The Quiet Sounds 32: Vocal Motion
If it has vocals, is it ambient?

Tracklist:

1. “Plectrum” by Twine from Twine (Ghostly International)
2. “Ruby-Ha” by Seefeel from Succour (Warp)
3. “Murk” by Transient Waves from Transient Waves (Che/i)
4. “Mary, On the Wall” by Grouper from A | A: Alien Observer (Yellow Electric)
5. “There Was No More Time” by Sara Ayers from Echoes of Polyhymnia (Hypnos)
6. “XVLA” by Lovesliescrushing from Chorus (Automatic Entertainment/Line)
7. “Walking and Falling” by Laurie Anderson from Big Science (Elektra/Nonesuch)
8. “Incense of Voice” by Sawako from Hum (12K)
9. “Azukiiro No Kaori” by Susumu Yokota from Sakura (Leaf)
10. “See-Through by Arthur Russell from World of Echo (Audika)
11. “Cherry Coloured Funk” (Mark Clifford remix) by Cocteau Twins from Otherness (Capitol)
12. “Keep Up the Good Work” by Julianna Barwick from The Magic Place (Asthmatic Kitty)
13. “Epilogue” by Soriah from Chao Organica in A Minor (Beta Lactam Ring)
14. “Lens by Lens” by David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir from Hearing Solar Winds (Ocora)
15. “From the Birds” by Jim Cole & Spectral Voices from Sky (Spectral Spiral Music)

Top 10 Records

1. Swans- My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (Young God Records)

The triumphant reactivation of Swans was this year’s best and most vital treat.  We would have settled for the powerful, bone crunching performances that graced select stages, but the LP proves that Gira and co. still have more to offer, issuing another classic among classics.  Swans are not dead, and for this I am very grateful.

2. Automelodi- Automelodi (Wierd)

The long-anticipated debut LP from this French Canadian artist delivered in every way imaginable, offering up 12 slices of eclectic synth perfection.  On just one disc, Automelodi explores the shameless pop genius of the New Romantics, the sleazy synths of Italo Disco, and the cold edge of the French greats.

3. Les Discrets- Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées (Prophecy Productions)

With very few exceptions, I’ve never been a fan of black metal’s more bombastic side, nor have I enjoyed the onslaught of modern shoegaze projects, but the combination of both sounds proves to be successful in every which way, from the wintery guitar riffs to the Gregorian vocal melodies.  Truly a beautiful record.

4. Detachments- Detachments (THISISNOTANEXIT)

Catchy, infectious synthpop harkening back to the classic sounds of Ultravox, OMD, and Gary Numan, every bit as futuristic and bleak as their influences.

5. Frank (Just Frank)- The Brutal Wave (Wierd)

Tapping into the Coldwave/Touching Pop sound of the French underground, Frank (Just Frank)’s debut LP was years in the making, and already has earned enough listens to be considered a modern day classic.

6. His Name Is Alive- The Eclipse (Silver Mountain Media Group)

This one almost slipped by me, but once again, His Name is Alive never cease to captivate and stun with their quirky, left-of-center charm.  This new LP is every bit as special and eerie as the title suggests.

7. Alcest- Écailles De Lune (Prophecy Productions)

Alcest are among the many projects of Winterhalter, a prolific French metal provocateur, and it seems as if every project taps into the shoegaze/black metal hybrid sound that drives me nuts and chills me to the bone.  Also see Peste Noire, Amesoeurs (sadly defunct), and no. 3 on this list.

8. Veil Veil Vanish- Change in the Neon Light (Metropolis)

These San Francisco-based darlings issued their full length debut in early 2010, and have since risen to the top of the post-punk revivalist scene.  The band’s incisive energy and infectious live passion translates perfectly to the recorded medium over the course of nine hard hitting tracks.

9. The Soft Moon- The Soft Moon (Captured Tracks)

Whispery, bleak vocals and driving post-punk rhythms drive the majority of the latest Captured Tracks LP.  This one took several listens to fully appreciate, but the persistence was well worth the effort.

10. Tamaryn- The Waves (Mexican Summer)

This densely hazy, sublimely captivating, and highly anticipated debut from Tamaryn combines the ethereal, desert-ridden sensuality of Mazzy Star with the powerful sounds of early darkwave greats.

