5:5:5: XIII. 2020.

Well, I’m sure no one needs me to go on about the pains of 2020, suffice to say, it’s been a good one for exploring music from a distance.

And so once again, I have the honour of presenting the selections of some properly obsessed music addicts, each here picking 5 particular track highlights, in no particular order, except that they made an indelible mark during 2020 for the selectors below.

An enormous thanks to each of them, 60 tracks to explore herein,

direct links to bandcamp pages in blue, where available.

|| Alphabets Heaven | Scaramanga Silk | Aidan Maartens ||
|| Proprio | Kubla Khan | Ring Modulator ||
|| Electric Ape | Rodrigo King Lagoon | Damian Evans ||
|| Stephen Kin;aesthetic | Readsy | Branner Griswell ||

 

1.

Mapara a Jazz - John Vuli Gate

[2020, ?]

I don’t know much about the culture or the context but I listened to a lot of Amapiano this year. John Vuli Gate represents a lot of what I like about it. It’s both funky and floaty, and the pallete of sounds is so unique to the track. 

This is one of the harder tracks from the style, I really love how it can accomodate borderline jazz fusion, deep tech and soul.

I also love that there are so many dance videos with gates in them.

2.

Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again

[1978, Sire]

I listened to a lot of disco this year. Some of my favourite moments of 2020 were found cycling through a sunlit, half abandoned central london listening to disco and reggae mixes. This track was a new find to me. I’m a pretty big fan of the 12 minute disco freak out track in general, and this one has this great “no one in the studio really knew exactly what they were making” feeling to it. There’s french horns, post punk guitars, heartwrenching vocals, and some surprisingly effective cello solos.

3.

Heatwave - Star of a Story

[1977, GTO]

Another classic disco/soul track I heard for the first time this year. I love the lush orchestral arrangements, vocal harmonies, and the whole out-of-this-planet fairytale feel of it. Perfect.

4.

Noname - Song 33

[2020, Self Released]

It’s only a minute long but this song sums up so much of 2020 to me. Noname is right, she is the new vanguard.

5.

Sault - Strong

[2020, Forever Living Originals]

I heard about Sault 5 and 7 in February, instantly fell in love with them, and by the time my records arrived, they’d put out another album. I love every facet of the production, and such a poignant message. You can basically pick anything off any of their albums to listen to.

1.

Photay - The People

[2020, Mexican Summer]

'The People' combines a genius infectious experimental beat with uplifting dancefloor vibes to move mind, body and soul. Absolute timeless gold.

2.

Andrew Wasylyk -

Awoke in the Early Days of a Better World

[2020, Athens Of The North]

Stunning solo project from the Idlewild don. Quite simply - reflective, emotive and lush music for hazy days. Hit repeat.

3.

Jockstrap - The City

[2020, Warp]

London duo who adventure across genres and eras to serve up surprising delights. Twisted alt-pop music like no other.

4.

Cosmo Sheldrake - 

Nightingale Part 1

[2020, Tardigrade]

Nature gets put through the sampler in a track built around birdsong. Original, beautiful and relaxing music to help us appreciate the core.

5.

Daedelus - Sunflower Stems

[2020, Doom Of Doom]

Hectic leftfield jam with mangled instrumentation that cuts, chops and filters from techno to funk. This excellent producer is always on the cutting edge.

1.

Mary Lattimore - Pine Trees

[2020, Ghostly International]

The opening track of a lush and beautiful instrumental album that you can just let wash over you – the combination of harp and synth works so well throughout. Balm for the troubled soul.

2.

Maria W Horn - Interlocked Cycles,

Pt. 1

[2019, Hallow Ground]

The virtue of simplicity: 10 minutes of slowly building and looping piano with an organy underlay – tune in, zone out, it’s just all about the build up (behold the bass note at 6:17!)

3.

Kali Malone - Spectacle of Ritual

[2019, Ideal Recordings]

Another slow 10 minuter – this one on a pipe organ – droney, dirgey, really quite powerful to sit down to.

4.

Duval Timothy - Older Than We Used To Be

[2020 Re, Carrying Colour]


Just a lovely jazzy short and simple piano tune driven by a walking bassline and featuring a gorgeous lifting transition to the chorus.

5.

Luis Pestana - Sangra

[2020, Orange Milk Records]


A real trip – intense and brutal, like a demonic ritual soundtracked by Tim Hecker. Striking combination of bells, sheer synths, distant drumbeats and the amazing vocal sample starting at 2:21…

1.

