Getintothis guestlist selections Part Three – Liverpool bands on 2015

From established greats to the future of Merseyside music, an array of Liverpool’s best and brightest bands pick out their personal peaks of the year, and give us their tips for what lies ahead.

Another year and another massive torrent of talent; it’s been difficult to keep up.  As Christmas looms once again, ’tis the time for many a list, but none so vital as this.  Getintothis has been flexing the address book and getting in touch with the great and the good of Liverpool’s music scene, asking for their favourite albums, tracks, gigs, their event of 2015 and their tip for next year.

As all of these artists have been enjoyed and praised by your team Getintothis. You know that their tastes and tips are going to count, so use their suggestions as a guide to spend your Christmas money and catch up on those gems that you may have missed.

But enough from us, this is about our festive guests. So crack open an egg nog and dig out the mince pies and join us for the third and final part of our 2015 guestlist selections.

Låpsley

Albums of the year:

1. Kurt Vile: B’lieve I’m Going Down
2. Benjamin Clementine: At Least For Now
3. Jamie xx: In Colour
4. Jamie Woon: Making Time
5. Justin Bieber: Purpose

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Litany: Work This Out
2. Kurt Vile: Pretty Pimpin
3. Kiiara: Gold

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Jack Garret at Other Voices, Ireland
2. Hot Chip at Lowlands Festival, Holland
3. Perfume Genius at Wilderness Festival
4. FKA Twigs at Electric Picnic, Ireland
5. Jamie Woon at Electrowerkz

Event of 2015:

Wilderness Festival

Tip for 2016:

Liss

The Vryll Society‘s Ben Robinson

Albums of the Year:

1. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Paper Maché Dream Balloon
2. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: I’m In Your Mind Fuzz
3. Pond: Man It Feels Like Space Again
4. Mac DeMarco: Another One
5. Bill Ryder-Jones: West Kirby County Primary

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: I’m In Your Mind Fuzz
2. Bill Ryder-Jones: Two to Birkenhead
3. Mark Ronson: Daffodils

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Spiritualized at Moseley Folk Festival
2. Beak> at The Kazimier (Getintothis Review)
3. Fat White Family at Sound City (Getintothis Review)
4. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Gullivers, Manchester

Event of 2015:

Sound City

Tip for 2016:

Ben says: “Just be yourself”

Tear Talk‘s Josh Miller

Albums of the Year:

1. Ought: Sun Coming Down (Getintothis review)
2. Viet Cong: Viet Cong
3. Beach House: Depression Cherry
4. Lower Dens: Escape From Evil
5. Bill Ryder Jones: West Kirby County Primary (Getintothis review)

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Ought: Beautiful Blue Sky 
2. Beach House: Spark
3. MiNNETONKA: Birds of Prey

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Sun Kil Moon at RNCM, Manchester
2. Beach House at Pitchfork Festival, Paris
3. Iceage at Soundcity
4. Richard Hawley at Grand Central Hall, LMW
5. The Twilight Sad at The Kazimier

Event of 2015:

The end of The Kazimier.

Tip for 2016:

Josh says: ”Looking forward to new records from DIIV and Fear of Men. Closer to home, I’m eager to hear more from MiNNETONKA, I’ve been blown away by everything I’ve heard so far.”

Etches

Albums of the Year:

1. Liturgy: The Ark Work
2. Slug: Ripe
3. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly
4. Waxahatchee: Ivy Trip
5. Thundercat: The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Ought: Beautiful Blue Sky
2. Thundercat: Them Changes
3. Joanna Gruesome: Psykick Espionage

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Richard Dawson/Ex Easter Island head at The Kazimier
2. Rhye at Pitchfork Paris
3. Blackalicious at The Kazimier
4. Electric 6 at Sound Control
5. Tame Impala at Olympia (Getintothis review)

Event of 2015:

LMW Opening Party/10 Bands 10 Minutes finale

Tip for 2016:

ATHOS

Dave McCabe & the Ramifications‘ Dave McCabe

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. The Serpent Power: Last Ape In Space
2. Gnoomes: Roadhouse
3. AGP: Couldn’t

