Album of the year 2020

[soup 11]

Low Budget Aliens - Junk DNA

Critical Amnesia - Critical Amnesia

Bellows - Undercurrent

Aloy Sea - Petrichor

CS + Kreme - Snoopy

Jon Collin & Demdike Stare - Sketches of Everything

LOG - LOG ET3RNAL

Potter Natalizia Zen - Magari

Serwed - Serwed II

Slikback - ///

Special Guest DJ - Spring Summer 2020

Virtualdemonlaxative - Virtualdemonlaxative

Autchre - SIGN

Rian Treanor - File Under UK Metaplasm

Andras - Joyful

Ben Bondy - Sibling

Beatrice Dillon - Workaround

Duma - Duma

Sightless Pit - Grave of a Dog

Synalegg - Beating the Odds

Ulla - Tumbling Towards a Wall

Zenker Brothers - Cosmic Transmission

Edited December 2, 2020 by soup

[Zephyr_Nova 1664]

I think the only 2020 albums I've heard so far are the 'chres, Be Up a Hello, and the new Fleet Foxes... new OPN's on my radar.  Will try to check out whatever comes up a bunch in this thread.

Oh, and new Deftones, which is their best work since White Pony.

Edited November 21, 2020 by Zephyr_Nova

[Boxus 151]

+

[d-a-m-o 1503]

Also, I really need to revisit Aleksi Perälä 2020 output, same thing for Cylob, lots of stuff I haven't listened yet...

[Bubba69 84]

DMX Krew - Ghost Bubbles

OPN - Magic OPN

I guess uncut gems soundtrack is 2019? Love that one for 2020 anyways

Hoping the new Com Truise album (not out yet)

autechre PLUS/SIGN

squarepusher - buah

hidden orchestra - Creaks

carl finlow - apparatus

Cylob - 54 minute mirage

run the jewels 4

nathan fake - blizzards

king krule - man alive

rob clouth - zero point

john beltran - the season series

 

EDIT - oh shit how could I forgot Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans

 

I dunno I listened to a lot of random shit this year and that's what happened to catch my fancy. Probably missed a lot of stuff though, I'm scoping out this thread as much I can

Edited November 21, 2020 by Bubba69

[Ayya Khema 46]

My favorite watmm thread every year. I discover more music in those type of threads then anywhere else.

So without looking at people's list, here's my preliminary list:

John Beltran- the Season's Series. https://johnbeltrandelsin.bandcamp.com/album/the-season-series    Lustrous Orb, Sunflower, You internalize them, I can chase you forever are highlights but really its the entire album is so captivating, So beautiful, touching yet non cheesy. 

Kettel- Dwingeloo Life Extension.  https://kettel.bandcamp.com/track/bear-creek . This is not the ambient album I expected from Kettel, much darker then what he normally goes for. Very unique ambient album, never heard anything quite like it. https://kettel.bandcamp.com/album/dwingeloo-life-extension

Machinedrum- A View of U. Did not expect this at all. https://machinedrum.bandcamp.com/track/star-feat-mono-poly-taner-lle

Bvdub- Wrath and Apathy. https://n5md.bandcamp.com/album/wrath-apathy

Bvdub- Burn Back Time  https://bvdub.bandcamp.com/album/burn-back-time

Caribou- Suddenly. New Jade, Never Come Back, Ravi are so damn good. Caribou slash Daphni is getting better and better. https://caribouband.bandcamp.com/album/suddenly. https://caribouband.bandcamp.com/track/new-jade

 

Honorable mentions:

Four Tet- sixteen oceans

Daniel Avery- Love + Light

Schinichi Atobe- Yes

Grimes- Miss something

Dj Python- Mas amable

Actress- Karma and desire

Dj Metatron- Loops of infinity

Arca- Kick i

Yves Tumor- Heaven to a tortured Mind

Avery and Cortini- Illusion of Time

 

[ignatius 5952]

the autechres and []pusher be up a hello.. the new grischa lichtenberger is dope. i like that record. all his stuff is dope. the newest one is really nice. danny daze, EOD, got a bunch of stuff on dingn\dents label. 

