As The BBC set about ruining another set of promising careers by naming their ‘Sound of 2010′ Shortlist, I thought it was high time for a top 5 from me.
There’s a beautiful masochism to music lovers – particularly the British – wherein we really like to be reminded that life is hardly ever sunshine and puppies. All too often this materialises as dour bedsit ramblings by some hapless chap who lacks the friends to form a band. Luckily, Brighton’s Esben and the Witch forgo traditional miserablism to create dark, brooding, shimmering synth-noise.
They’ve been going for quite a few years now, but after a slew of singles, some fine E.Ps and a bastardingly brilliant album, ‘Horses For Courses’, 2010 could really be the year they start destroying minds. Imagine Rolo Tomassi in Toys’R'Us, with a liberal dose of tongue-in-cheek fun.
3. Eddy Current Suppression Ring
Already pretty big in their homeland down under, having won the Australian Music Prize (their equivalent of the Mercury) for 2008′s Primary Colours; it’s about bloody time people in the UK started taking notice of them. ECSR peddle lo-fi garage punk with zero frills and even less pretense. Expect sing-a-longs about rocking out, fucking, and having a barbie on the beach.
4. Sun Araw
Ignore The Drums’ lo-fi Californication, Sun Araw is where you truly get to hear the sounds of a blissed-out summer’s day at the sea-side. With his third album proper, this year’s ‘Heavy Deeds’ being named as one of Wire magazine’s top 50 of 2009, it’s all too likely he will be confined to trainspotting oblivion, but you can help! All you have to do is light up, chill out, and listen.
5. The obvious ones…
I actually can’t stand these bands but… Expect Chew Lips to ride out the electro-grrrl death rattle form last year; Stornoway will keep the weak-at-the-kneejerk folkie crowd happy; and for some reason people on Drowned in Sound seem to be jizzing gallons over Everything Everything. Why? Fucked if I know. You’ll probably like it though.
…And now for the resurgences.
1. Liars
One of the best bands in the universe right now return early next year with ‘Sisterworld’. I’ve got a copy, and I can assure you it’s fucking fantastic. Expect a review soon.
Efrim and Co. return with ‘Kollaps Tradixionales’ this February, their first since 2008′s epic ’13 Blues for 13 Moons’. Expect more minimalism, more tempos, shorter tracks, and to be told to ‘Dance you motherfucker!’
I cried sellout when their moniker was changed from ‘iLIKETRAiNS’, but I guess that’s what being dropped will do to a band. The new material showcased at their Great Escape set this year hinted at a fuller sounding band, with less horn and a truckload more tragedies to sing about. The new album is untitled as of yet, but according to the band it has been mixed, and they are on the lookout for a label.
So there you are, now go forth and get some aural pleasure.
WHAT TO DO NOW?