Happily, the future…

Sorry, can’t do top lists or rankings anymore, but I have been listening to a lot of music in 2010, old and new stuff, many different genres and I can tell what’s still on my mind at the end of the year.

First I discovered a blog about African music that made me realize the immensity of my ignorance on the topic. Searching for music, I found amazing things, from old Franco songs to the Congotronics series (the recent reworkings on it are worth listening); Nick Richardson’s report on Congo music and Konono n°1 in the April issue of the Wire was stimulating. Honest Jon’s release of Shangaan electro music (plus watching the dance that goes with it) blew my mind. Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou’s open air concert was delightful.

Later I got to hear Chris Abrahams’ new album Plays Scar. To my opinion, even if jazzy in spirit, it represented the best and the most refined of 2010’s otherworldly music. It also made me think many ambient/drone albums (in 2010 quite a few have been released) were alike or at least often created the same atmosphere — consequently theses atmospheres didn’t feel that otherworldly anymore. A live gig by Jeff Gburek and Rafal Iwansky provoked strong sensations and their album Slope/The Experience Of Losing Control was not a less impressive experience. Live experiences in this sonic world have been rich; among others: the Touch night with Sohrab (check his debut album ‘A Hidden Place’) and Fennesz, the Echtzeitmusiktage and MadeiraDig with Ben Frost and co.

In July, I discovered the new Sun Araw album, On Patrol and decided it would be my summer’s soundtrack. A couple of months later, I went to see Sun Araw live (Hype Williams and their powerful incense did the first part), finding myself among a surprisingly young crowd.

If I must drop techno names, then Pantha du Prince’s Black Noise, Efdemin’s Chicago and Four Tet’s There Is Love In You were essential albums frequently played at home when friends dropped by.

In 2010 I enjoyed many King Tubby classic albums. An inspiring interview of Scientist put me on the track of the technology-enthusiast dub producer. You may want to hear his recent and somehow surprising take on dubstep tracks. Speaking of music with plenty of bass, I couldn’t resist some Shackleton (thanks, the Wire) and right now I’m into Actress’s Splazsh (thanks again), a brilliant album opening many new worlds.

I also strangely felt on a special wavelength that made me massively listen to everything by Animal Collective and German pioneers DAF (‘Alles ist gut’ is so amazing), especially while going to work. The first band brought enough innocent joy and uplifting melodies to fill the day emotionally, the second brought substantial amount of scorn and made me furiously eager to dance the Berlusconi.