I'm pretty sure I have bought every new album I'm likely to buy in 2019. So I'm going to listen to one a night in a countdown to the end of the year, and review each in one tweet or less. In alphabetical order then... /0
A Bit of Pottery by Deckchair Poets
Random group of rock musicians make a concept album based on Harry Potter that sits somewhere between Zappa and Bonzo Dog. And yes it is just as wonderfully bonkers as that sounds. Highly recommended. /1
Random group of rock musicians make a concept album based on Harry Potter that sits somewhere between Zappa and Bonzo Dog. And yes it is just as wonderfully bonkers as that sounds. Highly recommended. /1
Acoustic Live at Well Cottage by Marc Atkinson
A rare chance for Marc to play some of his own songs, with just an acoustic guitar and the best voice in rock today. If you don't know Marc's work, this wouldn't be a bad place to start. /2
A rare chance for Marc to play some of his own songs, with just an acoustic guitar and the best voice in rock today. If you don't know Marc's work, this wouldn't be a bad place to start. /2
Blurring into Motion by Charlie Cawood
Short chamber pieces sitting somewhere between classical and modern melodic prog. Cawood’s guitar takes a back seat to strings and woodwind as he concentrates on showing he’s a great composer. /3
Short chamber pieces sitting somewhere between classical and modern melodic prog. Cawood’s guitar takes a back seat to strings and woodwind as he concentrates on showing he’s a great composer. /3
Day Trip to Narnia by Cats in Space
I don’t think it’s as consistently good as their last album, but this is still a superb piece of polished, hook-filled melodic rock of the sort that people don’t do any more. What more could you ask for? /4
I don’t think it’s as consistently good as their last album, but this is still a superb piece of polished, hook-filled melodic rock of the sort that people don’t do any more. What more could you ask for? /4
Dispatches on the Red Dress - Live by Rowan Rheingans
Live recording of her solo show. Perfectly captures one of the most moving and thought-provoking concerts I’ve ever seen.
Live recording of her solo show. Perfectly captures one of the most moving and thought-provoking concerts I’ve ever seen.
Enclosure by The Askew Sisters
Traditional English songs and tunes, all beautifully arranged played and sung. /6
Traditional English songs and tunes, all beautifully arranged played and sung. /6
Everything I Know Without Knowing by Rachel Newton
Short pieces for solo harp, somewhere between classical and ambient prog. This is the most beautiful sound you will ever hear. It’s only an EP and I wish it were longer. /7
Short pieces for solo harp, somewhere between classical and ambient prog. This is the most beautiful sound you will ever hear. It’s only an EP and I wish it were longer. /7
Fathoms by The Furrow Collective
Traditional songs, some well known some less so, all with band’s usual approach of sparse instrumentation and four contrasting voices. Hauntingly beautiful. /8
Traditional songs, some well known some less so, all with band’s usual approach of sparse instrumentation and four contrasting voices. Hauntingly beautiful. /8
Face to Face by Twelfth Day
Their songs never do what you expect, there’s always something strange going on in the tune or the rhythm or the words that demands your attention. This album deserves your attention. /9
Their songs never do what you expect, there’s always something strange going on in the tune or the rhythm or the words that demands your attention. This album deserves your attention. /9
Five by Polonium Cubes
Short pieces for solo piano that cover the whole spectrum of moods. If there's a fault it's that, like all of Gleb Kolyadin’s Poloniumcubes works, these often make you wish they had been developed into something larger. /10
Short pieces for solo piano that cover the whole spectrum of moods. If there's a fault it's that, like all of Gleb Kolyadin’s Poloniumcubes works, these often make you wish they had been developed into something larger. /10
Hollowbone by Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
