Best Records of 2019

Everybody seems to have their annual 'end of year lists' around this time of year so this being no exception here are some of  the best releases that stood out to me this year with an example of my favourite track from said album. This list is split into full length albums, singles & EP's.

Originally this was going to be a Top Ten list but there was just no way to fit in all the excellent releases i heard this year. 

Best Albums of 2019

Fatamorgana - Terra Alta LP

La Vida Es En Mus

Spain (Barcelona)

Fatamorgana are a Minimal Synth/Synthpop act from Barcelona featuring members of Belgrado & Sect. After raving about their Cassingle they released last year I was eagerly awaiting this full length. 'Terra Alta' meaning Highland, does a great job of expanding on that first release, with infectious dancey beats that will undoubtedly become future ear worms by the time you have consumed all 44 minutes worth of music. Expect a sound that is somewhere between Chrisma, Oppenheimer Analysis & early Depeche Mode. Patrycja's vocals have a dreamy otherworldly presence leant to the music. If i had to shorten my list to a top five this would undoubtedly be on it.

 

Powerplant - People In The Sun LP

Dreamland Syndicate

United Kingdom (London)

This record feels like a breath of fresh air with it's two very split personalities featured throughout. On one hand we have a really repressive sounding dystopia filled futuristic nightmare, that at times sound like a ominous Vangelis sci-fi soundtrack (See the track below) While at other times it sounds as if Gary Numan & The Tubeway Army started playing songs by BB Eye. It's manic, twisted & very interesting combination of Synth Punk, with touches of Cold Wave. I'm excited to see what they do next because this particular LP is exceptional.

Slagheap - Slagheap LP
Spurge Recordings
United Kingdom (Bristol)

I stumbled across Slagheap prior to their demo on 'Environmental Studies' & was instantly taken by their sound, reminding me of The Raincoats & LiLiPUT/Kleenex with a raw, direct and angular sound, where every instrument plays a key role to texture every track on the album. I was not left feeling that any song was pedestrian or used as filler. At times i was also reminded of the experimental touches of fellow Bristolians The Pop Group which shine through from time to time. Mo-Dettes would be another key reference point for their sound especially with their similarly enthusiastic execution. If somebody had said this had been recorded in 1979 it wouldn't surprise me at all. 'Spunky as hell' indeed.

Current Affairs - Object & Subject LP
Tough Love Records
United Kingdom (Glasgow)

Object & Subject is a handy collection of material by Glasgow based Current Affairs. Their sound mines the Goth/Post-punk of the late 80's, particularly found here in the UK. Musically i'm reminded of Siouxie And The Banshees 1981 album 'Ju-Ju' especially in the vocal department. The guitars twitch and pulsate across every track. There's moments that remind me a little of Xmal Deutschland, but mostly I'm reminded of Skeletal Family & the aforementioned 'Banshees. For more contemporary references think of bands such as Artefact who are similar in tone & execution.

Empty Beings - Dead & Pathetic LP
Play Alone Records
U.S.A. (Pittsburgh)

Dead & Pathetic much like recent Hank Wood and The Hammerheads releases has a real soul and swagger. At times I'm hearing some Terrible Feelings & at others a little Brain F≠ especially vocally, but mostly I'm hearing a good portion of The Gun Club creeping in to every track on this release. Some records really capture a mood well and this one does it's best to paint vivid Pennsylvanian landscapes. There's a real urgency to the music here and as a result the tracks really stick. I particularly enjoy Shani's vocals on this release which come off as eerie & mysterious.

Sistema De Entretenimento - 8 Aventuras Para Jóvenes LP
Fast Food Records
Barcelona (Spain)

I find it hard to believe this didn't come out on Lumpy Records as this is exactly the kind of sound you would expect from that label but in actuality it was released on Fast Food Records in Spain. What we have here is absolute weirdo Synth punk, hyper energised & perfect for those of you who have short attention spans. Think Muff Divers, BB Eye, Plastic, Polysics, P-Model & bands of that calibre and you've pretty much arrived at their sound. Each track title references Anime, video games & Manga, hell even the band are named after a Nintendo games console. I can't get enough of this record. Great cover art by Skipper O'Neil too.

Rocky & The Sweden - City Baby Attacked By Buds LP
Break The Records
Japan (Tokyo)

I always joke about how Japanese bands never really break up, they just go into extended hibernation & Rocky & The Sweden is no exception. Formed in the the late 90's and sporadically releasing records since then, their latest on 'Break The Records' titled 'City Baby Attacked by Buds' (yes, a riff on GBH's debut record, although this LP sounds nothing like it) is an exercise in the classic traditional Japanese 'Burning Spirits' hardcore formula, with fast paced drums and guitar as well as a few metal solo's thrown in for good measure. This is still my favourite brand of hardcore & you can hear Rocky & The Sweden's passion for it emanating throughout this record. Expect music that makes nods to Death Side, D.S.B. Judgement, Bastard & Zilemma.

Chain Cult - Shallow Grave LP
La Vida Es En Mus
Greece (Athens)

Shallow Grave marks the return of Chain Cult & for this release we are treated to 8 tracks of Post-punk that reminds me of Hi-Vis & 1981. On certain tracks the melodic hardcore of Pegboy appears to creep in, with the baselines being a complete stand out on these tracks. A lot of this material does an excellent job of drawing from the past but with one foot very firmly in the present. I personally feel this release stands above their already excellent EP's. It's often the case that bands loose their way when creating an album but for Chain Cult, it seems to be where they shine & live out their full potential.  Expect brooding angular guitars and layered melodies throughout. 

 
JAD - Strach LP 
Self Released
Poland (Warsaw)

Strach is a anxious sounding hardcore LP that really feels like it is influenced by that crunchy Japanese hardcore sound that Zouo were so great at. I'm also hearing influences from fellow countrymen Infekcja & Armia (particularly their first album) musically the tracks build up with nice levels of intensity and pace. This full length is is decidedly stronger than their initial demo tape material. This is an impressive debut album.

Minina - Minina LP
Static Shock Records
Spain (Barcelona)

Barcelona keeps churning out great hardcore records & Minima is no exception. We launch into this record with some pogo worthy riffing, snarled vocals & bouncing baselines coupled with plodding drums of the UK82 variety, with a sound somewhat like Vulpess, I'm also really reminded of contemporaries Pesadilla. Every track on this album feels well paced & even filters in some Detroit hardcore in the vein of Negative Approach and Necros.

GAZM - Heavy Vibe Music LP
11PM Records
Canada (Montreal)

From the moment you flip on this record you are met with a slab of riff heavy hardcore with a pulsating metal chug. The vocalist sounds like he's singing for The Accüsed or Septic Death, while the music is more like late 90's Canadian hardcore such as The Swarm if it was filtered through Slayer's thrash assault, but not quite reaching that same tempo. Every track on this album seems expertly calculated as the music swirls into its final crescendo.

Pscience - Pscience LP
Spake Taker Sounds
U.S.A. (New Orleans)

Pscience features off-kilter Synth & hypnotic guitar riffs that bring to mind Surburban Lawns with maybe a dash of eX-Girl thrown in, but this record mostly attempts to build on the sound pioneered by the early new wave movement. This is Synth Punk with an almost lackadaisical feel to it. That might sound like a negative comment in most quarters but that's not what i'm saying here as i take to the casual feeling to the tracks featured here as one song drifts into the next.

Sanction - Broken In Refraction LP
Pure Noise Records
U.S.A. (Long Island, New York)

Broken in Refraction knows exactly which time period it draws influence from with thick riffed sounding Metalcore that chugs and burrs from track to track with a good level of intensity. The music featured here, is the type of hardcore you'd hear on many 90's releases by Victory Records & Goodlife Recordings as well as the type that Carry the Weight Records continued to give a home to until their demise. A lot of this material reminds me of the kind of intensity Disembodied mastered. Traces of Coalesce's 'Give Them Rope' album can also be found sporadically throughout this recording.

Best Singles & EP's

M.A.Z.E. - M.A.Z.E 12"
Lumpy Records
Japan (Tokyo)

It must be be noted that with this review I’m referring to the collected studio side of the above tape put out by Lumpy Records on a 12" earlier this year. With these six tracks we are presented some chirpy Post-punk that makes me think of Desperate Bicycles or the Urinals, i'm even reminded a little of Deerhoof in some of the guitar delivery, but this is in no way a noise rock album, everything feels very calculated & whisks you off on a journey. I'm hoping for a UK tour soon. I'll be sure to keep my eye out for that...

Hank Wood and The Hammerheads  - HEADS 2-Song Cassingle
Self Released
U.S.A. (New York)

Two song cassingle, hot on the heels of their self titled release on Toxic State Records (one of my favourite records of 2018) comes these two track's of soulful raucous Garage R'n'R, following in a similar vein to that album. I really can't get enough of Hank Wood and The Hammerheads at the moment. Without sounding too dramatic, there's something about their choppy rhythmic music that stirs my soul . Their sound resides somewhere between Chuck Berry & Jay Reatard. The music is catchy & i always have a good time listening to them. If that isn't a recommendation I don't know what is?

