Best of 2015

[Adrian]

Hi there,

not sure if this allowed yet, but no more discs that would make my list are forthcoming in the next three weeks, so...

But before I do the countdown, I would like to particularly mention:
- Moritz von Oswald Trio – Sounding Lines (Honest Jon’s); a funky dubby jazzy album I listened to a lot this year, very organic and lush, despite being very ‘German dub’ of course…
- David Sylvian – Playing the Schoolhouse (Confront); sort of an ending, or a new beginning perhaps, for Sylvian, using an improv with Jan Bang, recorded in Norway, it also features Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura. I would love to hear more from Sylvian in this vein than this 15 minute ep.
- Tim Bowness – Stupid Things That Mean The World (Inside Out); best ‘pop’ album of 2015, a companion to 2013 release ‘Abandoned Dancehall Dreams’, this is an absolute masterpiece by Bowness, who has now twice release dan album that I liked more than his partner in band No-Man Steven Wilson’s two last releases – which is saying something…

And now on with the countdown:
5. Radu Malfatti – Shizuka Ni Furu Ame (B’Boim); a sparse work for guitar – beautifully played by Cristián Alvear with impressive restraint.
4. Joseph Kudirka – Beauty and Industry (Another Timbre); pretty, small scale works for chamber ensemble (here played by Apartment House) – a very welcome collection to put on on a windy wet autumn day.
3. Keith Rowe/John Tilbury – Enough Still Not To Know (Sofa); 4 discs (3,5 hours) of sometimes sort of familiar, sometimes not, music by these two veterans – gives as much as (or more than) you give to it.
2. Rie Nakajima – Four Forms (Consumer Waste); an LP consisting of four pieces, essays I might call them(?), of lushly mechanical or mechanically lush sounds – it’s hard to describe for me, but I love this so much – she uses various objects that she puts in motion and records the sounds of (as I understand it) and it makes for wonderful listening.
1. Michael Pisaro – Melody, Silence (for solo guitar) (performed by Cristián Alvear) (Potlatch); what an absolute gem of an album. I love everything about it, the music, the recording, the sleeve – how Cristián plays the music – so different from the number 5 in this list, where that is sparse this is open and just gorgeous!

So, what did you all enjoy this year?

Have a good one! Adrian

[Wombatz]

thanks for starting this, i promise to check out every song record that gets nominated in this thread. while it's too early for my own list (should i make one), something i haven't seen mentioned here which others might enjoy are the two tape releases by debt of nature on lal lal lal. it's the guy from medicine (those of you who don't remember, something of a cross between mbv and garbage (the band, not the rubbish), they had their moments, though, some brilliant guitar sounds), reunited with his pal from a mid-80s post-destroy-all-monsters teenage jam and rattle unit. now they do collage/concrete. very different sensibility from anything, and pretty fantastic.

[mono tony]

Hi there,

not sure if this allowed yet, but no more discs that would make my list are forthcoming in the next three weeks, so...

is it possible to stay abreast of everything forthcoming/released?

some favorites:

AE_LIVE_DUBLIN_191214 -- very fine headphone music
Eva-Maria Houben - Air – works for flutes and organ
I hope you like the universe by Joda Clément
The Quantum Loonyverse by Cylob

[Piano Mouth]

These all look lovely, looking forward to checking all of them out.

Might I add some favorites of mine from this year:

Jürg Frey ‎– Grizzana And Other Pieces 2009-2014
Earl Sweatshirt ‎– I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside
Aine O'Dwyer - Music for church cleaners, vol. I & II
Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon

[Yii]

disc
Shin'ichi Isohata - Legacy of Frida Kahlo

show
11.11.2015 | Dotolim | the international nothing’s asia premiere

flick
Right Now, Wrong Then | Hong Sang-soo

mixtape
Dj Uchiage - Summer of Love

[joeperucki]

My favorite of the small amount I purchased was Devin DiSanto and Nick Hoffman, Three Exercises. Devin's motions/events and Nick's out of nowhere noise is as amusing and fascinating as it gets for me. I'll admit I was confused at first but it continued to grow on me to the point of really loving that space.

