Not quite My Favourite Albums of 2019

This has been a long time in the making, but finally, almost a month into 2019, I've almost listened to all the albums I have from 2018.  If I don't complete this look back soon it'll be overtaken by the new albums from 2019 - and there already are some great albums from January and even more promised in February. (I should also add that albums I missed in 2018 are still being brought to my attention, this includes albums by Jonathan Wilson ('Rare Birds'), Steve Gunn ('The Unseen In Between') and Rezzett ('Rezzett LP')).

Before I get into the top ten list I ought to say something about the albums that haven't made the list.  That's the subject of this post. Honourable mentions I guess you'd call these. 

There were a lot of good albums in 2018, many of which contain 4 or 5 great songs or tunes, often including a smattering of other good tracks but, ultimately not enough to make the top 10. (Many of those songs do appear on my best songs of 2018 lists - see this post ) What follows is a brief summary of some of those albums that almost made it to the list...

The Internet 'Hive Mind' - a clutch of really great songs including 'Come Over' and 'It Gets Better (With Time)'. Occasionally a song is spoilt by some unnecessary spoken / rapped outro - the single edits being better in these cases.  Here's 'Roll (Burbank Funk)' the second track from the album... 

The Orb 'No Sounds Are Out Of Bounds' - A welcome return to form by The Orb as well as spawning probably my favourite song of the year, 'The End of The End'.  It also includes a bunch of other great tracks - including one featuring Hollie Cook on vocals - as well as being available with an instrumental version of the album. Excellent, Smithers. 'Wish I Had a Pretty Dog' follows hot on the heals of album opener and personal favourite, 'The End of The End'.

Kamasi Washington 'Heaven and Earth' - Impossible to ignore, a double CD of jazz-rooted soul or maybe of jazz fused with soul.  For my taste, at times veering dangerously close to easy listening, this is also an album of blisteringly hot soloing as in the final section of 'Can You Hear Him' contrasted with some backing vocals / lead vocals that could do with a bit more grit. 'Hub-Tones' is one of those hotter tracks from CD one, 'Earth'.

Soft Machine 'Hidden Details' - A band whose name I never expected to see with a good new album, a great band but a band from the past, or so I thought.  Whilst no original band members play here, it does include three musicians  who played with some of the original Soft Machine line-up. As a nod to that era it includes a new version of 'Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1)' from 'Third'. A pleasant surprise. Here's the album opener and title track...

Sarah Nixey 'Night Walks' - After a long break, in part forced through illness, Sarah Nixey returned with an album of great songs and suitably nocturnal themes.  This came so close to being in the top 10.  Maybe with the benefit of hindsight it will end up there? Here's one of the singles lifted from the album, 'The Zeppelin'...

Liela Moss 'My Name Is Safe In Your Mouth' - Taking time out from The Duke Spirit, singer Liela Moss crafts an interesting solo album. Some great songs and a great singing voice, well known to fans of the band. The album includes the wonderful song, 'Memories and Faces', one of my favourite songs of the year.  This also came very close to being in my top 10. One of the singles was 'Wild as Fire' and here it is...

Melody's Echo Chamber 'Bon Voyage' - Another album released after a long absence due to illness, though in Melody's case a near-fatal accident, this benefits from the input of members of Dungen including the distinctive guitar tone of Reine Fiske (was listening to the 1970's Finnish band Wigwam and noticed that Pekka "Rekku" Rechardt has a similar guitar sound on some tracks). After the brilliance of her first album, this was a bit of a disappointment - sometimes there just seem to be too many ideas at work in a song.  An album of brilliant moments that would have been in my top ten had it been a bit more focused. Picking a track is difficult, but 'Quand Les Larmes D'un Ange Font Danser La Neige' is one of the most consistently good tracks, so here it is...

Other albums worthy of mention include those by Shame, IDLES, The Blinders and Lykke Li.

In case you are wondering when (or if) I'll ever get round to producing a top 10, well, that will be my next post, and it's almost complete...