Pooran (–پوران) -

Kiyeh Kiyeh Dar Mizaneh

(كيه كيه در ميزنه)

[Year unknown, Royal]

An absolute favourite find this year, a sublime and haunting piece by Iranian singer, Pooran. The unbound sea of emotion that pours from this record, conveys so much in spirit. Iranian classical leaning in style, slow, assured, striding strings and Pooran’s transfixing voice combine with profound and moving grace. Wonderful.

As an aside, while searching out any detail I could find (sadly very little), it turns out Jim Jarmusch’s band SQÜRL sampled this wholesale as part of the film score to Paterson, embracing the already mesmerising quality, and cocooning the entire recording in a piece called Persian Dream.

2.

Kali Malone - October Canon

[2020, KMStudies / Self Released / bandcamp]

Such sharpness and clarity, captured starkly in this organ sketch recorded by Kali Malone in Sweden circa 2017/18, the simplicity of clean breathing textures, the exploration of forming ideas, one of 6 ‘rehearsal’ tracks that would later evolve into the amazing, The Sacrificial Code LP. The lucidity of this ‘demo’ piece is astounding, October Canon thrives with minimalism, and presents so much; an air of positivity, heart-tugging, quick moving changes, a game-like liveliness. A divine few minutes nakedly dubbed on this frequency-sparse recording.

3.

Styrbjörn Bergelt ‎– Gökhalling

[1979, MNW]

Coincidentally, another sparse recording via Sweden, this from the late researcher and instrument maker, Styrbjörn Bergelt - evoking images of deep Swedish countryside at dawn, capturing the earthiest of unfettered folk pursuits. Atop a bed of lively birdsong, Styrbjörn plays a simple videflöjt (wicker flute - hand-made presumably), foot tapping gently in contented rhythm. The glorious melody of pure musical joy.


4.

Suresh Wadkar, Alka Yagnik & Sadhna Sargam - Mitwa Tu Kahan

(Prod. by Kalyanji Anandji)

[1986, HMV]

How to describe this track? Well, unlike anything else you’re likely to hear! India’s finest production-brothers, Kalyanji-Anandji at their experimental, unrestricted best. Opening with the heaviest of synth drama, sitar intrigue builds and the disco explodes! Playback singer Alka Yagnik’s vocal performance is particularly amazing, every time that switch comes, but there are no slouchers here, this lengthy epic is extraordinary, by any standards.


5.

Black Devil Disco Club - Sweet Sins (Abul Mogard Remix)

[2020, Lo Recordings]

What A Remix. Emerging like an unknowable apparition. Mogard’s epic vision of Sweet Sins creeps up and engulfs you, like it or not. Droning, whining, churning; synth layers breathe and conspire to overwhelm, subterranean bass currents build, buffet and bruise, vocal shadows leave echoey half-trails, the intensity arcs! And then; it’s gone.

1.

Mehdi Hassan - Lakh Karo Inkar Susar Ji

[1975, Columbia]

My interest in Pakistani music has continued this year including the strengthening of my adoration for the achingly mellifluous tones of Ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan. I became obsessed with him this year and tried to pick up as many things that I could. This was a tenacious standout for me.

2.

Thunā'i Badr –

Unknown title, Side A (غارة حب)

[1960s?, Sono Cairo]

Arabic music, especially that of Egypt and Syria, has also been a huge focal point for me this year and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying getting to know the Sono Cairo, Boussiphone and Soutelphan labels. I managed to build a relationship with a dealer in Belgium who was really helpful in pointing me towards interesting releases. I know nothing about the singer or arrangement but I love the odd Exotica vibe and breathless vocals, it’s deep and full of beguiling charm and mystery - so much so there’s no rendering of it on the interwebs!

3.

Emmanuelle Parrenin – Topaze

[2017 Re, SouffleContinu]

I think I discovered the French singer, Parrenin via a late night trawl through some of Andy Votel’s blogs or something. It helped spur a particularly fecund dive into Folk or acid folk - if arbitrary taxonomic musical categorisations are helpful in terms of orientation. The album (Maison Rose) is great but this particular number is outstanding in its prescience - it seems to explore spatial, atonal, dubbed and beat driven territories before (regrettably titled) terms like ‘Trip hop’ existed. Exciting stuff.

4.