[schiksalgemeinschaft]

album of the year:


Joanna Newsom - Divers

Great lyrics, beautiful & mature songs, unbelievable production. Her best yet, and that's saying something. A grower too, of course.
I think making a relevant "pop" album in this day and age probably is a lot harder than the more avant garde stuff of the list below.


other favorites, in random order:
Greg Stuart & Ryoko Akama - kotoba koukan
Keith Rowe/John Tilbury – Enough Still Not To Know
Michael Pisaro – Melody, Silence (for solo guitar) (performed by Cristián Alvear)
Michael Pisaro - A mist is a collection of points
Eric La Casa/Taku Unami - Parazoan Mapping
Jeph Jerman/Tim Barnes - Matterings
Devin DiSanto/Nick Hoffman - Three Exercises
Lucio Capece - Epoché
Jason Lescalleet - This is what I do volume 13
Krallice - Ygg Hur
Kaeck - Stormcult
Order From Chaos - Frozen in Steel (5cd reissue of their full discography)


books of the year:
Kim Stanley Robinson - Aurora
Ian McDonald - Luna: New Moon

live performances:
Intergalactic Lovers @ Rivierenhof, Deurne, 29th of august 2015 (good old poprock)
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui & Eastman - Fractus V @ De Singel, Antwerp, september 2015 (contemporary choreography)
Tino Sehgal - This is progress @ Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, november 2015 (performance art)

exhibition of the year:
Late Rembrandt - Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

[Piano Mouth]

I found the new Joanna newsom record to be rather boring, am a big fan of her last album and Ys too


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[schiksalgemeinschaft]

I found the new Joanna newsom record to be rather boring, am a big fan of her last album and Ys too

yeah I thought so to at first, but it just needed more spins to let it click for me.

[james]

At this point in time, I think it's her best.

[vegetable mind]

my top record of the year would have to be Alva Noto - Xerrox Vol. 3, surprised not to see this included on more lists, publications or personal

others records in no particular order

maja ratjke/jon wesseltoft/camille norment/per gisle galaan - celadon
jenny hval - apocalypse, girl
the body & thou - you, who i have always hated
hecker/leckey - sound voice chimera
visionist - safe
ash koosha- GUUD
beat detectives - boogie chillen/the hills of cypress
jason lescalleet - this is what i do vol. 11
jefre cantu-ledesma - a year with 13 moons
colleen - captain of none
deepchord - ultraviolet music
barnes/jerman - matterings
trust image - rory's world
olivia block - aberrations of light

exhibitions

berlinde de bruckyere @ gemeenteemuseum, den haag, nl
tomas saraceno @ tanya bonakdar, nyc
la monte young's dreamhouse @ dia:chelsea, nyc

performances

graham lambkin/michael pisaro @ amplify, nyc
ron morelli dj set @ good room, nyc

tangenting from Newsom a bit, what are peoples thoughts, if any, on the Sufjan Stevens record? I only listened to it recently and was somewhat divided, there are some really emotionally affecting moments but it veers a little too much into twee territory at times for me to fully come on board yet.

[SqDanceCallingSteve]

Myra Melford -- Snowy Egret
Chris Stapleton -- Traveler
Sonny Rollins/ Don Cherry -- Live From the Village Gate
Ashley Monroe -- The Blade
Bill Frisell -- Guitar in the Space Age
Juan Luis Guerra -- Todo Tiene Su Hora
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard -- Django and Jimmie

[J.F.]

First one coming to my mind is
Melt-Banana: Return of 13 Hedgehogs
(singles & eps 2000-2009, with the oldest tracks actually going back to 1996 for recording date = MxBx pretty much at their peak i.m.o.)

The whole thing is quite a mixed bag, but it includes a few tracks I love madly.

[Stephen]

Dave Phillips - Songs for a Dying Species [noisendo]
Ben Gwilliam - Vestibul [glistening examples]
Hans Essel - Zeitfalten [edition telemark]
Akio Suzuki - a i sha [edition omega point]
Joe Panzner - Tedium [noisendo]
Selten Gehörte Musik - Berliner Dichterworkshop (reissue) [tochnit aleph]
David Toop - The myriad creatures will be transformed of their own accord [white cube/vinyl factory]
Jeph Jerman & Tim Barnes - Matterings [erstwhile]
VA AA LR - Ping Cone [mantile]
Maciunas Ensemble - 1976 [edition telemark]

[Piano Mouth]

I was big into the illinoise album, not too into Sufjan's recent output over the last few years. I saw him live during the illinoise tour, it was ok. I'd say you can't go wrong with the Michigan, illinoise, and the Avalanche albums.

[schiksalgemeinschaft]

I totally forgot about the latest Krallice. It's their best yet.
Best metal record of the year I think, and that from a metal conservative

I added it to my list.

