look.ship Presents: Our Albums of the Year, 2019
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There is nothing scientific about this list. There were no ballots, nor any attempts at consensus building, nor any regard for critical consensus at all. As a result, this thing is frequently mercurial and out of step with other lists I’ve seen so far this year. It breaks its own rules more than once. It by no means claims to be definitive. It would be hard to explain why certain albums ended up where they did, except to say that they felt like they should be there. In the end, some of the tricker album rankings were decided by how well tracks might blend together when it comes time to convert this thing into a series of mixes. Oh, yeah, I’ve also added ten slots this year for LPs: we’re up to 90. It was a good year for records.
It’d be understandable if you were to read the above and conclude that I didn’t take this process seriously, that this thing is a goof for me, but that’d be wrong. I’d say my utter rejection of so many list-making conventions is evidence of how seriously I take this endeavor year after year. Often, these lists feel perfunctory and transactional. I think they should feel personal and passionate. The goal, for me anyway, is sharing. Maybe shining a light on great work that could otherwise be overlooked. These are records that I love. The hope is that you can poke through this feature at your leisure and discover something that you love, too, something that might temporarily soothe or productively engage that roiling stew of anger, existential dread, and anxiety that seems to exist in all of us these days.
I was lucky to be given the opportunity to write about some of these albums and artists for The Quietus – and edit essays about others elsewhere – but I wish I could have written at length about them all. I wish I could have written about Hiro Kone’s profound examination of absence, about Stephen Warwick’s droll mezzanine, about PAT’s touching realization of a late mother’s pop ambitions, about Giant Swan’s openhearted cacophony, Kedr Livanskiy’s compact club anthems, Business Of Dreams’s bittersweet power-pop perfection, The Hecks’ deep dive into treble, The Leaf Library’s wonderful rejection of concision, TWINS’s ever-evolving mastery of synthpop, Gong Gong Gong’s drumless but percussive garage rock, Sly & The Family Drone’s clangorous noise-jazz, Dale Cornish’s always lucid dissections of beats in space, Zonal’s filthy dirt-encrusted riddims, M. Sage’s warm abstractions of an ever-evolving Chicago, whatever alchemy Underworld undertook to make the DRIFT box such a rousing success – you get the picture.
But most of all I wish I could have written about Larry Gus and Jay Glass Dubs.
2019 was a banner year for Jay Glass Dubs. It started with the release of Epitaph – a singular vision of gothic dub ��– and ended with Nyx – our EP of the year, signaling a new beginning for our hero, an unassailable vision of hallucinatory devotional music, evocative of a past future scried by ancient mystics.
And then there was the triumphant return of Larry Gus after years in the wilderness, our album of the year, Subservient, clutched firmly in his hand, its outré, idiosyncratic mélange of fourth-world pop and future-folk impossible to ignore. Or remove from the turntable. That Subservient contains no samples, marking Gus’s turn away from a more-or-less sample-based approach, makes its success all the more remarkable. DFA deserves props for sticking by Gus all these years. He’s one of those oddball artists that never quite gets his proper due, especially in the States. Despite an essentially unimpeachable discography, critics here have yet to properly glom onto his work, remaining sadly oblivious to its unique charms. I want to say that will change with this recently released, delightfully bizarre set of sun-blasted jams, but it’s December now, and I’m somehow doubtful we’ll see a proper course correction. But who cares what other critics think, really? Trust me. Don’t skip this one. When Larry's critical reappraisal rolls around, you can be like, “Yeah, no duh.”
Some housekeeping: Not much has changed this year. As mentioned previously, I’ve added ten spots to the “Albums of the Year” list, which now clocks in at an even 90 LPs, the top 25 of which are ranked. The remaining albums are presented in alphabetical order, because I can’t be bothered to rank 90 records, and what does that even mean, anyway? What’s the difference between albums number 89 and 90? Does anyone know? I certainly don’t. Every single one of these releases absolutely rules. Practically speaking, there is no perceptible shift in quality from one to another, and most of this is “apples and oranges” stuff, anyhow.
Following the LPs, you’ll find one (1) list of this year’s top 20 EPs and one (1) list of our 10 favorite bits of miscellany (mixtapes, comps, reissues, live recordings, etc.). If I’ve written at length about a record on the list, its entry will include a link to that review. In the few circumstances that an artist released two or more killer, thematically and / or sonically similar records this year, I’ve included both in a single entry. Is that cheating? Yes. Do I care? No.
Alright, without further ado, here we go.
