The genres and mixtures of cultures on this is almost overwhelming: 90's Europop nonsense, J-Pop hyper-saccharine, 80's City Pop, UK Garage and Bass, EDM, Chiptune, Deadpan english raps, DIY indie groups etc. The most charming thing about KKB is that there isn't a single song here that is about "being in love". We've got Trampolining, taking Selfies, annoying songs that get stuck in your head, taking a break, and graduation ceremonies.And in the case of Trampoline, they take the theme and take it all to the Nth degree - bouncy synth-lines, every lyrical trope on reaching the top and falling down - sometimes it's just on that border of annoying but I think it just falls the right side due to the infectious and obviously over-the-top delivery ("But that's okay, there's a TRAMPOLINE waiting for you!")
Bonito Generation is the antidote of 2016, the most joyous pop album of year.
Jessy Lanza - Oh No : Hard to top the debut but manages to be comparable with more confident vocal performances which leads to more interesting and diverse tracks. Huge
Yellow Magic Orchestra influence in the Jeremy Greenspan production, and it was really nice to hear the Shangaan sound by the borrowing of
Nozinja and using it to devastating effect on It Means I Love You. Title track comes out nowhere too, and delivers probably her best pop moment on the entire record.
Beyonce - Lemonade : One of the strongest statements this year in music. Beyonce has reached that point where it doesn't matter if she sells albums or not, and because of her unique influence she brought to the fore issues facing black women in US. She delivers an album full of some great moments, co-written with some of the most interesting producers of the moment. It's still rare for pop to deliver such a obvious singular vision from an artist. The visual film is just a staggering work of art and is by far the best way to enjoy this project.
Parquet Courts - Human Performance : Still maintaining that somewhat apathetic attitude, but sounding a touch less raucous. It's allowed for the songwriting to come to the fore. Impressively simple songs rub shoulders with some more nuanced tracks which are not afraid to be a little stripped down. It's very much like
The Saints later LPs, once they calmed a little.
Prins Thomas - Principe Del Norte : A ridiculous 4 LP set of ambient tracks from Prins Thomas. Each side can be chosen at random to be played, and often that's exactly how I've listened. There is often just enough of a kick there to keep some interest, but it's been a perfect backdrop for my working time.
Thee Oh Sees - A Weird Exits : It's another Thee Oh Sees (not even the only Oh Sees record released this year!), but another ridiculous journey into incessant never-gonna-stop motorik rhythms, psychedelic imagery, John Dwyer heavily echoed, spaced-out vocals, and hands-down the best song titles this year (Ticklish Warrior, Plastic Plant, Gelatinous Cube to name a 3rd of them)
Junior Boys - Big Black Coat : The dark industrial city feeling comes through and has elements of moody R'n'B, Detroit Techno, and gold old synth pop. It's a really great listen, and the influence of the working relationship of Greenspan/Lanza is clearly showing in both works. Nice Jesus & Mary Chain inspired cover-art too.
Melt Yourself Down - Last Evenings On Earth : More Jazz Punk delivering the soundtrack to an impending apocalypse. Some electronic elements have worked their way on this album which add some more texture, but those duelling saxaphones and trumpets and still the highlight.
The Invisible - Patience : A bright funky and soulful album in which the multitude of collaborators just blend seamlessly in. Beats punch and click satisfactorily and the smooth vocals glide in and out and in-between.
Dan Lissvik - Midnight : I was a little hesitant that Midnight (an album he recorded in the early morning hours), would be coldly techno but it's much nearer to the baleric warmth Lissvik's
Studio was known for. You could be mistaken on a few tracks that they might be brand new Studio tracks, such is the tendancy for the tracks to drift into new directions part way. It's pretty much exactly what I wanted in that sense.
01 | Kero Kero Bonito | Bonito Generation
02 | Jessy Lanza | Oh No
03 | Beyonce | Lemonade
04 | Parquet Courts | Human Performance
05 | Prins Thomas | Principe Del Norte
06 | Thee Oh Sees | A Weird Exits
07 | Junior Boys | Big Black Coat
08 | Melt Yourself Down | Last Evenings On Earth
09 | The Invisible | Patience
10 | Dan Lissvik | Midnight
11 | TEEN | Love Yes
12 | Virginia | Fierce For The Night
13 | Leon Vynehall | Rojus
14 | Bat For Lashes | The Bride
15 | Japanese Breakfast | Psychopomp
16 | Fono | Kinetic
17 | Anderson .Paak | Malibu
18 | Simian Mobile Disco | Welcome To Sideways
19 | Kllo | Well Worn
20 | Marie Davidson | Adieux Au Dancefloor
21 | Solange | A Seat At The Table
22 | TOY | Clear Shot
23 | Psychemagik | Ritual Chants
24 | Cat's Eyes | Treasure House
25 | Still Corners | Dead Blue