 

trying to think of other stuff from 2020 that i bought? i found stuff that's new to me but didn't come out in 2020. 

i don't know what else.. brain no workie

[beerwolf 746]

Daniel Avery & Alessandro Cortini - Illusion of Time

First play only a couple of tracks I liked but as the album title suggests, that was just an illusion and over time the record grew on me. Fabulous stuff!

Deftones - Ohms

It's the Deftones but in full flight and in attack mode. Striking stuff! 

[toaoaoad 376]

Yeah that Deftones album was a really pleasant surprise 

 

I don't think anyone has mentioned Bibio - Sleep on the Wing yet in this thread. Or maybe it doesn't qualify because it's an EP? Either way, I find it more consistently good than most of his recent stuff, and the closest thing to a return to his early style that I've heard so far. Still playing it a lot - good Fall music 🍂

Edited November 22, 2020 by toaoaoad

[kirm 105]

Actress - Karma & Desire (and shout out to 88!)

Auteche - Sign / Plus 

Chris Douglas - Every thing he has done this year but particular shouts to these 3 https://amhain.bandcamp.com/album/01-2010, https://amhain.bandcamp.com/album/lsnsp-plsns, https://amhain.bandcamp.com/album/nov-20-59

Cex - Doer

Steve Roach - A Soul Ascends /Tomorrow 

Deftones - Ohms

Puscifer - Existential Reckoning

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts V

Monolake - Archaeopteryz

Shakleton & Zimpel - Primal Forms

Vennart - In the Dead, dead wood

Charles Webster - Decision Time 

 

[gnarlybog 80]

Autechre - Sign
Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Patchouli Blue
HTRK - Over the Rainbow
William Basinski - Lamentations
CS + Kreme - Snoopy
Brian Eno and Roger Eno - Mixing Colours

[toaoaoad 376]

Shiiit, also this. Couldn't remember what I've even been listening to this year since I had so much friggin anxiety. Mostly older/familiar stuff, my own material or nothing at all. But: 

https://jonasmunk.bandcamp.com/album/minimum-resistance
 Jonas Munk - Minimum Resistance

Ambient and rather homogenous album by Jonas Munk (aka Manual). I played this a ton over the summer. Very soothing. 

[Squee 1139]

Amon Tobin & Thys - Ghostcards

[dcom 1171]

