My favorite albums of 2017

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by scompton, Jan 28, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Kristoffer Lo - Anhedonia

    Another auto buy artist for me. I discovered him a few years ago with his band/project microtub, a trio of micro-tonal tubas. In general, his music is very dark and this one is no exception.

    Lo was touring with one of his bands and had a free day in Chicago. He arranged for some studio time and, through connections, borrowed a tuba from the Chicago Symphony. He improvised this album in 6 hours in the studio. The instruments are tuba, guitar and flugelhorn and lots of effects.

    Lo is kind of under the radar even for fans like myself. This album came out in the spring and I didn't hear about it until November.

    Spotify: Anhedonia

    [​IMG]
     
  2. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement - Ambient Black Magic

    At first listen, you think this album is full of field recordings from a rain forest, lots of rain, bird calls, animal sounds, etc. From what I've read, all if it is created in the studio. There's a little more going on in this music than a lot of ambient music, but not enough to push it out of ambient IMO. The last track is not really ambient and IMO, is the worst on the album. It's a remix of the second track by Substance.

    Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement is a alias for Dominick Fernow. This is the second album of his I own after 2016's Green Graves. I like this one a little more and I'm looking forward to hearing more from him.

    Spotify: Ambient Black Magic

    [​IMG]

     
  3. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Chihei Hatakeyama - Mirage

    This is one of my most played albums of the year. It's a very relaxing album. According to the blurb on Bandcamp, the album was recorded over 5 years, trying to recreate in the studio the effects on sound of certain architecture such as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. He includes what he calls location recordings from the sites that inspired the music. I assume these are field recordings that you can sometimes hear.

    Bandcamp: Mirage, by Chihei Hatakeyama

    [​IMG]

     
  4. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    ekin fil - ghosts inside

    A very drony album from Istanbul. This is my first album of hers that I've heard and I've read reviews that it is less drone based, and more melodic than her earlier work which is hard to believe. There's not a lot of melody here and there is a lot of drone. I do hear shoe gaze influences that a lot of reviews and blurbs mention.

    ghosts inside, by ekin fil

    [​IMG]

     
    Beamish13 likes this.
  5. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Slomo - Transits

    When I first streamed this I was disappointed. I got my first Slomo album from the 100 CDs from the Buy an Office for Imprec kickstarter. There have also been some posts of their music on the Avant Garde thread. Everything I heard was sludgy and drony. This album is not dark at all. It's still extremely slow and there are lots of drones but with a lot of bright sounds not found on what else I've heard by them. This band gives Earth competition for slowest band in the world. I really just needed to adjust my expectations. After streaming it a couple of times, I grew to love it.

    Bandcamp: Transits, by Slomo

    [​IMG]
     
  6. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    GAS - Narkopop

    I missed electronic music in the 90s so I never heard of GAS before this came out. It sounds like a movie soundtrack. It's a bit dark which I tend to like in ambient music. On review I read mentions that his music is inspired by childhood trips to the forest and an LSD trip in a forest as a teenager. I can see the connection. Albums like this, and Kristopher Lo's that's first on this list, really remind me of some auditory hallucinations I had when I used to take LSD. I've spaced out to this music a number of times, no drugs needed.

    Bandcamp: Narkopop, by GAS

    [​IMG]

     
  7. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Kassel Jaeger/Jim O'Rourke - Wakes on Cerulean

    This first track flows from one little snippet to another with little interludes between. Most last a minute or two and some are as short as 30 seconds. They're assembled in two, 17 minute tracks. My guess listening to it is there was a lot of improvisation that they then cut up and put together. The second track is much more conventional ambient. Not all of it is ambient, but enough is for me to include it in this list, especially the second track.

    Spotify: Wakes on Cerulean

    [​IMG]

     
  8. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Visible Cloaks - Reassemblage

    This is a nicely varied set of sort pieces. Most of them are ambient but some push out of ambient a little.