A prog folk masterpiece that covers so much ground, so many styles and moods, it shouldn’t hang together but it does. It’s a genuine masterpiece. /11
A prog folk masterpiece that covers so much ground, so many styles and moods, it shouldn’t hang together but it does. It’s a genuine masterpiece. /11
In the Sunshine we Rode the Horses by Rowan : Morrison
Multi-tracked vocals singing mystical themes, floating over folk-styled instruments. It’s a beautiful, hypnotic, psychedelic album that’s one of the unexpected highlights of the year. /12
Multi-tracked vocals singing mystical themes, floating over folk-styled instruments. It’s a beautiful, hypnotic, psychedelic album that’s one of the unexpected highlights of the year. /12
Jigdoll Ensemble Live by Hannah James
Her live show includes a lot of dancing, and although this recording gives you an idea of it you probably need to see the show to fully appreciate her talent. But this still gives you her extraordinary songs. /13
Her live show includes a lot of dancing, and although this recording gives you an idea of it you probably need to see the show to fully appreciate her talent. But this still gives you her extraordinary songs. /13
Live in Torshavn by Eivor
Her music seems to have become more dominated by electronic synths and drums, and lost the simple purity I fell in love with years ago. Still an incredible voice, but a slightly disappointing album. /14
Her music seems to have become more dominated by electronic synths and drums, and lost the simple purity I fell in love with years ago. Still an incredible voice, but a slightly disappointing album. /14
Meadowsilver by Meadowsilver
Another collaboration from Stephen Stannard. Psychedelic folk instrumentation and layered ethereal vocals. Overall I prefer the Rowan : Morrison album from earlier in the year, but this is still worthy of attention. /15
Another collaboration from Stephen Stannard. Psychedelic folk instrumentation and layered ethereal vocals. Overall I prefer the Rowan : Morrison album from earlier in the year, but this is still worthy of attention. /15
Ocipinski by Evan Carson
A concept album, powerful, intricate, dominated by Carson’s drums and percussion but always highly melodic. Definitely recommended. /16
A concept album, powerful, intricate, dominated by Carson’s drums and percussion but always highly melodic. Definitely recommended. /16
Satellites by Joshua Burnell
Josh goes full Wakeman and arranges a selection of his band’s songs for solo piano, and the result is beautiful. /17
Josh goes full Wakeman and arranges a selection of his band’s songs for solo piano, and the result is beautiful. /17
Saxophone Concerto & Bass Drum Concerto by Gabriel Prokofiev.
Exactly what it says. There are moments of brilliance, but, like a lot of large-scale contemporary classical works, both of these pieces struggle to hold my attention throughout.
Exactly what it says. There are moments of brilliance, but, like a lot of large-scale contemporary classical works, both of these pieces struggle to hold my attention throughout.
Sentience by Fredrick Klingwall & Julia Black
Darkly atmospheric prog, dominated by keyboards, strings, and Black’s multi-lingual vocals ... I trust all the usual suspects have bought this? /19
Darkly atmospheric prog, dominated by keyboards, strings, and Black’s multi-lingual vocals ... I trust all the usual suspects have bought this? /19
Singles by Meadowsilver
Collects the band’s first four singles. Different from the album versions so obviously essential for completists, but otherwise it’s better to get the album. /20
Collects the band’s first four singles. Different from the album versions so obviously essential for completists, but otherwise it’s better to get the album. /20
Strangers by Rise
This doesn't really fit into a genre. Beautiful music, poetic lyrics that demand you think about them, and a voice so beautiful, but used so uniquely, I can’t even describe it. This is just So Good. /21
This doesn't really fit into a genre. Beautiful music, poetic lyrics that demand you think about them, and a voice so beautiful, but used so uniquely, I can’t even describe it. This is just So Good. /21
Whoops, need to do a bit of catching up...