Top Ten Singles And EPs

1. Further Reductions- Decidedly So 7’’ (Captured Tracks)

The official debut of this NYC duo proves to be as eclectic as their live performances.  While the B-side is moody slice of minimal synth atmosphere, the A-side delightfully channels classic Martin Dupont with its powerful, thudding beat and seductive vocals.

2. Kindest Lines- Kindest Lines CD-R (Bridgetown Records)

A brief taste of great things to come from this New Orleans based synth trio.  Cure-esque guitar lines meet mid-tempo synth grooves for a refreshing, groove driven sound.  An excellent precursor to their full length LP, due out in early 2011.

3. //Tense//- Turn It Off 7’’ (Mishka)

This two track 7’’ channels the blistering energy of D.A.F. and Front 242 on side A, playing with both male and female aggression.  The B-side is a haunting and fresh take on a Fleetwood Mac classic that seethes with tension.

4. Fan Death- A Coin for the Well 12’’ (The Pharmacy Recording Company)

Sleek, sexy disco magic from the same Canadian duo who brought you Dandi Wind.  Pounding rhythms, retro hooks, and female harmonies mix with a hint of darkness, setting this project apart from all the modern disco clones without losing a hint of that dancefloor edge.

5. White Car- White Car/No Better 12’’ (Rainbow Body Records/Hippos In Tanks)

Plucking their name from a mid-period Cabaret Voltaire track, White Car employ many of the same electronic techniques as their namesake.  While their first 12’’ set the stage for the band, with a haunting series of experimental aggressive soundscapes, this follow up explores a more vocal take on electronic body music.  Both are absolutely essential.

6. Void Vision- In 20 Years 7’’ (Blind Prophet Records)

A sublime single from this Philadelphia-based project, invoking the classic electronic ministrations of Vince Clarke and early minimal synth.  Both tracks are high-energy dancefloor masterpieces.

7. Cult of Youth- Filthy Plumage in an Open Sea 12’’ (Avant Records)

A fresh and powerful work by one of modern neofolk’s best artists, a precursor to the band’s upcoming record, due out in 2011.  Six powerful tracks comprise this EP, a must-have for fans of the genre.

8. Led Er Est/Ancien Régime- Split 12’’ (Mannequin)

Sublime split 12’’ from a fantastic modern Italian label.  The A-side features five new tracks from New York’s Led Er Est, further exploring the band’s eclectic synth influences; while the flip is a modern take on the classic post-punk sound.

9. Light Asylum- In Tension CD (Self Released)

Many moons in the making, Light Asylum’s first official release dropped just in time to qualify for this list.  Relentless synth grooves and powerful rhythm tracks make up the backdrop for one of underground music’s most intense and dynamic vocalists.  Essential for fans of Colourbox and Grace Jones.

10. Grouper- Hold/Sick 7’’ (Room40)

While I’m still reeling from 2008’s Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill, new efforts from Grouper’s Liz Harris have been equally devastating and entrancing; satisfying tidbits of drone perfection, holding us over until the next LP.

Reissues

1. Various Artists- Cold Waves + Minimal Electronics Vol. 1 (Angular Recording Corporation)

Absolutely essential reissue compilation, comprising some of the most perfect slices of obscure electronic music from a forgotten era.  Every single track on this 2xLP (also available with bonus digital cuts) is crucial to both newcomers and collectors alike.  Not a sleeper among the bunch!

2. The Short Wave Mystery- Down and Out in a Town of Yardsales (W|S Collective)
Virtually unheard of, this band issued one scarce 12’’ in 1985 and were never heard from again.  However, a series of cassette demos has been lovingly restored and remastered for this reissue, which is downright perfection, striking a balance between New Order-esque tracks and gloomy, unsettling vocals.

3. Those Attractive Magnets- Electromagnetic Pulse (Dark Entries)

In 1983, this UK band issued a perfect slice of minimal electronic pop, the scarce Nightlife 7’’, and promptly disappeared from the scene.  Dark Entries has contacted members of the band and collected a series of previously unreleased tracks (as well as the elusive 7’’) to form the band’s “debut” LP.  Also be sure to check out the other Dark Entries reissues, which include Eleven Pond, Nagamatzu, and Borghesia.

4. Chrisma- Chinese Restaurant/Hibernation (Medical Records)

Recorded in 1977 and 1979 respectively, this pair of LPs from Italian duo Chrisma were way ahead of their time.  Part cabaret, part proto-wave, and more, these albums are finally available on vinyl for the first time in ages.

