sorry for all the hip hop and non-idm. IMHO, i couldn't even do a top 10
of IDM this year. Partially because I'm buying hardly any as of late and
partially it because it was a pretty bad year, IMHO..
Top 10:
1. Aesop Rock- Appleseed CDr EP (no label)
wow. insanely great. one of the few truly innovative hip hop releases in a
while. I've only had this for a little over month, but it's been in
constant rotation. excellent dark production (almost entirely handled by
Aesop himself) and this deep voice. plus this kids got mad concepts, and a
unique rhyme scheme. it's a shame that this didn't have better
distribution (it was sold pretty much exclusively over the web).
check
http://www.aesoprock.com/ or
http://www.mp3.com/aesoprock/
2. Super_collider- Head On (loaded)
there's just no fucking with this. soo funky yet technologically advanced.
and Jamie lidell's got SOUL.
3. Fennesz- plus forty seven degrees 56' 37" minus sixteen degrees 51' 80"
(Touch)
Fennesz remains one of the few
'glitch/microwave/microsound/lowercase/whatevertrendyname' artists to
create emotional MUSIC and not just bland sounds. Definetly one of the few
releases in said genre to hold my interests this year.
4. While- Seek EP (musik aus strom)
Finally, a MAS release which trancends the 'AEsthetically pleasing'
catagory into something which is actually innovative.
5. Guineo- Tosstones EP (chocolate industries)
like richard devine doing hip hop. so noisy, yet it manages to have some soul
6. Blackalicious- A2G EP (mo' wax/quannum)
been a while since their killer EP, but this one's less jazzy and more of a
straight forward hip hop experience. A perfect chance for gift of gab to
show just how he has the best breath control in hip hop. Their LP just
didn't do it for me, though.
7. Mr. Bungle- California (Warner)
8. Hrvatski- Oiseaux '96-'98 (rekanklang...)
New twist on the otherwise played out style of drill n' bass.
9. Crank-heftibag (Mille Plateux)
Aliens have already interpreted the love boat theme, now they have a take
on free jazz. Outstanding, although not quite as entertaining as
'Approximate Love Boat', but better than 'wanton phenomenom'
10. Mikah 9- It's All Love CDr(no lbl)
With the exception of like two compilation tracks, we haven't heard from
Mikah since the Fellowship went on hiatus and finally we get this poorly
produced (the last song is cut off in the middle!) home burnt job with
hideous artwork (photocopied on fluorescent yellow paper) . But lyrically,
Mikah Nine, Freestyle Fellowship OG hasn't lost a thing. Since
disappearing from the face of the earth due to contractual issues with a
certain major label his distinct style has been 'borrowed' by dozens of
blowdians and Internet geeks. But, like Souls of Mischief said 'they bite
flows, so we make up new ones'. Mikah's apparently made up loads of new
ones. Lyrically, the album is all over the map, from out there shit to
straight forward rhyming, from old school fellowship style to gangsta rap
(maybe?), and this half singing, half rhyming style he kicks on several
tracks. There is loads of straight up singing, too. (although, unlike
other MCs turned singers, he actually possesses an amazing voice). In a
strange 'student teaching the teacher' twist, Mikah seems to have taken a
cue from fellow Project Blowdian Abstract Rude, although I can't put my
finger on just
Too bad the beats from newcomer Josef Leimberg complete garbage and
painfully cluttered to the point it gets in the way of the MC.
Honorable mentions- D'Angelo- 'Left & Right/Untitled', DJ Shadow & Cut
Chemist- Brainfreeze, Lexanucuplt tour CDr (if only for the killer Electric
Company remix), Solutiore Of Stareau 3xCDr, Accelera Deck, most of the
falsch label output, freestyle fellowship & OD- 'the level of difficulty in
this', Mos Def- Black On Both Sides, Fakesch- Marion, pharhoe monch-
internal affairs, manny fresh productions, jay-z 'so ghetto', tomas jirku
mp3s.
disappointments- Ae- ep7, the roots- come alive (and to a lesser extent,
things fall apart), quannum LP, P.E.A.C.E. EP, anything this year on skam
(represses excluded, of course), Fat Jack/Blowdians- Cater To The DJ,
squarepusher- maximum priest, blackalicious- nia LP
most overrated idm act this year- funckarama
most underrated idm act this year- abstain..
best CDr demo/indie IDM release: tie: solutiore of stareau & EU- christmas
baubles
long deserved re-presses of the year- freestyle fellowship- 'to whom it may
concern', boards of canada - 'high scores'
records I should have purchased by now- Mouse On Mars, Ko-Wrek Technique,
Freeform- green park, squarepusher/richard Thomas, squarepusher- selection
16, the whole 20-2000 series(?!)
things I'll buy next year- Stock Hausen & Walkman- Organ Transplants Vol. 2
(!!), D'angelo-Voodoo (!!!), vibert/cole, that electronic/jazz comp on plug
research, Smyglyssna CD, Common- Like Water For Chocolate, Del- Both Sides
of The Brain, EU CD, J-Live- The Best Part
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