check. A turbulent, chaotic and concise punch to the face? Check. A riotously great time? Hell yeah!

This landmark grind release is pretty much everything I could want from the genre.
50The Cinematic Orchestra
Motion

Nu Jazz / Downtempo

Fake orchestra, real satisfaction. Using the improvisational spirit of jazz, a collective of musicians play off samples concocted by writer and producer J Swinscoe. The result sounds surprisingly organic. You have the more laid back downtempo passages being interrupted by noisier acoustic jazz freak outs. It's a stark contrast for sure, but expertly avoids ever being wholly conflicting. Held together by masterfully binding production.

A fine example of executing a vision and conjuring up a tasty albeit quirky flava
49Comus
First Utterance

Progressive folk / Psychedelic folk

I tried hiding behind a cushion

Pioneering, trailblazing, weirdo progressive / avant-folk from all the way back in 1971 (seriously?!) First Utterance is as disturbing as it is impressive. In terms of its pure creativity and inventive songcraft Comus would reach the higher echelons of my 'sort of in some vague order' compendium here, yet the themes and their maniacal, harrowing presentation can be genuinely unsettling. So much so that plummeting to these depths can be a daunting endeavour. Still, there's almost a morbidly dark humour at times, which helps alleviate the tension to a degree.
48The For Carnation
The For Carnation

Post rock / Slowcore

Slint + Tortoise bois conjure up another slice of post rock (the good kind!) with a heavy dose of sombre, suspenseful and relentlessly melancholic slowcore. Also, maybe shares common ground with Mogwai's greatest achievement "Come On Die Young" (which album did you think I meant?) in that it sometimes doesn't post rock much at all. I like that. I like Slint and Slint-like things, but also this isn't as noisy as Slint. I like being teased with build-ups and tension and aTMoSpHerE. The payoffs are here, meticulously placed and not overdone. I like that too.
47Haruomi Hosono
Philharmony

Art Pop / Progressive Electronic

I strongly considered blatant plagiarism for this entry, because anat's dissection of this album is up there with my fave reviews on Sput. I like how he mentions there's an unhappy marriage between the sugary pop hooks and darker undertones of the instrumentals. How Hosono foresaw the rampant consumerism / or how our digital conveniences would serve to shroud the world around us. How this uneasiness is displayed within Philiharmony's 37 minutes, despite the somewhat uplifting nature of the synth-work. How Hosono knows his way around a killer pop hook, yet is only occasionally straight-forward in reaching these moments.

This is simply a homage, plagiarism be damned

Note: I also considered Low for this entry, but my word I didn't want to follow Slowcore with Slowcore because imagine those optics!
46Regina Spektor
Begin To Hope

Singer-Songwriter / Art pop / Chamber pop

I had a blast going through Spektor's discography and 'Begin To Hope' stuck with me the most, however it would be fair to call this a 'legacy ranking' as I listened to this A LOT (and it fell off dramatically towards the end).

Regardless of that nonsense, this is mostly a playful and charismatic release that's occasionally very striking. Soulful voice when she chooses to really use it. Some very solid hooks and pretty piano. Apres Moi is impressive for instance... yadda yadda (ugh, I'm too disappointed to continue with this, it just needed documenting!)

Honourable mention: Remember Us To Life which with the benefit of hindsight, may actually be the superior album overall
45Esthero
Breath from Another

Trip Hop / Contemporary R&B

I'm somewhat of a connoisseur (lol?) when it comes to the darker, moody side of trip hop - well, this isn't like that. Breath From Another leans on its melodic pop hooks and shimmering production, which results in a lush, inviting sound. There's hidden depths surrounding the strikingly immediate presentability here, little acid jazz bents or dnb beats. In many ways I consider this to be Lamb's (S/T release) more accessible RnB-sympathising cousin. And I can always do with a little more of that in my life.
44Low
Things We Lost in the Fire

Slowcore

I don't know when it happened, or why, but at some point in the last few years I went from heavy sad boi to soft sad boi (or actually 'reverted to' might be more accurate... argh, does this suggest regression?!)

Ahem, but yes now when I'm seeking something 'heavy', that doesn't necessarily mean being pummelled into oblivion by some mechanical monster. Low were one of the initial catalysts in this (re?)changing of the guard, I'd found a way of living through my existential crisis in brand new ways and it was beautiful.

Carrying significant weight by presenting a fairly minimalist yet purposeful approach, engrossing subtleties and just enough panache to lift itself out of the dirge. It's incredible to think that Low's greatest achievement was yet to come.