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Our Albums of the Year, 2019: Top 25
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1. Larry Gus – Subservient (DFA)
Subservient by Larry Gus
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2. Jay Glass Dubs – Epitaph (Bokeh Versions)
Epitaph by Jay Glass Dubs
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3. Soft Walls – Not As Bad As It Seems (Self-released)
Not as Bad as It Seems by Soft Walls
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4. Hiro Kone – A Fossil Begins to Bray (Dais)
A Fossil Begins To Bray by Hiro Kone
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5. Giant Swan – Giant Swan (KECK)
Giant Swan by Giant Swan
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6. Equiknoxx – Eternal Children (Equiknoxx Music)
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7. Kedr Livanskiy – Your Need (2MR)
Your Need by Kedr Livanskiy
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8. Steven Warwick – MOI (PAN)
MOI by Steven Warwick
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9. Business Of Dreams – Ripe for Anarchy (Slumberland)
Ripe For Anarchy by Business Of Dreams
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10. The Hecks – My Star (Trouble In Mind)
My Star by The Hecks
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11. The Leaf Library – The World Is a Bell (Where It’s At Is Where You Are)
The World Is A Bell by The Leaf Library
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12. Jenny Hval – The Practice of Love (Sacred Bones)
The Practice of Love by Jenny Hval
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13. PAT – Love Will Find a Way Home (Pioneer Works Press)
Love Will Find A Way Home by PAT
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14. TWINS – New Cold Dream (2MR)
New Cold Dream by TWINS
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15. Gross Net – Gross Net Means Gross Net (Felte)
Gross Net Means Gross Net by Gross Net
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16. Gong Gong Gong – Phantom Rhythm (Wharf Cat)
Phantom Rhythm 幽靈節奏 (幽霊リズム) by Gong Gong Gong 工工工
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17. Brother May – Aura Type Orange (Self-released)
Aura Type Orange by Brother May
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18. MC Yallah x Debmaster – Kubali (Hakuna Kulala)
Kubali by MC YALLAH X DEBMASTER
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19. Kinlaw & Franco Franco – Mezzi Umani Mezze Macchine (Avon Terror Corps)
Mezzi Umani Mezze Macchine by Kinlaw & Franco Franco
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20. Zonal – Wrecked (Relapse)
Wrecked by Zonal
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21. Sly & The Family Drone – Gentle Persuaders (Love Love)
Gentle Persuaders by Sly & The Family Drone
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22. Teeth Of The Sea – Wraith (Rocket recordings)
WRAITH by Teeth Of The Sea
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23. Dale Cornish – Enhex (Entr’acte)
Enhex by Dale Cornish
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24. Kemper Norton – brunton calciner (Self-released)
brunton calciner by Kemper Norton
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25. M. Sage – Catch a Blessing (Geographic North)
Catch a Blessing by M. Sage
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Our Albums of the Year, 2019: 26 - 90
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Andy Stott – It Should Be Us (Modern Love)
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Anthony Naples – Fog FM (ANS)
Fog FM by Anthony Naples
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Aseethe – Throes (Thrill Jockey)
Throes by Aseethe
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Bamboo – Daughters of the Sky (Upset The Rhythm)
Daughters Of The Sky by Bamboo
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Basic Rhythm – On the Threshold (Planet Mu)
On The Threshold by Basic Rhythm
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Black To Comm – Seven Horses for Seven Kings / Before After (Thrill Jockey)
Seven Horses For Seven Kings by BLACK TO COMM
Before After by BLACK TO COMM
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Blanck Mass – Animated Violence Mild (Sacred Bones)
Animated Violence Mild by Blanck Mass
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Boreal Massif – We All Have an Impact (Pessimist Productions)
PESS003 - Boreal Massif - We All Have An Impact LP by Boreal Massif
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Carla dal Forno – Look Up Sharp (Kallista)
Look Up Sharp by Carla dal Forno
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Carmen Villain – Both Lines Will Be Blue (Smalltown Supersound)
Both Lines Will Be Blue by Carmen Villain
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Cate Le Bon – Reward (Mexican Summer)
Reward by Cate Le Bon
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Clara! y Maoupa – Luna Nueva (Editions Gravats)
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Clinic – Wheeltappers and Shunters (Domino)
Wheeltappers and Shunters by Clinic
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Dalham – Heat Death (Castles In Space)
Heat Death by DALHAM
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Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (4AD)
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DIÄT – Positive Disintegration (Iron Lung / Blackest Ever Black)
Positive Disintegration by Diät
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Drahla – Useless Coordinates (Captured Tracks)
Useless Coordinates by Drahla
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Emptyset – Blossoms (Thrill Jockey)
Blossoms by Emptyset
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Félicia Atkinson - The Flower & the Vessel (Shelter Press)
The Flower And The Vessel by Félicia Atkinson
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Forest Swords – The Machine Air (Dense Truth)
The Machine Air (Original Film Soundtrack) by Forest Swords
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Fujiya & Miyagi – Flashback (Impossible Objects Of Desire)
FLASHBACK by Fujiya & Miyagi
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Georgia – One Mind (Youth)
Georgia - One Mind - YOCD5 by YOUTH
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Girl band – The Talkies (Rough Trade)
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Grey Hairs – Health & Social Care (Gringo)
Health & Social Care by Grey Hairs
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Gum Takes Tooth – Arrow (Rocket Recordings)
Arrow by Gum Takes Tooth
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Harrga – Héroïques Animaux de la Misère (Avon Terror Corps)
Héroïques Animaux de la Misère by Harrga
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Heavy Bleeding – Heavy Bleeding (Pickled Discs)
Heavy Bleeding by Heavy Bleeding
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Hey Colossus – Four Bibles (ALTER)
Four Bibles by Hey Colossus
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HTRK – Venus in Leo (Ghostly Intl.)
