For a number of reasons, my head hasn't really been in the blogging game for some time now. Having said that, over at Before the Streets Were Aired (my other place), I'm just about to sail through the 1100 consecutive daily posts mark - where did that time go? Meanwhile, here on the good ship Unthought of Though Somehow, I'm doing my best to keep the blighter afloat by joining in with the weekly Monday Long Song fun, at the very least. Where to from here? I couldn't really say right at the moment.
I can say that it's been a very good year for music though. At the end of both 2016 and 2017 I bemoaned the fact that I'd spent the previous 12 months listening to more old music than new, but I'm pleased to report that that particular trend has reversed in 2018 and I ended up with a long-list of around 40 albums to choose from for selection in this year's round-up. Tomorrow I might pull a slightly different handful of records from the shelves, but for now, for today, (in alphabetical order) here are twelve of the many LPs that rocked my world in 2018. I've included a few tunes at the end, but click on the individual links to learn/hear more.
AMOR - Sinking Into a Miracle The first of two Richard Youngs related releases on this list, both issued within the past month. The Glasgow collective follow their incendiary pair of 2017 12" singles with a stonking debut LP. Mutant disco anyone?
The Coke Dares - Fake Lake 35 superbly crafted songs, bursting with more ideas than many bands can boast in the course of an entire career.
Hen Ogledd - Mogic Experimental, sonically diverse, genre defying.
Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temples A melodic, wonky, woozy, groove fest from start to finish.
Kiki Pau - Hiisi From melancholic pastoral loveliness to full-on poly-rhythmic wigouts and beyond, interspersed with occasional soothing birdsong interludes - what's not to love?
Kungens Män - Fuzz på Svenska Dark, intense and, let's be honest, pretty darned noisy. Sweden's finest.
Massage - Oh Boy Do you, like me, love bands like The Feelies, The Go-Betweens & The Clean and music released on labels like Sarah Records and Flying Nun? Of course you do, in which case you'll probably love 'Oh Boy' too.
Minami Deutsch - With Dim Light Early 1970s German inspired tuneage from Japan.
Brigid Mae Power - The Two Worlds A remarkable album that creates and inhabits its own universe. Gothic, hymn-like, confessional and fairly harrowing in places.
Regal Worm - Pig Views 21st Century prog. I've probably said enough.
Alasdair Roberts - What News Another year, another remarkable Alasdair Roberts LP. His first of solely traditional songs since 2010.
Richard Youngs - Memory Ain't No Decay Only issued last week, the 5th of Richard's eight 2018 releases I've picked up this year - and it's very possibly the best of the lot. I've already pre-ordered his next LP, due in January.
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13 comments:
I won't delve into the whys and wherefores, but your (ir)regular column is like mail landing on the door mat - something's not right when you come downstairs and discover the postman hasn't been.
Such a lot of tunes to wade thru: no wonder your writing has taken a back seat. I shall make a point, over the holidays, of putting them on a playlist and will feedback to you accordingly.
In the meantime have a good Christmas, won't you?
Interesting list Swede, with many titles I have yet to check out. Fully agree with the Japanese contingent. Here's hoping you'll find the time to blog a bit more next year.
Swede! Nice to hear from you, my boy. I don't think this has happened before, but I don't have a single album on your list. I do recognize some names from previous posts, however. Much work to be done, but that's the fun. Thanks for taking the time. Love the art today too. Happy holidays.
And we have a winner. Massage. Wow. Sorry I missed this one.
And I shouldn't have. As I'm listening, a spark. You did tell me about this one during the summer. Just remembered. Liked it then but slipped away somehow. It happens. Thanks again.
Excellent stuff Swede. I keep meaning to check out Kiki Pau further and you've reminded me to do so.
I hope whatever things are dominating life at the moment ease up for you soon and you'll have plenty of energy left to keep posting TS!
Wishing I had more time available to check out everything from everybody's picks but I'm struggling right now. Will treat myself to some musical indulgence soon, I hope. There's certainly plenty of interest.
That Massage album is really tough to find in physical form. Struck out in all of my usual places. I may be buying a digital album for the first time since I first bought an iPod 15 years ago and thought for a few minutes the technology was great.
Yes, I suspect the real world has encroached on you blogging activities for the time-being but that's as it should be - This is a wonderful add-on to real life but shouldn't be instead of real life.
As you know it's quite some time since I've kept on top of new music but thanks for sharing all these tunes as I've learnt a lot from you guys over the years - Will give them a spin over the festive period. Have a lovely Christmas TS (and don't work too hard!).
Digging Massage. Will dig further into the others when I get chance. The spirit of Peel lives on here... don't go away.
Happy Chrismassy thing in the meantime.
Hi Mr. S,
Wishing you and Mrs. S all the best for the holiday season and throughout the New Year.
John. Thank you for your kind words. If I was a betting man, I'd say that Regal Worm would have the best chance of getting a Medd thumbs-up. If you should happen to enjoy 'Pig Views', be sure to check out the band's previous two albums (also on their Bandcamp page) which I reckon are even better - progtastic!
Ramone666. Cheers mate, I'll do my best.
Brian. I thought the Massage album would be right up your street. I believe the vinyl was limited to 100 copies or thereabouts and was much delayed. Additionally, when my LP finally arrived I got stung for a further £15 import duty. Worth it overall though.
Swiss Adam. Glad I was able to remind you. It's great and a grower.
C. Thanks. I know what you mean. I'm half-dreading checking out everyone else's year-end lists. There's bound to be a ton of stuff I want to check out.
Alyson. I've missed so many of your posts over the past few months. One of these evenings I'm going to pour a glass of something nice and catch up with them properly.
Rol. It's a great little album. Thanks for the kind words.
Hi Marie. Lovely to hear from you - Happy Holidays!
The selections are all new to me. Enjoyed the trippy video for Problem Child, those outfits are brilliant, especially the 'test screen' leggings.
Happy New Year Swede
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