Five Albums of 2011

Yes, it's that time again, when I, along with countless other internet-dwellers, try to prove my cultural relevance by coming up with a list of über-hip albums of the year. This year my music purchasing has increased slightly after the aural recession of 2010, but not enough to justify a top ten, so a top five will have to suffice. Comments welcome! Here goes...

5. Rob St. John - "Weald"

This album had been on my list of long-awaited releases for some time, and it didn't disappoint. The vinyl is a thing of beauty in itself (yes, it's vinyl-only, digital kids) and, by turns, slow-burning and magisterial, it's a lovely record, full of charm and subtlety.

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4. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - "Diamond Mine"

Perhaps not the strongest King Creosote album, but coupled with flowing soundscapes and homely production by Jon Hopkins, "Diamond Mine" is a real gem, and worthy of Mercury nomination (for whatever it's worth).

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3. Johan Agebjörn - "Casablanca Nights"

I doubt anyone will be surprised that this makes my list. In lieu of a new Sally Shapiro record you might think that a Johan Agebjörn solo release might be a good stop-gap. But, with an impressive list of collaborators, including Wolfram and Legowelt (not to mention Sally, of course), Mr Agebjörn has pulled off an impressive feat by creating a really cohesive album, full of top tunes.

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2. Admiral Fallow - "Boots Met My Face"

Maybe I'm just homesick, stuck as I am on the wrong side of the border, but there's something pleasing about hearing a good, honest Scottish accent on a record like this. Sure, it's indie-folk, which will no doubt be anathema to many, but it's an incredibly strong indie-folk album, with rich instrumentation, great lyrics and full to the brim with pop hooks.

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1. Wolfram - "Wolfram"

Album of the year, in my book, automatically goes to any album with a guest appearance from Haddaway (yes!) But seriously, this is a cracking Italo-influenced album, full of collaborations and special appearances. This has been there or thereabouts on my listening schedule ever since I got my clammy hands on it earlier in the year. The production is spot on, with sweeping pads and sparky synth lines, throbbing basslines and melodies which just fit perfectly. The use of vocoder also gets extra points from me every time.

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Appreciative nods...

A few others just didn't quite make the cut, although I enjoyed them immensely.

M83 - "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming"
Ladytron - "Gravity The Seducer"
Ali Renault - "Ali Renault"
The Moth and the Mirror - "Honestly, This World"
Junior Boys - "It's All True"

and, just for kicks, how about a Compilation of the Year? The sublime...

Jonnie Common presents... “Deskjob”

Latest "Heartache Disco"

Hello chaps. Just a quickie. In case you missed my recent show on Culture Lab Radio, you can hear it again on Mixcloud at http://www.mixcloud.com/alektronic/alektronic-presents-heartache-disco-17062011/

In fact you can hear the show before that too, if you go to http://www.mixcloud.com/alektronic

And I'll be uploading all my shows there as they happen (when I manage to record them properly, that is...)

Cheers!

Alektronic Presents : Heartache Disco : 03/05/11

Hey y'all,

Just a heads-up, if you, for some unfathomable reason, managed to miss my most recent show on Culture Lab Radio, you can listen again here:

http://www.mixcloud.com/alektronic/alektronic-presents-heartache-disco-03052011/

Enjoy!

N

Alektronic Presents : Heartache Disco

Start:	Jan 20, '11 6:30p
End:	Jan 20, '11 8:00p
Location:	http://culturelabradio.ncl.ac.uk/

Yes, I'm back on the airwaves with my all new 2011 beard! (Not sure this will mean much to my radio audience but, what the hey!) And of course, I have lots of Italo gems to brighten up the most dreary of months.

Also, look out for my next show, exactly two weeks later, on the 3rd of February - it's a special one-off show where I'm playing "Bad Classic Early 90s Euro Hits"! What could be better?!?

Tune in at http://culturelabradio.ncl.ac.uk/

Nx

Alektronic presents Heartache Disco

Start:	Nov 18, '10 6:30p
End:	Nov 18, '10 8:00p
Location:	The Internet

I will be playing some hottt Italo and electro-disco traxxx and talking nonsense for your dancing/weeping pleasure/pain this Thursday at 6.30pm on http://culturelabradio.ncl.ac.uk/

Tune in or I will officially pronounce you to be dead. x

Elektro Fiziks

With only a slightly embarrassing delay, here we have my special Homegame mix, entitled "Elektro Fiziks" (for reasons that should be fairly obvious) pristine and ready for you to download:

http://bit.ly/dBkM2U

For the uninitiated, every year at the Homegame Festival some kind soul organises a compilation CD lucky dip, giving everyone a chance to inflict their musical proclivities upon fellow bearded musos. Last year it proved to be a major hit and so it was something very much looked forward to again this year.

I still haven't heard from the lucky (or unfortunate - however you see it) person who picked this mix out of the hat. But it would be a shame, I think, only to inflict it upon only one person, so here it is for all and sundry to get their grubby hands on.

By now it seems almost hardly necessary to point out, having become something of a trademark, but the usual caveats do apply about appalling mixing skills. Maybe someone will teach me, one day...

Adios!

Luz da Lua, Forest Cafe, 22/3/2010