The last three days of 2024 will feature more reflections and selections from what has been a really good year for music.
Today's selection is exactly what the post title suggests: 26 songs over 98 minutes, listed alphabetically by artist (ignoring 'A' or 'The' prefixes).
I've picked up lots of recommendations, mostly from fellow bloggers and, more recently, Bluesky, though rarely from music magazines these days. Thanks then to @marksmusic1977.bsky.social and Ernie Goggins for introducing me to Ana Lua Caiano and The Zawose Queens respectively.
Mark posted Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado by Ana Lua Caiano as a contender for Album Of The Year and it's easy to hear why. Ana Lua Caiano’s debut album "melds rural Portuguese music traditions
with layered vocals, synthesizers, insistent beats and field recordings", but it hits hard, takes some unexpected twists and turns, and packs a hell of a lot into less than half an hour.
As a paying Last Night From Glasgow member for the second consecutive year, I've received another steady stream of quality new releases and reissues on gorgeous vinyl, frequently in a variety of unexpected colours and hues, as well as access to dozens of albums via their digital vault.
Included in my vinyl package was Holding Up Half The Sky by Xan Tyler. Xan's got previous on this blog, notably Clarion Call, her collaborative album with Mad Professor in 2021. Holding Up Half The Sky is produced by Boo Hewerdine and immerses the listener in the "life stories of some incredible women [...] a journey shaped by adversity and challenges [and] arriving at a place they were seemingly destined for." The songcraft is superlative and a big hit with Mrs. K too.
I first heard Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996), the second album by Billy Reeves, via the LNFG digital vault shortly after it was released in the spring. I enjoyed Billy's first album very much, but this one had an immediate impact on my and over the course of the year, I have become obsessed with the album. Definitely one of my most played.
The vinyl album wasn't included in my LNFG membership so of course I had to buy it. I kept meaning to write about Steve, but I procrastinated so much that Billy released two further albums since, a live set with Gavin Laird and, in November, his third solo album. I've heard the former - it's great - and the latter is on order.
There have been many triumphant returns for artists this year, including China Crisis and The Blow Monkeys (both also on LNFG), The The (their first album in a quarter of a century) and Ultravox, albeit via a deluxe 40th anniversary reissue of Lament and decent remixes by Steven Wilson and Moby.
Some comebacks were a complete surprise, and exceeded all reasonable expectations. Gavin Friday's album Ecce Homo is produced by Dave Ball and is supercharged music for the heads and the hedonists. Why slow down at 65? As good as any of Gavin's previous albums, which were frankly brilliant.
Fluke's return seemingly came out of nowhere, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier joined on this new adventure by the stunning vocals of Leah Cleaver. Two singles - Insanely Beautiful and Real Magnificient - and a standalone song (Jack) that are up there with their best material. The world is a better place with Fluke's music in it.
I knew of Lisa Moorish in the 1990s, though more for the pop press and tabloid features than her music. Drawn in by a David Holmes remix, the single Sylvia is a statement of intent and then some. A song about poet Sylvia Plath, set to urgent rhythms with a sublime vocal and hooky lyrics ("where do I end and you begin?"), it got my attention and Lisa's album Divine Chaos is equally worth your attention (and money). A powerful and very welcome return.
Less comeback and more career change, Dan Wainwright released the first of two solo albums this year. I was familiar with Dan's psychedelic electronica/dance/dub music and remixes. I'd also picked up on social media that he'd decided to turn away from that, learn to play the ukelele and write songs drawn deep from the soul and his lived experience. I reviewed Dan's debut back in February and I stand by every word. A shock if you're familiar with Dan's previous work, but stick with it and the songs reward with each play.
Creativity seemed to be in overdrive this year, with an astonishing quantity of quality music from Richard Norris and A Certain Ratio. Hifi Sean and David McAlmont recorded enough music for two (themed) albums and that's exactly what they've done. The first of these, Daylight, was out in August and is packed with poptastic tunes, including the anthemic Celebrate. The follow up, Twilight, is out February 2025 and, if preview single Star is anything to go by, will be as good as if not better. Truly a perfect musical partnership.
Ghost Tapes 1 To 9 by Jo Bartlett is another album that I've played repeatedly all year and it just gets better with each listen. When I posted about the album in April, I reflected on "the soundscapes that Jo has created, not least the bringing together of electronics, acoustics
and voice resulting in an album that feels organic, human and warm." The songs were infused with the spirit of Jayne Casey and Nina Walsh, whilst holding their own with contemporaries Tor Maries (Billy Nomates) and Angel Olsen. In other words, right up my street.