Honourable mention: I Could Live In Hope
43Gaelle
Transient

Contemporary R&B / Downtempo / Deep House / Neo-Soul

Smooth as silk and soft as butter - or the other way around? (hmm...?) this enchanting slice of should've-been-massive RnB coupled with a slick infusion of deep house beats is something of a soothing, disarming ritual by this point. Like wrapping yourself in the warmest of blankets.
42Die Kreuzen
Die Kreuzen

Hardcore punk

Deviation from softboi mode, advance warning...

Another one of those releases to file under 'what year?... that's insane!' Die Kreuzen's S/T mixed the turbulent, chaotic energy of hardcore punk, with dissonant rhythmic grooves and an infusion of impressive technicality without sacrificing their ferocity. There's an almost thrash metal bent to some of the ideas here, with the jazziness of the percussion drawing vague comparisons to Voivod's 'Killing Technology'.
41Porter Ricks
Biokinetics

Ambient techno / Dub techno

An exercise in masterfully conjuring up imagery using a relatively limited repertoire, Biokinetics is a shining example of what can be achieved using a fairly minimalistic approach (despite being produced all the way back in 1996 - i.e. an absolute age in the field of music tech!)

My mind wanders as I seek to traverse these seas, yet the hypnotic grooves have me entranced. It suddenly dawns on me that there is little reason to leave.

Hyperion and Ryus like this a lot, which is reassuring I think (also a back-to-back Ryus love-in, how weird!)
40Ved Buens Ende
Written In Waters

Avant-garde black metal / Progressive metal

Pioneering disso-avant-whatever trailblazers 'VBE' are one of those artists seldom witnessed, one where the passages of time have (seemingly) benefited their standing. The rise of dissonance in the previously far reaches of the metalverse has sparked debates about the origins and influences of *insert those three bands everyone talks about* and such claims are worthy of inspection. However, Written In Waters is emphatically convincing as a standalone piece, even if completely detached from the wider context in which it now resides.

Adventurous yet cohesive, dissonant yet engaging, surreal, technical and abstract yet remains focused. There's an impressive balance in amongst the creativity here, one which many artists of a similar ilk could learn from. Oh, and the bass is prominent in the mix, hallelujah!

Props to Voivod for plugging VBE on here way back when (not the band, the Spuntiker!)
39Jesu
Jesu

Post metal / Drone metal / Shoegaze

*I was summarising because apparently this is also "Doomgaze" but that sounds silly so I'm refusing to use it here (oh drat!)... we have all this branching and developing terminology to describe music nowadays and despite this we still (apparently?) have releases which contain precisely seventy-billion genres, most of which are just an amalgamation of two existing ones. - ah well, we always have Sputnik*

Monolithic is a weighty term and thus I've taken the necessary precautions before slapping it down with reckless abandon here. Yes, Jesu is quite strikingly monolithic. The thick swirling fuzz of distortion is engulfing. The production is meaty. Its gargantuan heft comprises of not only this, but the spacing and tension provided in-between, along with vocals which act as relatively muted, pessimistic cries from the abyss.

This is a project involving Justin Broadrick (Godflesh), Aaron Turner (Isis) and Ted Parsons (Swans). That's certainly weighty!
38Tom Waits
Rain Dogs

Blues rock / Experimental / Dark Cabaret / same issue as #39 but it's Tom Waits so y'know Tom Waits things

A late edition to my bountiful findings over the past few years, Waits' music (and in particular Rain Dogs) made a suitably rip-roaring entrance, one which is worthy of his idiosyncratic performances. Using a vast array of unconventional instrumentation doesn't disguise his song-writing prowess, nor does it detract from one of the most unique and evocative voices I've heard.

Honourable mention: Swordfishtrombones
37Nicolas Jaar
Space Is Only Noise

Downtempo / Ambient House / Electroacousic

Morning coffee album tier #2 (eh, maybe #1.5... depends on sleep deprivation levels).

I have compiled a vast array of go-to music for those situations where my eyes aren't quite ready to witness daylight, Jaar's "Space Is Only Noise" is certainly one such strong contender. Jaar has a knack for making everyday sounds sound extraordinary. An eclectic, aquatic mix of unusual sounds, samples and voices coupled with stellar production to bind it all together. There's something odd about 'Space' in that despite the supposed diversity, this is a very serene listen. Some may say empty or lethargic even. I say ethereal. Sometimes that's all you need.
36Mark Hollis
Mark Hollis

Singer-Songwriter / Chamber Jazz

A much less drastic transformation than Talk Talk's deviation from synth-pop in the 80s, Hollis's solo effort is like the stripped-back cousin of his former band's latter-day sound. Comprised of minimalist chamber jazz instrumentation, ambience and a focus on tension and spacing; this is an emphatically successful exercise in doing more with less. The delicate compositions are accompanied by Hollis's unmistakeable, angelic, yet fragile tones. Beautiful.
35Ryuichi Sakamoto
1996

