2016 was an excellent year in terms of music. I mean, if Radiohead releases a new album I’m already pleased. Enjoy reading (and hopefully listening to) this selection.
01. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
As a die-hard Radiohead fan, there is no other place in this list I can put A Moon Shaped Pool on, other than the first place. I consider both In Rainbows and The King of Limbs to be their best albums, and their latest record effortlessly fits in with these two. I guess I don’t need to mention that I actually adore all of their albums, that aside.
On AMSP, Radiohead constantly maneuvers between ferocity and composure. Both ‘Burn The Witch’ and ‘Daydreaming’ are perfect examples of those two extremities. I’m not going to hold back here, as some of the tracks on AMSP make me want to cry my eyes out because they are so stunning. ‘Decks Dark’ is so dreamy, ‘Ful Stop’ slumbers and unfolds into this aggressive climax, ‘Identikit’ with its piercing guitars and ‘The Numbers’ that moves from dark and gloomy towards a beautiful ending with its heavy strings.
A lot of the tracks on this album already existed for quite some years. ‘True Love Waits’ is more than 20(!) years old, but is has been worthwhile waiting as it lands so effectively on this album, stripped down to its essentials. It will break your heart in one thousand pieces, yes it will. “I’m not living, I’m just killing time”, Yorke sings. AMSP is an album of contrasts. It shifts between malice and gentleness, energy and paralysis, strain and ease. Radiohead proves once more that they still know how to make extraordinary music.
Favourite tracks: Every single one of them
On Woman there’s firing disco, kitschy ballads and some parts that wouldn’t be ill suited in a horror musical piece. Justice recycles and repeats heavily from both Cross and Audio, Video, Disco and they are totally getting away with it because it is AWESOME!!! There are alarms ringing, choirs singing, electric guitars and a lot of sugar-coated beats and hooks. Woman is a piece of electro-heaven that tastes damn good.
Favourite tracks: Safe & Sound / Stop / Randy / Heavy Metal / Love SOS
The third installment in Moderat’s trilogy might be their best album so far. All raw edges have been polished. III is a like a musical layered cake that casts a spell. I truly hope this marriage between Modeselektor and Apparat lasts forever.
Favourite tracks: Intruder / Finder / Reminder
4. Simian Mobile Disco – Welcome To Sideways
It’s taking Simian Mobile Disco only nine tracks to completely nest themselves inside your ears. James Ford and Jas Shaw alternate between pure floor-fillers and more dreamlike soundscapes. And if you think you’ve had it after those nine regular tracks, they end their record with an insane 50+ minute Delicacies mix of the whole album, which might be one of the coolest things you’re going to hear in a long time.
Favourite tracks: Space is Filled With Ringing / Drone Follows Me Everywhere / Welcome to Sideways – A Delicacies Mix
5. The Field – The Follower
It’s rather funny how Axel Willner’s music never gets boring considering he uses repetition as the basis for his work. The Follower only counts six songs, but measures more than an hour. It begins dark and damp, but quickly moves to a wider and clearer sound. The Follower is pure gorgeousness and ideal to lose yourself to, just like all of his previous albums. The massive 14-minute final track might almost be a bit too much, but Willner knows how to build up some tension so he is forgiven.
Favourite tracks: The Follower / Pink Sun / Soft Streams
6. Roger Goula – Overview Effect
This is music from outer space. Describing this music with every possible overenthusiastic exaggerated comment isn’t even enough. Just believe me, this is something special.
Favourite tracks: Pale Blue Dot / Something About Silence
Everything is dark darker darkest on Trentemøller’s fourth album. It is as if Anders Trentemølller had a love baby with The Cure. The Danish artist has stepped into his time machine and brought us back something from the eighties, but it’s all pitch-black. There’s a lot of hypnotic basslines and enchanting build-ups to intense climaxes. Fixion is atmospheric, melancholic and heavy. Yummy.
Favourite tracks: River in Me / Phoenica / November
8. Pantha du Prince – The Triad
Hendrik Weber, better known as Pantha du Prince, is also one of my all-time favourite artists. So a new album from the German DJ is always a nice treat. Weber does what he does best: he plays with tempo, infuses different melodies, sounds and tones into magic and builds songs as if they are cathedrals. The Triad isn’t better than his previous two albums, but it’s no less than beautiful and it tickles the right senses.
Favourite tracks: Frau Im Mond, Sterne Laufen / Dream Yourself Awake
9. James Blake – The Colour in Anything
One of the many surprise releases of this year. Blake’s’ third album has many songs, but his music still pierces bone and marrow.
Favourite tracks: My Willing Heart / Choose Me / Modern Soul
Calling your album Junk when there’s so many gems on it is kinda funny.
Favourite tracks: Bibi The Dog / Solitude / Laser Gun
And the rest of the list:
11. Glass Animals – How To Be a Human Being
12. Underworld – Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future
13. Tim Hecker – Love Streams
14. Junior Boys – Big Black Coat
15. Bon Iver – 22, A Million
16. Tiga – No Fantasy Required
17. Samaris – Black Lights
19. Scott & Charlene’s Wedding – Mid Thirties Single Scene
21. Agnes Obel – Citizen of Glass
23. Compact Disk Dummies – Silver Souls
25. Nicolas Jaar – Sirens
27. Cliff Martinez – The Neon Demon OST
28. Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman
29. Róisín Murphy – Take Her Up To Monto
30. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
31. Animal Collective – Painting With
32. Daughter – Not to Disappear
33. Wild Beasts – Boy King
36. Deadmau5 – W:/2016ALBUM/
37. Xeno & Oaklander – Topiary
38. Julian Winding – Powder Room
39. Flume – Skin Companion EP I
40. Nine Inch Nails – Not the Actual Events EP
41. Florence + The Machine – Songs from Final Fantasy XV
42. PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
44. The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come To Expect
46. Shearwater – Jet Plane and Oxbow
47. Crystal Castles – Amnesty (I)
50. Yeasayer – Amen & Goodbye
51. Wolfmother - Victorious
55. Kraak – Fire Fighters EP
57. Local Natives – Sunlit Youth
58. Kings of Leon – Walls
59. Burial – Young Death / Nightmarket
60. Massive Attack – Ritual Spirit EP
61. Andy Stott – Too Many Voices
65. Tobacco – Sweatbox Dynasty
68. Dan Sartain – Century Plaza
70. I Wear* Experiment - Patience
Top 20 tracks (released as single)
01. Jean-Michel Blais – Nostos
03. Justice – Safe & Sound
04. Roger Goula – Pale Blue Dot
05. Radiohead – Burn The Witch
06. Frank Ocean – Pink + White
07. Glass Animals – Youth
08. Pantha du Prince – Frau Im Mond, Sterne Laufen
09. The Chemical Brothers – C-h-e-m-i-c-a-l
13. David Bowie - Blackstar
14. Underworld – I Exhale
19. Everything Everything – I Believe It Now
21. RuPaul – U Wear It Well