Bartoszek - Geburtstag

[2020, The Very Polish Cut-Outs]

Re-edits can often be maligned for their thoughtlessness and cynicism - I do appreciate the failure to credit or pay sampled artists as significantly problematic however. Nevertheless, many things I love in music have the edit or rearrangement as a commonplace driver, Reggae or Rap being two salient examples. This is a re-edit of a 1983 tune by German GDR band Keks. Hats off to Bartoszek for the magnificent job though as in my opinion, completely outshines the more prosaic original. Unearthing NDW gems has also been an early exploratory phase for me this year and this one hasn’t been off the deck.

5.

James Harpham / James Asher:

Nature's World Volume 4 –

Flower garden

[1983, StudioG]

‘Music for Animals, Birds, Fishes, Insects, Vegetation and Pastoral Scenes’. As a description this wonderful library record on Studio G was always going to grab my interest. Its full of dreamy, BOC-like, meditations on the bucolic and natural world where drum machines, hypnagogic synth work and naïve, temporally situated melodies serve to trigger memories of forgotten afternoons and environmental synaesthesia watching early 80’s documentaries with my mum and dad. Indeed this album for me has a profound synaesthetic quality that I find indelible and enduring. A favourite Library for sure!

1.

A Certain Ratio - Yo Yo Gi

[2020, Mute]

Grab your field recordings of the Tokyo Subway set and grind down to dirtiest funky basslines…you can’t stop the dance, from a 90’s ACR:MCR staccato synth sequenced loop, a touch of acid and Jez Kerr’s slap bass……Moscrop and Johnson…. More cowbell, more cowbell…GIVE ME MORE COWBELL…..NO. woodpecker rimshot for fucks sake……sit down, calm down NO NO it’s LOCO……funkiest band on the planet STILL.

2.

DMX Krew - Turn It On

[2020, Utter]

Call yourself a music lover??  Electronics…funk and you still put the first two Level 42 Albums down……shame on you, you don’t know what you’re missing. Upton aka Ed DMX known for Electro, Breaks, Boogie to the point of mega prolific output ….is he really taking the piss?????????……you gotta hear this bliss. Perfect supplement to real instrumentation and vox….vocoder lushness…turn it on and never turn it off….oh stop your whingeing ……it’s boring….check out Level 42’s 1st two albums will ya??…and Ed’s got more releases than 42 will ever have, so check him out forty two too!!!

3.

Black Devil Disco Club  - The Last Cut Is The Deepest

(Pye Corner Audio Remix)

[2020, Lo Recordings]

Thankyou Bernard Fevre…….whilst your dance project that has caused so much what the Francophile fuck since 2004 when all the Rephlex rumours were abound….great stuff and never a disappointment…..Bernards retiring the Devil Du Noir and continuing on other projects and this hits so hard in a cardiac resuscitation of 70’s library psyche hauntalogical disco with Martin Jenkins (Pye Corner Audio) driving remix…..loud, laud, bruyant….pick me off the floor with CV and Gate cables and use the sweat of my convulsions to conduct oscillations of pure analogue goodness into my cerebral cortex.

4.

The Budos Band - Dusterado

[2020, Daptone]

I’ll put my stetson, cape and leather trousers on and I as I swagger towards you the bass guitar grinds through your cortex and the the horns slam your weakened body to the dust……my horse is hoarse, my Morricone is no more, the barrels are loaded to psyche and funk……and unexpected purchase on a drunken trip to a strange sussex town where they have their own currency and drink decent beer. Get on your horse and get on in……Donkey boy!!!!!

5.

Automat - Nothing Strange

(DeWalta Chess Remix)

[2020, Compost]

So much space, how much depth???…taking that Dub Techno sound to its total limits and incorporating the mighty Paul St Hilaire……Holy German Shit….this pisses on your Space Echo and it rips your purkinje fibres right out of your pericardium, so that you end up……..a mess really….pushed against the walls in the club by sub 50hz sound waves …. I’ve listened to so many Paul St Hilaire projects this year and without a planetary pandemic….you’d still be hard pushed to find a place out to listen to this sort of stuff……..

1.

Harold Budd - Gypsy Violin

[1986, Editions EG, 1986]

2020, as well as being generally a pretty appalling year all round, also saw the departure of ambient genius Harold Budd. I have played his music consistently for the last 30 years and I never tire of the worlds he creates. This track is a lovely side long contemplative yearning immersive piece. His music during 2020 lockdown has kept me sane so rest in peace Harold and thanks again for the music.

2.

