Feature for Subvulture
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
December 2015
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Introduced to you in no particular order, here are the top 10 albums of 2015.
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1. Grimes- Art Angels
Presenting a profusion of original, untainted content; Grimes has worked hard to establish her own, unique sound and her resounding pay off comes in the form of Art Angels. Certain tracks from this album, which I have wittingly allowed to play on a repetitive loop, may have been solely responsible for my falling in love with Claire Elise Boucher this year.
2. Sufjan Stevens- Carrie & Lowell
So titled as homage to his mother and father; here is a mirage of introspective acoustic and electronic mastery that deals with ‘life...death and the struggle to make sense of the beauty and ugliness of love’. Such aestheticism gleans through in Steven’s impassioned lyricisms and spectral melodies. It’s haunting; it’s fluid; it’s dark and pressing - the tracks linger long after they’ve gone.
3. Foals- What Went Down
Thundering, juddering bass and ferociously ascendant melodies that pay heed to the Moirai. It’s much heavier than Foals’ previous work, but still as theatrical and atmospheric as ever. When you mean business, you listen to this album; when you mean serious business, you listen to ‘What Went Down’.
4. Public Service Broadcasting- The Race For Space
Bloody brilliant. Its focus on sampled material from the US-Soviet space race produces a blend of euphoric static showcasing the mastery and ambition that is man’s infinite quest for knowledge. If this particular summary is as inconclusive as I fear it might be, then I suggest you listen to the album yourself.
5. Floating Points- Elaenia
Yes, it may be one of many 2015 electronic album releases; but one of the few whose dreamy orchestral symphonies are at once both fluid and atomic. Shepherd has achieved that ambient quality which completely consumes you: the perfect injection for a warm, optimistic fuzz.
6. Rozelle- EP
Bristol-based electronic indie pop rockers have compiled this beguiling EP which I’ve caught live twice this year; and with the exception of a few spectacular favourites, each track is as exultant as the next. I’ve yet to introduce it to someone who doesn’t go on to love it as much as I do, and I challenge you to do the same
7. Tame Impala- Currents
Now here’s another of the band’s albums that’s dripping with pure psychedelic ambience. In other words: are you a little bit hippy? Then this would probably feature in your top 10 too.
8. Wolf Alice- My Love is Cool
Infectious. Look no further for dreaminess, haze and a distinctive grunge rock hum. It flits between whimsical, soft harmonies to guitar-heavy indie rock fuzz with resulting epicness. Probably the ‘coolest’ album I’ve listened to this side of last year.
9. SOAK- Before We Forgot How to Dream
The perfect combination of youthful innocence, teen malaise and wistful reminiscence. Those fragile vocals and intentionally epicene demeanour (which is probably only relevant if you catch her live) seem to have captured the imagination of youths and folk-lovers alike in 2015.
10. The Maccabees- Marks to Prove it
Channeling that irrefutably British indie rock sound which harks back to their gritty London beginnings. This album, with its self-evident titling, perfectly conveys the message of anti-gentrification; all the while echoing back to their own humble roots.