My 2016 in Music
I listened to more new music this year than I have in any previous year, thanks to a strict resolution (âlisten to new music every dayâ) from around this time last year. As a listener, I typically fall into the habit of obsessively listening to one old album for weeks on end, missing a lot of new records in the process, so having such an expansive and current âto listenâ list was very new for me. It forced me to be intentional and systematic - I created a spreadsheet logging all new records I hoped to hear, organized by release date, updating with notes when I managed to listen to them. Though I didnât get to all 340 (!) records I hoped to take on this year, the experience of attempting to do so was nonetheless eye-opening; in 2017 Iâll be able to apply some focus to the habits and systems I developed in 2016 and listen to even more new music I really want to hear (while also carving out some more time to dig into good old stuff).
Here are my 40 favorite records from 2016:Â
Hostium â The Bloodwine of Satan
Zeal and Ardor â Devil is Fine
Fatou Seidi Ghali & Alamnou Akrouni â Les Filles de Illeghedad
Dylan Carlson â Falling With 1000 Stars and Other Wonders From the House of Albion
Lacing â Honey Glow
Underworld â Barbara Barbara We Face A Shining Future
Michael Tanner â Suite for Psaltery and Dulcimer
G.L.O.S.S. â Trans Day of Revenge
Inter Arma â Paradise Gallows
Beyonce â Lemonade
Massive Attack â Ritual Spirit
Imperceptum â Collapse of Existence
Matmos â Ultimate Care II
UXO â Self-Titled
Lycus â Chasms
Ehnahre â Douve
Latitudes â Old Sunlight
Rihanna â Anti
Aluk Tudolo â VOIX
KING â We Are King
Dolly Parton â Pure and Simple
Orb â Birth
Carly Rae Jepsen â Emotion Side B
Whores â Gold
Solange â A Seat at the Table
Eight Bells â Landless
Imperial Triumphant â Inceste
Ripper â Experiment of Existence
SkĂĄphe â SkĂĄphe2
Tweet â Charlene
Oransi Pazuzu â VĂ€rĂ€htelijĂ€
Dead Procession - Rituas e Mantras do Medo
SkuggsjĂĄ â SkuggsjĂĄ: A Piece for Mind and Mirror
Matthewdavidâs Mindflight â Trust the Guide and Glide
Michael Tanner â Four Stones for Montague Druitt
13th Chime â Noir
Sumac â What One Becomes
Ahpdegma â Seolfkwyllen
Ustalost â The Spoor of Vipers
A Tribe Called Quest â We Got it From Here, Thank You For Your Service
Iâd also like to shout out these local (Richmond, VA) releases. All support to those holding it down in the RVA metal and experimental worlds:
Obscurae â Ensomhet
Gus Caldwell â Sigh Louder Scream Goodbye
Tavishi â Boundaries
Left Cross â Servants of Death
Left Cross â Hell is Hell
Anti-Christ Siege Machine - Demo
Voarm â Demo
Komodo â Demo
Odd Comp for Nationz â Still wanted to shout this compilation out (even though Iâm on it lol) because 1. The other artists on it are all amazing and 2. Money from this comp goes to Nationz Foundation who are creating a safe house for LGBTQ+ people in Richmond, and I want to shout support for that venture from every rooftop.
My own shit:
I started making music by myself this year under the name Voile, and also began playing and scheming with the femme avant improv group/gang Womajich Dialysiez. You can hear both of us on the comp linked above in the local section. A lot more to come from both of these projects in the coming year, so stay tuned :)
After running a DIY venue for 6 years (and booking 50+ shows and hundreds of bands a year), I was more than down to take a break from that after moving to Richmond. Nonetheless, I did book one show just because I couldnât resist: Bad Friends with Truman, Womajich Dialysiez and Human Apartments at 25 Watt. I will probably get back into booking a zillion shows at some point, but I gotta say, I feel beyond fortunate to live in a town where kickass shows happen every night of the week (often twice or three times in a night) and I donât have to make them happen.
I also became Loud Music Director for WRIR (plz give me your metal, noise and punk CDs so I can put them on the radio), taught workshops about experimental music at (and coordinated) Knoxville Girls Rock Camp, started organizing with Girls Rock! RVA, and became a board member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance.
Some singles I liked in 2016:
Abra - Sick Girl
Inti Wawa â Cantamos Fuerte
Charli XCX â Explode (single of the year/career imo)
Rihanna and Calvin Harris â This Is What You Came For
Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris â Hype
Hoops â Gemini
67 ft. Giggs â Letâs Lurk
Best shows/sets I saw in 2016:
Cough @ Hardywood
Prisoner @ Wax Moon
Carcass and Ghoul @ the Broadberry
1349 @ Strange Matter
Absu and Voarm @ Strange Matter
Dragged Into Sunlight @ Strange Matter
Wolves in the Throne Room @ Strange Matter
Bad Friends @ 25 Watt
Tavishi (every time)
Halloween @ Lovejail
Curse and Tombs in Baltimore during DeathfestÂ
Mayhem doing De Mysteriis @ Maryland Deathfest
Hex Girls @ the Girls Rock! RVA showcase 2016 (actually all the bands)
Beyond stoked and sharpening every available weapon in anticipation of the coming year.
(^See, I have bigger ears to listen to more shit in 2017 with)