Modern classical / Chamber music / Post-minimalism

This is the (sort of) only classical album here and therefore as a massive wannabe / poser (delete as appropriate) I'm not qualified to dissect this on any compositional level (also, I don't want to!) Instead, I have been authorised to provide clichés - i.e. let's wax lyrical regarding Sakamoto's sensational ability to conjure up imagery! 1996 is a seamlessly composed and uninterrupted journey through a nostalgic and soothing world. Exhibiting his majestic piano-work alongside cello, this is a mostly minimalistic chamber-led approach to classical, yet the result feels full and vibrant.

Honourable mentions: Async / 12
34Minilogue
Blomma

Ambient techno / Ambient

Lovely, wholesome, ambient techno. Full of beautiful layering, inter-weaving melodicism and intriguing little subtleties, helping to alleviate any potential burdens caused by its gargantuan runtime. Oh yeah, this also contains ACTUAL ambient, including the surprisingly convincing forty-five minute behemoth 'E de nån Hemma?'... but the vibes are endless (almost literally!)

Is this not entirely convincing?... erm, Trifolium LOVES this and our resident flower's review is quite fantastic, so maybe just check that instead?!
33Peace Orchestra
Peace Orchestra

Downtempo (Ambient Dub, Nu Jazz)

Another project from those Kruder & Dorfmeister fellas, Peace Orchestra is at times bright, playful and optimistic yet is also not adverse to serving up dark, brooding contemplativeness. This deceptively diverse sound palette being the catalyst for a release of subtle depth, a contrast amongst a wash of harmonious, ambient beats. The compositional balance, coupled with complementary sound design is simply an emphatic triumph; possibly representing the greatest achievement of K&D's career thus far.
32Ryuichi Sakamoto
Thousand Knives Of

Progressive electronic / Exotica / Synthpop

So here is one of those select 'I felt obligated to give this artist two entries' bonuses. Sakamoto was (RIP) a visionary in the world of modern classical, but was previously a pioneer in the world of electronic music. His work with Haruomi Hosono (#47!) in Yellow Magic Orchestra (#52!) was a playful counterpart to Kraftwerk's 'please takeus seriously' sensibilities, resulting in a quite different approach to a still fledgling style. This sense of adventure yielded some incredibly forward-thinking results. Utilising both organic and synthetic sounds in perfect harmony.

The most extraordinary thing about Thousand Knives Of, is that despite the somewhat nostalgic or retrograde tone, the overall result still feels relevant and pioneering, even today.

Honourable mentions: Async / 12
31Laika
Sounds of the Satellites

Trip Hop / Dream Pop / (Ambient, Neo Psych, Indietronica etc.)

Sometimes music just has that unquantifiable allure, a magical quality whereby it defies all logic and reasoning. Laika's amalgamation of icy trip-hop sensibilities and spacey psychedelic offshoots, thrown into a jazzy blender by adventurous (often quirky) song-structures is bold and uncompromising. Yet despite this, "Satellites" is so wonderfully listenable. So serene. So welcoming. This precious combination is commonly at the fore-front of my audible yearnings these days, which is probably why Laika's somewhat forgotten statement has become a firm favourite.

Honourable mention: Silver Apples of the Moon, which is almost 80% as wonderful, just not quite as otherworldly
30Ling Tosite Sigure
Just a Moment

Post hardcore / J-Rock / Math rock

At their best 'LTS' are a frenetic whirlwind of passionate vocals, infectious energy and impressive technicality, with sharper hooks than a pirate's convention. While 'Just A Moment' is not necessarily an exception in this regard, they're perhaps not quite as relentless in their pursuit of chaos here. There's a maturity, a more considered approach sporting significant depth. The result certainly serves to highlight their incredible knack for perfectly marrying otherwise conflicting musical ideologies, complexity and simplicity.

On some days this is their peak, yet currently it's #2 in the pecking order

Honourable mention: I'mperfect (#3), but their entire discog is worthy of attention
29Blonde Redhead
Misery is a Butterfly

Art Rock / Chamber Pop / Dream Pop

Back-to-back artists with monumentally impactful discographies, featuring vocals that I'd likely not have stomached a few years back. Is this a trend? Why not?

