Best of 2013 Part 6

Into the top 6, the best of the best, my favorite albums of the year!

#6

Tim Hecker

Virgins

A brilliant composer of ambient electronic music, Hecker is originally from Vancouver but for the past fifteen or so years has called Montreal home. His work has been lauded by critics and fans alike for some time now, with his previous album, "Ravedeath, 1972", taking home a Juno award in 2011. Most would have picked that album as his best work. Surely now this changes things.

This is a superb effort, a dark essay beyond time and space, delving deep in the mind beyond what almost any other contemporary ambient musician is capable of conjuring. That isn't to say that this is an entirely negative experience, just one that requires a good deal of thought and concentration to fully comprehend and enjoy. It's only this challenge that keeps this album from higher up the list, but in terms of scope and musicality it is second to none.

Black Refraction

Virginal II

Radiance

#5

The Drones

I See Seaweed

This troupe hail from Australia, as clearly evident by the distinct twang in lead singer Gareth Liddiard's voice. Their name is quite apt given their sound - droning garage rock. They've established quite a decent following, especially since their excellent 2005 album "Wait Long By The River...", but inclusion of this album on many of this year's best-of lists should ensure a level of international popularity they've not quite achieved until now.

A good description for this might be garage opera. It's dramatic, slow moving, verbose, and terrifically intense. Shades of Pink Floyd are found in Liddiard's enticing lyrics, and his poetry is a highlight, with the gnashing guitars stepping in to bring the tension to a head. It's dark, gloomy, and absolutely memorable.

I See Seaweed

How To See Through Fog

Nine Eyes

#4

The Knife

Shaking The Habitual

On first listen it was obvious this album would be on the list somewhere come the year's end, the only question was where. There simply isn't anything else that sounds remotely like it. It's an astonishing work of experimental electronic techno rock, clocking in at over 90 minutes on two discs. I won't pretend it's an easy listen, but it's very, very impressive.

The Swedish duo found widespread acclaim with their last album "Silent Shout", seven long years have passed since then and this album is vastly different. Warbling synthesizer notes and complex percussive rhythms keep it pulsing forwards, with crunchy ambient distortion crawling around in the background to fill up the space. Once again this album is intensely dark, and feels both distracted and cohesive all at once, kind of like Bjork on steroids. Highly recommended.

A Tooth For An Eye

Full Of Fire

Stay Out Here

EP #2

Shad & Skratch Bastid

The Spring Up

I really haven't enjoyed most of the hip-hop put out this year, and even Shad's full length album "Flying Colours" was underwhelming. Maybe my taste just isn't evolving with the times, or maybe the advancement of electronic experimentation has just led production in a different direction, but this EP, produced by Halifax DJ supreme Skratch Bastid (with some input from Jazzy Jeff), was undoubtedly my favorite of the genre from the year. The tracks are clean and groovy, and Shad's lyricism feels perfectly framed. My only complaint is that it's not longer.

Homie

Outta My Head

Classic

Six parts down, one to go! Back in a few short hours...