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2021

Carnacki Best-of 2021 lists

January 19, 2022 by hyperadmin

25 Favourite Physical Releases in alphabetical order

  • Leila Abdul-Rauf – Phantasiai (Cyclic Law)
  • Liz Allbee – Rille (Relative Pitch)
  • Marisa Anderson & William Tyler – Lost Futures (Thrill Jockey)
  • Angel Archer – LightRay Variations (S/R)
  • Anoice – The Hidden Forest (Ricco)
  • The Body and Big|Brave – Leaving None But Small Birds (Thrill Jockey)
  • Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage (Goliath)
  • Chloe Foy – Where Shall We Begin (S/R)
  • Circuit Des Yeux – -io (Matador)
  • Clara Engel – Dressed in Borrowed Light (S/R)
  • Val Esway + Global Spider Community – No One Ever Said This Would Be Pretty (S/R)
  • R.K. Faulhaber – Dugong Weeps (Helen Scarsdale)
  • Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G_d’s Pee At State’s End! (Constellation)
  • Adrian Lane – Slow Autumn at my Window (Preserved Sound)
  • Cheryl E. Leonard – Schism (mappa)
  • Lime Rickey – F U T U R E F A I T H (S/R)
  • Low – Hey What (Sub Pop)
  • Jessica Moss – Phosphenes (Constellation)
  • Marissa Nadler – The Path of the Clouds (Sacred Bones)
  • Sarah Neufeld – Detritus (Paper Bag)
  • Nurse With Wound – Opium Cabaret (ICR)
  • Dax Pierson – Nerve Bumps (A Queer Divine Dissatisfaction) (Ratskin)
  • Rudimentary Peni – Great War (Sealed Records)
  • Tele Novella – Mervyn Belle (Kill Rock Stars)
  • Yat-Kha – We Will Never Die (The Lollipop Shoppe)

25 Favourite Digital/Ephemeral Releases in alphabetical order

  • Kate Carr – Making Do #1, #2 (S/R)
Damon and Naomi – A Sky Record (20|20|20)
  • Dark Leaves – Laid Under Leaf, Under Branches (S/R)
  • Thomas Dimuzio – Sculpting Electric: In the Ice Phase (Gench)
Alexander Hacke, Danielle De Picciotto, Mick O’Shea – Tricephalus (Ground0)
  • Ionophore – Knells (S/R)
Irr. app. (ext.) – Legends of Frogtown digital single series (S/R)
  • Julia Kent – Stories From The Sea Original Soundtrack (S/R)
  • Carla Kihlstedt and Rafael Osés – Necessary Monsters (S/R)
  • Andrews Liles – 1221 (S/R)
  • My Heart, An inverted Flame – A Collection Of Essays… series (S/R)
  • Kemper Norton – Troillia (S/R)
  • The Owl Service – (Love Is Like A) Railway Station (Hobby Horse)
  • Poisoning Wave – As Fog In Sunlight (S/R)
Potter / Coleclough / Hill – Rituals of Breath and Bone (ICR)
  • Prueba de Aislamiento – Response No. 3 (S/R)
  • Rabbit Rabbit – Rabbit Rabbit Radio Volume 4: The Animal I Am (S/R)
  • The Redwood Flowers – The Redwood Flowers (S/R)
  • Diana Rogerson – Blue Bottle in a Jam Jar (S/R)
  • Geneva Skeen – Universal Building Supply (Superpang)
  • Southeast of Rain – 42 Days (S/R)
  • Stephen Vitiello – Soundtracks for Lynne Sachs (Room40)
  • Various – Make Noise Myanmar (S/R)
  • Various – Lost In Catland: A Cat Compendium (S/R)
  • Various – All Creatures (Polar Seas)

The Almighty Kaballa-Bonga Top Ten of 2021

January 17, 2022 by hyperadmin

  • William Basinski – Watermusic
  • Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow of Fear
  • The Clash – Sandinista!
  • Miles Davis – “He Loved Him Madly”
  • Lana del Rey – Chemtrails Over the Country Club
  • John Hassell RIP
  • Sylvere Lotringer RIP
  • Jim O’Rourke – Sleep Like It’s Winter
  • Taylor Swift – Evermore
  • Tex and the Horseheads – “Oh Mother”

