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.

New Album: Woodsman - Mystic Places EP

Denver psychedelic rock band Woodsman just premiered ‘In Circles’ through the guys over at Goldest Egg; its taken from their upcoming EP ‘Mystic Places’ on Fire Talk Records (BIRTHDAYS, Dead Gaze, Tennis) on which they’ve taken a loud and abrasive approach to the ‘wall of sound’ psychedelia influence which they’ve always hinted at expanding upon.

Due October 25th on 12” Vinyl, the EP runs to six tracks in length, each of which base themselves around a particular note, chord, or ambience and layer and re-layer across 4 - 7 minutes. Multi-layering, delay-heavy vocals and a recurring bass are all commonplace, and a distinctive Eastern-guitar line with spindly lo-fi guitar tones tearing through the tangled meshes of ritualistic electronics are certainly the distinguishing feature. Download In Circles below, and pre-order the EP for just $12 (£7.26) over at the Fire Talk store.

Woodsman - In Circles (MP3)

The 11th This Music Wins radio show on Resonance FM this week deals with a predominantly electronic line-up, though with a few exceptions. Taragana Pyjarama’s song Ocean is the first of the subtle electronic builders, tracks from Fishing, Braids and Purity Ring later on adding a slightly more direct layering to this aesthetic. The Weeknd provide a dark and smoky soul track, with an added hint of dubstep which manages to colour rather than dehumanize what could turn out to be a future trend setter, particularly in the wake of James Blake and Jamie Woon success.

[LISTEN TO RESONANCE FM @ 6.30]

[DOWNLOAD MP3 OF SHOW]

1. Taragana Pyjarama - Ocean (MP3) 6.24

2. Fishing - White Sheet Beach (MP3)

3. Dead Gaze - Fishing With Robert (MP3)

4. The Weeknd - What You Need (MP3)

5. Braids - Lemonade (MP3)

6. Purity Ring - Loftcries (MP3)