Sound Influx Albums of 2012: Numbers 50-21

It's that time of year again, where we at Sound Influx ask our writers the daunting question: "What are your favourite albums of the year?". Well, the writers answered in force, and their suggestions have been meticulously tallied up into a rather fine list of this year best and boldest. Here are the albums we loved this year, that didn't quite make our top 20 (which is coming soon,) and links to the ones we did original reviews of. Enjoy!

50. Delicate Steve - Positive Force
49. The 2 Bears - Be Strong
48. Actress - RIP

47. ScHoolboy Q - Habits And Contradictions
46. David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant
45. METZ - METZ  
"The only danger they’re in is that with one record built primarily of tracks under the 3:30 mark, there’s simply not enough to satisfy the ravenous demand." Read Braden Fletcher's review. 
44. Jessie Ware - Devotion 
43. Best Coast - The Only Place 
"The return of Best Coast on the music scene is a welcome one indeed." Read Bella Roach's review.
42. Plan B - Ill Manors
41. Yeasayer - Fragrant World
40. William Boney - Good Vibes

39. How To Dress Well - Total Loss 

"‘Total Loss’ is a haunting and intelligent album that will play well with a particular type of intellectual pop fan" Read Max Sefton's review.

38. Deerhoof - Breakup Song

"Breakup Song is a great party record from a band unafraid to reclaim pop for their own ends."

Read Max Sefton's review. 

37. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

36. Lone - Galaxy Garden

35. Peggy Sue - Play the Songs of Scorpio Rising

34. Dan Deacon - America

33. Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

32. Of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks

31. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

30. The Men - Open Your Heart

29. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

"A songwriter playing with the same freedom and love of noise, melody and self-expression that his heroes did all those years before." Read Max Sefton's review

28. The Cribs - In The Belly of the Brazen Bull

"In The Belly of the Brazen Bull is by far the darkest and heaviest Cribs record to date, but also the most important. The Cribs have come to reclaim indie rock." Read Aaron Lewins' review.

27. Sigur Rós - Valtari

26. Tall Ships - Everything Touching

"Time spent with this record is indeed precious, but definitely not forgettable." Read Braden Fletcher's review.

25. Porcelain Raft -  Strange Weekend

"Strange Weekend does however manage to come away feeling like a good pop record, and whilst it may not last a life time, it is at least an enjoyable and interesting listen." Read Will Hall's review.

24. Kindness - World, You Need A Change Of Mind

"World, You Need A Change Of Mind is exactly what you would expect from this Peterborough-based pioneer who seems to be capable of reviving any genre that’s thrown his way and make it relevant." Read Aurora Mitchell's review.

23. Swans - The Seer

  

"The listen is definitely a very long and full experience, but ultimately rewarding and rich, with vast swathes of colour and atmosphere." Read Eliot Humphreys' review.

22. Killer Mike - RAP Music

21. Hot Chip - In Our Heads 

"Accomplished, dreamy and jubilant throughout." Read Holly Read-Challen's review.

That's your lot for now, stay reading for 20-1 of the list coming soon!

Compiled by Toby McCarron

Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Hot Chip’s new self-produced album has got to be one of the most anticipated albums of 2012 for a lot of people: after 2010’s fantastic ‘One life Stand’, and two new tantalisingly brilliant tracks being released up to the release date.

Despite initial (slightly disappointed) reactions, the album is a calmer, dreamier record than any of Hot Chip’s previous offerings. Throughout, ‘In Our Heads’ seems to have a woozy, repetitive drag to it. However, with none of the 11 tracks falling below the 5 minute mark, whether this drag is entirely a positive thing throughout may be questioned. This has never been a problem for Hot Chip before. They have always managed to keep interest in a long song, due to their idiosyncrasies- the little noises, the lyrics and the layers in the music. It’s not that the band have removed these elements completely, there’s things like gorgeous bird song samples on ‘Let Me Be Him’ which are a really lovely touch and add to the dream-like quality of the album as a whole. It’s just that some parts of some songs feel just slightly overdone and even indulgent.

However this drag seems intentional and it does suit the album, which seems to express the feeling of falling in love. ‘How Do You Do’ is a beautiful, wonky love song, with an awesome bass introduction and the almost plaintive ’How do you do it?/ you make me want to live again’. Again, a love song, ‘don’t deny your heart/ don’t destroy your heart’ pleads Alexis in the hook of ‘Don’t Deny Your Heart’, which captures the charming, knowingly slightly cheesy elements of previous infectious songs. On ‘These Chains’, the lyrics sum up perfectly a feeling of complete surrender to the one you love: ‘these chains/ you’ve bound around my heart/complete me/ baby/ I will not be free again’.

There are also, in true hot chip style, some huge stonkers: the ridiculously funky ‘Night And Day’ is at the heart of the album and pleases with its hip-hop elements blended with classic Hot Chip melodies and quirks. ‘Flutes’, the first teaser track for the album, is also huge, in all its slow building, ‘ear worm’ creating glory (the ‘one day you might realise/ that you might need to open your eyes’ line swims round and round in my head for days on end); it must already be a Hot Chip Classic!