I've written previously and above about the formidable talents of female artists, and today's selection includes further examples by Jane Weaver, Emily Breeze, Katy J Pearson, Eno Williams (Ibibio Sound Machine), Samantha Morton, John Glacier and Yaya Bey.
Producers have also, er. produced some incredible music this year. Cruelly missing from today's selection are Hugo Nicholson and David Harrow's Revolvalution or CTRL+S EDITS 2024, an album of excellent edits by Neil Parnell aka Tronik Youth.
Joe Thornally, son of legendary producer Phil, released his 5th (or 6th) album as Vegyn, The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions, in the spring. I came to Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around by Nigel Butler via a recommendation from former bandmate and founder of theaudience, Billy Reeves. Both albums are very, very good and the latter is going on Bandcamp at the ridiculous price of 50p!
The Woodentops came back with a bang last year, the superb single Ride A Cloud, with a brilliant video and remixes and the promise of an album to follow. Another April release, Fruits Of The Deep, delivered far beyond the promise of the lead single, as I wrote about at the time.
I've not yet mentioned DJ Helen's inspired fusion of David Holmes' remix of Orbital's Belfast and Mike Garry's updated recording of his poem Tonight. The 4-minute version tells you what you need to know but you really need to go for the full 12-minute monty with this one.
And a highlight of my many new dub purchases this year has been The Mood EP by French punnilinguists Prince François Far I and ShaYaman, available in 5 flavours, including a remix by Owl Trackers and all in tribute to Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Then it's back to LNFG for Amelia Lironi and Naomi Mackay aka Quad 90, the '90' presumably referencing the year that advance single Anodyne calls to mind, not least a lost single by New Order. Not included simply to fill that difficult 'Q', I'm looking forward to their debut album in 2025.
Oh, and I nearly forgot Metronomy! Suffice to say, I love the Loose EP and the short, snappy, poppy collaborations, encapsulated brilliantly by Pan Amsterdam's spoken word vocals on Nice Town.
Note on Sunday:
If you were here earlier this morning, you will have read that the majority of the above sleevenotes were to follow later, as my usual blog writing routine flexed to accommodate an extended Clan K over the festive period.
Various family members left this morning, giving me some time to return to the keyboard and finish off this post. Of course, that kitchen full of dirty pans, crockery and cutlery isn't going to wash itself, so I will sign off now and be back here on Monday with another reflection on some great music this year.
Casa K is well and truly back to it's chaotic norm!, and so is this blog! Thanks for sticking with me xx
1) De Cabeça Colada Ao Chão: Ana Lua Caiano (Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado)
2) I Know Who Trashed The Blue Peter Garden (Part II): Billy Reeves (Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996))
3) Where You Coming From (Jane Weaver Rework): A Certain Ratio (Christmasville UK EP)
4) Big Boss Man: Dan Wainwright (Dan Wainwright)
5) 1997 (Single Version): Emily Breeze (Second Rodeo EP)
6) Real Magnificent (Single Version): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (Real Magnificent EP)
7) Cabarotica: Gavin Friday (Ecce Homo)
8) The Show: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Daylight)
9) Black Notes: Ibibio Sound Machine (The Black Notes EP)
10) One In A Hundred: Jo Bartlett (Ghost Tapes 1 To 9)
11) Long Range Driver: Katy J Pearson (Someday, Now)
12) Sylvia (Radio Edit): Lisa Moorish (Sylvia EP)
13) Nice Town: Metronomy x Pan Amsterdam (Posse EP Volume 2)
14) Beginningless: Nigel Butler (Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around)
15) Tonight In Belfast (Edit): Orbital ft. DJ Helen, David Holmes & Mike Garry (Tonight In Belfast EP)
16) The Mood (Owl Trackers Remix): Prince François Far I & ShaYaman (The Mood EP)
17) Anodyne (Radio Edit): Quad 90 (Anodyne EP)
18) A Field In Dub: Richard Norris (Oracle Sound Volume Three)
19) Broxtowe Girl: Sam Morton ft. Ali Campbell & Alabaster DePlume (Daffodils & Dirt)
20) Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot (Album Version): The The (Ensoulment)
21) Lament (Moby Remix): Ultravox (Lament (Deluxe Edition))
22) A Dream Goes On Forever: Vegyn ft. John Glacier (The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions)
23) Dream On (Album Version): The Woodentops (Fruits Of The Deep)
24) You're My Muse: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)
25) A Survivor's Guilt: Yaya Bey (TRAИƧA)
26) Maisha: The Zawose Queens (Maisha)
