My Picks 2014
Happy New Year! The old optimist I am, I waited until the very last day to pick my favourites of 2014. Like in the previous year, I mostly listened to new music through Spotify, since it allows me to listen to pretty much everything once it comes out. However, unlike 2013 I found it more difficult to single out the favourite of the year, so I decided not to rank the following selection.
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Let's start with some of the more soulful music of the year:
Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser
When Taylor's debut album came out on Brainfeeder last June, I was pretty convinced the decision for record of the year has been made. Great production, not a single bad track, soulful music made a big comeback into my life.
Flying Lotus - You're Dead
…and then the Flying Lotus record came out and changed everything. I'm not saying it's better or worse, but I wasn't so sure anymore about my first pick. Predictable choice? I don't even think so, but it's an amazing record start to finish! I'm going as far to say that it's up there with Cosmogramma!
Fhloston Paradigm - The Phoenix
I didn't see King Britt's LP anybody else's list for 2014, but I think this is a record that deserves more spotlight. Try it out for yourself and listen to all of the records mentioned so far in a row, they go really well together. Seamless.
Experimental and ambient music:
Lawrence English - Wilderness of Mirrors
I said it before and I'll say it again. If you missed new music from Tim Hecker this year, there's probably no better surrogate than “Wilderness of Mirrors” by Lawrence English. And while this might read like a second choice, it's definitely not!
Lussuria - Industriale Illuminato
One of the artists I didn't know before this year. Some dark, dystopian music released on Vatican Shadow's label.
Lee Gamble - Koch
One of the many great records released on Berlin-based PAN label, Lee Gamble's album took me a while to get into it. If you struggled yourself, let me tell you it's worth giving it another try.
House and techno:
Hashman Deejay - Sandopolis
Call Super - Suzi Ecto
Houndstooth | Bleep | iTunes
Kassem Mosse - Workshop 19
Compilation of the year:
Various - Hyperdub 10.2
There's no doubt about my favourite compilation of the year, Hyperdub's vision of RnB from the future won my all over. Killer tracks from Terror Danjah, Morgan Zarate, Jessy Lanza, Ikonika & Dam Funk, Scratcha DVA and more!
And lastly, a couple of noteworthy records I enjoyed in 2014:
patten - ESTOILE NAIANT
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata
Clark - Clark
Mica Levi - Under The Skin
HTRK - Psychic 9-5 Club
FaltyDL - Into The Wild
Lord RAJA - Constant Moth
HOLOVR - Holo Earth
Afrikan Sciences - Circuitous
You can also listen to nutriot loves 2014, a Spotify playlist with nearly 19 hours of music!
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Labels of the year
Video of the year? Oh, wow