DJ Python - Descanse

[2020, Incienso]

A ‘deep reggaeton’ vibe I instantly connected with. Sort of a Latin/ambient crossover with hints of Boards of Canada. Been playing to anyone who will listen. Although there are separate tracks they all follow on from one another so it’s more a mix. Immerse yourself in this warming tropical bath.

3.

Rhauder & Paul St. Hilaire - No News (Assemblage Mix)

[2020, Ornaments]

Ever since buying the ‘No More’ 12 a few years ago I have loved everything this pair do so I immediately grabbed this compilation of their joint output, which enabled me to hear some of their earlier stuff. Accessible dub techno. (It was either this or the Pulse Code Modulation 10s I’ve been busy buying up. Thanks Dave!)

4.

Ami Dang - Love Liesse

[2019, Leaving Records]

A random purchase from a great little record shop in Lewes (Union Music Store); the handwritten label on the outside said ‘Beautiful Ambient Sitar Explorations!’ which neatly sums it up. A sitar with modular backing that just works sublimely.

5.

Double Fantasy - Heartbreaker

[1986, Innovative Communication]

Only picked this up this year, having been previously unaware of this Robert Schroeder side project. Think Carl Craig’s ‘Desire’ but done ten years earlier. Very 80s production when Berlin School was trying to find its way in the 80s pop world. One for the IC heads.

1.

Groupe RTD / Guessod Abdo Hamargod -

Kuusha Caarey (The Pearl Necklace)

[2020, Ostinato]

I've always liked this style since discovering it but this album feels like it raises the energy and has got me prancing round the house in great delight!

2.

Electric Jalaba - Elbania

[2015, Self-Released]

At a birthday party between lockdowns I was really lucky to take part in a jam with Simo, the Electric Jalaba frontman, along with others. It was a top speed, psychedelic, furious, amazing time and felt like being in Electric Jalaba. The plan is for it to happen again as soon as possible.

3.

Haim - Want You Back

[2017, Polydor]

Probably unexpected alongside the other choices here but almost all of HAIM's songs suck me in, keep me mesmerized and listening again and again, or even better watching the music videos.

4.

Family Atlantica - Manicero

[2013, Soundway]

Such a powerful, awesome version of this classic. It feels so alive and spontaneous, especially with what seems like vocal ad-libbing from the singer, Luzmira, who's voice has such character. Just wish it went on for longer!

5.

Orquestra Super Mama Djombo - Tamanco

[1980 / 2013, Cobiana / Kindred Spirits]

With their signature hi-hat groove relentlessly driving the dance vibes, this song feels like dancing with supreme joy at some kind of end-of-an-era party... you're also sad and reminiscent because it's the end of an amazing part of your life.

1.

Shirley Collins - Locked In Ice

[2020, Domino]

The legendary Shirley Collins delivered another superb album in 2020 and her distinctive voice has rarely been better than on this stripped down tale of a ship trapped in the Arctic.


2.

Big Joanie -

Cranes In The Sky

[2020, Third Man]

Incredible cover of the Solange track by the excellent British trio whose soulful, shoegazer-y version is one of the best covers of recent years.

3.

Sweeping Promises -

Hunger For A Way Out

[2020, Feel It]

The Bostonians blend of catchy and energetic new wave produced one of the albums of the year with this, the opening track, my highlight.

4.

Idles - Danke

[2020, Partisan]

A track which demonstrates all that’s great about Idles. Boundless energy, fury and tight musicianship on this, the final track of their no.1 album.


5.

Run The Jewels

feat.

Mavis Staples and Josh Homme -

Pulling The Pin

[2020, BMG]

RTJ seemingly can do no wrong and produced yet another superb album this year. Mavis Staples' voice still sounds so powerful and is the perfect complement to Killer Mike's passionate delivery.

1.

Manfred Mann Chapter Three - Happy Being Me

(album version)

[2018 Re, Creature Music]

Keeping up an ongoing obsession with Manfred Mann in recent years, I really fell for ‘Volume Two’ this year, with Happy Being Me perhaps representing their most out-there Psych-Jazz excursion. A thoroughly free-roaming 16minute meander through everything that is fascinating about their more experimental output during the ‘MM Chapter Three’ period, and more specifically, Mike Hugg’ composing at his untethered, extravagant best. It really feels that everything is building to THAT closing quarter, and ultimately, Hugg’s magnificent piano finale.



2.