5. Oppenheimer Analysis- New Mexico (Minimal Wave)

Originally sourced from cassette recordings dating back to 1982, this futuristic duo are among the most well known minimal synth artists in the current wake of rediscovery.  Fittingly, the band has teamed up with Minimal Wave (primarily responsible for championing the band over the years) to reissue this classic set of recordings in the digital medium, giving them the bite and punch they deserve.

6. Nine Inch Nails- Pretty Hate Machine (Universal)

A long time in the making, this debut from one of music’s most alluring greats is treated to a superior upgrade in sound and style, complete with revamped artwork and a vastly improved sonic spectrum.  Given the amount of drama surrounding this release over the years, it’s a blessing to receive this one at all.

7. Experimental Products-Tracks to Glow in the Dark/Mark Lane- When the Night is Cruel (Vinyl On Demand)

This pair of reissues arrived so close together, that it’s hard to separate them in my mind.  Both releases collect a series of previously unreleased and hard to find gems from U.S. based synth-masters for a complete aural treat.  A complementary pair or releases, exploring both dancefloor perfection and experimental energy.

8. The Cure- Disintegration (Fiction Records)

The big enchilada, the mother of all Cure releases, finally given the treatment it deserves on CD and LP.  While the extra instrumental sketches/demos disc and the fully restored version of Entreat (a live record sourced from a 1989 Wembley Arena show) are excellent additions, they pale in comparison to the supreme improvement in sound and audio quality on this landmark record.

9. Ron Hardy- Sensation 12’’ (Trax)

A lost gem from one of electronic music’s true pioneers, this track may sound a bit cheesy and dated on the outside, but is so infectious and driving, it doesn’t matter.  From the reverb-drenched soul vocals to the slightly out of tune synthesizers, every second is bliss.

10. Various Artists- Transmissions: Netherlands (Infrastition)
Known for reissuing a series of lost French coldwave recordings (with vastly improved sound), Infrastition has done it again with this collection of lost greats from the Netherlands.  Tons of essential gems here, including classic cuts from Flue, Mecano, and Ensemble Pittoresque.

Here is part two of my best-of selection for 2009. This segment goes a little further afield into music that flirts with indie rock, techno, among other styles, but it’s still so quiet …

Tracklist:

1. “Add Infinity” by Mountains from Choral (Thrill Jockey)
Mountains have been quietly releasing albums for the last several years that sit between lovely Takoma style guitar passages and granular synth ambience that wouldn’t be out of place on 12K or Raster-Noton. Lately their stuff has become even more bucolic in nature, culminating in this year’s fine Choral album, which is as good a naturalist ambient drone record as you are likely to hear anywhere. Also worth looking out for are the fine works of fifty percent of Mountains: Koen Holtkamp.

2. “Maginot” by Benoit Pioulard from “Flocks” 7″ (Blue Flea)
I was lucky enough to see Thomas Meluch (Pioulard himself) live this year at the local Wordless Music Concert Series here in New York, where he supported bliss-out veterans Windy and Carl. Meluch himself straddles the line between atmospheric dream pop and straight ambient, and does it very well. This confection from his latest 7″ on Windy and Carl’s own label is a great example of having feet both on the ground and way out in the aether.

3. “Dopplerton” by Bibio from Vignetting the Compost (Mush)
Bibio got bad press for years as a kind of Boards of Canada copycat. This is unfair, not because it’s untrue, but because he was probably the best BoC copycat out there. Recently he’s moved in a different direction for his association with Warp Records, but not before he released this fine ambient folk record. It’s sunny and gorgeous, and, in my opinion, sounds as though he’d shorn himself of any BoC association well before Warp came knocking.

4. “Part 2″ by Grouper from live recording from All Tomorrow’s Parties (Free Music Archive)
I heard this song when Grouper played live a few months ago and wondered what the song title was. Thankfully, Free Music Archive released the entire set from another show from around the same time so I can at least possess the track, if not the title. Check out FMA for more unreleased Grouper, as well as free music by a staggering number of excellent artists.