Always a highlight of Hot Chip’s music, Alexis Taylor’s dreamy voice is reflected in much of the music on this album. The mellow ‘Now There Is Nothing’ is genuinely gorgeous, and with Alexis’ laid back ‘do do do do dooo’ sounds light and summery, similar to many of Metronomy’s ‘English Riviera’ tracks. A slight slow-burner, and much more subtle and understated than many of Hot Chip’s previous records, but accomplished , dreamily and jubilant throughout.

7.0

Holly Read-Challen

Lovebox 2012 preview (Sunday)

On Sunday, a few members of the Sound Influx staff will be heading down to Victoria Park for the second time this month for Lovebox, who are celebrating their 10th birthday this year, 'A Decade Of Love'. Hot Chip, Friendly Fires and Grace Jones are headlining the festival, accompanied by both critically and universally acclaimed artists such as Lana Del Rey, Crystal Castles and Special Disco Version (James Murphy and Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem). Although the weather is currently rain, rain and more rain; let's hope that this bill of summery acts can bring the sun out.

Here are five acts that we're excited about seeing and think you should too:

Lana Del Rey

Having made a big impression last year with her debut single Video Games and quickly following that up with her full length, Born To Die, Del Rey has become one of the most sought after artists, with many of her gigs selling out in minutes. However, shaky TV performances and her uneasy presence have made for some unfavourable comments on how her assured and confident music translates in a live setting. Nevertheless, it could be very different at Lovebox as she has no doubt has some practice playing her songs to crowds across the world.

Special Disco Version (James Murphy and Pat Mahoney)

I'm still not entirely sure what Special Disco Version entails but anything that's a collaboration of two LCD Soundsystem members has to be good. After the news that LCD would be splitting up back in 2010, fans knew this wouldn't be the end for James Murphy and co. There's a video of Youtube with an extract of Mahoney and Murphy playing together as Special Disco Version from last year when they did a 2 hour DJ set so perhaps we can expect something similar at Lovebox.

Niki & The Dove

Sweden has been on a roll this year, with the likes of Icona Pop, iamamiwhoami and of course, Niki & The Dove showing everyone else how pop is meant to be done. Their debut album Instinct was released not long ago and received critical acclaim from across the board as every song on the album has its own merits. However, it's tunes like The Drummer, Last Night and DJ Ease My Mind that are likely to get a crowd going, whether the sun is shining or it's torrential rain.

Patrick Wolf

Having already seen Patrick Wolf a couple of times in a festival setting in both sun and rain; you can be reassured that whatever the conditions, he's guaranteed to raise spirits with his music. After 5 albums, though, it's no surprise that Wolf performances are so polished as he effortlessly converses with the crowd, switches between instruments and bounds across the stage with so much energy and youthfulness. We can expect nothing less than enjoyable from Patrick Wolf's set on Sunday.

Azari & III

Azari & III are one of the bands I've been waiting to see all year and was so disappointed that I missed at Heaven back in February. Their self titled debut is packed full of sexy electro house that slowly constructs itself offset by soulful vocals. Perhaps what looks to be one of the more lively sets at Lovebox on Sunday, it'll be interesting to see how the music comes alive with the two DJs and two hypemen.

Aurora Mitchell

Hot Chip - Flutes

I have banned myself from listening to Hot Chip in public places, such as the bus or on the street. I find it really hard to restrain myself from dancing in a robotic, idiotic way. After listening repeatedly to their latest offering, I can pretty safely bet that the new album (released on the 11th of June) won’t change my ‘no dancing in public’ rule in any way. ‘Flutes’ is a pretty goddamn funky track from start to finish, and within seconds I found myself doing that dance, the kind of embarrassing dance that only dads do in order to humiliate their children.

Starting with weird, repetitive chanting, it builds, nay evolves into a danceable, beautiful, brilliant track. It involves Alexis’ distinctively beautiful voice weaving harmonies over typical Hot Chip beats with some 80’s noises thrown in for good measure. As usual, I have no idea what the lyrics are or what significance they have (if any), but what I do know is that this is a perfectly catchy, addictive oddball comeback as only Hot Chip could do. As one YouTube comment says; ‘great to hear Hot Chip come back with such a blinder.’ I eagerly await the 11th June, and hope the rest of the album is as bloody brilliant as this!

Holly Read-Challen 

Joe Goddard - Gabriel (Feat. Valentina)

Joe Goddard is a man with his fingers in many pies: vocalist/percussionist/synth man from off-beat electronic pop band Hot Chip; one half of house-inspired duo 2 Bears; remixer, producer, and solo artist. The latter’s latest offering is the title track of a joint- released, four track EP on DFA records and Goddard’s own Greco-Roman label. Featuring new songstress Valentina’s effortlessly beautiful vocals, this is a laidback and understated track. By this very nature this means that it is also a bit of a slow burner , but give it a couple of listens and the insistent, dance floor-ready drums and hypnotic melody will have you hooked. The track is apparently inspired by Goddard’s love of songs with a religious focus, and aims for "that gospel feeling" that such songs evoke, hence the name 'Gabriel', which is also a reference to the Roy Davis Jr song (Which is, in Joe’s words, "a garage classic")

It may drift by during listening, not unpleasantly I may add, sending you into a foot-tapping, head-nodding daze, but that hook will be on the brain long after it’s done. This song is further proof that Goddard really understands what he’s doing: he truly knows how to make clever, beautiful music. Oh, and it has a pretty trippy video too.

By Holly Read-Challen