Contributing writer John Lichtefeld breaks down The Best of the Left, highlights from a banner year for experimental pop, dance, and recordings from left field.
(In no particular order.)
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Software)
Replica is a fantastic step forward for the prolific Daniel Lopatin. It manages to nail a sound somewhere between downbeat and ambient without ever really sounding like either.
Gatto Fritto – Gatto Fritto (International Feel)
Gatto Fritto’s self-titled debut is a slow burner that bounces between Balearic pop and dubbed-out disco.
Javelin – Canyon Candy EP (Luakabop)
Javelin’s addition to this year’s Record Store Day, Canyon Candy is a concept EP made up of samples pulled from dollar bin country records and manipulated by the band into a spaghetti western masterpiece.
Purity Ring – “Ungirthed” b/w “Lofticries” (Transparent)
Purity Ring could make an argument for best new act of 2011 if you’re going by quality of tracks alone. The fact that they’ve only really released three songs to date is beside the point. Their sound is brilliant and original, their live act a unique take on sample-based pop performance, and their full length is going to be one of the most highly anticipated of 2012.
John Talabot – Families EP (Young Turks)
This Spaniard has been on a roll, releasing a stream of dance tunes that walk the line between floor-filling pop and well-thought-out headphone music.
Maria Minerva – Sacred & Profane Love EP (100% Silk)
Estonian Maria Juur has been known up until now for her dubbed-out pop experiments and well-known academic prowess. With Sacred & Profane Love, Maria takes a solid step forward in refining her signature sound with cohesive tracks dense enough for repeat listens, yet pop enough to remain addictive twenty spins later.
Four Tet/Daphni – “Pinnacles” b/w “Ye Ye” (Text)
Four Tet and Caribou (found here as Daphni) are tremendous electronic musicians. Turns out they can put together a good dance number as well.
Four Tet/Daphni – Ye Ye
Austra – Feel It Break (Domino)
Austra is a blonde-haired songstress with a Bush-ian flair for the vocally dramatic, a haunting stage presence, and a cohort of solid electronic musicians and vocalists. (“Beat and the Pulse” video below NSFW.)
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath 1972 (Kranky)
You could fault Tim Hecker for continuing down the path of brooding atmospheric soundscapes…or you could sit back and enjoy the beautiful sonic bombardment, equal parts growling menace and somber resignation.
Tim Hecker – Hatred of Music
The Weeknd– House of Balloons (Self-released)
While this album wasn’t release on vinyl (or in any physical manner), it still deserves a listing here. In a year that was defined by experimentation in pop, R&B, and dance, no record did more to synthesize those trends than House of Balloons, released as a free download. The production is top notch, the lyrics clever, and the album has a certain gutsiness to it, taking on well-worn subject matter and changing the narrative just enough to keep listeners off-balance throughout.
