Best Albums
SOPHIE, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES
Kelly Moran, Ultraviolet
Helena Hauff, Qualm
Marissa Nadler, For My Crimes
Author & Punisher, Beastland
2018 Club Tracks
Girl Unit & Kelela, “WYWD (Remix)” [Night Slugs]
KG, “808 (BSNYEA Edit)” [Goon Club Allstars]
Peggy Gou, “Han Jan” [Ninja Tune]
The Phantom’s Revenge, “24” [Of Unsound Mind]
SOPHIE, “Immaterial” [Transgressive]
Reissue Of The Year
Haruomi Hosono, Paraiso
One of my personal top 10 albums all time was reissued this past year by Seattle label Light In The Attic. Hosono has a varied career full of astonishing music, far too much to cover here, ranging from folk to samba to ambient and, of course, his groundbreaking work with Yellow Magic Orchestra. Paraiso is whimsical, uplifting, charismatic album that puts the concept of late 50s American exotica music into a kaleidoscope. This album is a $15 ticket to a paradise beyond the confines of imagination.
Label Of The Year
Boysnoize
The Boys Noize label had a preposterously stacked year in 2018, releasing some of my favorite club tracks of the year. The first track of 2018 was “Orvnge,” a concussive collaboration between Boys Noize and Virgil Abloh. Boys Noize followed with a slamming, full on club focused EP Strictly Raw Vol. 2. Add to that, great releases from Raito, Djedjotronic, Housemeister, and Cardopusher. 15 releases in 12 months + no sign of letting down.