Having started out as a Sonic Youth cover band (okay not quite, but almost!) Blonde Redhead's journey from off-kilter harbingers of noise and fuzz, into quirky indie art-rockers / chamber poppers was probably not on many fan's bingo card. Yet in spite of this Misery has all the hallmarks of a band who are experts in their field. Writing earworms with a graceful maturity, whilst simultaneously providing a dense atmosphere and darker edge to compliment the lyrical themes.

Honourable mentions: Penny Sparkle (#3), but (again) their entire discog with the exception of "Barragán" is worthy of attention
28Dir En Grey
Arche

Alt metal / Prog metal / Visual Kei (*looks up Visual Kei... hmm, bizarre*)

Proof that 'Demon' hasn't quite retired yet (mostly cos "site says no" username changes) Dir en Grey are one of the few truly essential discoveries I've made in the world of metal recently. What's most immediately striking about their arsenal is vocalist Kyo's extraordinary range and diversity. It's not often you hear such powerfully sung, high-pitched cleans being pitted against much lower register, menacing growls in any sort of convincing manner. This combination facilitates DeG's ability to showcase a wide-range of styles and moods within a single album (sometimes even a single song) - yet the story being told is preposterously cohesive despite all these tangents. Arche has passages of avant-garde tendencies and lavish experimentation throughout its run-time, yet is emphatically unafraid just to throw the listener a killer hook or two just to shake things up a little.

Honourable mention: Uroboros
27Ichiko Aoba
0

Contemporary / Progressive folk

0 is a quintessential example of minimalistic, elegant beauty. Aoba's compositions are tense, sparse affairs. Drawing on a masterful use of tension and spacing. The progressions have consummate room to breathe. Her use of field recordings helps to draw the listener in by thickening the atmosphere, providing an organic feel without unnecessarily cluttering up the delicate nature of her soundscapes. Then at opportune, carefully selected moments, Aoba and her mesmeric guitar-work explodes to life, aided by a superlative use of dynamics.
26John Coltrane
Meditations

Free Jazz / Spiritual Jazz

In a typically dunderheaded miscalculation, I have failed in awarding the genius of Coltrane's work a correct and proper representation here. You see, there's simply no way of condensing the sheer breadth and scope of the man's achievements adequately in this miniscule space.

Meditations (along with previous release "Ascension") represented Coltrane's true descent (ascent?!) into a more spiritual, avant-garde world, in which he first touched upon during classic album 'A Love Supreme' - yet by this point his commitment to these bold experiments was unreserved. It's quite remarkable that Meditations is so empathically listenable in spite of the ambitious freedoms exercised.

Honourable mentions: Blue Train, Giant Steps (#3), Ascension, A Love Supreme, Ole Coltrane... (but the great man may not be done just yet!)
25Can
Future Days

Krautrock / Psych / Ambient

Removing much of the 'rock' from Krautrock, Can's lush ambient soundscapes on Future Days represented a significant departure from their earlier sound. Warm, comforting and seamlessly mellow. The hypnotic nature of their grooves coupled with synth-centric arrangements has a meditative quality. There's no shortage of skill or nuance here, simply a commitment to presenting a consistently engrossing set of ideas. The entrepreneurial spirit of prog, the rhythmic nature of krautrock and the subtle elegance of ambient. What more could anyone wish for?
24Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Henry's Dream

Punk Blues / Singer-Songwriter

Nick Cave is an incredible story-teller. He has an ability to paint pictures with words, to conjure up distinct and vivid imagery - a skill that is most often reserved for the novelists of this world. There's something very captivating and infectious about the lyrical performances during this era, aided by his signature, idiosyncratic vocals. The fusion between Cave's twisted gothic-cabaret blues balladry and the more forthright punkier side of his earlier roots, reach a harmonious balance on Henry's Dream. "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" goes for the jugular right out of the gate, representing one Cave's greatest rock songs - yet there are an almost equal measure of softer, more subtle compositions here, including another career highlight in "Christina The Astonishing".

Honourable mention: Let Love In (#4) - a close call. "Lay Me Low" is an easy top-tier Cave number but 'Henry' is marginally more consistent overall.
23Trophy Scars
Astral Pariah

Art rock / Blues / Post hardcore / Gothic Country

It has just dawned on me how there are number of similarities between this and the previous entry (hmm, I'm pretty sure this was not intentional)...

Yes, here we have another dose of dramatic, grandiose story-telling. Another surprisingly perfect marriage between gothic punk and blues. Another impactful performance that's chock full of personality, selling the fantastical narratives with upmost aplomb.