5. “From An Ancient Star” by Belbury Poly from From an Ancient Star (Ghost Box)
Doing electronic music as if it’s 1979 is a “thing” right now, and I love it. Belbury Poly were there before a lot of other artists, with their 2004 debut, The Willows (especially notable for what appears to be a Dalek singing—and I’m talking OG Doctor Who, here). The latest might serve as a great soundtrack to Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place, but it also serves to remind of dusty Penguin paperbacks, Arthur Machen, Beaver and Krause, and strange field recordings from an old BBC nature documentary. These guys are mining the late 20th century nerd subconscious.

6. “Fields Are Breathing” by Black Moth Super Rainbow from Eating Us (Graveface)
I completely forgot to mention that I played this in the podcast, and for that I apologize. I love BMSR, who mix completely bonkers psych-rock with In Search Of … electro sensibilities. Like playing Belbury Poly on angel dust while watching a Sid and Marty Krofft broadcast? I’m running out of descriptors for this stuff, I can’t help it. Anyway, this disc came in a hairy case, and I’m a sucker for anything sung on a vocoder; so sue me.

7. “Spring” by Ducktails from Landscapes (Olde English Spelling Bee)
I used to live one NJ town over from the artist known as Ducktails, but that was likely before he was born. At the same time, I kind of get the Jersey Shore vibe he’s going for, even if he might not have been old enough to remember it as it was in the late 80s (and, according to MTV, still today). This track will likely appeal to those who enjoy Animal Collective and the like, but the rest of the record oscillates between this sort of thing and bizarro synth patterns. Chillwave? Glo-fi? C’mon.

8. “The Void” by Papercuts from You Can Have What You Want (Gnomonsong)
I have to admit I’m normally skeptical of “indie rock,” but there’s a supremely chilled-out variety going around right now (until the next temporary trend appears), and I’m really grooving on it. I watched the video for another track on this and it had all the right moves: post-apocalyptic hermits, warm and echoey organs (with help from a Beach House member, apparently), and some truly nice harmonies. Here’s the video, and the whole record is a gem, too.

9. “Quicksand” by Lotus Plaza from The Floodlight Collective (Kranky)
Speaking of indie rock, here’s the dream pop side-project of the guitarist from hipster faves Deerhunter. I like the main band, too, and the solo recordings prove this is a group of very talented guys. In my opinion, none of the music would be out of place on 4AD back in the grand old days of the label, and, coming from me, that is very high praise indeed. The Phil Spector drums are a nice touch, too.

10. “Long Way” by Parks from Hidden (Infraction)
Parks made it onto my best-of from last year with his fine Umber album, so it’s no surprise to see him here again, though I doubt it’ll be making my top-fifteen of ’09 (to come on ZapTown soon). This one is a bit different, sometimes reminding me of the euro-techno of Peter Benisch, with that distinct (and very slick) ambient sound noted on his earlier work. Vocals make their way into the mix here and there, something I normally eschew in this type of music, but they seem to work pretty well, and are not excessive or distracting. I’ll be keeping my eyes on future works from Parks—one of the distinctly interesting new “scene” of Russian ambient musicians.

11. “Lest You Forget” by BVdub from We Were the Sun (Quietus)
Brock Van Wey made a big splash with listeners this year with his sprawling White Clouds Drift On and On. While I enjoyed that album, it didn’t have the punch I was expecting, considering all the positive press I continue to hear. My initial feeling was that it was impressive only if you hadn’t heard a lot of ambient lately, and many of the tracks were far too long for their weight, not to mention terribly sweet and “emotional” with a capital E. Still nice stuff, (especially the Intrusion remix disc), but nothing earth-crumbling, especially when compared with recent work by The Sight Below and Markus Guentner, for instance. Still, the limited CDR on Quietus (sounds like outtakes from White Clouds to me), really struck me as something special, despite its similarity to the other album. This is the sweet and pretty final track from the record, and it makes a good segue to what I hope will be a sweet and pretty 2010.

Happy holidays everyone!

Animal Collective—Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
The new Animal Collective is really good, enough to make me sit at Ticketmaster with my hand over the button to get tickets that sold out near-instantly (Grouper‘s opening, too). I don’t understand the hype—what is it about this band that makes the press and people on NPR interested in electronic, mildly experimental music? Did ambient just need Beach Boys vocals to get that recognition? Another baffling element: the claim that this record makes electronics and samples seem “organic.” This is one of the most inorganic recordings I’ve ever heard, which is, in my opinion, a kind of strength. Organic is Alio Die recording the sound of mushrooms decomposing a tree trunk in Italy. This album is about as organic as its cover art (which looks like more of an optical illusion on the internet than in real life—surely an important message about the former, right?). Anyway, this has been a terrific album to swim laps to, and it’s something Mom might like. It peters out a little bit at the end, but I love it.

