Favorites, Discoveries and Rediscoveries of 2013
As this rollercoaster of a year is slowly coming to an end, I started reflecting on my favorite albums of the last twelve months. Looking back I must say that this was a really good year musicwise and since I started expanding my vinyl collection again from January on, I have given music an even bigger space in my life than it already had before. I rediscovered the dispositif of mindful listening and loved diving into those different worlds of sound again and again, letting my thoughts stray and meditate. This helped me even further with learning to be alone with myself, which is a demanding thing to do and to accept and I now seem to manage quite well. I needed to decelerate everything a bit and realized that deceleration sometimes might be more important than always trying to accelerate and having the fear of missing something. In deceleration lies focus and focus helps us to reach the core of a matter, it’s what the mind is all about for me and I just can’t keep consuming like crazy because I feel that we lose respect for certain matters, if we just percieve them on „fast forward“ to be able to move to the next product and try not to miss anything. Trying not to miss anything is just an illusion anyway, it’s fighting a loosing battle and tilting against windmills. But not to bother you anymore with my train of thought. Here are – in alphabetical order – the releases of this year that really got my attention and seemed well worth my time.
Twenty personal darlings of 2013:
Apparat – Krieg und Frieden (Mute)
It’s impressive that this is one of the rare soundtracks that manages to keep it’s impact even without the accompanying performance. Apparat really is an impressive artist and has come a long way since his first release. The way elements of noise, post-rock and classical instruments are tied together feels bold and elaborated and almost effortless. This one gives me pleasant goosebumps everytime.
New Album – Krieg und Frieden (Music for Theatre) – Out Feb 2013
Cervello Elettronico – Anima Meccanica (Hands)
I can’t deny that I am a sucker for those more technoid styles and this album more than delivers. It’s pumping rhythmic structures are combined with some very psychedelic sounds and it’s dark yet energetic atmosphere never becomes tiring. There is much to be discovered here and it works on and beyond the dancefloor almost flawlessly.
http://handsproductions.com/Artists.asp?A_index=67
Diaphane – Lifeforms (Ant-Zen)
The first album by Diaphane for me was an unexpected surprise and became one of my favorites in 2010. In 2013 Diaphane rewards our patience with an absolutely stunning sonic assault that without any doubt plays in the first league of contemporary electronic music. It’s deep, diverse, powerful, sometimes introverted and then all of the sudden outbursting and raw.
http://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/lifeforms
Field Rotation – The Fatalist: Repetition of History (Denovali)
This one is probably one of the most melancholic albums that I’ve heard this year and I mean that in a good way, since the kind of melancholy this album constructs has something very warm and poetic to it. It’s not unnecessarily overwhelming the listener with it’s emotion and doesn’t seem pretentious at all, it kindly invites it’s listener into a world of introspection and opens up the potential for an interesting dialogue. This one should be enjoyed in solitude with a good glass of wine and some flickering candles.
http://www.denovali.com/fieldrotation/
Forest Swords – Engravings (Tri-Angle)
Tri-Angle have proven that they have a good way to keep their specific handwriting without being boring or monotone. This album perfectly suits this label and yet enhanches the „Tri-Angle“ formula yet again. It’s lo-fi style and sample work creates a beautiful and engaging atmosphere with an oldschool vibe that reminds me of those good old days when trip-hop was on the rise.
http://tri-anglerecords.com/?p=684
Greg Haines – Where we were (Denovali)
Greg Haines changes his direction with his latest album and delivers a concept piece that engages you from the first minute. This change isn’t really surprising since he seems to be able to make gold out of everything he touches. „Where we were“ is a very tightly put together album that keeps a very good arc of tension and playfully switches between different styles.
http://denovali.com/greghaines/
Haxan Cloak, The – Excavation (Tri-Angle)
Unbelievably dark and scary! This one really has to be experienced on high volume and in a dark room all by yourself. The Haxan Cloak is propably the best canvas for your worst nightmares. Open yourself up and take a look into the abyss.
http://tri-anglerecords.com/?p=403
Huron – The other Side of Reality (Raumklang Music)
Altough his style reminds me of „Access to Arasaka“ it still offers a handwriting with a very unique touch and being compared with one of the greatest is only meant as a compliment. The soundscapes are complex and tense and I can’t deny that I more than admire the way he approaches working with sounds. Complex rhythms, a dystopian, urban atmosphere with a lot of emotion and an almost introverted feel.