Conceptual shenanigans and fancy arrangements aside, Astral Pariah is a lean slab of lavishly layered, full-throttle punk. Just when you things can't possibly get any bigger, Trophy Scars deliver one more thunderous crescendo. Packing in every available piece of their arsenal into a succinct thirty-minute runtime, not a moment here is wasted. It's still A LOT, but that's fine by me.
22Diamanda Galas
Plague Mass

Experimental / Spoken Word (Poetry, Ritual ambient, A cappella, Industrial)

Plague Mass was performed live at a church in New York during the height of the AIDS crisis. It's an extremely raw, primal and harrowing protest performance, which uses an abundance of religious references (often highlighting the hypocrisy of those who blamed the "sinners"). It represents perhaps the purest example of context being vitally important, at least equal to that of the performance itself.

Galas' tortured shrieks and A capella readings reverberate around, bouncing off the church walls. This echoing effect is critical in reminding the listener of the setting / nature of the piece - whilst simultaneously thickening the atmosphere. When instrumental accompaniments do appear, they are sparse, with minimalist ambience, ritualistic percussion and eerie tape recordings all part of Galas' arsenal. This is perfect as it allows an uncluttered backdrop to appreciate her affecting, monumental oral repertoire.
21Labradford
Prazision

Post-rock / Ambient / Drone

Meticulously crafted, lethargic and ethereal, 'Prazision' is finely-tuned and utterly unconcerned with adhering to any preconception of what post-rock represents. For starters, Labradford don't use percussion here, which is a bizarre concept in the world of 'rock' music. These desolate soundscapes are comprised of guitars and synths along with cleverly applied effects to create a slowly morphing wall of sound. At this stage in their career Labradford were also seemingly unconcerned about offering up memorable melodies or monumental crescendos; instead we have this wall of fuzz interspersed with a calm, yet eerie ambience.

However, there is some reprieve (perspectives may vary!) from this solemn dirge in the form of inventive acoustic change-ups, or sparsely utilised yet hushed vocals - providing new flavours and fleeting moments of humanity or comfort, in what is most regularly a dissonant and abstract experience.

Honourable mention: Labradford
20Ling Tosite Sigure
Inspiration Is Dead

Post-hardcore / J-Rock / Emo

An explosive firecracker of an album that contradicts its title, Inspiration Is (Not) Dead is perhaps Ling Tosite Sigure's defining moment (good review summary... ahem)

'LTS' don't really do half-measures even at their most (comparatively) becalmed, but 'Inspiration' is madder than a box of frogs and whizzes by like a cheetah on amphetamines. The band's masterful balance between melodic hooks and jagged razor sharp riffs is satisfying, delivering their knockout blows in impressive fashion. There are memorable moments all over this, yet there's also an enduring longevity - something which is testament to a strong sense of songcraft and no shortage of complexity.
19Nara Leao
Dez Anos Depois

Bossa Nova

In my rapidly (lol?) advancing years I have begun to appreciate warming hugs in musical form (not actual hugs... eww!) and Nara Leão's outstretched arms are amongst the most comforting. A compendium of classic Bossa Nova songs complemented by beautifully sparse arrangements, allowing Leão's welcoming, disarming tones to shine without obfuscation. Evoking feelings of a faux-nostalgia, a phenomenon which seemingly eludes clear reasoning (cop-out alert).

"Dez Anoz Depois" contains a generous 24 tracks, split into 4 segments. There's subtle deviations in mood over this significant runtime, but the consistency of both the individual cuts and the overall flow, is remarkable. A testament to the binding elegance of Leão's voice coupled with stellar production.
18Popol Vuh
Hosianna Mantra

Neoclassical New Age / Chamber Music

Psychedelic, spiritual and ground-breaking, "Hosianna Mantra" may have come straight out of early-70s Germany, yet shares only vague commonality with it's krautrock counterparts. Using pastoral chamber suites alongside mellow and soothing vocals, this conjures up mysterious eastern imagery, perhaps through ancient times. Remarkably, despite being heavily influenced by the past, this ethereal slice of modern classical is incredibly fresh, even today.

Another victory for the unidentifiable, wonderous, nostalgia brigade, permitting repeated usage of words like 'ethereal', thus relinquishing any opportunities for my own personal advancement.

...but then why advance, when you can ascend?
17SPK
Leichenschrei

Industrial / Musique concrète / Dark Ambient

Exploring the darkest recesses of the human psyche is a vital part of understanding ourselves as a species. An ability to create genuinely unsettling pieces of art by harnessing these thoughts, is something to be lauded. Instead of drawing upon fantastical horrors to achieve this, SPK or "Socialistiches Patienten Kollektiv" (amongst other titles) took things further by presenting a much more ominous scenario, using samples collected from a psychiatric unit, with patients describing various situations (read DadKungFu's stellar review as to why this wasn't necessarily exploitative, at least not intentionally).