Venus in Leo by HTRK
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I Jahbar & Friends – Inna Duppy SKRS Soundclash (Bokeh Versions)
Inna Duppy SKRS Soundclash by I Jahbar & Friends
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The iDEALIST – Say Yes to No (iDEAL Recordings)
Say Yes To No by The Idealist
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Institute – Readjusting the Locks (Sacred Bones)
Readjusting the Locks by Institute
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Jon Brooks – Emotional Freedom Techniques (Café Kaput)
Emotional Freedom Techniques by Jon Brooks
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Kevin Morby – Oh My God (Secretly Canadian)
Oh My God by Kevin Morby
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Kim Gordon – No Home Record (Matador)
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Lafawndah – Ancestor Boy (Concordia)
Ancestor Boy by Lafawndah
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Laurence Pike – Holy Spring (The Leaf Label)
Holy Spring by Laurence Pike
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Lifted – 2 (PAN)
2 by Lifted
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Lightning Bolt – Sonic Citadel (Thrill Jockey)
Sonic Citadel by Lightning Bolt
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LINGUA IGNOTA – CALIGULA (Profound Lore)
CALIGULA by LINGUA IGNOTA
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Loraine James – For You and I (Hyperdub)
For You and I by Loraine James
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MADTEO – Dropped Out Sunshine (DDS)
DROPPED OUT SUNSHINE LP by MADTEO
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Matmos – Plastic Anniversary (Thrill Jockey)
Plastic Anniversary by Matmos
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Mike Donovan – Exurbian Quonset (Drag City)
Exurbian Quonset by Mike Donovan
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Modern Nature – How to Live (Bella Union)
How To Live by Modern Nature
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MSYLMA – Dhil-un Taht Shajarat Al-Zaqum (Halcyon Veil)
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MY DISCO – Environment (Downwards)
Environment by MY DISCO
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Nazamba – Nazamba (Dubquake)
NAZAMBA (Produced by O.B.F) by Nazamba
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Not Glass - Forma (Ecstatic)
Forma / Ήθος by Not Glass (Not Waving + Jay Glass Dubs)
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Oozing Wound – High Anxiety (Thrill Jockey)
High Anxiety by Oozing Wound
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Patience – Dizzy Spells (Night School / Winona)
Dizzy Spells by Patience
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The Pheromoans – County Lines (ALTER)
County Lines by The Pheromoans
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Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains (Drag City)
Purple Mountains by Purple Mountains
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Pye Corner Audio – Hollow Earth (Ghost Box)
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Rainer Veil – Vanity (Modern Love)
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Rian Treanor – ATAXIA (Planet Mu)
ATAXIA by Rian Treanor
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Salac – Sacred Movements (Avon Terror Corps)
Sacred Movements by Salac
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Sea Urchin – Tahtib (Bokeh Versions)
Tahtib by Sea Urchin
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Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury (The Leaf Label)
Stunning Luxury by Snapped Ankles
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Tempers – Private Life (Dais)
Private Life by TEMPERS
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Tim Presley’s White Fence – I Have to Feed Larry’s Hawk (Drag City)
I Have to Feed Larry's Hawk by Tim Presley's White Fence
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Trash Kit – Horizon (Upset The Rhythm)
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Uniform and The Body – Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back (Sacred Bones)
Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back by Uniform & The Body
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The Utopia Strong – The Utopia Strong (Rocket Recordings)
The Utopia Strong by The Utopia Strong
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Western Edges – Prowess (Sounds In Silence)
Prowess by Western Edges
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Our Top 20 EPs, 12”s, etc., 2019
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1. Jay Glass Dubs – Nyx (Berceuse Heroique)
BH 061 Jay Glass Dubs - Nyx EP by Berceuse Heroique