    Spotify: Reassemblage

    [​IMG]

     
  9. bug2362

    bug2362 Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Seattle, WA
    I can’t get enough of the Charlotte Gainsbourg cd “Rest”
    Especially “ Sylvia Says” and “Deadly Valentine”
     
  10. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    I didn't bother checking that out for a long time because I was confusing her with someone else. I did stream it once and liked it. I'll stream it again in the next couple of days
     
  11. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    World Music
    1. Lankum - Between the Earth and Sky
    2. The Drummers of the Société Absolument Guinin - Soul Jazz Records Presents Vodou Drums in Haiti 2: The Living Gods of Haiti – 21st Century Ritual Drums & Spirit Possession
    3. Clann An Drumma - Order Of The Stag
    4. Jeich Ould Badu and Ahmedou Ahmed Lewla - Top WZN
    5. Songhoy Blues - Résistance
    6. Nataša Mirkovic - En el amor
    7. Bargou 08 - Targ
    8. Cevdet Erek - Davul
    9. Saagara - 2
    10. Girma Bèyènè - Mistakes on Purpose (Ethiopiques 30)
     
    zphage likes this.
  12. RudolphS

    RudolphS Forum Resident

    Location:
    Rio de Janeiro
    My personal faves from 2017:

    01. Forest Swords - Compassion
    02. Fleet Foxes - Crack Up
    03. Re-Tros - Before The Applause
    04. Migos - Culture
    05. Heilung - Lifa
    06. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream
    07. Zimpel/Ziolek - Zimpel/Ziolek
    08. Moon Duo - Occult Architecture Vol. 1
    09. James Holden - The Animal Spirits
    10. Circuit Des Yeux - Reaching For Indigo
    11. King Gizzard - Flying Microtonal Banana
    12. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Feed The Rats
    13. Kirin J. Callinan - Bravado
    14. Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun
    15. Igorrr - Savage Sinusoid
    16. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time
    17. ho99o9 - United States Of Horror
    18. Neil Cicierega - Mouth Moods
    19. The Moonlandingz - Interplanetary Class Classics
    20. Joey Bada$$ - All-Amerikkan Bada$$
    21. Rosalía - Los Ángeles
    22. Idles - Brutalism
    23. Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2
    24. Blanck Mass - World Eater
    25. Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche - Pas Pire Pop (I Love You So Much)
    26. Lorde - Melodrama
    27. Kairon; Irse! - Ruination
    28. Machine Girl - ...Because I'm Young Arrogant And Hate Everything You Stand For
    29. Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy
    30. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
    31. Jane Weaver - Modern Kosmology
    32. Algiers - The Underside Of Power
    33. Hannah Peel - Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia
    34. Ibeyi - Ash
    35. Fever Ray - Plunge
    36. Snapped Ankles - Come Play The Trees
    37. Arca - Arca
    38. Aquaserge - Laisse Ça Être
    39. White Ward - Futility Report
    40. Liars - TFCF
    41. Guerilla Toss - GT Ultra
    42. Angles 9 - Disappeared Behind The Sun
    43. King Gizzard - Murder Of The Universe
    44. Bedwetter - Volume 1: Flick Your Tongue Against Your Teeth And Describe The Present
    45. The Yossarians - Fabric Of Time
    46. Ariel Pink - Dedicated To Bobby Jameson
    47. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - The Kid
    48. Perc - Bitter Music
    49. Laura Marling - Semper Femina
    50. Call Super - Arpo
    51. Sampha - Process
    52. Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination
    53. Laurel Halo - Dust
    54. Corbin - Mourn
    55. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy
    56. Karen Gwyer - Rembo
    57. Elder - Reflections Of A Floating World
    58. Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner & James McAlister - Planetarium
    59. Spelling - Pantheon Of Me
    57. Errorsmith - Superlative Fatigue
    61. Brockhampton - Saturation I
    62. Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan
    63. Mhysa - Fantasii
    64. Kamasi Washington - Harmony Of Difference
    65. Davy Kehoe - Short Passing Game
    66. Ostraca - Last
    67. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
    68. Jaden Smith - SYRE
    69. Chepang - Dadhelo: A Tale Of Wildfire
    70. Perfume Genius - No Shape
     
    scompton likes this.
  13. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Lankum - Between the Earth and Sky

    Great, semi-traditional Irish music. Semi-traditional because they use a few non-traditional instruments. They are very raw and bleak sounding. Most of the album is full of drones, from uilleann pipes, harmonium, and concertina. Even the a cappella songs are a bit drony.

