…other than Radiohead‘s "The King of Limbs".
I was pre-occupied with writing a master’s thesis and producing an EP with Dashing this year, so I didn’t actively search for new music or read music blogs as I have done in years past. Instead, I came across these noteworthy records at listening parties with friends (thanks, Brad Junswick) or while listening to the excellent CBC Radio 2 show, The Signal:
2011 Releases:
65daysofstatic - "Silent Running" (Dustpunk - UK)
SILENT RUNNING by 65daysofstatic: The UK post-rock band’s score for the 1972 dystopian sci-fi film of the same name (watch the trailer).
Active Child - "You Are All I See" (Vagrant - Los Angeles, CA)
YOU ARE ALL I SEE by Active Child: AC makes the harp sound futuristic. Also, this guy has quite the vocal register.
Dreamers of the Ghetto - "Enemy/Lover" (Temporary Residence Limited - Bloomington, IN)
ENEMY / LOVER by Dreamers of the Ghetto: The band name and album cover art are ambiguous. Is it hip-hop? Electronic? The TRL affiliation suggests post-rock. In actuality, this is my only straightforward rock release in this list. Imagine Arcade Fire + The National + The Walkmen + Springsteen.
The Field - "Looping State of Mind" (The Field - Stockholm, Sweden)
LOOPING STATE OF MIND by The Field: ambient electronic music from Sweden.
Tim Hecker - "Ravedeath, 1972" (kranky - Montreal, PQ)
RAVEDEATH, 1972 by Tim Hecker: TH recorded piano, guitar, and organ noise at a church in Iceland, then manipulated the results with plenty of post-processing effects. I listened to this while rambling about the Carpathian foothills in Romania at sunrise one morning in September – it sounded appropriate.
Oneohtrix Point Never - "Replica" (Mexican Summer - Brooklyn, NY)
REPLICA by Oneohtrix Point Never: OPN’s previous record (“Returnal”) began with 5 minutes of what a cat wearing chain armour thrown into a running lawnmower might sound like, followed by 40 minutes of soothing synth pads and pulses. This one retains the latter and adds some discrete musical notes, with an added dash of humour: obscure vocal samples from old infomercials.
Sandro Perri - "Impossible Spaces" Constellation - Toronto, ON)
IMPOSSIBLE SPACES by Sandro Perri: A fun mix of ambience, folk, jazz, electroacoustic instrumentation.
Tartar Lamb II - "Polyimage of Known Exits" (Ice Level Music - Brooklyn, NY)
POLYIMAGE OF KNOWN EXITS by Tartar Lamb II: Help! I’m trapped in a gloomy jazz ether!
The Weeknd - "House of Balloons" (Self-Released - Toronto, ON)
HOUSE OF BALLOONS by The Weeknd: My bandmate Pete asked me if I like any R&B. I said no. He suggested I listen to this mixtape. Then I changed my mind: I like House of Balloons.
Wild Beasts - "Smother" (Domino - UK)
SMOTHER by Wild Beasts: Domino puts out releases by many of my favourite artists: Four Tet, Owen Pallett, Caribou, etc. All boast high production quality and electro-acoustic instrumentation. Smother is no exception. Also, their singer reminds me of Roy Orbison. (Note: This track is not on the album; it is a b-side to the “Albatross” single).
Reissues
Dntel - "Life Is Full of Possibilities" (Plug Research (2001), Sup Pop Reissue - Los Angeles, CA)
LIFE IS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES (Reissue) by Dntel: When I bought a used copy of this CD last year, the clerk at Zulu records thought I was a Postal Service fanboy, longing for the follow-up to 2003′s electro-pop album “Give Up”. Actually, I prefer this ambient-electro Dntel album, and I still would even if it didn’t contain the pre-cursor-to-Postal-Service collaboration with Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard (“This is the Dream of Evan and Chan”).
Talk Talk - "Laughing Stock" (Polydor (1991), Badabing Reissue - UK)
LAUGHING STOCK (Reissue) by Talk Talk: A stunningly beautiful record that has stood the test of time. Ambient, jazzy, and boasting incredible instrumentation, vocals, and production value. Prior to it’s October reissue by Ba Da Bing records, I was told I’d be unable to find a copy on vinyl in North America for less than $200.