Here are my personal best and worst lists for 1999, in no particular order.
I'm pretty sure it was all released in 99 - corrections and comments
appreciated.
--- The Good Stuff ---
Accelera Deck - 7ep (English Muffin)
Acceleradeck - Sheffield Melodies 1.1 (Rocket Racer)
- Two very nice 7" records that were my introduction into the world of
Acceleradeck. And they come in some oh-so-pretty colours as well (red and
blue). I'm looking forward to picking up "Narcotic Beats" during the Boxing
Day sales... only 8 days left until the single biggest record-shopping day
of the year.
Boards Of Canada - Hi Scores (Skam)
- Re-released in 1999... the crappy CD-R version that I had didn't do this
thing justice. I'm so glad I picked up the official CD release. This is Skam
before they started to suck.
Cylob - Rewind (Rephlex)
- Discussed quite a bit already, but this EP put a huge smile on my face
when I first heard it. I haven't heard "Living In The 80s/Sex Machine"
yet... I hope it's this good.
D'Arcangelo / Solvent - Diagram 9 / Feeling No. 4 (Suction)
- Two of the best tracks I've heard all year... that just happen to be on
the same release. I'm not much of a fan of the old-school analog
electronic-sound, but there's just something about Suction that's so
magical. :)
D'Arcangelo - Shipwreck (Rephlex)
- See above. Probably the last thing I expected to hear on Rephlex this year
turned out to be the best Rephlex release of the year. Highly recommended.
Fingernail - Versions (Fuzzybox)
- A very nice remix compilation from a band I've never heard of. The list of
remixers are impressive - Exhalera Deck, Woodenspoon, Global Goon, Bochum
Welt, and more. They all turn in a strong effort. I'd take this over Warp
10+3 any day.
Irresistible Force - Fish Dances (Ninja Tune)
- Not much to say about this. Solid from beginning to end, especially the
Plaid remix.
Lowfish - Fear Not The Snow and Other Lo-Fiing Objects (Suction)
- I love all that is Suction. Especially Lowfish.
Mr. Scruff - Keep It Unreal (Ninja Tune)
- Great beats. Very playful. Very fun. Very nice. Very Ninja. And check out
Roots Manuva on guest vocals.
Oval - Szenariodisk (Thrill Jockey)
- My introduction to Oval, and boy am I glad I picked this one. I picked it
up on a whim, mainly because of the low price and colourful cover. It's too
bad all Oval can't be this good.
Solvent - Solvently One Listens (Suction)
Solvent / Lowfish - Suction 3.4 (Suction)
- Did I mention yet how much I love Suction? LABEL OF THE YEAR! Whee!
Various - Moving Shadow 99.1 and 99.2 Samplers (Moving Shadow)
- Low-priced 2xCD mix compilations of Moving Shadow artists. Filled with all
kinds of high-paced, loud, techno-y/jungle-y stuffs that I never knew I
liked until now. I think 99.1 is the stronger of the two.
u-Ziq - The Fear (Astralwerks)
- This got slagged quite a bit, but it's a refreshing change. Beautiful.
Various - Skint Sluts (Skint)
- Distributed with an issue of Jockey Slut, this Skint compilation is a nice
little package of head-bobbing, upcoming (at the time) songs.
--- Surprises ---
Plone - For Beginner Piano (Warp/Matador)
- I don't know what one would call Plone's style, but they do it best.
Squarepusher - Selection Sixteen (Warp/Nothing)
- Considering the crap he put out early in the year, this was a welcomed
turnaround.
BR Posse - Dreaming of the Bassline (Rephlex)
- Hey, Rephlex is almost beginning to look like a real label again, eh?
Octopus, Inc - Mere Things And Mindless Creatures (Kracfive)
- A freebie from the Kracfive boys - I didn't know what to expect. It's
absolutely wonderful though. Nice range of styles, and some groovy artwork.
--- Disappointments ---
Coldcut - Let Us Replay! (Ninja Tune)
- I was expecting... more.
Various - Warp 10+3 (Warp)
- Didn't live up to the hype, but stupid me for believing it.
Mouse On Mars - Pickly Dred Rhizzoms (Thrill Jockey)
- Pretty different from "Autoditacker" and "Twift".
Sneakster - Splinters (Bella Union)
- Heard quite a bit about this before hand, and was severely let down after
listening.
Various - A Jedi's Night Out (DMC)
- Simply not my bag of beans.
Various - Ischemic Folks (Schematic)
- Sheer and utter boredom.
--- Just Plain Bad ---
Various - Warp 10+1 and 10+2 (Warp)
- Didn't grow up with it as a young lad, so I guess I can't appreciate this
crap now.
Andrea Parker - Kiss My Arp (MoWax)
- You all know what I think of this. I feel a coma coming on just writing
about it.
Slum - Twilight Mushrooms (Warp)
- Ecch.
Squarepusher - Budakhan Mindphone and Maximum Priest (Warp/Nothing)
- Scrap the noodly jazz shit-fest and get back to writing insane stuff like
"Big Loada".
--- Not IDM But Still Good ---
DJ Rap - Learning Curve (Columbia)
- Doesn't hurt that she's awful cute too.
Tori Amos - To Venus and Back (Atlantic)
- Disc one was good, anyway. I could live without the live stuff on disc
two.
Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile (Nothing)
- Far and away my favourite for the year. And I know how lovingly the IDM
list reacts to mentions of Trent Reznor.
The Herbaliser - 8 Point Agenda (Ninja Tune)
- I'm so glad that this got released. It would have been an utter shame to
keep it locked up in the Ninja vaults or something.
Roots Manuva - Brand New Second Hand (Big Dada)
- Hmm. Wow.
Space Raiders - Don't Be Daft (Skint)
- Has a very Plone-ish feel to me. Very nice and laid-back.
--- Shoulda Been Released But Wasn't ---
Various - Cataract Beats (aii/Pitchcadet)
- Delayed more times than the Caustic Window compilation, the long wait
better be worth it. :)
superfuzz@home.com
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