Sule Skerry by Erland Cooper
Piano, strings, electronics, field recordings, and just achingly beautiful compositions. This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. /22
Piano, strings, electronics, field recordings, and just achingly beautiful compositions. This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. /22
The Bell by Iamthemorning
Phenomenal musicianship and an extraordinarily expressive voice. Something about the combination of dark lyrical subject matter with beautiful and complex music makes these songs take hold of your heart as well as your mind, and not let go. /23
Phenomenal musicianship and an extraordinarily expressive voice. Something about the combination of dark lyrical subject matter with beautiful and complex music makes these songs take hold of your heart as well as your mind, and not let go. /23
The Fiery Margin by Alasdair Roberts
An extraordinary set of songs. You might be lulled into thinking you’re listening to a folk album, but this kind of deep lyrical imagery and twisted tunes is something fascinatingly different. It’s like if William Blake wrote folk songs. /24
An extraordinary set of songs. You might be lulled into thinking you’re listening to a folk album, but this kind of deep lyrical imagery and twisted tunes is something fascinatingly different. It’s like if William Blake wrote folk songs. /24
The Lines We Draw Together by Rowan Rheingans
This doesn’t quite have the full impact without the linking narration of the live show, but standing alone this is a superb collection of hard-hitting and thought-provoking songs. /25
This doesn’t quite have the full impact without the linking narration of the live show, but standing alone this is a superb collection of hard-hitting and thought-provoking songs. /25
The Lost Words Spell Songs
A folk supergroup puts music to Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’s book about losing touch with nature, and the result is moving and beautiful. /26
A folk supergroup puts music to Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’s book about losing touch with nature, and the result is moving and beautiful. /26
The North Wind Was a Woman by David Bruce
Three diverse orchestral works by a composer who knows how to be accessibly tuneful while still having a distinct and contemporary sound. /27
Three diverse orchestral works by a composer who knows how to be accessibly tuneful while still having a distinct and contemporary sound. /27
The Snickelway to Horn Fair by Joshua Burnell & Frances Sladen
Stripped-back acoustic arrangements of mostly traditional songs from the ridiculously prolific Joshua Burnell. I actually think I like this better than the folk rock album it was a companion to. /28
Stripped-back acoustic arrangements of mostly traditional songs from the ridiculously prolific Joshua Burnell. I actually think I like this better than the folk rock album it was a companion to. /28
The Thing with Feathers by Exploring Birdsong
There are dazzling moments of prog virtuosity, but this doesn’t quite live up to expectations. It’s a promising debut, but I think they need more varied material. /29
There are dazzling moments of prog virtuosity, but this doesn’t quite live up to expectations. It’s a promising debut, but I think they need more varied material. /29
The Woman and her Words by Hannah James and the Jigdoll Ensemble
Beautiful music and hard-hitting, socially-relevant songs. This is a perfect example of what a modern folk album ought to be. Hugely recommended. /30
Beautiful music and hard-hitting, socially-relevant songs. This is a perfect example of what a modern folk album ought to be. Hugely recommended. /30
Third Degree by Flying Colors
Dazzling musicianship, as you would expect from a rock super group like this. But while it’s got their characteristic sound I don’t think the material is as strong as earlier albums. /31
Dazzling musicianship, as you would expect from a rock super group like this. But while it’s got their characteristic sound I don’t think the material is as strong as earlier albums. /31
UK EP by Mayra Orchestra
Short live sampler, showing how well they can recreate their powerful, melodic, symphonic prog rock on stage. Absolutely brilliant. Best new discovery of the year. /32
Short live sampler, showing how well they can recreate their powerful, melodic, symphonic prog rock on stage. Absolutely brilliant. Best new discovery of the year. /32
Waiting for Miracles by The Flower Kings
Still sounding like a modern successor to Yes, The Flower Kings come back with an album as strong as anything they’ve done. A perfect album of soaring melodic prog. /33
Still sounding like a modern successor to Yes, The Flower Kings come back with an album as strong as anything they’ve done. A perfect album of soaring melodic prog. /33
Waves by AVA
Short pieces for violin, piano, and electronics. It’s an album of many moods, alternately soothing and rocking, but always beautiful. /34
Short pieces for violin, piano, and electronics. It’s an album of many moods, alternately soothing and rocking, but always beautiful. /34
Wild White Horses by Heather Findlay
Sitting firmly at the soft end of the rock spectrum, I feel that these songs don’t really stretch her voice but they do perfectly suit it. And it’s still the most beautiful voice in rock today. /35
Sitting firmly at the soft end of the rock spectrum, I feel that these songs don’t really stretch her voice but they do perfectly suit it. And it’s still the most beautiful voice in rock today. /35
...and I'm done. That's every new album I've listened to this year.
I supposed I should pick my best of...
I supposed I should pick my best of...
