Over The Ocean

Cornwall to L.A. 1 Ocean, 2 Soundtracks

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Neil’s Best of 2016

I think it’s been a brilliant year for music. Some legends delivered some brilliant pieces of work and as always I got turned on to killer new sounds. 

My top 3 are records by people who’ve been at it a long time but came back with extraordinary work. Iggy provided a reminder of why he is so important in a year when his peer and other icons died. Nick Cave came back from a dark personal grief with a moving record unlike anything he has ever done. That was my number 1, until ATCQ came out of nowhere, and their own grief, to deliver a stunning state of the nation address that has some of their finest flow, couplets, beats and sounds. 

Here are my nearly theres and honourable mentions. Thee Oh Sees missed the cut this week because of RTJ3. To be fair though - Thee Oh Sees, Wilco and White Denim are always my favourite records whenever they come round, but I try and reflect my wider listening with my list.

Away by Okkervil River, Body War by Show Me The Body, Heads Up by Warpaint, FLOTUS by Lambchop, Hit Reset by The Julie Ruin, Distance Inbetween by The Coral, A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead, The Soft Bounce by Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve, Commontime by Field Music, Stiff by White Denim, Schmilco by Wilco, Meet The Humans by Steve Mason, Who Killed My Generation by Night Beats, The Hope Six Demolition Project by P.J. Harvey.

Here’s my list, in reverse order

10) Black Mountain // IV

9)  Heron Oblivion // s/t

8)  Kate Tempest // Let Them Eat Chaos

7)  Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

6)  Hiss Golden Messenger // Heart Like A Levee

5)  Run The Jewels // RTJ3

4)  Cavern Of Anti-Matter // void beats / invocation trex

3)  Iggy Pop // Post Pop Depression

2)  Skeleton Tree // Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

1) A Tribe Called Quest // We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service

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Sleevenotes // Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (OST) by Various

I don’t buy many soundtracks. I bought this one because I loved the movie and because it had Beck’s brilliant version of Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometimes. Still love that track, still love that movie. Love a good Jon Brian score too.

Bought in New York after seeing the film.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Sheffield to Luton (14/9/16)

Favourite(s) - Mr. Blue sky by Electric Light Orchestra, Light & Day by The Polyphonic Spree, Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometimes by Beck, Strings That Tie To You by Jon Brion.

Formats - CD

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Sleevenotes // The Eternal by Sonic Youth

Not their best record but a great way to start a crisp Tuesday in Sheffield before a train journey.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Sheffield to Luton (14/9/16)

Favourite(s) - Sacred Trickster, Massage The History

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // EP+6 by Mogwai

Perfect train journey music. 

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Luton to Sheffield (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Rollerball, Stanley Kubrick, Xmas Steps, Christmas Song

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // Chips From The Chocolate Fireball by Dukes Of Stratosphear

Sick.

Never contemporary. Simultaneously past and future looking, particularly to Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.

Brilliant.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Luton to Sheffield (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Have You Seen Jackie? You’re My Drug

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // Channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean

Okay, so it is as good as people said. Listening to it for the first time, I was amazed how much of it I knew by heart. That’s a pretty good indicator of a record’s value, where it seeps into the consciousness and when it clicks you don’t reject it.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Luton to Sheffield (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Thinkin Bout You, Sierra Leone, Forrest Gump

Formats - Digital (iTunes)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // Blonde by Frank Ocean

I’m new to Frank’s party but I like the vibe. The mood of this record, the confidence to create an aesthetic that is resolutely individual and cohesive without pandering to songs and hits and singles is superb. It might not always work, but it’s to be applauded and there are some sublime moments. I still don’t get the Blond/Blonde thing though.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Luton to Sheffield (13/9/16)

Favourite(s) - Nikes, Skyline To, Futura Free

Formats - Digital (iTunes)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Every Day And Every Night by Bright Eyes

Love me a bit o’ Bright Eyes.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Hastings to Bedford (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - On My Way To Work

Formats - Vinyl, CD.

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // Every Day by The Cinematic Orchestra

Simple and lovely cinematic tuneage. 

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Hastings to Bedford (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Man With A Movie Camera, All Things To All Men (Feat. Roots Manuva)

Formats - Digital (Copied from a friend)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

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Sleevenotes // Era Vulgaris by Queens Of The Stone Age

Filth. Love it. Great record. Really underrated.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Hastings to Bedford (13/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Sick Sick Sick, Make It Wit Chu, 3′s and 7′s, Suture Up Your Future

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Entertainment! by Gang Of Four

My dear friend John Carlin was staying with me while performing in a play I wrote and he heard me playing Franz Ferdinand. He asked if I listened to Gang of Four. I said I didn’t. He told me to get Entertainment! if I liked that funky, angular post-punk sound.

I did, and I never looked back. What. A. Record. Stunning. Perfect. Exceptional.

NF

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Credits:

*DESERT ISLAND DISC*

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Natural’s Not In It, I Found That Essence Rare, Anthrax, At Home He’s A Tourist, Outside The Trains Don’t Run On Time

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan

One of the most perfect Hip-Hop records. Bring Da Motherfuckin’ Ruckus.

NF

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Credits:

*DESERT ISLAND DISC*

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Bring Da Ruckus, Shame On A Nigga, C.R.E.A.M., Protect Ya Neck

Formats - Cassette, Digital (iTunes)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Enjoy Eternal Bliss by Yndi Halda

My friend John loves this band, So does my ex-wife. I really like this record.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - We Flood Empty Lakes, A Song For Starlit Beaches

Formats - Digital (iTunes)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Elevator by Hot Hot Heat

I won this at an Indie disco. I used to play Bandages when I DJed. This record is ok. I mainly keep it for sentimental reasons, because I won it an indie disco.

NF

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Credits: 

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Running out of Time, Goodnight, You Owe Me An IOU

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Distance Inbetween by The Coral

Boy oh boy it’s so good to have The Coral back. Truly one of my favourite bands and one of the most underrated bands in recent British music history.

I never really thought they lost their mojo, but this is a great record and it sings louder and harder and with more focus than Butterfly House. A joy.

NF

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Credits:

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - White Bird, Chasing The Tail of a Dream, Beyond The Sun, She Runs The River

Formats - Vinyl, Digital (CD w/vinyl)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Cut by The Slits

I had a coy of this on tape. A friend wrote a book on The Slits and that sent me back to this record, a few years back. Earlier this year I read Viv Albertine’s brilliant memoir and it made me finally take the plunge and get a copy I could play all the time. It’s an incredible record for sure. Truly unique. Still sounds fresh. Full of great songs, great sounds and a great attitude. Seminal.

NF

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Credits:

*DESERT ISLAND DISC*

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - So Tough, Shoplifting, New Town, Typical Girls, Love Und Romance

Formats - Cassette, Digital (iTunes)

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here

[overtheoceansoundtracks]

Sleevenotes // Champs Elysées by Bob Sinclar

I put this back in rotation after seeing Mia Hanson-Love’s brilliant Eden, which took me back to the heady days of my youth where I found myself at house and garage nights in Luton and London. 

Bob features in the film musically, alongside Daft Punk and hearing his sound made me want to revisit this. It was great to have this accompany a sunny Sunday drive. It’s too long but there are some great songs here. When it hits, it hits. A lovely trip down memory lane.

NF

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Credits: 

Logged - Falmouth to Hastings (12/6/16)

Favourite(s) - Champs Elysees Theme, I Feel For You, Darlin’, Freedom

Formats - CD

For more info on my Sleevenotes project click here