Now These Winter Skies Turn Blue And Bright

Again eschewing a 'best of' list, today's selection is a drop in the ocean of artists, songs and albums that I've discovered, found again after a very long gap or just replaced with a CD or digital version during 2021. Most of the 'new' discoveries are thanks to the brilliant blogs that have proved a lifeline for my musical and mental health, some of which are listed to the right. At the time of writing, my favourite reissue this year is the beautiful 5CD New Age Steppers collection, Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012, followed very closely by the 2CD expanded reissue of The Beloved's Happiness. A belated purchase of SAULT's back catalogue at the same time as this year's 'NINE' has been a gift that keeps on giving. My bank balance hates me but, aurally speaking, it's been an embarrassment of riches this year.

1) We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal (Album Version): The Amorphous Androgynous & Peter Hammill (2020)

2) What It Is (Album Version): Angel Olsen (2019)

3) December Sunlight (Remixed 2020) (Cover of The The): Anna Domino (2020)

4) Men Like You (Album Version): Archive (2002)

5) The Sun Rising (Evening Session Remix): The Beloved (1989)

6) Touch (Album Version By Trevor Morais): Benjamin Zephaniah (2005)

7) Insomniacs Tonight (Extended Mix By Blancmange & Benge): Blancmange (2020)

8) She's A Mystery: Dot Allison ft. Keith Tenniswood (2012)

9) Hi-Fi Gets A Pounding (Pts. 1 & 2): Dub Syndicate (1982)

10) Heartbreak House: Hifi Sean ft. Maggie De Monde (2016)

11) Train Is Coming: Iklan ft. Law Holt (2020)

12) Charles XII Of Sweden (Tamworth Session): Julian Cope & The Teardrop Explodes (1989)

13) Wounded Animal: New Age Steppers (2012)

14) Positive Force Dub (Remix By Prince Fatty): Nostalgia 77 (2014)

15) Homage To A Memory (EKAC Demo): The Porch Song Anthology (2006)

16) J.J.'s: Port Sulphur (2020)

17) Tonight: Prince Fatty ft. Big Youth & Earl Sixteen (2019)

18) Andalucia: Psychemagik (2012)

19) Get Up (Live @ Orlando Arena, Florida, 29-30 April 1989): R.E.M. (1989)

20) Fearless: SAULT (2020)

21) Danger (Edit): Smith & Mighty ft. Kelz & Rudy Lee) (2002)

2002: You All Look The Same To Me: 4

2005: Naked: 6

2011: Songs For A Green World: The Classic 1989 Broadcast: 19

2012: Pioneers 01: 8

2014: Prince Fatty Meets Nostalgia 77 In The Kingdom Of Dub: 14

2016: Ft.: 10 

2016: Spell Of The Trembling Earth (Grande Edition): 15

2017: Ambience In Dub 1982-1985: 9

2017: Psychemagik Archive 2009-2017: 18

2019: In The Viper's Shadow: 17

2020: Album Number 1 Featuring Law Holt: 11

2020: Compendium: 16

2020: Connected Sequences: 21

2020: East And West/North And South (Collaborations 1984-2020) (Deluxe Edition): 3 

2020: Expanded Mindset: 7

2020: Happiness/Wolf Studios 1988-1990 (Special Edition): 5

2020: UNTITLED (Rise): 20

2020: We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal: 1

2021: Cold War Psychedelia: 12

2021: Song Of The Lark And Other Far Memories: 2 

2021: Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012: 13

 

Now These Winter Skies Turn Blue And Bright (1:31:50)