BarryGruff Albums of the Year (2015)

BGs Albums of the year 2015So it is that time of year again, lists, lists and more lists. Well, not be out done, here are my 41 (yes 41, and yes it’s a weird number) albums of 2015.

It has been such a good year for new albums, probably the best since I started the blog back in 2010. So much so that there is very little difference between the top 5, top 10, top 15 and so on. So without further ado, here are my favourite records from 2015:

There is also a Spotify playlist of the Top 20 albums, to save you time and hassle (it’s here).

41. Only Real – Jerk At The End of the Line’

40. Rozi Plain – ‘Friend’

39. Wildling – ‘Molecules To Moon’

38. The School – ‘Wasting Away And Wondering’

37. Sweet Baboo – ‘Boombox Ballads’

36. The Stammer – ‘Days In Between’

35. SexWitch – Sex Witch’

34. Faith Healer – ‘Cosmic Troubles’

33. Girl Band – ‘Holding Hands With Jamie’

32. Joanna Gruesome – ‘Peanut Butter’

31. Fort Romeau – ‘Insides

30. Soft Serve – ‘S/t’

29. Applescal – ‘For’

28. Zefur Wolves – ‘Zefur Wolves’

27. Hot Chip – ‘Why Make Sense?’

26. Drenge – ‘Undertow’

25. The Charlatans – ‘Modern Nature’

24. Gaz Coombes – ‘Matador’

23. Bill Ryder-Jones – ‘West Kirby County Primary’

22. Drinks – ‘Hermits on Holiday’

21. The Expert – Dynamic Drift

20. Boxed In – ‘Boxed In’

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The Chemical Brothers – ‘Under Neon Lights’ (Feat. St. Vincent)

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Earlier this year, The Chemical Brothers announced new LP Born in the Echoes, their first album since 2010’s Further (excluding the Hanna soundtrack).

Released on July 17th, the 11-track effort will feature guest appearances from Beck, Q-Tip, Cate Le Bon, Ali Love and St. Vincent. The Chemicals have already shared two tracks from the forthcoming record with us; ‘Sometimes I Feel So Deserted’ and ‘Go’ featuring Q-Tip. As the new record’s release date edges closer, the electronic duo have now unveiled their collaboration with Annie Clark aka St. Vincent, ‘Under Neon Lights’. It is a phenomenal tune, tense and atmospheric, with flashes of breaks, pulsing rhythm, haunting vocals, guitar and digital blips. ‘Under Neon Lights’ squirms and squiggles, bubbles and bursts, threatening to explode without ever doing so which only adds to the gripping intensity. ‘Under Neon Lights’ is The Chemical Brothers at the peak of the prowess, and sound as good they ever have.

The Chemical Brothers release their eighth studio album, Born in the Echoes, on July 17th, just over 20 years since their first, Exit Planet Dust. For now though, check out ‘Under Neon Lights’ and it’s illuminating visuals below.

 

Glastonbury ’11: Bits n’ Bobs

Glastonbury is over and done with for another two years, but thanks to the brilliant BBC coverage we were all able to enjoy a lot of the weekend’s action from the comfort of our respective couches.

Much of the weekend’s antics isn’t online yet but here are some of the highlights from across the weekend…

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The legend that is Jimmy Cliff

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More feel good vibes from Primal Scream

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The Kills ripping it up

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The Horrors new album really can’t come quick enough

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Elbow doing what they do best

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Old masters The Chemical Brothers tearing it up.

Stream: The Chemical Brothers – ‘Container Park’

Legendary electronic duo The Chemical Brothers were enlisted to compose the soundtrack to the upcoming Joe Wright-directed film Hanna.

The guys released a stream of ‘Container Park’, an eerie track which expertly exudes suspense and tension with of course a splash or two of their renowned big beats. It’s a little different from what we’ve come to expect from The Chemicals over the years but it is the score to a film after all, so that will drive the tunes. It is sounding tasty nonetheless, certainly excited and interested to hear the whole soundtrack when it hits the shelves on March 15th.

Thanks to #picileaks we know The Chemical Brothers will be one of the headline acts for this year’s Electric Picnic.

Edit: Another cracking track ‘The Devil is in the Beats’ has surfaced on Some Kind of Awesome

The Chemical Brothers – Container Park via Hypetrak