Musically, Leichenschrei is an affecting assortment of clattering industrial sounds, synth work and eerie tape recordings. What's remarkable is that despite the nature of the recordings, Leichenschrei contains surprisingly varied songcraft, including an engaging repertoire of rhythmic grooves. Music this bleak shouldn't be so enjoyable
16Susumu Hirasawa
Kyuusai no Gihou

Art Pop / (Electronic, Orchestral, Neoclassical New Age)

Encapsulating a quintessentially cinematic sound, composer and multi-instrumentalist Susumu Hirasawa's bold arrangements conjure a vibrant carnivalesque atmosphere rarely witnessed. Yet for all the layered, orchestral embellishments found during "Kyuusai no Gihou", it's never cluttered. Each individual element having the appropriate room to breathe. For all the complexity and depth of the arrangements here, the most keenly felt impact comes directly from Hirasawa himself, his voice. And contrastingly, it's when the density and fullness of the aforementioned instrumentation relents, where it really shines. Sometimes utilising a slow-tempo vibrato technique known as "Luk thung", Hirasawa's voice is powerful, soulful and has outstanding range, applying it effortlessly to whatever his lavish compositions require.
15Pram
Helium

Neo-Psych / Experimental Rock (Krautrock / Indietronica / Ambient Pop)

A weird and wonderful psychedelic trip of psych pop, off-kilter rock and contemplative ambience. Helium is a gaseous, floating whimsical blob of surreal elements, wrapped-up in a baffling would-otherwise-be-ludicrous disaster-class of contradiction...

So, why are we here then? Well you see, despite all the potentially conflicting elements at play here, Pram have remarkably succeeded in contorting this into something quite brilliantly listenable (enjoyable even!) The hypnotic quality of Helium's krautrock-like percussion bestows it with an abundance of grooves, effectively providing a necessary binding element. Elsewhere, there's an airiness in the almost disinterested, carefree nature of the vocals, often combined with an array of flutes and other melodic elements, which infuse Pram's songs with a surprisingly level of consonance (if you squint hard enough!)
14Nujabes
Luv(sic) Hexalogy

Jazz Rap / Hip Hop (in various forms, idk really?)

Now let's get one thing straight, I essentially know nothing about hip-hop... zilch, nada, nil. In fact, this realisation has actually benefited Nujabes here (because I was putting off writing this entry, lol joking... maybe). Ahem, but no, the unfamiliar critical lens with which I analyse his work through, is quite possibly an advantage.

So, why do I like Luv(sic) Hexalogy in particular? Is it the emotional resonance of rapper Shing02's storytelling, featuring the eternally empathetic themes of love and loss? Is it Nujabes' mellow, yet dense and atmospheric production? Perhaps it's the concise but continuous nature of the album. One which flies by in record time due to hard-hitting Luv(sic) beats, plus grooves potent enough to penetrate these fledgling ears? Is it because... "damn that artwork is pretty"? Maybe it's all of these things.

Honourable mention: Metaphorical Music, Modal Soul
13John Coltrane
Om

Free Jazz / Spiritual Jazz

Om nom nom. Serving up a delectable treat, Om represents Coltrane at his absolute zaniest. This spiritual, unhinged slice of cacophonous genius was lightning in a bottle, representing a singular moment in time. Extraordinarily, Om was an improvisational piece initially discarded by Coltrane for its perceived absence of quality, only to be resurrected posthumously - so yeah, quite literally singular, or it could have been. Fortunately, it's still possible to witness this magnificent, psychedelic display of experimental jazz, which seemingly represents a true landmark in Coltrane's legacy, despite these uncertain beginnings.
12Scarcity
Aveilut

Atmospheric Black Metal / Avant-Garde Metal / Totalism

Glenn Branca's favourite metal album (pips Liturgy's H.A.A.Q, probably), Aveilut is a monumental exhibit of why totalism is disso-heaviness's perfectly symbiotic accompaniment.

Scarcity are but two men (three if you include Colin Marston's stellar production), yet Aveilut is an enormous, hypnotic wall-of-sound. Using droning repetition, combined with significant audio manipulation, the pair have cultivated this mesmerising forty-five minute behemoth. Divided into five parts, Aveilut is essentially one continuous piece. The organic unwinding of its dense, gradually shifting rhythms is captivating and the dissonant melodies interspersed with anguished screams, are surprisingly emotive.
11Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree

Singer-Songwriter / Art Rock / Ambient / Drone

Adapted to reflect the death of his teenage son (which happened during the writing process), Skeleton Tree is Cave at his most vulnerable. These compositions are mostly sparse, sombre, funereal affairs. The tension is suffocating. The outlook is bleak. Cave's poetic lyricism is the centrepiece, the drifting ambient soundscapes allowing the necessary space for those moments of poignancy to be heard without intrusion. That's not to say Skeleton Tree feels empty, just comparatively minimalistic. There's plenty of hidden detail to uncover in these dark depths, where optimistic embellishments occasionally threaten (yet fail) to break out from the dirge.