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2. Yoshinori Hayashi – γ (Smalltown Supersound)
γ by Yoshinori Hayashi
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3. Country Florist – “OUTLASTR” (Drawing Room)
"OUTLASTR" by Country Florist
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4. Moon Diagrams – Trappy Bats (Geographic North)
Trappy Bats by Moon Diagrams
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5. HYPERSTITION DUO – VIROTECHNICS (POLYPHONIC ASSEMBLAGE)
VIROTECHNICS by HYPERSTITION DUO
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6. Holodrum – “No Dither” / “Low Light” (Self-released singles)
No Dither by Holodrum
Low Light by Holodrum
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7. Primitive Knot – Unholy Grails (Self-released) / Puritan (Deathbed Tapes)
Unholy Grails by Primitive Knot
PURITAN by Primitive Knot
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8. Miss Red – The Four Bodies (Pressure)
The Four Bodies by Miss Red
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9. Virginia Wing – Pale Burnt Lake (Fire)
Pale Burnt Lake by Virginia Wing
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10. Sandy – Traces (Geographic North)
Traces by Sandy
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11. Earth Girl Helen Brown – Uranus (Empty Cellar)
URANUS by Earth Girl Helen Brown
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12. Low Jack – Jingles du Lieu-dit (Editions Gravats)
Jingles du Lieu-dit by Low Jack
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13. Jay Glass Dubs – Thumb Dub (Dub On Arrival)
Thumb Dub/Index Dub by JAY GLASS DUBS
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14. Kinlaw – Drax (Haunter)
Drax by Kinlaw
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15. JK Flesh – In Your Pit (Pressure)
'In Your Pit E.P.' by JK FLESH
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16. Hontos – Subway Series vol. 2 (Bank Records NYC)
Subway Series Vol.2 by Hontos
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17. Perc – Three Tracks to Send to Your Ghost Producer (Perc Trax)
Three Tracks To Send To Your Ghost Producer by Perc
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18. Enrique – Self Loathing (Bank Records NYC)
Self Loathing by Enrique
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19. AyGeeTee – Answers for Past Meetings (Honest Electronics)
Answers for Past Meetings (HE14) by AyGeeTee
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20. James Place – Still Waves to a Whisper / Vanishing (Umor Rex)
Still Waves To A Whisper by James Place
Vanishing by James Place
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Our Top 10 Mixtapes, Comps, Reissues,
and Live Recordings of 2019
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1. Underworld – DRIFT Series 1 Boxset (Smith Hyde Productions)
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2. British Murder Boys – Fire in the Still Air (Downwards)
Fire In The Still Air by British Murder Boys
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3. Rabit – The Dope Show / Kold Summer / Star Belly (Halcyon Veil)
THE DOPE SHOW by Rabit
KOLD SUMMER by Rabit
STAR BELLY by Rabit
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4. Gaika – Heaters 4 the 2 Seaters (Warp)
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5. Burial – Tunes 2011 to 2019 (Hyperdub)
Tunes 2011 to 2019 by Burial
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6. Low Jack – Breizh (Hospital Productions)
Breizh by Low Jack
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7. Various Artists – No Sleep Til Avon (Avon Terror Corps)
No Sleep 'Til Avon by Avon Terror Corps
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8. Master Your Horn Noise – Live at Rave (Dishonest Electronics)
LIVE AT RAVE (DIS03) by Master Your Horn Noise
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9. The Juan Maclean – The Brighter the Light (DFA)
The Brighter The Light by The Juan Maclean
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10. Mark Peters – New Routes out of Innerland (Sonic Cathedral)
New Routes out of Innerland by Mark Peters
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Bernie Brooks is the editor-in-chief and bloggist of look.ship. *Everything* he writes or compiles or otherwise makes–or has *ever* written, compiled, or otherwise made–for A Ship In The Woods is editorial content, and as such reflects his opinion alone, not necessarily that of Ship as an organization. Actually, this applies to all the content on look.shipinthewoods.com, regardless of who wrote or said it. He can be e-mailed: bernie [at] shipinthewoods [dot] com
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Image by Bernie Brooks.
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