    They band used to be named Lynched, after two Lynch brothers in the band but renamed themselves last year to avoid the negative connotations of Lynched. I don't know if Lynched has a bad connotation in Ireland but IMO, it was a good name for the band considering the are either bleak or angry.

    Spotify: Between the Earth and Sky

    This is the opening track and one of my favorite tracks from last year.



    [​IMG]
     
    Robert Thomas likes this.
  14. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Great list. A little overlap with mine. I have to listen to Zimpel/Ziolek again. I remember not liking the vocals. I'm a fan of Waclaw Zimpel. Number 9 from the world music list, Saagara, is a Zimpel project.
     
    RudolphS likes this.
  15. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
  16. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Clann An Drumma - Order Of The Stag

    It was a great year for Celtic music. This one's from Scotland, and is somewhat traditional pipe and drums, with some vocals. They add a little conga to make it not quite traditional. It's one of two pipe and drum albums I bought. I really like bagpipes of all kinds.

    Spotify: Order of the Stag

    [​IMG]

     
    zphage likes this.
  17. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Jeich Ould Badu and Ahmedou Ahmed Lewla - Top WZN

    According to the blurb on Bandcamp, this is what passes for popular music in Mauritania and these are the biggest stars. Electrified traditional lute and synth. It's very infectious music.

    Bandcamp: Top WZN, by Jeich Ould Badu and Ahmedou Ahmed Lewla

    [​IMG]

     
  18. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Songhoy Blues - Résistance

    My favorite of the four Desert Blues albums I bought. They're all good. The others are by Tamikrest, Tinariwen and Vieux Farka Touré.

    Spotify: Résistance

    [​IMG]

     
    Robert Thomas likes this.
  19. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Nataša Mirkovic - En el amor

    Sephardic songs from south-east Europe accompanied by tuba or serpent and percussion. Beautiful singing.


    [​IMG]

     
    zphage likes this.
  20. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Bargou 08 - Targ

    Traditional Tunisian Berber music. Similar in feel to the Music of Morocco release from Dust to Digital in 2016.

    Bandcamp: Targ, by Bargou 08

    [​IMG]

     
    zphage likes this.
  21. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Cevdet Erek - Davul

    More drums, this time from Turkey. Solo drumming on a traditional frame drum. He represented Turkey at last year's Venice Biennale.

    Bandcamp: Davul, by Cevdet Erek

    [​IMG]

     
  22. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Saagara - 2

    The second album from Wacław Zimpel’s Indian band. Avant garde clarinet, Indian percussion and violin and electronics.

    Bandcamp: My favorite albums of 2017

    [​IMG]

     
    zphage likes this.
  23. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Girma Bèyènè - Mistakes on Purpose (Ethiopiques 30)

    Girma Bèyènè was a popular singer and pianist in Ethiopia in the 60s and 70s before fleeing to the US during the political upheaval after Haile Selassie's death in the 70s. He was invited to record with the French Ethiopian expat band Akalé Wubé.

    Spotify: Mistakes on Purpose (Ethiopiques 30)

    [​IMG]

     

  24. THat's rai! Excellent!
     
  25. scompton

    scompton Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    Electronic

    I'm very late in doing this. I could almost do it for this year already.
    1. Jlin - Black Origami
    2. Iona Fortune - Tao of I
    3. James Holden & The Animal Spirits - The Animal Spirits
    4. Floating Points - REFLECTIONS - MOJAVE DESERT
    5. Emptyset - Borders
    6. Hibernation - The Aquarius EP
    7. Tipper - Flunked
    8. The Bug vs Earth - Concrete Desert
    9. Call Super - Arpo
    10. Justin Walter - Unseen Forces
    11. EARTHEN SEA - An Act of Love
    12. F ingers - Awkwardly Blissing Out
    13. Kowton - Pea Soup / Iodine
    14. Porter Ricks - Anguilla Electrica
    15. Forest Swords - Compassion
    16. Brainwaltzera - Poly-Ana
    17. Bola - D.E.G
    18. Sherwood & Pinch - Man Vs. Sofa
    19. Ploy - Intrigued By The Drum
    20. Deena Abdelwahed - Klabb - EP


    An archival album and a reissue that I really love.
    Ahmed Malek & Flako - The Electronic Tapes
    Sandoz - Intensely Radioactive​
     
    Synthfreek likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine