Ed’s Top Five Favourite Albums 2024
Nap Eyes - The Neon Gate
A new band for me this year, although this is their fifth album and they’re a decade into their career. Sounding like Lou Reed backed by a ‘90s slacker rock band with folk leanings, they create an interesting and beguiling sound. The highlight is ‘Demons’, a track which backs lyrics borrowed from an Alexander Pushkin poem with a simple, cyclical, guitar, bass, piano and drums arrangement to wonderful effect.
Real Estate - Daniel
Beautiful, jangly indie pop tunes tinged with a wistful melancholy. Recording the album in Nashville also brought a hint of country twang and pedal steel. One of Real Estate’s finest releases.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Flight b741
Given how far out they’ve got on some of their endless releases, exploring everything from thrash metal to techno, this was a relatively straightforward album for King Gizzard. Here, the groovy, country-tinged ‘70s rock of the likes of Little Feat, and glam rock appear to be the key influences. But that doesn’t make it any less accomplished, or any less a rewarding listen.
Goat - Goat
Goat’s latest release saw them add a smattering of new ingredients (including hip hop-style beats) to their already potent blend of psychedelia, afrobeat, heavy rock and folk. Possibly the best thing they’ve done since their stunning 2012 debut, ‘World Music’.
Electric Wizard - Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1
Stalking the end of the year like some sort of malevolent hooded figure, Electric Wizard returned in mid-December with their first new release since 2017. It’s a live session recorded straight to tape in a single take in their practice space during lockdown in spring 2020. The British doom legends treat us to something of a ‘best of’ setlist, bookended by two monstrous versions of tracks from their classic ‘Dopethrone’ album.
BONUS - Best find of 2024
Man - Welsh Connection
I really got into Man - a Welsh rock band from the '70s - in 2024. I'd seen their albums about before but had never taken the plunge. Very glad I finally did! The albums 'Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics' and this one, 'Welsh Connection', come highly recommended. Their live work from this era is epic, with them being the closest thing to a 'jam band' I've come across among British groups from then. If you like '60s and '70s rock and boogie, and specifically bands like Wishbone Ash, Be Bop Deluxe and Quicksilver Messenger Service, then this one's for you.
Jack’s Top Five Favourite Albums 2024
Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
A late comer to the year but one that stood out as a solid record that’ll be on the turntable for years to come, an absolute gem that’ll add grace to any collection. Kiwanuka’s stripped back approach to this record highlights the beauty of his soulful vocals and gives plenty of room for the rest of the band to shine through too. The bass work from Pino Palladino especially on “The Rest Of Me” makes me want to listen on repeat.
Khruangbin – A La Sala
I almost forgot about this release in all honesty, and although it’s nothing surprising to come from Khruangbin, it’s exactly what I wanted. Smooth, soulful and psychedelic. These guys fail to release anything I’m not interested in – glorious.
Faye Webster – Underdressed at the Symphony
Faye Webster was new to me with this album, and the delicate overlay of pop and indie and a something little bit different had me hooked. I played this on repeat after first listening and this one staying firm as one my favourites of the year.
Hermanos Gutierrez – Sonido Cosmico
This was a highly anticipated album at Sound Records this year. We’re big fans of Khruangbin (as you can see) and this falls slap bang in that category. We loved the Mexican influence on the psychedelic sound and we’ve had this album on heavy rotation all year.
Nicolas Michaux – Vitalisme
Another late one right at the end of the year. I fell in love with this album for its folk pop style and uplifting funky riffs as well as the constant change between English and French singing between songs. I’ll play this one to death.
BONUS - Best find of 2024
The Groovy Nobody – Solarium
What a brilliant album all round from a somewhat unknown to us. If you like Tame Impala and Skinshape, you’ll love this! The perfect balance of psychedelic and funk n soul, with a delicate sprinkle of chilled out downtempo, make this a wax cake worth gorging. We’ll be keeping a close eye out for a reissue of this flawless album.