More Vital Records from Last Year Now!

Stewart Gardiner highlights a baker’s dozen of 2020 records he missed then, but has fallen in love with now

2020 is the year that keeps on giving – mostly in the worst ways imaginable of course. But in terms of the music that was put out, it’s another story entirely. Curiously, there was no simple switch into 2021 mode for me after publishing our albums of the year feature in December and resetting the calendar didn’t seem to have much impact either. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of thrilling music coming through already this year (my review pile speaks volumes), but it’s just that 2020 hasn’t stopped coming for me either.

There were albums I missed, reissues I didn’t hear about, records that went out of stock, production delays that hit… any and all the reasons you can think of really. I therefore felt compelled to talk about those records I’ve since bought and fallen for, outside of the normal review cycle. This isn’t looking back, but rather continuing to move forward celebrating vital music made for these times, either in the present or unearthed from the vaults.

So here’s a 2020 baker’s dozen, in no particular order, that we missed then and you still need to hear now.

CS + Kreme – Snoopy (The Trilogy Tapes)

Experiencing Melbourne duo CS + Kreme’s Snoopy is not a surface endeavour, but is more akin to sinking slowly into another state. Less a soundtrack to your life, than a welling up of past lives from within, its unspoken codes are communicated through narcotic hymnals, unconscious incantations and magickal meditations. Warped basslines and downtempo beatscapes sometimes emerge, revealing serious grooves without ever detracting from the otherness of these fog-drenched excursions. Snoopy remains a thing of many-chambered wonders ripe for exploration.

Various Artists – Door to the Cosmos (On the Corner)

Imagine if Sun Ra was running a dance music label today and delivered a consciousness expanding set of sonic detonators for the outernational crowd. For On the Corner’s triple LP of “ancient-future music” is the most open-minded and thrillingly realised collection imaginable. A wild ride not to be missed.

Tara Clerkin Trio – Tara Clerkin Trio (Laura Lies In)

Tara Clerkin Trio join the Bristol musical dots from soundsystems to Movietone, while also leaning into the sort of forward-thinking jazz that wouldn’t be out of place on an Angel Bat Dawid record.

Various Artists – For the Love of You (Athens of the North)

Athens of the North’s LP of lovers rock covers is a labour of love that brings seriously positive vibes. Escape from boredom and despair is but a needle drop away.

Various Artists – Blue Note Re:imagined (Blue Note)

Fresh takes on classic catalogue cuts by some of the most interesting artists from the current UK scene. The first pressing disappeared too fast for me, but I was ready when the repress dropped in January. Dope enough to be filed next to Madlib’s Shades of Blue.

Beatrice Dillon – Workaround (PAN)

Workaround was an early 2020 Optimo album of the month at Monorail and I intended to look into it, but next thing I knew it was sold out all over. A friend then made it a highlight of his end of year recommendations to me and I finally got stuck into Dillon’s cut-up dub-bass workouts in time for the repress. Really glad I did, because these are essential electronic excursions from an artist with an inimitable voice.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland – Transmissions: The Music of Beverly Glenn-Copeland (Transgressive)

Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s multi-faceted and uncompromising artistic vision is beautifully represented across this wide-ranging primer from Transgressive Records. Whichever mode he is operating in, Glenn-Copeland’s music is bursting with possibility and is uniquely able to lift the spirits from the darkest depths. A lifeline during these interminable times then.

Alabaster dePlume – To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1 (International Anthem / Lost Map / Total Refreshment Centre)

While playing catch-up with International Anthem’s recent output in the second half of 2020, I managed to miss Alabaster dePlume’s LP for the label. Luckily I took pause and corrected my mistake. A beyond beautiful set of instrumental explorations that seem to hail from a hidden cinematic past.

Viola Renea – Syguiria Lady (Strangelove)

Cult Japanese post-punk outfit Viola Renea’s noir inspired 1983 debut LP reissued by New Zealand label Strangelove. Think rainy days across international skies.

Surgeons Girl – A Violet Sleep EP (Livity Sound)

Abstract dub-infused bass music that is an enveloping pleasure in the home environment and possibly an earth-shattering experience heard bleeding out of a serious speaker stack. I can still dream at least.

Star Feminine Band – Star Feminine Band (Born Bad)

Star Feminine Band are an all-girl outfit hailing from Benin in West Africa. These seven young women (aged between 10 and 17 years) combine various African musical styles with DIY outsider pop to create something utterly joyful and inspiring. The new riot grrrl is here and it’s younger, stylistically freer and more danceable than ever.

Doug Carn, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Jazz Is Dead 005 (Jazz Is Dead)

Deep grooves and dope beats come together in this future-past jazz goes hip-hop set. The names alone are enough to fire up imaginations and the results do not disappoint. Take standout joint “Processions” with its Doug Carn Hammond and falling-up-and-down-the-stairs hook – most definitely one for all the heads.

Various Artists – New Horizons: Young Stars of South African Jazz (Afrosynth)

This carefully curated compilation of contemporary South African jazz was a Gilles Peterson on the radio recommendation when highlighting the region’s scene and the excitement surrounding it. Old worlds and new collide, resulting in fresh vistas that feel as if they might’ve always been around.