This is my top 10 albums of the year, any I’ve missed or got completely wrong?
10. Space Ghost – Endless Light
Lovely warm analog sounds from Space Ghost out of Oakland California on this LP for Tartelet Records. This album is a bit like your favourite blanket. A collection of mellow synth funk which occasionally shifts gear towards for the dancefloor. Not really heard this one played much, maybe a little under the radar?
9. Mansur Brown – Shiroi
Black Focus Records got a lot of attention in 2018, mostly for the also excellent Kamaal Williams album. But for me this album from guitarist Mansur Brown was the stronger of the two. There’s so much going on, I feel like I notice something new on each listen. Smokey late night vibes, very enjoyable
8. Pursuit Grooves – Felt Armour
I’ve always had a soft spot for the productions of Toronto’s Pursuit Grooves. This self-released album is hard to define. Crunchy, industrial, electronics like nothing you’ve heard before. Another album that’s probably a little slept on, but I recommend you seek it out.
7. MGUN – Axiom
Don’t Be Afraid had another cracking year, and this is I think their finest release of the year. The sophomore album from Detroit’s MGUN. This one’s full of raw party jams, but works equally as an album you can listen to start to finish on your cans.
6. Bantam Lions – Romantic Views
Bantam Lions follows up his amazing ‘Short Stories’ album with this more experimental but just as excellent collection. The album has a haunting lo-fi feel, with a lot of the tracks being little 2 minute vignettes rather than twelve inch bangers.
5. Mildlife – Phase
Taking in jazz, funk, disco and a little pych, this album was a highlight of my summer, even though it came out a lot earlier in the year. The debut album from Australian band Mildlife is hard to resist by even the coldest of souls.
4. Makaya McCraven – Universal Beings
Everybody’s been talking about the jazz revival this year. I’m not sure it’s ever been away, but it’s great to see the music getting a lot more attention in 2018. This for me was the jazz album of the year. I picked it up when I was looking for interesting music to play on a modern jazz show I put together for NTS earlier this year. The album is made up of a series of live performances in New York and Chicago alongside studio recordings in London and LA. The album features many of the great young players of modern jazz and makes for a stunning listen
3. X-Altera – X-Altera
Not content with putting out a new album under the Dabrye alias, the man of many names, Tadd Mulinix knocked me for six with this one. X-Altera is influenced by a love of jungle and drum & bass alongside a re-connection with melodic techno. All this retro love and the result is an album that feels amazingly fresh
2. Insolito Universo – La Candela Del Rio
I absolutely loved this album, so much it was one of the first blog posts. The album is a mix of traditional Venezuelan styles with a modern electronic edge. A blast from start to finish, great artwork too!
1. Max Graef – Lo Siento Mucho Pero No Hablo Tu Idioma
So here we have my favourite album of the year. Max Graef’s second album (under his own name at least) is an absolute belter. Very different to his earlier stuff, I really love the out-there, lo-fi vibes. Also worth checking out the Ratgrave album Max was involved in this year, also sick!!
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