Bands Of The Year 2013

Hi All.....
That time of year again! and we all seem to love a Hornby inspired list of everything!!
This is just a snippet of the things that have inspired and enamored me this year :-)

OUTFIT:
Outfit were a find from the Lauren Lavern Podcast which I enjoy every week. After listening to the interview of the band who came across as graceful and intelligent I decided to check them out on Spotify. Its become one of my favorite albums. Its a bizarre genre'less record spanning over psychedelia, to dream-pop with everything in between. Its at times melancholic but there's also something quite life affirming to it. The perfect soundtrack to walking through an urban environment. Listen whilst walking through a city and you'll understand what I mean.



MARIKA HACKMAN:
A pleasant surprise this song, a real testament to the fact one women/man and guitar can.. if done correctly.. stop time for its duration. Beautiful, and slightly creepy like the Metz advert from the 90's....



PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING:
Genius atmospheres created using old tapes from WW2 a fantastic idea, like lemon jelly on steroids.



DAVID BOWIE:
He surprised as all didn't he! What a legend of publicity but with the album to prove the hype. This record consumed me this year and it was at the height of my Bowie obsession as well....I nearly wet myself with excitement. What a classy beautiful way to come back as well...not with rock posture but with a reflecting melancholic, sonic landscape with a life affirming end that always brings a tear to my eye...
"As long as there's me....as long as there's you!"
Weird and wonderful Bowie back with grace putting the art back in pop.



MATT CORBY:
A fantastic EP from start to finish really illustrating this mans versatile vocal, songwriting and diversity. A whole range of emotions scale the Resolution EP... the songwriters EP choice of the year.



JON HOPKINS:
I always knew him as "that guy who added all the weird atmosphere to Xylo Myloto". Turns out hes an expensive, intense, cinematic, intelligent, dramatic genius of atmospheric electronic music!



JOHNNY MARR:
I've always loved Marrs guitar work but never fallen completely in love with his solo work, and it wasn't after hearing the single which didnt grab me... but more getting a copy of the album that I realised this album has some fantastic songwriting and has crept into my conscious and woven its way into my brain. The album spans his career and really is a celebration of the Fender Jaguar...in fact this album should come with every sale of Fender Jags...A great comeback made even better whilst watching him at the Wedgewood Rooms.



HYPNOTIC EYE:
A sexy 60's front-women, fantastic psychedelic pop style production, great tunes and fantastic guitar sounds...get on it! Shocking Blue for the new age... whats not to like!



DAFT PUNK:
I was as excited as any other this year as the wait for this album reminded me of pop music in the 90's when people actually used to get excited as an album was going to be released....remember that?! Anyway it wasn't quite the perfect comeback, there was a few clangers, possibly the most annoying hook in 'lose yourself to dance' in "come on! come on! come on!" for 2 mins....and although 'Get Lucky' was a pop masterpiece it slightly grated with its cheesy nod to sex...which was a shame... it didn't need that as it was 70s disco perfection. What it did have though was a half album of absolute genius, exploring genres, production, and ideas far better than bands that are scared of the charts and claiming to be experimental. This was exciting pop music again. Someone asked me recently that the album sounds different from everything else....you know what it is?.....its live!!! Live recorded music actually sounds vital again on record and Daft Punk record live... even their synths. Listen to the Drum-kit sound at the end of this record below....there's more urgency in that then most of the bloggers lists this year!



MANSIONS ON THE MOON:
I've been raving about this band on twitter all year and the year before.. and now they are just starting to come out of the "best kept secret" stage. The production has influenced me a lot on my own record coming out next year... the songs are exciting, spacey and with a slight tinge of fantasy sparkle which sends you of into M83 territory but sits the right side of accessible pop melody. Music to lose yourself to.


KASSASSIN STREET:
Kassassin have had a great year and deservedly so, the second gig they did at this years Southsea Fest was a real "I was there" moment. I adore this band and have made no secret of it, telling everyone who will listen about them and supporting them in any way I can. Its intelligent, colorful, urgent, and fresh and I suspect good things next year. Good people, good friends, and I respect them immensely.



FOALS:
I was never a fan of Foals, and mainly because as soon as any hipster scene starts creating a buzz I shy away or join later when the fuss dies down. I kind of had them in the same boat of the Vaccines which was naive of me. Like the Maccabees before them this second album was really rather clever and was a wide expansive exploration of sonic territory and some truly inspiring delay guitar-work.



Let me know your thoughts, I like to hear what people are listening to :-)

I'll have a new album next year which I think is my best work, stay in touch and please join me for the gigs and music. Have a fantastic Xmas and if you don't like it...lighten up! Have a day off! enjoy the magic :-)

Stay Safe
Andy
xx

PS....best film? Gravity!!! What a ride that was!!!!

Best thing in the year ever?
Doctor Who 50th in 3D.....yep yep.....incredible ;-)

Oh and best tea? Earl Grey.....standard......