Deerhunter—Cryptograms, etc. (Kranky)
I basically bought all of the Deerhunter stuff on Kranky and I am obsessed. I haven’t been this excited with a new “rock band” in like forever; probably since the future sound of Bristol in the early 90s, of which this is tangentially, sonically related. You can trace a direct path from Flying Saucer Attack and AMP to here, walls of blissful noise with pop songs somewhere inside. Basically I think they’re incredible, and it’s rare that you find a pop-oriented outfit that does ambient tracks so well (i.e. “Tape Hiss Orchid” from Cryptograms). Side projects Atlas Sound (on my best of ’08 list) and Lotus Plaza are very fine as well.

Fleet Foxes—s/t (Sub Pop)
In my continuing trend to be faintly “relevant” by reading Entertainment Weekly and watching Lost (I’m totally hooked), I stumbled across Fleet Foxes almost everywhere. When some of you had it on your best of ’08 lists, I figured I’d give it a try. I have played this CD so much since I got it back in December. What wonderful music, it’s like folk-flavored candy (Ricola?). I don’t know if I’m sold on the current spate of bearded folk masters, but this one was a winner for me.

Mountains—Choral (Thrill Jockey)
Mountains came out with their best album thus far, and they are now on Thrill Jockey. I bought the double-vinyl because it has extra tracks and instantly regretted it as I’m always getting up and flipping over the platters to hear more. Four sides of vinyl is not enough for this music; they could have filled six and remained as potent. I’m not sure that this is a contender for best ambient album of the year, but it’s top-five worthy, for sure.

Atom™—Leidgut (Raster-Noton)
Finally Uwe gets his act together and releases a solid album, and on Raster-Noton, too. This one is undoubtedly an acquired taste (like most on Raster), but if you like Kraftwerk’s Radioactivity, especially the vocoder parts and Franz Schubert fixation, this is the post-electronic album for you. A robot vocalist and radio static orchestra perform polka hits. The packaging is, as ever, brilliantly clever.

Yagya—Rigning (Sending Orbs)
Finally, a new Yagya album. Though it doesn’t achieve the sublime heights of Rhythm of Snow (admittedly an almost impossible act to follow for me), it’s very nice stuff. The melodies are a little tamer, but the atmospheres are strong and totally three-dimensional. This is probably the fullest recording Yagya’s done so far and it made for perfect brunch music last Sunday morning. There’s a clear reason this guy takes two or three years between albums, there’s terrific care taken here.

The Church—Shriek–Music from the Soundtrack (Unorthodox Records)
I never thought I’d find a Church record lousy, but in this case, I just do. This is the soundtrack to a movie of a book (they screened the movie during the last concert tour, so I’ve seen it) so it isn’t exactly a Church album per se, so I guess it can be excused. I have not read the book, but I can say with certainty that the lines they use in the recording probably read better on the page than they do spoken aloud with nebulous musical enhancement. There are a few almost-Church tunes inside here somewhere, but, in the immortal words of Garfield the cat: inside all of this horse meat, I’ve yet to find the pony. The new album sounds incredible (drops next month, I think), but this is half-baked stuff.

Sleepy Town Manufacture & Unit 21—No Traces (Infraction)
Another incredible ambient release on Infraction, and certainly a contender for 2009′s best. Sleepy Town Manufacture (also known as Beautumn) takes Unit 21′s LP collection and cobbles together a Tarkovsky-esque trip through the Zone. If you liked last year’s Parks album, imagine that mixed with samples from 1950s stereo-test records and obscure soundtracks. This whole record is a tour de force, from the ample packaging to the bonus disc.

Also really fine:
Black Moth Super Rainbow—”Don’t You Want to Be in a Cult” picture 12″ (Mexican Summer)
Grouper / City Center split 7″ (definitely look for this one) (no label)
Pop Ambient 2009 (finally) (Kompakt)
Richard Pinhas & Merzbow (!)—Keio Line (Cuneiform Records)
Of—Rocks Will Open (Digitalis) (another fine tectonic ambient release by Loren Chasse)
Night Control—Death Control (Kill Shaman) (interesting avant-pop, sometimes has a Suicide feel)