Squyd – Best of 2021

January 17, 2022 by hyperadmin

Best Albums of 2021:

  • Driftmachine – Spume & Recollection (Umor Rex)
  • Craven Faults – Enclosures (Nov. 2020 – Leaf)
  • Renaldo & the Loaf – Hardly Gurning While the World is Turning (Klanggalerie)
  • Terror/Cactus & Guazú – Botanas: Guazú & Terror Cactus EP (Shika Shika)
  • Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – We’re OK. But We’re Lost Anyway (Les Disques Bongo Joe)
  • LNS & DJ Sotofett – Sputters (Tresor)
  • Blectum From Blechdom – DeepBone (Deathbomb Arc)
  • Anna von Hausswolff – All Thoughts Fly (Sept 2020 – Southern Lord)
  • Jessica Moss – Phosphenes (Constellation)

Notable Mention 2021:

  • Damiana – Vines (Hausu Mountain)
  • D’Eon – Rhododendron (Hausu Mountain)
  • Meridian Brothers, Conjunto Media Luna – Paz En La Tierra (Les Disques Bongo Joe)
  • Fresnel Lens – EP#2 (Fresnel Lens)
  • Smoke Bellow – Open For Business (Trouble In Mind)
  • Zombi – Liquid Crystal EP (Relapse)
  • El Búho – Cumbias Imaquinarias EP (Earthly Measures)
  • Unknown Me – Bishintai (Not Not Fun)
  • Sarah Neufeld – Detritus (Paper Bag)
  • Low – Hey What (Sub Pop)
  • Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime (Matador)
  • Suryummy – Polynators (Constellation Tatsu)

Sparkle Motion’s Faves of 2021

January 17, 2022 by hyperadmin

SPARKLE MOTION’S FAVE ALBUMS OF 2021 in no particular order

MUSIC WITHOUT WORDS (mostly)

  • Vijay Iyer Trio [with Linda May Han Oh & Tyshawn Sorey] – Uneasy (ECM)     
  • Dr. Lonnie Smith [ft. Iggy Pop] – Breathe (Blue Note)
  • Tyshawn Sorey & King Britt – Tyshawn & King (The Buddy System)
  • Chuck Johnson – The Cinder Grove (Vin du Select Qualitite)
  • Molly Herron [with Science Ficta] – Through Lines (New Amsterdam)
  • Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises (Luaka Bop)
  • Toumani Diabate & London Symphony Orchestra – Korolen EP (World Circuit)
  • Nik Bartsch – Entendre (ECM)
  • Peter Manning Robinson – Double Helix (Heart Dance)
  • Benoit Delbecq – The Weight of Light (Pyroclastic)
  • Hannah Peel – Fir Wave (My Own Pleasure)
  • Tomaga – Intimate Immensity (Hands in the Dark)
  • Lea Bertucci – A Visible Length of Light (S/R)
  • Buke and Gase and So Percussion – A Record Of (Brassland)
  • Chris Liebing – Another Day (Mute)
  • John Dwyer and Bent Arcana – Moon Drenched (Castle Face)

