Artist Picks #1: Beach House's albums of 2010
Having topped our writers' albums of the year list last week, it's only right that Beach House should kick off a week where we hand the end-of-year reigns over to the artists who made some of our favourite music of 2010 and ask them for theirs. Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand kindly sent us five albums a piece that no doubt featured heavily on the tour bus stereo during the Baltimore duo's all-conquering year.
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There is not a single moment on this album that isn't completely intentional, but there is also not a single moment that isn’t completely inspired. This rarely happens.
This album feels so epic and expansive. It covers so much ground.
No Vocals, just epic beats and walls of emotional synth-explosions with great melodies.
This album has many wonderful rhythmic explorations and it’s easy to get lost in a feeling.
These guys are 18 years old and have written genuinely great pop songs all about being 18. It’s great!
This is Wong's second release of 2010, but his debut on Thrill Jockey. This is an incredibly thoughtful, brilliantly executed, LOVE guitar ride. And there's also a DVD as well as golden tickets that can be redeemed for a private Skype performance from Dustin himself! Wong is the perfect blend of science and nature: he understands the care needed for construction; but also the propulsion of concept and how it can become wild and free. I waited with great anticipation for the release of this album and it is really beautiful.
This marks the second solo release of prolific Baltimore artist J. Gerrit Welmers. If you've a visual kind of mind; Welmers' tunes will nourish and feed you. This is the kind of electronic music that inspires me. You'll be running through neon rain clubs of Japan in no time.
I first learned of James Pants from the ‘Chart Toppers’ joint he did with Dam Funk. He makes amazing grooves. This 12” is a good example of how Pants keeps things alive - he's so versatile. '1988' and ‘Diamond Head’ are two of my favorite tracks of the year.
The album is an obsession of mine. It shouldn't be a secret. Everything about it is hypnotic. There is welcoming darkness here, casting peaceful spells that warm up your mind and help you see ways in, out and beyond.
Out comes light from the dark alleys. A car rolls by, smoke in the rain. Two women in the front, one with tears in her eyes. A night over, a night begun. Elegant and moving, this album is simply beautiful.
Other artist's top tens
All these lists were compiled into one Artist's top ten albums of the decade poll. But here are all the individual lists that went into it...
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