Paul Lockett’s Albums Of 2019
Albums Of The Year 2019
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1. W.H.Lung – ‘Incidental Music’
I was initially slightly sceptical about a band who take their name from a Manchester-based Chinese Cash & Carry, but they won me over almost immediately with this set of memorable hooks, catchy riffs and unpretentious collection of songs. Right from the off, the tracks build around a central idea and are instantly likeable. I recently saw them playing live in Manchester and noticed how practically everyone in the crowd was won over by their sound and was swaying to their cool beats. If you’re reading the album title and possibly expecting incidental music, then I can assure you that it’s definitely not that. Think bigger. Much bigger. They take the best elements of great Manchester bands and serve up an album which is both exciting and contemporary. Watch out for W.H.Lung, you’ll be hearing a lot more about them as we go into 2020.
2. Meursault – ‘Crow Hill’
This album from Scottish band Meursault, their sixth, comes only a few years after vocalist & songwriter Neil Pennycook originally decided to throw in the towel on his musical vehicle. That he later changed his mind is good news for the rest of us – but more importantly, he’s gone on to deliver a career high. This ambitious piece of work oozes confidence and is positively dripping with emotion. Being a fan of Scottish bands such as Frightened Rabbit, Flutes & There Will Be Fireworks, this album helps to fill the (very large) void created by the sad deaths of the vocalists in the first two of those aforementioned bands. Title track ‘Crow Hill’ targets precisely the songwriting territory regularly frequented by Scott Hutchison, whilst ‘Nakhla Dog’ is simply inspired.
3. Rustin Man – ‘Drift Code’
Paul Webb is possibly better known as one third of Talk Talk’s most famous line-up, but he’s recorded two albums in his own right, albeit with an extended 17 year gap between them. The first of those albums was recorded with Beth Gibbons from Portishead – but his sophomore effort is a different beast altogether. To audition ‘Drift Code’ I would recommend turning back your clock some 60 years or so, as it feels distinctly out of place from most contemporary music. Four songs in, there’s a track called ‘Our Tomorrows’ which could easily be written about looking forward as a child – but as seen through the eyes of a person in their late 50s looking back and reminiscing, possibly with a tinge of sadness or regret. The eight tracks here are a sheer delight – and despite no obvious references to Talk Talk, this album stands as a beautiful reminder of how Webb can pen tunes which are both out of time and yet distinctly in tune with public sentiment.
4. RIDE – ‘This Is Not A Safe Place’
There were numerous possibilities for their sound which RIDE could have adopted following their return from a prolonged hibernation a few years’ back, but practically nobody was prepared for an album of the quality of ‘Weather Diaries’ to follow their initial tour. To follow that with arguably an even better album in 2019 was frankly not part of the plan. I’m used to seeing albums from recently reformed bands where there’s a fear that they may tarnish the quality of their earlier output, but seriously… RIDE have truly delivered the goods. Tracks such as ‘Repetition’, ‘Jump Jet’ and ‘Shadows Behind The Sun’ are right up there with the best of their back catalogue. Quite honestly, if RIDE were a ‘new’ band for 2019, the music press would be all over this album. And rightly so too.
5. Déjà Vega – ‘Déjà Vega’
This album is H U G E. It lays bare its aspirations right from the beginning and keeps applying the pressure throughout. Several years in the making, Déjà Vega have quietly released several singles on their own label throughout the past couple of years and have taken the leap to Manchester-based Sister 9 Recordings to release their debut album. They’ve built their name practically on word-of-mouth. Their gigs are exciting, gritty affairs and they’ve done a remarkable job of capturing this excitement across the album. Tracks such as ‘Mr. Powder’, ‘Vor Gazan’ and ‘Pentagrams’ are highlights – but seriously, this band is going places. If you like rhythmic riff-based alternative music with a real focus on melody, then Déjà Vega has it in abundance. They’re already close to completing the recording of their second album, so we’ll hopefully hear much more of them through next year.
6. Pumarosa – ‘Devastation’
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7. Fontaines D.C. – ‘Dogrel’
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8. Odd Nosdam – ‘Flippies Best Tape’
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9. Rafael Anton Irisarri – ‘Solastalgia’
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10. Gideon Wolf – ‘Replicas’
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