2. LA Priest - Black Smoke

[2020, Domino]

Sam Eastgate bathing in the hum of his homemade modular synth, something of a natural progression from 2016’s embarrassingly brilliant Soft Hair LP with Connan Mockasin, the production here on Sam’s solo work as LA Priest is equally delicious, and with Erol Alkin on mixing, Black Smoke clicks, sparks and leaps with morphing ideas, a glowing, genetically modified, gently unhinged, electrified funk. Characteristically warped pop perfection.

3.

3. Anthony Rother - Quinn

[2020, PSI / bandcamp]

Excellent end-of-year gift (currently pay what you like) from Offenbach’s finest, released on Dec 23rd as part of Rother’s imagined ‘Metrowelt’ soundtrack via his own fulsome PSI imprint/bandcamp page, Quinn feels like an apt closing soundtrack. Disrupted by a nagging high frequency pulsing drone throughout, Quinn builds with the kind of inescapable tension we’ve come to expect from 2020, circling arpeggiating synth lines calmly take hold, an unstoppable half-beat forces us forward, yet a vague positive note remains… is there a way out?




4.

4. Toto Bissainthe - Touloukoukoutou

[1984, Le Chant Du Monde]

Striking track from a 7” of Haitian lullabies by Toto Bissainthe; sparsely arranged pounding drums set the pace for play between flute and voice, with Toto’s glorious, dramatic vocal style toying with a flurry of masterful, heavily reverb’ed flute lines (uncredited but could it be Françoise Lancreot?), together they dance while occasional low-end bass growls offer hints of a less tranquil under-current.




5.

S.P. Balasubrahmaniyam & M.Ramarao (Prod. by Ilaiyaraaja) - Baatanepud

[1985, Echo]

 While researching this year, I was upset to learn that South Indian singer and long-time Ilaiyaraaja collaborator, S.P. Balasubrahmaniyam died due to complications from Covid. Sripathi’s singing carried so much character, his style was instantly recognisable, brimming with energy and excitement. Of the relatively small amount I know about the vastness of Indian Playback, his work alongside Ilaiyaraaja in particular, has always struck a chord with me. A fantastic body of work remains, much of it relatively little-known, yet his name is synonymous with some of the brightest and finest music to emerge from South India. Thank you Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, your wonderful voice and spirit will live on.

1.

Badbadnotgood & MF DOOM -

The Chocolate Conquistadors

[2020, Rockstar Games]

Passing way too early sadly, MF DOOM without a doubt was one of the most creative abstract artists of all generations. As well as his astonishing solo catalogue, as a collaborator he had the ability to fit like a glove with every project. Teaming up with Canadian Jazz outfit Badbadnotgood in a similar fashion to previous collaborator Ghostface Killah, Doom takes us on a multilingual journey that starts off with 70’s Isaac Hayes inspired slow mo funk then crescendos into an insatiable four to the four groove that’s guaranteed to get heads nodding away with its psychedelic twists. A match made in music heaven.

2.

LA Priest - What Moves

[2020, Domino]

AKA Sam Eastgate who originally was involved with psychedelic indie outfit Late of the Pier. Co-produced by Erol Alkan and apparently rides over the groove of an analogue drum machine built by LA himself! The skills we develop over this pandemic are what keeps us powering through no doubt. An isolation thought inspired track that has one of the most infectious choruses of 2020 yet still conjures up a spellbinding electronic funk fuelled subtle groove that has reminiscence of an experimental McCartney. A perfect marriage of earthy acoustics, unpredictable electronics & a good old fashioned pop hook.

3.

Páula, Povoa & Jerge - Primavera

[2020, Moshi Moshi]

This track called out to me instantly, initially as it reminded me of music I spent time enjoying in my clubbing years, it has elements of artists such as Orbital and New Order without sounding obviously derivative. Brazilian/French electronic trio for their debut EP show so much promise at a time when the world of raving is silenced and we cling on to an optimistic future where the sound systems will pump again and we will dance again. This certainly encapsulates that spirit.

4.

Jarv Is - House Music All night long

[2020, Rough Trade]

Unintentionally an isolate anthem, written by Mr Cocker at a time before the pandemic, a personal experience where he missed out on a weekend of clubbing with his mates. We can all relate to that feeling can’t we. Sounding like the piano skills of previous collaborator Chilly Gonzalez, it’s themed around classic house piano tracks such as Someday and Promised Land, however it’s stripped of the groove and takes on a more heart felt form of an ironic ballad in true Cocker style with effortless wit and grace.

2020 classic.

5.

