This Music Wins Review Of The Year 2011 on Resonance FM

After writing an albums of the year list longer than probably all my posts across the entire year put together, putting together a 90 minute radio show for Resonance FM seemed like a breeze. So, here it is: 15 or so of my favourite songs of the year in Radio Show format. View the written list here.

DOWNLOAD: This Music Wins Review Of The Year 2011 (MP3)

To air New Years Day 10pm (GMT) on Resonance 104.4FM London, and again Saturday 7th January 10.30am.

1. Kuhrye-OO - Soul Handsome

2. Kurt Vile - Runner Ups

3. Mutual Benefit - Auburn Epitaphs

4. Swansea Recreation Centre - First Time European

5. Youth Lagoon - July

6. Woodsman - In Circles

7. Twin Sister - Kimmi In A Rice Field

8. Deptford Goth - Real Love Fantasy

9. Dead Gaze - Fishing With Robert

10. Evenings - Lo-Velo

11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union

12. Conifers - Legs And Arms

13. How To Dress Well - Here In Heaven (Elite Gymnastics Cover)

14. Ricky Eat Acid ft. Arrange - P.S.L.W

15. Dive - Sometime

16. Porcelain Raft - Amateur’s Feeling

17. Braids - Plath Heart

18. The War On Drugs - Come To The City

19. Fleet Foxes - The Shrine / An Argument

And with these musical highlights of 2011 in mind, we can put it behind us. I wish everyone a great 2012.

London / Brighton Live (Oct. 10 - Oct. 16)

Dirty Beaches + Ela Orleans @ Bush Hall, London (Monday)

A rare live date for brazened post-punk star Alexander Zhang Hungtai, but surely one of many more to come. I championed his track ‘Lone Runner’ back in August for its influence ‘squeezed from modern lo-fi, a smattering of 40s and 50s swing and pop…[and] bleak colourless imagery’. Support comes from Ela Orleans, purveyor of the other half of Dirty Beaches’ split 12” ‘Double Feature’.

Nadja + Petrels @ Cafe Oto, London (Wednesday)

Nadja are an experimental drone/noise metal act going strong since 2003. In support comes Petrels, a fascinating ritualistic choir act whose most recent album ‘Haeligewielle’, came out on Tartaruga Records in June.

Binnacle Festival 2011 @ The Old Blue Last, London (Sat + Sun)

A self-proclaimed ‘micro-festival’ at The Old Blue Last pub in Shoreditch, which might be practically very small-scale but is packed full back-to-back with new, electronic talent. For many of the artists playing, this will be their first show. Favourites on these pages who will be in attendance include Acid Glasses (making their UK debut), Seams (who just released his Binnacle 2011 mix) and Conifers. You can read the full line-up over at Safe Concerts. Not to be missed for any London-based fans of experimental electronics and blissful lo-fi dance music. Grab MP3s from international debut-makers Sun Glitters and MOTHS below. Tickets here.

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Monday

• Still Corners @ Cafe Oto, London (Tickets)
• Dirty Beaches + Ela Orleans @ Bush Hall, London (Tickets)
• Mother Mother, Younghusband, Birdy Hunt @ The Lexington, London (Tickets)
• Iron & Wine + Fujiya & Miyagi @ Shephard’s Bush Empire, London (Tickets)

Tuesday

• Spiritualized @ Royal Albert Hall, London (Tickets)
• Fanzine @ Madame Jojo’s, London (Tickets)
• Still Corners @ Rough Trade East, London (In-store)

Wednesday

• Cloud Control + Born Blonde @ Scala, London (Tickets)
• Nadja + Petrels + The Plurals @ Cafe Oto, London (Tickets)

Thursday

• Mazes + Milk Maid @ The Lexington, London (Tickets)

Friday

• Mazes + Fear Of Men @ The Hope, Brighton (Tickets)
• The Kills @ Concorde 2, Brighton (Tickets)

Saturday

• James Vincent McMorrow + The Staves @ St. Bartholemew’s Church, Brighton (Tickets)
• Binnacle 2011 Festival (Day 1) @ The Old Blue Last, London (Tickets)
• Joy Orbison + Julio Bashmore @ Digital, Brighton (Tickets)
• Drums Of Death, Solar Bears + More @ The Macbeth, London (Tickets)

Sunday

• Apparat @ The Haunt, Brighton (Tickets)
• Binnacle Festival 2011 (Day 2) @ The Old Blue Last, London (Tickets)

What have I missed? Contact me via @thismusicwins / the comment box below, or on peter@thismusicwins.com

Conifers - Legs And Arms

British IDM project ‘Conifers’ might have released only one song, but that’s all its taken for some clear Tunng/Black Moth Super Rainbow comparisons to come out on their gentle forays in to electronic folk music. ‘Legs And Arms’ is predominantly acoustic - but is characterised by a pitch shifting melody and chattering tribal percussion which, taken together, dance into the depths of nature-induced Eastern psychedelia. A debut album is rumoured to be in the works.

Conifers - Legs And Arms (MP3)