Digitonal - Set The Weather Fair (Just Music)
Sunwarper & Cpektir - Lunar Ghosts (Audionautic)
Halt - Memory Fields (Erbium)
Monolake - Archaeopteryx (Imbalance Computer Music)
M-Seq - Metablast (self-released)
RT759 - Pentagon (self-released)
LoFi Freq - Lost In The Wires (Detroit Underground)
Faex Optim - Let's Pretend (self-released)
Cpektir - Lights In Permanence (self-released)
Arsonist Recorder - untitled (Diffuse Reality)
Autechre - Sign & Plus (Warp)
Morphology - Horta Proxima (FireScope)
Kirk Degiorgio - Selected Rarities Vol. 1 & 2 (Applied Rhythmic Technology)
Holon - Experiments Against Reality (Subatomic Audio)
The Droid - Execute (Specimen)
Stazma - Shapeshifter (Concrete Collage)
V/A - Decima Circuits: Cottage Industries 10 (Neo Ouija)
PBS73 - Super Electric Voyage (Magic Square)
Blaen - #3 (Welsh Modular Alliance)
rRine - Eaciv+ (Touched 2020 re-release with extra tracks)
Jerry La Flim - Just Connect (Concrete Collage)
Boris Divider - Generative Operations 1 & 2 (Drivecom - actually two EPs, but it should be an album)
Conforce - Manifold (20/20 Vision)
Cpektir & Survey Channel - Myriagon Atlas (self-released)
MTCH - SKLPTOR (Kaer'Uiks)
Regis - Hidden In This Is The Light That You Miss (Downwards)
Shifted - The Dirt In Our Hands (Avian)
Carbinax - Gone To Ground (self-released)
State Azure - Pictures From A Distant Time (self-released)
Steven Rutter & Bryonii - Starcrossed (FireScope)
Keiss - Urban Utopia (Touched Revolutions)
Max Richter - Voices (Decca)
Survey Channel - Along The Wind Spear (self-released)
Rødhåd - MOOD (WSNWG)
Darren Nye - A Vision Organically Modified + Remixes (Childhood Intelligence)
Cult48 - Catalog 1 (self-released)
Underworld - Drift Series Complete (Caroline)
Soundex Phonetic - Over & Out (Body Control)
Ital Tek - Outland (Planet Mu)
The Fear Ratio - They Can't Be Saved (Skam)
Silicon Scally - Crushed (self-released)
Buspin Jieber - V.H.S. Volcanic / Harmonic / Sounds (Touched)
Electric Rescue - Esquisse du Nouveau Monde (Skryptöm)
Carl Finlow - Apparatus (20/20 Vision)
The OST - S/T (self-released)
Adam Jay - Inoperable Data (Detroit Underground)
Chromatics - Closer To Grey (Italians Do It Better)
V/A - Music For The Other People Place Part 1 (Fundamental)
Undiagnosed - We Are (WéMé)
Sleeparchive - Trust (Tresor)
Sinner DC - If I Could Only Hear The Sound Of The Waves Again (Ai)
V/A - Time Capsule: 6th 808 Box (Fundamental)
Obergman - Angular Momentum (Furthur Electronix)
 

Edited November 23, 2020 by dcom

[manmower 473]

Andrea - Ritorno
Eefje de Visser - Bitterzoet
Hum - Inlet
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

[ignatius 5952]

rRine - Eaciv+ came  out in 2006 i think. the current version is just a rerelease with some extra tracks i think. 

[dcom 1171]

8 hours ago, ignatius said:

rRine - Eaciv+ came  out in 2006 i think. the current version is just a rerelease with some extra tracks i think. 

Yes, it was released originally in 2005, but I didn't pick it up until the re-release, so for me it's 2020. Fixed the entry to be more specific.

Edited November 23, 2020 by dcom

[dcom 1171]

12 hours ago, dcom said:

Digitonal - Set The Weather Fair (Just Music)
Sunwarper & Cpektir - Lunar Ghosts (Audionautic)
Halt - Memory Fields (Erbium)
Monolake - Archaeopteryx (Imbalance Computer Music)
M-Seq - Metablast (self-released)
RT759 - Pentagon (self-released)
LoFi Freq - Lost In The Wires (Detroit Underground)
Faex Optim - Let's Pretend (self-released)
Cpektir - Lights In Permanence (self-released)
Arsonist Recorder - untitled (Diffuse Reality)
Autechre - Sign & Plus (Warp)
Morphology - Horta Proxima (FireScope)
Kirk Degiorgio - Selected Rarities Vol. 1 & 2 (Applied Rhythmic Technology)
Holon - Experiments Against Reality (Subatomic Audio)
The Droid - Execute (Specimen)
Stazma - Shapeshifter (Concrete Collage)
V/A - Decima Circuits: Cottage Industries 10 (Neo Ouija)
PBS73 - Super Electric Voyage (Magic Square)
Blaen - #3 (Welsh Modular Alliance)
rRine - Eaciv+ (Touched 2020 re-release with extra tracks)
Jerry La Flim - Just Connect (Concrete Collage)
Boris Divider - Generative Operations 1 & 2 (Drivecom - actually two EPs, but it should be an album)
Conforce - Manifold (20/20 Vision)
Cpektir & Survey Channel - Myriagon Atlas (self-released)
MTCH - SKLPTOR (Kaer'Uiks)
Regis - Hidden In This Is The Light That You Miss (Downwards)
Shifted - The Dirt In Our Hands (Avian)
Carbinax - Gone To Ground (self-released)
State Azure - Pictures From A Distant Time (self-released)
Steven Rutter & Bryonii - Starcrossed (FireScope)
Keiss - Urban Utopia (Touched Revolutions)
Max Richter - Voices (Decca)
Survey Channel - Along The Wind Spear (self-released)
Rødhåd - MOOD (WSNWG)
Darren Nye - A Vision Organically Modified + Remixes (Childhood Intelligence)
Cult48 - Catalog 1 (self-released)
Underworld - Drift Series Complete (Caroline)
Soundex Phonetic - Over & Out (Body Control)
Ital Tek - Outland (Planet Mu)
The Fear Ratio - They Can't Be Saved (Skam)
Silicon Scally - Crushed (self-released)
Buspin Jieber - V.H.S. Volcanic / Harmonic / Sounds (Touched)
Electric Rescue - Esquisse du Nouveau Monde (Skryptöm)
Carl Finlow - Apparatus (20/20 Vision)
The OST - S/T (self-released)
Adam Jay - Inoperable Data (Detroit Underground)
Chromatics - Closer To Grey (Italians Do It Better)
V/A - Music For The Other People Place Part 1 (Fundamental)
Undiagnosed - We Are (WéMé)
Sleeparchive - Trust (Tresor)
Sinner DC - If I Could Only Hear The Sound Of The Waves Again (Ai)
V/A - Time Capsule: 6th 808 Box (Fundamental)
Obergman - Angular Momentum (Furthur Electronix)
 

Added links.

[thumbass 707]

Anyone check out the M. Geddes Gengras record (Time makes nothing happen)? It's great. Another addition to the list

Edited November 23, 2020 by thumbass

[beerwolf 746]

Hum - Inlet

added to my massive list which equals three

It's not that I don't like new music, I spend most of my time listening/discovering music from every decade, and the latest tunes don't take priority.

also other records I've enjoyed

Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song

Avalon Emerson - DJ Kicks

Mr Bungle - Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny

[sidewinder 225]

What I've enjoyed the most thus far...

 

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys - Innocent Country 2

R.A.P. Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages

Against All Logic - 2017 - 2019

Datassette - Void Fill Product

Cindy Lee - What's Tonight to Eternity

Police des moeurs - Péril 

The Cool Greenhouse - s/t

Crack Cloud - Pain Olympics

Matmos - The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises in Group Form

Osees - Protean Threat

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - X: The Godless Void and Other Stories 

Autechre - SIGN/PLUS

The Seneschal Arrives - Haze of Reality

[jules 967]

8 hours ago, beerwolf said:

Hum - Inlet

Forgot about this one. Good call.

[drillkicker 511]

 

[nikisoko 262]

I’ve got to put a vote in for the comp “Still in my arms” https://www.discogs.com/Various-Still-In-My-Arms/release/14744639

while a lot of the music on it isn’t new, it became the soundtrack to 2020 for me. I think I got my copy early in March and played it repeatedly over the spring and summer while processing the madness of this year.  It summarizes the merk records/neo ouija  “soft techno” sound so well and came out right at a time that cemented to me that era is long gone. 

[Extralife 1178]

7 hours ago, nikisoko said:

I’ve got to put a vote in for the comp “Still in my arms” https://www.discogs.com/Various-Still-In-My-Arms/release/14744639

while a lot of the music on it isn’t new, it became the soundtrack to 2020 for me. I think I got my copy early in March and played it repeatedly over the spring and summer while processing the madness of this year.  It summarizes the merk records/neo ouija  “soft techno” sound so well and came out right at a time that cemented to me that era is long gone. 

Great comp. Sound of my late-teens.