http://raumklangmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-other-side-of-reality
Lustmord – The Word as Power (Blackest ever Black)
This is a release by Lustmord that just really hit the spot for me. There is a lot to discover in these tracks and any fan of well produced ambient music and droning sounds should give this one a listen. Lustmord’s reputation is justified within the scene and I think that there is no need to say more.
http://blackesteverblack.bigcartel.com/product/lustmord-i-the-word-as-power-i-blackestlp004-2xlp
Machine Code – Under the Sun (Subsistenz)
Sometimes there is the need for some more straightforward and danceable material and Machine Code delivers just that without being to repetitive or stale. This is one of those albums that although it seems to aim more in direction of the dancefloor also has a lot of substance and really shows the wide spectrum of this amazing producer.
http://subdivisionmedia.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-sun
Miles – Faint Hearted (Modern Love)
Oh „Modern Love“ you keep suprising me and so far managed to earn lots of my love. This one is a record that combines industrial and techno elements in a very elaborated way. It reminded me a bit of Orphx’s „Vita Meditativa“ and that probably says all that needs to be said.
http://www.modern-love.co.uk/releases/miles-faint-hearted
Moderat – II (Monkeytown Records)
The first album by Moderat had some material that I really enjoyed very much but didn’t really work as an album for me. „II“ changes that and delivers a more homogenic yet still very experimental experience that combines the signature sounds of Modeselektor and Apparat to produce something new and very enjoyable without hiding the individual roots of the artists.
http://www.monkeytownrecords.com/releases/view/82/monkeytown035-36-ii
Nils Frahm – Spaces (Erased Tapes)
One word: „Says“! The opening track of Frahm’s new record blew me away completely and this different approach to the concept of a live-album is bold and beautiful in it’s entirety.
http://www.erasedtapes.com/store/index/ERATP055
Piano Interrupted – The unified Field (Denovali)
Jazz meets IDM on a playground of emotions. „The unified Field“ for me seems to be another step forward for Piano Interrupted and concentrates on the essence of their specific sounds. It’s moving and playful yet complex and academic.
http://denovali.com/pianointerrupted/
Seirom – 1973 (Aurora Borealis)
Technically this one was already released in 2012 but it’s vinyl release was in 2013 so I am lucky there. Seirom reminds me of some of Tim Hecker’s best work and nonetheless stands on it’s own. It doesn’t rely on this parallel and is an unspeakably beautiful and rich in variety with a lot of complex texture and unbelievable climaxes throughout it’s impressive running time of over ninety minutes.
http://auroraborealisrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/1973
Shorai – Interference (Hands)
I am willing to welcome our new robot masters and embrace the reign of the machines if this is their language. Shorai again delivers an amazing album that expands on his trademark style and delivers another step up in remarkable quality!
http://handsproductions.com/Artists.asp?A_index=24
Sigur Rós – Kveikur (XL Recordings)
Although I never was a die hard fan of this icelandic cult band, I enjoyed most of their output very much. ‚Kveikur‘ for me seems like one of their more darker albums and that might be why it really stuck with me. There actually are some elements that could have been taken from the genre of power electronics and those are combined with the typical epic post-rock feel that we have come to love by this band.
http://www.discogs.com/Sigur-R%C3%B3s-Kveikur/master/566165
Tim Hecker – Virgins (Kranky)
Since the press already covered in detail why Hecker’s new record is amazing there isn’t much more that I could add to that. „Virgins“ is or seems much more organic than his previous work, it’s even more demanding and voluminous. Hecker knows what he is doing and not afraid to try something new without losing his core. This one takes time and attention but is so rewarding if you’re willful to give it some of your precious concentration.
http://www.discogs.com/Tim-Hecker-Virgins/release/4947077
Witxes – A Fabric of Believes (Denovali)
This one seems to have come directly from the dark ages to put a captivating spell on you. This record builds tension in an excellent way and really takes it’s time to let go. It’s aggressive, sometimes dreamy, brooding and most important it’s rewarding!
http://witxes.bandcamp.com/album/a-fabric-of-beliefs
Xabec – Closing the Circle (Self-Released)
It’s really sad to see Xabec go but he’s leaving on a high note and his upcoming project Silent Walls already looks and sounds promising! This one is a release with a lot of heart and effort that combines everything that made Xabec an astonishing and diverse act that managed to blow me away since I’ve first seen them live.
http://xabec.bandcamp.com/album/closing-the-circle-2
Thema verfehlt ... 