Club Nouveau -

Why you treat me so bad

[1986, Tommy Boy]

So the final track is a different kind of discovery... Music to me is about discovering and often that can be unearthing a track that trashes your perception of another track. So we all are familiar with the hip-hop anthem by Luniz - I Got 5 On It, released in 1995, recently revived for the soundtrack of the blockbuster Horror film, Us.

2020 and I finally find out the source of the music. So it’s actually originally recorded by these guys from 1987 on the Tommy Boy label. Club Nouveau had moderate chart success including a cover of Bill Withers Lean On Me. You could say they were a part of the evolution of the New Jack Swing sound. On further research it turns out a local rival group, The Timex Social Club claim that their song had the melody first! What?! The saga becomes more complex! Maybe the producer of both tracks Jay King has clarity? ......Wait! ...guess who sings on the Luniz track? ..... it’s the lead singer of the Timex Social Club Michael Marshall!. Ah it all makes sense as all the mentioned artists are from Oakland, no doubt all partied and hung out together....Hmmm

The Bay Area on the west coast has always had a rich heritage for music so it’s no surprise this melody has become a staple for several artists. With a whopping 14 credited writers of the Luniz track (on Wikipedia), let’s hope the right people got paid from this multi-platinum track and hopefully the other influencing tracks get the credit they deserve. I get the feeling Michael Marshall didn’t though. That’s another story to tell.

 

1.

Rrose - Open Cell

[2019, Eaux]

This year has been so long it feels like Hymn to Moisture was released 5 years ago. Every note feels so tasteful and designed for my listening pleasure. This feels like a confident, mature work here. It’s not trying to run around the party and get in everyone’s face. It wants you to come to it, not the other way around. It’s not sweaty, it’s moist. Take that however you want…

2.

John Hassell - Moons of Titan

[2020, Ndeya]

Speaking of Titans, how about Hassell? Dropping this at this point in a career is a power move. Rank him up. I feel a dampened Theme from Hatari slowly oozing out of this one and by the way, can future X AE A-Xii pick me up, in the past, I mean, on the date 25/12/20 or…. +- flexible dates selected. I want to get off and live out a halcyon life on all 79 moons.

 3.

Orlando Julius &

The Heliocentrics -

Sangodele

[2014, Strut]

Another legend. Let’s get rocked solid with the psych shall we? Bring the wah back, we can still grove down here on Planet Rot I guess. This dropped a few years ago but isn’t that what this panny is all about?: going back in the catalogs, taking a minute to see what we missed or what needs a fresh airing. In the spirit of Ray Davies, Sir Ray Davies, Mr. Sir Ray Davies of the people: “Don’t forget to dance”.

4.

Mike Cooper - Blue Sealand

[2014, NO=FI]

First: what an under appreciated artist… Cooper is somewhat of a slide guitar (legend: theme) that, later in life, morphed out into the experimental stratosphere to brilliant result. Using tropical field recordings and guitar processing this is some kind of surrealistic electro-acoustic hybrid. And he released like mad in 2020. His tropical Youtube sets make me question why the hell I am sticking around the insanity when floral print patterns, loose fitting shirts, parrots and the sun can fill out the background of my remote island life. Inspirational.

 5.

Sibylle Baier - Forgett

[2006, Orange Twin]

Unfortunately, this album sat for so long on the shelf for decades but came across the hands of J. Mascis and finally released a little while back… I … uh… forget… the year. I really can’t say enough – Leonard Cohen wished he was this nurturing and encouraged crocheting… and let me say Sibylle should not be compared. Her melodies and singing style are singular. Her voice is unlike any of her warbly, airy or deeper folk contemporaries. Decaying house, fireplace, wild garden, sweet tea on a leather sofa… it’s not for sale. Please forget, come, I’m ready.

It feels like it’s been a particularly challenging year for independent music, musicians and labels, but amongst all the extra hurdles, Bandcamp has made a concerted effort to offer support and waive sales fees on a regular basis, going that extra step to support, promote and encourage a fair means of return in exchange for the enjoyment of music. Needless to say, this is not to diminish the scores of wonderful record shops out there who enthuse, promote and support, but in 2020, the fundamental short-comings of the streaming model were laid all the more bare.

Many of the musicians and labels above focus releases through bandcamp, and so this year it seems apt to embed a selection of tracks and link to bandcamp streams,.. hopefully providing a bounce point for further exploring.

Last years’ 2019 5:5:5: selections can be found over here: