A mid-year evaluation
Bleep.com was kind enough to ask me to weigh in on any one album for their mid-year 2009 roundup. (July is the new December.) I chose Wildbirds & Peacedrums' The Snake, a record I haven't been able to stop talking about this year. (I'm pleased to note that I've actually converted a few new fans -- this is tastemaking at work, people!)
All kidding aside, The Snake is a fantastic album by a fantastic group; you can read my slightly purplish letter of recommendation here. Other entries in the feature include Kiran Sande on Rick Wade's Harmonie Park, Bill Brewster on Henrik Schwartz, Ame & Dixon's Grandfather Paradox, Lisa Blanning on SND's Atavism, Robin Rimbaud on Maurizio's 12" re-issues, Dan Hancox on Omar S's Fabric 45, K-Punk on Sa-Ra's Nuclear Evolution, and more.
A few other longplayers that have made me stop and listen this year, in no particular order:
Bibio, Ambivalence Avenue (Warp)
Jon Hassell, Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street (ECM)
Pepe Bradock, Confiote de Bits (BBE)
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest (Warp)
Lokai, Transition (Thrill Jockey)
Mocky, Saskamodie (Crammed)
Nikakoi, Selected (Laboratory Instinct)
Black Meteoric Star, Black Meteoric Star (DFA)
Moritz von Oswald Trio, Vertical Ascent (Honest Jons)
Mungolian Jetset, We Gave It Away... (Smalltown Supersound)
Helado Negro, Awe Owe (Asthmatic Kitty)
Black Jazz Consortium, Structure (Soul People Music)
Vladislav Delay, Tuuma (Leaf)
David Daniel and Douglas McCombs, Sycamore (Thrill Jockey)
Krikor & the Dead Hillbillies, Land of the Truth (Tigersushi)
Planetary Assault Systems, Temporary Suspension (O-Ton)
FaltyDL, Love Is A Liability (Planet Mu)