Calling all music lovers with restless ears and a thirst for the untamed! 2024 promises a sonic safari unlike any other, with a diverse range of releases that push boundaries, blend genres, and rewrite the rules. From the haunting beauty of flamenco electronica to the cosmic meditations of new jazz, get ready to expand your musical horizons with these ten essential records.
1. Ángeles Toledano – Sangre Sucia:
Spanish flamenco singer Ángeles Toledano is set to ignite the scene with her upcoming album, “Sangre Sucia” (Dirty Blood). Imagine a vibrant tapestry woven from the rich threads and roots of traditional flamenco and the raw energy of a contemporary production, perfectly planned to take a step ahead. Toledano’s voice is powerful and deeply rooted in the tradition, and transport you without complexes into a world where ancient melodies dance with modern sensibilities. A star has been born and is here to stay.
2. Fat Dog – Woof:
Fat Dog are the most exciting breakthrough band of the past few years, conjurers of the sort of frenzied and wild live shows not seen in the capital for years and now the creators of WOOF., a brilliant and mind-bending debut album. A thrilling blend of electro-punk, rock’n’roll snarling, techno soundscapes, industrial-pop and rave euphoria, WOOF. is music for letting go to or, in the words of frontman Joe Love, “screaming-into-a-pillow music”.
https://fatdogfatdogfatdog.bandcamp.com/album/woof
3. Umo & VV.AA – As Below So Above:
Everything in the universe is interconnected; it operates in harmony, with all aspects of existence governed by the same fundamental principles originating from a common source. Six original tracks that enrich UMO’s ”Slow Rave” universe along with remixes by Geistform, JG Outsider, Linja, MMB, and Calma Tensa. UMO represents the growing scene of the slow dance and the rebirth of Barcelona as one of the world’s references when it comes to electronic music.
https://openthenext.bandcamp.com/album/as-below-so-above
4. Alicia Acuña – Narcotablao:
Prepare to be mesmerised by the sonic sorcery of Narcotablao, the brainchild of Spanish musician Alicia Acuña. This project fearlessly throws open the doors between flamenco’s passionate traditions and the pulsating world of electronic and experimental music. Narcotablao’s self-titled debut, expected in 2024, promises a fiery and exhilarating experience, where the flamenco dancer’s footwork becomes synchronised with the frenetic rhythms of a drum machine. And her label Alhaja Records, a reference to be followed in the near future.
https://alhajarecords.bandcamp.com/album/narcotablao
5. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God:
The Australian masters of darkness, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, return with their eighteenth studio album, “Wild God.” Brace yourselves for Cave’s signature lyrical eloquence, delving into the depths of human experience with his characteristic blend of rock, post-punk, and a touch of the avant-garde. “Wild God” is a testament to the band’s enduring power to shock, provoke, and leave a lasting impression. The sound is getting more and more calm but the magic’s still there. For many more years.
6. DJ Toner – Outside:
Spanish electronic producer DJ Toner steps out with “Outside,” an album that pushes the boundaries of jazz and electronic music. Immerse yourself in a jazz quintet directed by DJ Toner with hip hip and lo fi touches and the support of excellent musicians like Erik Truffaz or Jorge Pardo. “Outside” is an invitation to an inmersive journey through the future of jazz.
7. The Paradise Bangkok Molam Orchestra – Araya Lam:
Get ready to embark on a psychedelic trip to Thailand with The Paradise Bangkok Molam Orchestra. This innovative band takes the ancient folk tradition of Molam music and injects it with a potent dose of psychedelic rock and funk. Their latest album, “Araya Lam,” explodes with vibrant colors and infectious grooves, a testament to the enduring power of tradition when reimagined through a contemporary lens.
https://theparadisebangkokmolaminternationalband.bandcamp.com/album/araya-lam
8. Ben Frost – Scope Neglect:
Ben Frost presents his first studio album in six years, Scope Neglect, via Mute. Available January 11th on limited edition white vinyl, followed by black vinyl, CD, and digital formats on March 1st.
In the sonic crucible of Ben Frost’s Scope Neglect, music undergoes a metamorphic alchemy. From the album’s opening seconds, the familiar aural chemistry of metal is immediately untethered, isolated in the vacuum, stripped of its cultural trappings and heavy armory, and loaded into a particle accelerator.
Where Scope Neglect leans sonically into metal – fuelled by progressive metal outfit Car Bomb’s guitarist Greg Kubacki and bassist Liam Andrews of fellow Australians My Disco – its true form seems to draw more upon the transcendental reveries of the West Coast minimalists. What at first appears confrontational, and ephemeral, is meditatively and methodically unfolded through time, revealing crystalline vulnerabilities.
https://benfrost.bandcamp.com/album/scope-neglect
9. Helado Negro – Phasor:
American musician Roberto Carlos Lange, known by his stage name Helado Negro, continues to defy categorization with his latest album, “Phasor.” While PHASOR feels loose and expansive, it’s Lange’s tightest collection—deep, atmospheric, meticulously executed. It’s aligned with 2019’s This Is How You Smile, which found him incorporating more upfront drums and bass and focused grooves. Sequentially, it follows the expansive hour-plus long Far In, whose title was inspired by new age legend Laraaji and created in lockdown, in Marfa, Texas – lyrically digging into connection and focused on being in quarantine. PHASOR, in turn, is an homage to going outside again. It’s a returning-to-life record, remembering what the sun feels like and letting it warm your skin.
https://heladonegro.bandcamp.com/album/phasor
10. Kim Gordon – The Collective:
Iconic musician Kim Gordon, best known as a founding member of Sonic Youth, continues to break new ground with her latest solo album, “The Collective.” This experimental masterpiece blends elements of rock, noise, and spoken word, showcasing Gordon’s unique artistic vision. “The Collective” is a raw and uncompromising exploration of sound, a testament to Gordon’s enduring influence on the world of alternative music.
Legendary musician and multi-disciplinary artist Kim Gordon returns with her second solo album, The Collective, which will be released March 8th on Matador. Recorded in her native Los Angeles, The Collective follows Gordon’s 2019 full-length debut No Home Record and continues her collaboration with producer Justin Raisen (Lil Yachty, John Cale, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Charli XCX, Yves Tumor), with additional production from Anthony Paul Lopez. The album advances their joint world building, with Raisin’s damaged, blown out dub and trap constructions playing the foil to Gordon’s intuitive word collages and hooky mantras, which conjure communication, commercial sublimation and sensory overload.
“On this record, I wanted to express the absolute craziness I feel around me right now,” says Gordon. “This is a moment when nobody really knows what truth is, when facts don’t necessarily sway people, when everyone has their own side, creating a general sense of paranoia. To soothe, to dream, escape with drugs, TV shows, shopping, the internet, everything is easy, smooth, convenient, branded. It made me want to disrupt, to follow something unknown, maybe even to fail.”
https://kimgordon.bandcamp.com/album/the-collective
A Sonic Odyssey for the Discerning Listener
In a world saturated with noise, these ten albums offer a much-needed respite. They are a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, challenge, and transform. Whether you’re seeking the comfort of familiar melodies or the thrill of the unknown, these releases have something to offer every discerning listener. So, put on your headphones, close your eyes, and let the music transport you to another dimension.
What are your favourite albums this year?
Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going and celebrate the incredible diversity of music being released this year. Looking forward to read your thoughts and music recommendations.
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