acquiredtastemusicblog

[acquiredtastemusicblog]

Acquired Taste’s Under-The-Radar Albums 2010-20

Sunset Rollercoaster - CASSA NOVA

Taiwanese indie with touches of boogie, jazz, disco, psych and soul. This is halcyonic listening, ecstatic at times but with darker shades on standout tracks “Slow/Oriental” and “Libidream”. Though lyrically whimsical and almost throwaway, the music is crafted to perfection, each note and beat placed with precision. The balance is struck perfectly over the course of the record, which feels neither lightweight nor overbearing but leans into summer feel-good and end-of-the-night reflection in equal measure.

La Femme - Psycho Tropical Berlin

French psych-post-punk incorporating synths and electronica. Hypnotic, joyful and menacing at turns, this feels like the soundtrack to an imaginary film and brilliantly showcases La Femme’s versatility as a band.

Nicholas Krgovic - The Hills

Canadian in LA pays homage to the city through this artful sophistipop concept album. Tinged with RnB, blue-eyed soul and jazz, Krgovic paints detailed vignettes to evoke a palette of moods and emotions. Avant-garde yet intimate, melancholic yet celebratory, this is a beautifully balanced collection of songs.

Devon Sproule - I Love You, Go Easy

Canadian in Virginia blending indie, folk, americana, jazz and pop with finesse. Devon Sproule writes pastoral songs with a straightforwardness and honesty that is compelling. She evokes the familiar, bringing domestic scenes into colour through dexterous songwriting. She is philosophical with a light touch, never didactic, and even when her lyrics are very direct her delivery is soft and nuanced. The rich musicality of this record unfolds with repeated listens: A subtle masterpiece.

CYMBALS - The Age Of Fracture

CYMBALS caught the zeitgeist for a time in the middle of the decade, finding the perfect balance between a danceable pop sound and the raw, expressive version of indie they had been known for. Thematically the album delves into the spectrum of millenial experience, investigating desire, loneliness and disorientation with acute awareness.

Kiki Hitomi - Karma No Kusari

Japanese singer in Berlin combining vintage Japanese pop with dub and cosmic psychedelic soundscapes. Eerie, otherworldly and wonderful, this record is immediately transportive, taking you on a dark and thrilling ride. Playful at times, unsettling at others, gripping throughout.

Lambchop - FLOTUS

Muncle - Minute Metal Vol. 1: AI Think Therefore AI Am

Knower - Life

Blank Banshee -  Blank Banshee 1

Grup Ses - Alliance

Saul Williams - Martyrloserking

Sinkane - Life And Livin’ It

Sing Leaf - Shu Ra

Von Spar - Under Pressure

[acquiredtastemusicblog]

Let’s get started with this playlist, celebrating the past decade of music through some era-defining tracks. We’ve seen a greater fusion of electronic and acoustic instrumentation, and increasingly playful and disruptive production techniques. Lyrically there is a focus on identity, both personal and corporate, balanced with themes of escapism. We fell back in love with 70s synths and recording techniques, but everything points to the future. Happy listening!

(https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4j6XGho0YoZJPqn1OBkjX5?si=ftabwQxORcmRXQu1UddyLg)