Skeleton Tree may not have the vigour, nor the characterful showmanship of Cave's past work, yet his incredible songcraft remains. It certainly has an unparalleled emotional impact and therefore stands as arguably his greatest achievement.
10Joanna Newsom
Have One on Me

Singer-Songwriter / Chamber Folk / Progressive Folk

I have been listening to 'Have One On Me' (and Newsom's entire catalogue) for what is now around two months, yet this 18 track, 2 hour behemoth is sitting here comfortably in the upper echelons of this list (for reasons presumably related to witchcraft or deception). Have One On Me is remarkably, bewilderingly consistent for an album of its monumental length. Full of beautiful yet complex melodicism, lush arrangements and intriguing progressions. Newsom's vocal performance is nothing short of otherworldly, magical even. There's a smooth, disarming nature to her voice here - despite a few quirkier, less immediately digestible moments remaining (as in her previous works), this is as graceful as she's ever sounded. This, coupled with a quite absurd vocabulary, means Newsom can create fantastical narratives with ease. The diversity of her linguistics constantly offering up fresh and unique ideas.

Honourable mention: Divers
9Masakatsu Takagi
Kagayaki

Chamber folk / Neoclassical New Age / Field Recordings

Sleep deprivation morning ritual, exhibit #1.

Takagi's ability to conjure up an immersive world full of life, is the most impressive aspect of his storytelling on Kagayaki. His significant use of field recordings, sound collage and samples of human interaction all add to the experience. Leaving the optimum amount of spacing for his pastoral folky compositions to breathe, Kagayaki is mostly airy, unobtrusive and calming, yet also intersected with well-placed dynamic shifts. There's an ethereal, almost surrealist quality here, adding to the escapism. Occasionally, Takagi's affecting vocals arise from the serenity, applying a little melancholy to proceedings - these moments are usually accompanied by the more minimalist side of his delicate arrangements.
8Low
Hey What

Ambient Pop / Post-Industrial / Glitch

In a startling reinvention for the ages, Slowcore giants Low release their greatest achievement - over 25 years into their career. Following the tragic death of Mimi Parker, Hey What ended up being Low's final gambit, perversely strengthening the poignancy of many lyrics. Hearing the couple's reflections on love, longing and their struggles in retrospect, feels incredibly weighty with the benefit of hindsight. How can anyone hear 'Don't Walk Away' without feeling at least a little emotional?

Musically, this is a creatively bold take on glitchy industrial noise, ambient droning passages and surprisingly well-placed moments of pop consonance. The pacing is sublimely well thought-out and the pair's use of dynamic shifts helps to highlight the bigger moments. It's a testament to Low's songcraft and superb production, that moments of engagement and (dare I say it...) catchiness can be unearthed despite a mostly quite abstract framework.
7The Angelic Process
Weighing Souls With Sand

Doomgaze / Drone Metal

Weighing Souls With Sand has a devastating emotional heaviness born out of themes of love and suicide, ultimately magnified further by tragic circumstance (again!) A fictional narrative turned nightmarish reality after "K.Angylus" ended his own life in the year following the release of this album. The music is suitably crushing too, in every sense. A monolithic, lavishly layered wall of thick distortion and fuzz permeates much of 'Souls' runtime, with eerie ambient passages and unexpected melodic moments of respite breaking up the dirge. It's plenty doomy, but surprisingly colourful for such a slow-moving and bleak, atmospheric behemoth. The tortured vocals are like cries from a distance, as if they're buried beneath the weight of the instrumentals by the rough, almost blown-out production values. The choice is an emphatically successful one, as 'Souls' is an intoxicating and unique experience, that I imagine wouldn't work as well with a more conventional sound.
6Joanna Newsom
Ys

Chamber Folk / Progressive Folk

A suitably bold placement for such a relatively recent discovery, Joanna Newsom's "Ys" is a stunning folk masterpiece. As previously stated, my journey with Newsom's music has been short-lived thus far, yet its impact has been quite incredible. "Ys" is certainly a more digestible length than follow-up and fellow list-invader "Have One On Me" but it's no less ambitious. These meticulously crafted compositions are full of lush beauty, with orchestral flourishes aplenty. The baroque-inspired arrangements conjuring up fantastical medieval imagery, they act as the perfect accompaniment to Newsom's astounding vocal performance. Her lyricism is as complex and multi-faceted as the instrumentals, linking together obscure phrases that would seem cumbersome in the hands of a less talented song-writer. That's not to say "Ys" is an entirely abstract affair, as underneath these fairy-tale-like stylings it's extraordinarily relatable and inescapably moving.
5Trophy Scars
Holy Vacants

Post Hardcore / Blues Rock / Progressive Rock

Praise be holy Sputcore!

