2004 the year that was
Like women and the Clapham omnibus, some things are better late arriving than never (!? ed). So here’s the round-up of the things Gentleman Kush liked last year….
I’ve been a combination of captain buried under paperwork and captain slack, hence this round up of the things funkdub liked last year is rather sluggishly dragging itself on to the interweb in February, the NME aren’t giving out their gongs until the end of this month, so what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so have a gander at this. Therefore below this pre-emptory drivel is a list of the finest gramophone recordings; compiled from the contributions in the banter, and the strange visions swirling in my head.
It’s listed (very) roughly in my own order of preference, where there aren’t remarks, that means I’ve not heard the record, but trust the artist ! Feel free to use the comments feature to make remarks; additions or subtractions, or use the banter to yap about it all.
Here we go then:
The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike
Undefinable brilliance – pure energetic pop music that has to be heard to be understood, and quite simply has to be heard. Check the funkdub review.
Evil Nine - You Can Be Special Too
Possibly the finest breakbeat album ever made – fat ass class. Check the funkdub review.
High Contrast - High Society
Speaking of Breakbeat – the Hospital Label was firing on all cylinders, Nu: Tone and London Electricity also producing choicest of choice cuts, but High Contrast proves, over the stretch of a long player that the funk is still with Drum n Bass, and for that we should all be grateful.
DJ Nu-Mark & Pomo - The Blend Crafters
With an entire tracklist of listening highlights, DJ Nu-Mark and Pomo venture into a realm of music unexplored until now. Blend Crafters incorporates every imaginable avenue of instrumentation; from flute-forays to chopped-up strings to harmonious keyboard loops, this album displays an arsenal of innovative drum patterns and unorthodox influxes that are simply unparalleled.
Florian Keller – Party Keller
A storming collection of Funk, Boogie, Reggae and Hip Hop – all killer no filler – essential.
Mark Rae – Into The Depths
As someone other than me quite correctly said, pure northern sulphuric soul – the gc head honcho done good.
Mylo - Destroy Rock and Roll
The sleeper hit of last year, may end up going stratospheric in 2005, more than a chill out album, a proper bonny record.
The Bees - Free the Bees
A timely reminder that psychedelia is no bad thing, man.
Fabric 19 - Andrew Weatherall
Squelchy electronic goodness, the finest Fabric mix yet – could be.
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
Dirty bourbon soaked rock n roll, kickin from start to finish, and even without the full compliment of beards they can still cut the mustard live.
4 Hero – The Remix Album
A superb collection, few can put a production together like these boys and the supreme selection of remixers on the flip.
Wagon Christ - Sorry I Make You Lush
A deadly accurate title from Luke Vibert, a mighty lush album, and arguably his finest.
Any Minute Now – Soulwax
Not the perfect album, and they’ll probably never be as trailblazing as there alternate selves 2 Many DJs, nonetheless the heady combination of balls out rock n roll and banging electronic mayhem was hard not to love. Check out our E-Talking Review
To The 5 Boroughs - The Beastie Boys
Not the disappointment much of the printed press would have you believe, it isn’t their finest, but the foul mouthed brats created a more understated but still funky slice of white boy rappin’. See Funkdub’s review of Open letter to NYC + the live show…
2 Lone Swordsmen - From The Double Gone Chapel
Messrs Weatherall and Tenniswood prove that they’re still goddamn geniuses of leftfield beats and no mistakin’.
Solarized – Ian Brown
King Monkey does it again, another fine collection of space age primate tunes, magnificently masking the mans total lack of a tuneful voice, and featuring some most excellent Mexican horns.
Who killed the Zutons? -The Zutons
Parping saxophones, great songs, scousers, (or wirralites, I’m not sure), magic!
Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned - The Prodigy
Mixed views as to whether this was a brilliant return to form or not, and the reception from the masses has been muted at best. Can’t be bad to have ‘em back, can it?
Interpol – Antics
America’s indie sensations, like early REM if they’d ever bothered to write a decent song.
Dom and Roland – Chronology
High Contrast deals in funk; Dom and his less than chatty chum Roland, deal in filthy bass, good lad.
The Beta Band – Zeros to Heroes
A final fandango from the ramshankle boys, who will be sorely sorely missed, and not a bad not note to go out on. Rest in Peace Beta Band, bring on King Biscuit Time.
Phoenix – Alphabetical
French Pop, Je Ne ses Quoi? Well you should, (?!) “Everything is Everything” and “Run Run Run” justify a purchase all by themselves.
Blue Note Revisited
If you liked Verve remixed you’ll love this – 4 Hero’s version of “Won’t You Open Up Your Senses” is an absolute treat.
The Concretes - The Concretes
Twee, and a shade dull live. The Concretes are still pretty twee on record, but the excellence of the songs is enough to turn even the most hard hearted tuff beat maniac into a gooey centred fey indie wastrel.
Dizzee Rascal – Showtime
If you can get past his “performance” on band aid 2,000,000 (my candidate for worst musical moment of the year) – the Dizzee lad makes music that, at the very least, makes you take notice.
RjD2 - Since We Last Spoke
A curates egg, and not as good as “Deadringer”, but he’s doing his own thing and there are sufficient great tracks on there to keep anyone interested.
Dangermouse/Jay-Z/the Beatles - The Grey Album
An audacious experiment – convincingly pulled off.
Bjork - Medulla
Reportedly made using the human voice as its only instrument – those crazy Icelanders!
Air - Talkie Walkie
Accusations of prog rock have abounded, at least they made a listenable album this time out.
Adem – Homesongs
Four Tets’ one time partner produces an album of acoustic lovliness
Miss Kittin - I Com
She screams, she shouts, she makes brilliant electronic music – go sista!
The Scissor Sisters – The Scissor Sisters
Not everyone’s cup of cha, but a massive cultural influence last year, backed up by some corkin tunes.
The Streets - A Grand Don’t Come For Free
I think you could go down the minicab rank in Walsall, and you’d hear pretty much the same thing, though I’m slowly being converted. Many people seem to really love Skinner, so he’s in the list, hambug.
Mr. 76ix - Hits Of 76ix
Telefon Tel Aviv - A Map of what is Effortless
Kayne West - College Dropout
Badly Drawn Boy - One Plus One is One
Elliot Smith - From a Basement Under a Hill
Madvillian – Madvilliany
Talib Kweli - The Beautiful Struggle
Ivan Smagghe – Suck My Deck