Artifical Joy - Artifical Joy Asks That You Enjoy This Demo (Digital Single)
Self Released 
U.S.A. (Los Angeles)

Artificial Joy Asks That You Enjoy This Demo was a single that came out of nowhere during September of 2019 that i felt was over far too quickly & left me wanting to hear more. The rawness of No Side era The Comes, which can be particularly heard on the track Waegukin (외국인) really permeates this record. I can imagine also if you enjoy bands like Krimewatch (as I do) you'll also get a massive kick from this. An excellent top tier U.S hardcore release, one of which I really hope gets a physical release soon.

New Haunts - Thrill (Digital Single)
Self Released 
United Kingdom (Bristol)

Thrill is the latest single from Alice Sheridan aka New Haunts which twists the Darkwave sound reminiscent of Hante. & Linea Aspera found on her debut full length Worlds Left Behind & adds in some dancey EBM elements that really remind me of Youth Code. Apparently this track will appear on her upcoming second full length record & if this is any indication of what to expect, than it sounds like we will be in for a solid release. One thing that really stands out about New Haunts, is the way Alice uses her vocal enunciations on certain lyrics with a particularly warbly tone as she completes each passage of a track, something about her doing this really appeals to me. If you get the chance, go catch her at a show. She puts on a very powerful live performance.

Temple Of Angels - Cerise Dream/Breathless 7" 
Funeral Party Records
U.S.A. (Austin, Texas)

The first two Temple Of Angels cassettes were fantastic and this 7" continues with a similar sound that is formed from the Post-punk dreaminess of Cocteau Twins during their Garlands/Head over Heels era. At other times I’m also reminded of early material by The Chameleons. I'm keeping my fingers for a full length soon. If they keep churning out music of this calibre, then i will be hooked once again.

Vision Quest - Vision Quest 7"
Crew Cuts Records
United Kingdom (Plymouth/London)

After their sold out 5 track cassette released in 2018 on Nuclear Family Records, Vision Quest return with this two track 7" on Crew Cuts Records. Their demo tape was a really solid release but with the addition of Saskia on vocals duty's, there is an added sharp lyrical output to the band. Despite the covers artistic riff on the Gorilla Biscuits debut 7" I’m actually hearing more Outburst & Raw Deal style NYHC than anything else. For contemporary hardcore references, think of Rapture from Leeds for a good comparison. It’s also well worth your time checking them out live too.

Aborted Tortoise - Do Not Resuscitate 7"
Televised Suicide
Australia (Perth)

Great little slab of modern garage rock can be found on this wax with its four tracks that have the musical strut of The Saints. Talking of influential Australian bands, the drums which feature in the intro to Do Not Resuscitate reminds me of Radio Birdman on their track Aloha Steve and Danno but I’d say that's where that comparison ends. In places they also remind me of the Booji Boys which is great as i really enjoyed their last record. This is a fun 7" with some great artwork.

S.A.G.A.L. - Suckup Aholics Gain Acrobatic Licks 7"
Hardcore Hard Records
South Korea (Seoul)

A Swedish style hardcore assault from South Korean's flourishing DIY scene which apparently features members of the excellent Banran반란 反亂 I bet they really like Totalitär, Discharge & Kriegshög and if you, like me also enjoy the aforementioned bands, you're sure to find something to love here. Of course this isn't any type of record that's reinventing the wheel, but this IS hardcore that'll hook you in with its sweeping and pushing from track to track.

To round out my best of 2019, here's an album i discovered from last year that would have undoubtedly made it on to my 'best of 2018' list. I'm sharing it with you now because it went under most peoples radars & i can't say enough good things about it...

Pear Of The West - Blue CD
3P3B
Japan (Fukuoka) 

I have been listening to Pear of The West for many years now (in fact, since their releases on Snuffy Smile) & as you sometimes do, reflect on the past, I had started to wonder if they were still active as a band, turns out they were very much indeed active & they happened to put out a superb record last year titled Blue. It also seems that since I last heard them they went from enjoyable melodic punk band, to carefully crafted indie punk, kind of like a combination of Archers of Loaf, Superchunk & the Power pop elements of the first two Weezer records. To be honest I like them even more in this incarnation as they do it so well. The lyrics are great & Mami's vocals ebb and flow so beautifully even if there is an element of sadness to them. The track featured in the video above is my most listened to song of 2019.

Until next year.... - Adam Farrar