MUSIC WITH WORDS

  • Nathan Salsburg – Psalms (No Quarter)
  • The Weather Station – Ignorance (Fat Possum)
  • Rosalie – No Medium (Spinster)
  • Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over the Country Club (Interscope)
  • Cassandra Jenkins – An Overview on Phenomenal Nature (Ba Da Bing)
  • Yasmin Williams – Urban Driftwood (Spinster)
  • Rhiannon Giddens – They’re Calling Me Home (Nonesuch)
  • Le Ren – Leftovers (Secretly Canadian)
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams (Transgressive)
  • Lady Blackbird – Black Acid Soul (Foundation Music)
  • L’Rain – Fatigue (Mexican Summer)
  • Arooj Aftab – Vulture Prince (Verve)
  • Sault – Nine (Forever Living Originals)
  • Tirzah – Colourgrade (Domino)
  • Lost Girls [Jenny Hval & Havard Volden] – Menneskekollektivet (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Low – Hey What (Sub Pop)                                                         
  • Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg (4AD)
  • Shame – Drunk Tank Pink (Dead Oceans)
  • Mega Bog – Life, And Another (Paradise of Bachelors)
  • Squid – Bright Green Field (Warp)
  • Colleen – The Tunnel and The Clearing (Thrill Jockey)
  • Jane Weaver – Flock (Fire Records)
  • Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds – Swing From the Sean DeLear EP (In The Red)
  • Vanishing Twin – Ookii Gekkou (Fire Records)
  • Parquet Courts – Sympathy for Life (Rough Trade)
  • Suuns – The Witness (Joyful Noise)
  • Field Music – Flat White Moon (Memphis Industries)
  • Goat Girl – On All Fours (Rough Trade)
  • Viagra Boys – Welfare Jazz (YEAR0001)
  • RE -ISSUES/COMPS
  • Karen Black – Dreaming of You 1971-1976 (Anthology Recordings)
  • Akiko Yano – Ai Ga Nakucha Ne (WeWantSounds)
  • Lee Morgan – The Complete Live at the Lighthouse (Blue Note)
  • Jennifer Castle – Castlemusic 2011(Flemish Eye)
  • Leslie Winer – When I Hit You – You’ll Feel It (Light in the Attic)
  • ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny – Out of the Blue 40th Anniversary Remaster (Unseen Worlds)
  • Van Der Graaf Generator – The Charisma Years 1970-1978 (Charisma)
  • Willie Dunn – Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology (Light in the Attic)
  • Seefeel – Rupt and Flex (1994-96) and St/Fr/Sp Eps (Warp)
  • Various Artists – Eins Und Swei Und Drei Und Drei Und Vier: Deutsche Experimentelle Pop-Musick 1980-86 (Bureau B)

Renée Black Best of 2021

January 17, 2022 by hyperadmin

Renée Black’s Favorite New Releases of 2021

Not in Order

  • The Chisel – Retaliation (La Vida Es Un Mus)
  • La Femme – Paradigmes (Disque Pointu)
  • Oi Boys – S/T (La Vida Es Un Mus)
  • Collision – Sur Les Trottoirs (Un Vie Pour Rien)
  • The Skinflicks – “Won’t Bend the Knee” (Trisol)
  • Mess – Intercity (Mendeku Diskak)
  • The Gluts – Ungrateful Heart (Fuzz Club)
  • Viagra Boys – Welfare Jazz (Year001)
  • Amyl & The Sniffers – Comfort to Me (ATO)
  • Chubby & the Gang – The Mutt’s Nut (Partisan)
  • Rata Negra – “Desconfía de ese chico” (La Vida Es Un Mus)
  • Sweeping Promises – “Pain Without a Touch” (Feel It, Sub Pop)
  • Various Compilation – Staring At The Rude Boys (Pressure Drop)

qb(x) Best of 2021

January 17, 2022 by hyperadmin

qb(x)’s Favorite Albums of 2021

(unordered)

  • The Body & BIG|BRAVE – Leaving None But Small Birds (Thrill Jockey)
  • Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises (Luaka Bop)
  • Mary Lattimore –  Collected Pieces: 2015-2020 (Ghostly International)
  • Damon Locks – Black Monument Ensemble – Now (International Anthem)
  • Lingua Ignota – Sinner Get Ready (Sargent House)
  • MMMD & Alem –  L’âge de l’absolutisme (Antifrost)
  • Meitei – Kofū II (KITCHEN. LABEL)
  • Mong Tong – Music from Taiwan Mystery (WV Sorcerer Productions)
  • TEKE::TEKE – Shirushi (Kill Rock Stars)
  • Xochimoki –  Temple Of The New Sun (Phantom Limb)
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Copyright 2025 UC Regents. All rights reserved

  • On the Air
    ▼
    • Schedule
    • Coming Attractions
    • Playlist
    • Top 100 Albums of the Month
    • Top 35 Albums of the Week
    • Informational Programs
    • KALX Live
    • Sports
    • Speciality Music Programs
    • Yearly Best of Lists
  • Events
    ▼
    • Weekly Entertainment Calendar
    • KALXtra
      ▼
      • Announcements
      • Reviews
      • Out and About
      • Podcasts
      • News
      • Sports
  • Our DJs
  • About
    ▼
    • Contact
    • FAQs
    • Volunteering at KALX
    • Philosophy
    • The Full and Unabridged History of KALX
    • 60 Years of KALX Radio
  • Media
    ▼
    • Live Streaming
    • Recently Aired Programming
    • KALX YouTube
    • Gallery
Donate