Epic 2008 Music Round-up Post

In no particular order.

NB: This post is a merge of the ‘the music of 2008′ parts 1, 2 and 3.

Kazoo Funk Orchestra - This Album is Self-titled [Planet Groucho]

Colourful, erratic Scots collective the Kazoo Funk Orchestra spent the best part of ‘08 releasing an album, one track at a time, every week, online via their website. This Album is Self-Titled features fifty (yes 50!) tracks of fun-fuelled lofi pop, which is as the ten-piece band would say, fantastical!

Kazoo Funk Orchestra - This Album is Self-Titled [iTunes]

Flying Lotus - Los Angeles [Warp]

Steven Ellison’s transition from television musician (for the Adult Swim network) and occasional Plug Research remix contributer, to Warp records staple and herald of hip-hop new renaissance, was cemented this year with the release of Los Angeles; a bubbling pot of genres that Plan B described as “somewhere between the death of Hip Hop and the manifestation of ghosts.”

Flying Lotus - Los Angeles [iTunes] [Amazon]

Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust [XL]

With an economic collapse prevalent in Iceland (and everywhere else now!), thank god someone took the foresight to invest in the nation’s creative talent. Godlike gloommongers Sigur Rós released Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust this year, which not only featured an amazing video for the song Gobbledigook, but was also their most fun work to date.

Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust [iTunes]

School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms [Ghostly International]

Freaky electronica trio School of Seven Bells first came to light after contributing what was arguably the best part of Prefuse 73’s Preperations LP, with their appearance on the track Class of 73 Bells. They then released Alpinisms in October on Plug Research, which Rolling Stone rather aptly described as “warm goth — New Order with more eros.”

School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms [Amazon] [iTunes]

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [Sub Pop / Bella Union]

The weirdy-beardy hipster’s choice of record this year was Seattle based folk-pop traditionalists Fleet Foxes’ self-titled release on Sub Pop / Bella Union. Brimming with sunny harmonies, whimsical lyrics, and similarities to the Beach Boys, Fleet Foxes captured the hearts of journos at the Times, who called it the best record of 2008. Weird, beard, or not, I won’t hold it against them for it is a fine album.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [Amazon] [iTunes]

Nobody Presents Blank Blue - Western Water Music II [Ubiquity]

Based in a post-apocalyptic California, where tainted mushrooms let you breath underwater, Blank Blue— a.k.a suave beatsmith Elvin Estela (Nobody) and sultry vocalist Niki Randa— dropped a real summer gem this year, in the form of Western Water Music II. Kind of Grace Slick meets Bonobo, this is psychedelic hip-hop worth reaching for.

Nobody Presents Blank Blue - Western Water Music II [Amazon] [iTunes]

Mystic Man And Eshamanjaro - In Heavy Weather [Fat!]

One of the year’s most slept-on records in hip-hop was In Heavy Weather by producer Mystic Man (a.k.a Merka) and tight-as-a-nut emcee Eshamanjaro on Fat! Records. Mystic Man’s beats encorporate a range of genres from jazz, boom-bap, dubstep and rave, while Esha’s rhymes are contemplative, intelligent and always delivered on point. Proof that UK hip-hop is still capable of dropping classics.

Mystic Man And Eshamanjaro - In Heavy Weather (iTunes)

Lau Nau - Nukkuu [Locust]

Following in the footsteps of fellow Finnish “acid” folksters, like Islaja and Kuupuu, Lau Nau’s otherwordly compositions — made from “curious & intuitive sounds conjured from familiar and exotic sound sources” — were perfected on the enchanting Nukkuu. More incredible music from Finland.

Lau Nau - Nukkuu (iTunes)

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight [FatCat]

Scots indie collective Frightened Rabbit have recorded enough “break up songs” to keep you glum until you’re old and lonely (singer Scott Hutchison admitted he thinks “that well is pretty dry”), but The Midnight Organ Fight is still one of 2008’s best records, and one which propelled them into a globally-renowned status. Pitchfork Media gushed over its “rousing barnburners that flicker with soul.”

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight (iTunes)

Lone - The Lemurian [Dealmaker]

Notts hip-hop producer Lone got his due acclaim in 2008 following his album The Lemurian and itssister EP Cluster Dreams (both on Dealmaker), and rightly so. Its insatiably-weird, warped instrumentals are awash with off-kilter beats, vintage synths and exotica-tinged playfulness, in what is an accomplished and truly individual piece of work.

Lone - The Lemurian (iTunes)

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath [Universal Motown]

The globally-fused metal of former At The Drive In boys The Mars Volta ensured a rollicking start to the year back in January with The Bedlam in Goliath. Reputedly the band were ritualistically using a ouiji-type board during the album’s conception, and were subsequently plagued by eerie occurences, such as the nervous breakdown of their sound engineer, a flooded studio, and physical injuries to the band.

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath (iTunes)

Hauschka - Ferndorf [FatCat]

Piano-hacking German, Hauschka — a.k.a composer and pianist Volker Bertelmann — created a infinitely relaxing record packed with both musical depth and bookish charm this year, in the form of Ferndorf; produced by the legendary Max Richter. Good news then that he has a new album, ‘Snowflakes and Carwrecks’, coming out in February 2009.

Hauschka - Ferndorf (iTunes)

Posted in Music & News by Martin Skivington on December 10, 2008.

Facebook This!   Tweet This!   Grab the Earz Mag RSS feed  

More Articles:

Kazoo Funk Orchestra - Motion Sickness Our awesome friends The Kazoo Funk Orchestra have kindly uploaded a completely free, "magically festive...

Kazoo Funk’n Tonite at King Tuts Fantastical 15-piece musical posse The Kazoo Funk Orchestra will be doing their thang at King Tuts Wah...

Review: Pelican @ the Oran Mor, 14 Sep Glasgow’s Oran Mor venue is bustling tonight, with a mixed breed of metal-hipsters turned out to...

Surface Emp / Proto Post "Left Right" by Surface Emp, taken from Proto / Post From the underworld of Glasgow's hip-hop...