Selling fantasy concepts as ludicrous as those contained within Holy Vacants is no easy task. Trophy Scars' over-the-top, absurdly paranormal narrative is perhaps tentatively held together by the quirky and theatrical performances. That being said, it's testament to these performances coupled with a strong creative vision, that any potential concerns are essentially quashed from the outset.

A whirlwind of infectious energy, soulful blues and an impressive array of vocal styles (including a gruff and croaky 'Tom Waits'-esque' male lead and fittingly angelic female cleans), Holy Vacants is a barnstormer of progressive music. One that shows the way for what a reenergised, reimagined rock-orientated sound can provide the masses (okay... Sputnik then - the rest of the world doesn't care, sadly).
4Can
Tago Mago

Krautrock / Psychedelic Rock / Experimental

Maybe that's why I thought this was nonsense the first time around?...

Staring into the void attempting to construct sentences while thinking about this album is erm... a lot like listening to this album, perhaps? Utterly bewildering. Presumably attempting to unearth any coherent thoughts when presented with the psychedelic behemoth likely leads to insanity. It would therefore be advisable to stop thinking about Tago Mago and start feeling!... Because despite abstract, surrealist and avant-garde tendencies, at their core Can have an incredible sense of groove. The rhythmic grounding holding Tago Mago's otherwise neurotic trip together is hypnotic. And the farther from the start of this relatively becalming descent you go, the more vital this knowledge becomes.

All that being said, once you succumb to Can's charms it's easy to lose yourself in the void. Encapsulating that enduring sense of escapism I often yearn for.
3The Field
From Here We Go Sublime

Minimal Techno / Tech House / Ambient Techno

(Demon regrets using words such as 'hypnotic' and 'groove' six thousand times so far, especially when this would be a back-to-back affair - must do better!)

The ability for 'From Here We Go Sublime' to transform itself from repetitive and unobtrusive 'study' music into a truly immersive experience is remarkable. An occurrence which is frequent regardless of the listener's original intention. The way these looping samples reveal themselves at an optimally serene pace gradually permeates your subconscious. The lush, warming sound-design providing reassuring comfort, inviting you into its welcoming space. The extremely deliberate and gradual nature of the progressions magnifies even modest shifts, offering up satisfying moments of deviation. Sublime indeed.

Honourable mention: Yesterday and Today, Looping State of Mind
2Blonde Redhead
23

Dream Pop / Indie Rock

Blonde Redhead reinvent themselves once again, this time producing the pinnacle of their distinguished career.

23 is a culmination of gradual refinement strengthened via a near decade-and-a-half of song-writing, yet the formula used is vastly different. Gone are the jagged noisy guitars and off-kilter experiments of yesteryear, the obtuseness of their 90s stylings having all but evaporated. 'Misery Is a Butterfly' was a key step in this evolution, yet '23' shares only vague commonality with the gothic art rock and dark, grittier sound of that album. What it does expand upon are the melancholic dream pop stylings and significant collection of quite excellent choruses, which are emphatically successful this time around. 23's sound is lush, warming and (ugh!) ethereal. Perfectly balanced, 23 expertly delivers instant gratification, but with enough flair and compositional depth for concealed parts of its repertoire to unveil themselves over time.
1Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
The Good Son

Singer-Songwriter / Dark Cabaret / Art Rock / Gospel

In a fitting conclusion, my monumental (yet wholly enjoyable!) endeavour of exploring Nick Cave's discography yielded the most satisfying of results. His strength as a song-writer, story-teller and performer is showcased marvellously in various different forms, over a long and distinguished career - so why does 'The Good Son' rise highest? You see, despite Cave's raucous punk energy and his fascination with embodying unscrupulous characters, his greatest asset as a song-craftsman is often shown during his more reserved moments. It just so happens that 'The Good Son' has plenty of those. This allows his simple but enduringly effective use of sombre, bluesy melodies to really shine through, with guitars commonly taking a back seat to beautiful, delicate strings and noir-esque piano. Eventually, Cave embraced a sparser and less rock-orientated approach, but the sound he cultivated here remains unique within his vast repertoire.
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