Shock World Service 059

Old Acquaintance Be Forgot by Cian Ó Cíobháin

24/12/2014 Galway, Ireland

1. Mica Levi - Lonely Void

Mica Levi’s soundtrack for Jonathan Glazer’s film ‘Under The Skin’ (based on Michel Faber’s novel) was, without doubt, the oddest yet most beguiling music I heard all year. I had listened to the soundtrack loads before I finally got to see the movie. Listening to the music out of context had made an impression, finally hearing it as I viewed the film almost made me want to start a cult.

2. Kode9 & The Spaceape - Autumn Has Come

The ‘Killing EP’ was the last release from Hyperdub vocalist-poet-MC Stephen Samuel Gordon AKA The Spaceape before his untimely demise in the autumn. His parting words “I must learn to dance with life again while autumn is still here” are particularly heartbreaking considering he passed away soon after the recording was made.

3. Visonia & Dopplereffekt - Die Reisen

This track should be employed by music teachers in classes to illustrate ‘how to write a bass arpeggio’. A big thanks to Laura O’ Connell for putting me onto this one. Released on Last Known Trajectory in January, this should still sound fresh in decades to come.

4. Clark - Snowbird

Chris Clark has been a formidable presence on the legendary Warp label for over a decade now. His eponymously titled 2014 LP is rumoured to be his last. If there is any substance to these rumours, it is safe to acknowledge that he refused to go out with a whimper with possibly his most coherent LP to date.

5. Roberto Clementi - Agile

The Italian’s debut LP for Soma - ’N Lights’ - took a slightly organic and dubby approach to electronic music. This one was the diamond in the rough: an ethereal and glistening piece of electronica that has shades of Burial or The Cyclist about it.

6. Actress - Gaze

His latest LP ‘Ghettoville’ may not be up there with his finest work, but it did bestow upon the world this gorgeous slice of dreamy house.

7. JAW, Philip Wolgast & Benito W - Papersand

Is JAW the new Robert Owens? The frontman of electronic French act dOP’s voice can be heard lighting up many a house tracks these days. I’ve never really been a fan of Robert Owens, bar a handful of tracks, though I’ve slowly began to warm to JAW. However, something about this collaboration - the production and the wistful vocal - made it sounds like a more melancholic take on what Ali Love & Hot Natured have been getting up to. One to slow dance to at the end of a lost weekend. From the ‘Midtown EP’ on Circus Company.

8. To Rococo Rot - Baritone

Veterans of the German electro-acoustic scene released their eighth studio LP ‘Instrument’ this year which included this track, redolent of classic mid-90s Tortoise.

9. Fhloston Paradigm - Never Defeated (feat. Rachel Claudio)

King Britt - under his Fhloston Paradigm guise - produced one of the most memorable LPs of the year in ‘The Phoenix’ and this collaboration with Rachel Claudio is the kind of gritty soul I subscribe to.

10. Ariel Pink - Lipstick

Ariel Pink’s new LP ‘Pom Pom’ is a riot of ideas. Like an enterprising magpie, he swoops over many different genres and eras and steals the best parts to create a new and vibrant love letter to both AM & FM bubblegum pop.

11. Aphex Twin - PAPAT4 [155] [pineal mix]

A period of two weeks listening to Aphex Twin’s first LP in 13 years confirmed this and the ‘minipops’ single to be my personal highlights.

Full tracklist: http://www.shockworldservice.com/#/page59/