[This is PRE]

I really enjoyed these this year:

Thighpaulsandra: The Golden Communion
Mario Diaz de León: The Soul is the Arena
fORCH/FURT: spukhafte Fernwirkung
To Live and Shave in L.A.: Absence Blots Us Out
To Live and Shave in L.A.: This Humiliating Age will not Succeed in Winning Our Respect
Seijaku: Last Live
Ahleuchatistas: Arrebato
Henry Kaiser & Ray Russell: The Celestial Squid
Evan Parker: Seven ElectroAcoustic Septet
Yasunao Tone, Talibam! & Sam Kulik: Double Automatism
Many Arms & Toshimaru Nakamura
Menstruation Sisters: Glass Walking
Mastery: VALIS
Encenathrakh: Encenathrakh
Misþyrming: Söngvar elds og óreiðu

[bedouin]

> Coppice - Cores/Eruct (Category Of Manifestation)
> Eric LaCasa - Soundtracks (Herbal)
> Graham Lambkin / Michael Pisaro - Schwarze Riesenfalter ‎(erstwhile 075)
> Gregory Büttner - Wenn uns jemand hört (1000füssler)
> Jay-Dea Lopez - The Australian Gothic (Unfathomless)
> Jurg Frey - Grizzana (Another Timbre)
> Koenraad Ecker 'Sleepwalkers In A Cold Circus' (Line)
> xguix - a ragudo (at)

Sofa Sets
- Jim Denley, Kim Myhr, Ingar Zach [Mural] - Tempo (Sofa)
- Keith Rowe/John Tilbury – Enough Still Not To Know (Sofa)

Free downloads:
- Jeff Gburek, Marjorie Van Halteren - Long Lines (Plus Timbre)
- Klaus Filip, Noid, Andrey Popovskiy - Live At Teni Zvuka (Mikroton)
- Stefan Militzer, Roland Etzin - O/live (Galaverna)

Jay-Dea Lopez disc "The Australian Gothic" is my favorite. Lopez's outstanding compositional skill also evident on his earlier discs (The Great Silence, AC, Terraform).


P.S>
Not as far reaching list as last year's.
2014 was full of great records I am still discovering.

[marwill]

01) Eric La Casa / Taku Unami - Parazoan Mapping (Erstwhile)

02) Jürg Frey - Circles and Landscapes (Another Timbre)

03) Devin DiSanto / Nick Hoffman - Three Exercises (Erstwhile)

04) Keith Rowe / John Tilbury - enough still not to know (SOFA)

05) Jürg Frey - String Quartet No. 3; Unhörbare Zeit (Edition Wandelweiser)

06) Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly (Aftermath)

07) Marianne Schuppe - Slow Songs (Edition Wandelweiser)

08) Björk - Vulnicura (One Little Indian)

9) Takahiro Kawaguchi / Utah Kawasaki - Amorphous Spores (Erstwhile)

10) Joe Panzner - Tedium (Noisendo)

11-20:
Earl Sweatshirt - I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Tan Cressida)
Eric La Casa - Soundtracks (Herbal)
Meridian - Tuyeres (caduc)
Greg Stuart & Ryoko Akama - kotoba koukan (Lengua De Lava))
Gil Sansón - Immanence, a Life (Dromos Recordings)
Robert Schwarz - The Scale of Things (Grünrekorder)
VA AA LR - Polis (Intonema)
Jim O'Rourke - Simple Songs (Drag City)
Prants - Hot Shaker Meet Lead Donut (Notice)
Kevin Parks / Vanessa Rossetto - Severe Liberties (Erstwhile)

[Hayao Yamaneko]

nzumbe - titubeo
Miguel P mutters and grooves in an abject kind of way. Very good. You'll need a wash.

Michael Pisaro & Graham Lambkin - Schwarze Reisenfalter
Like Nzumbe, hard not to feel it has some relation to Scott Walker. Funny, awkward, overblown. Piano romanticism interrupted by text message, cat noises, charity shop exoticism. Odd. Satisfying.

Mark Baron - Carnets
Seems less developed than Hidden Tapes. But Hidden Tapes was monumental, right? I still like this a lot.

Stephen Cornford - Kinetic Sculptures
's good. Kinda pretty too, weirdly. Different soundworld to the brittle wash & ac buzz of his more recent work. Some really nice slabs of sound here and nice essays that do a good job of putting it all into context

Rie Nakajima – Four Forms
Her live performance at Cafe Kino was astonishingly good, and had a massive effect on me in terms of what seemed possible/desireable to do with a live performance. This would make it here just as a souvenir of that show, but it also stands up very well on its own. Just the separation from performance and space makes this a very different beast though, even as it uses all the same sounds in much the same configurations.

Jeph Jerman/Tim Barnes - Matterings
No moves totally unfamiliar to anyone on this forum, just very nicely done...

Lucio Capece - Epoché
Ditto. Does exactly what it needs to. Hovers. Nicely packaged too.

Joe Panzner - Tedium
Joe is good at noise. Very singular start. Sound world closer to White Metal than his other records, maybe. But a fantastically well composed slab of teeming digital matter that makes its structural decisions sound like the results of a natural process. I can't listen to this at work and expect to get anything done.

I only heard VA AA LR - Polis and Ryoko Akama's turn with Greg Stuart in Seth's car, in between being bombarded with Nikki Minaj and Vince Staples, but I got the sense that more time with these would definitely be well spent.