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Beak> at The Kazimier
2. Charlotte Cartwright at Leaf
3. The Floormen at FestEVOL
4. Wicked Whispers at The Kazimier
5. The Magic Band at The Kazimier

Event of 2015:

Alien Sex Club

Tip for 2016:

Dave says: “The Floormen, but there’s too many”

Mugstar’s Jason Stoll

Albums of the Year:

1. Hey Colossus: In Black and Gold
2. Sleaford Mods: Key Markets
3. Godspeed You Black Emperor!: Asunder sweet and other distress (Getintothis review)
4. DBH: Mood
5. Sunn O))): – Kannon

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Hey Colossus: Black and Gold
2. Blanck Mass: Dead Format
3. Nils Frahm: Life Story

Top Gigs of 2015:

   Hey Colossus at Audacious Art Experiment, Sheffield.

Event of 2015:

Liverpool psych fest.

Tip for 2016:

Cavalier Song: Blezard LP

Baltic Fleet’s  Paul Fleming

 Albums of the Year:

Paul says: “Have been mainly listening to old records this year. My favourites have been New Order:  Movement, Tangerine Dream, Talking Heads, KLF, Depeche Mode and old Breakdance stuff. I liked the Ex Machina soundtrack by Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury this year. “

Top Tracks of 2015

Spring King – Who are you? (Getintothis review)

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Nils Frahm – Royal Albert Hall
2. Public Service Broadcasting – Brixton Academy

Tip for 2016:

Paul Says: “I’ll be releasing my 3rd album and taking the band out live, which is a plug as opposed to a tip”

Holy Thursday

Albums of the Year:

1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Multi-love
2. Pond: Man It Feels Like SpaceAgain
3. Kurt Vile: B’lieve I’m goin down
4. Tame Impala: Currents

Holy Thursday say: “The four of us couldn’t pick between the following for the last one. I guess it would be a bit much if we all had the same top 5 albums. Is that a cop out? Sorry… Flying Lotus: You’re Dead!, Toro Y Moi: What for?, Father John Misty: I Love You Honeybear, Vulfpeck:  Thrill Of The Arts, Field Music: Music For Drifters, Blur: The Magic Whip“

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Kurt Vile: Pretty Pimpin
2. David Bowie: Blackstar
3. Thundercat: Them Changes

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra at TheRitz, Manchester
2. Tame Impala at Olympia
3. Heavenly all Dayer at The Kazimier (Holy Thursday say “An absolutely incredible day!”)(Getintothis review)
4. Blur at Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Tip for 2016:

Holy Thursday say: “They’ve been going a little while but Vulfpeck should be tipped every year until everyone knows who they are. Great musicians that don’t take themselves too seriously. We’re hoping they might do their first UK gigs this year. There’s enough live stuff on YouTube to get you started though.”

Ex-Easter Island Head‘s Benjamin D. Duvall

Albums of the Year:

1. Dialect: Advanced Myth
2. Bad Body: Do You Know I Live?
3. Helm: Olympic Mess
4. Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld: Never Were The Way She Was
5. Outfit: Slowness

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Earth at The Kazimier
2. K-X-P at Liverpool Psych Fest
3. Richard Dawson and Asiq Nargile at The Kazimier
4. Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld at Islington Assembly Hall
5. Action Beat and G.W Sok at The Bull

Event of 2015:

Liverpool Psych Fest

Tip for 2016:

The Aleph

By The Sea

Albums of the Year:

1. Bill Ryder-Jones: West Kirby County Primary
2. Young husbands: Dissolver
3. The Wobbly Hearts: Damned Suckers Luck
4. Beach House: Depression Cherry
5. John Carpenter: Lost Themes

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. MiNNETONKA: Birds Of Prey
2. RongoRongo: Faster
3. Bill Ryder-Jones: Satellites (from WKCP)

Top Gigs of 2015:

Anti Austerity event at SFA in Manchester

Event of 2015:

1. Employment of Klopp
2. Christmas Day
3. Cameron fucking a pig.

Tip for 2016:

Liam says: “RongoRongo, MiNNETONKA, Jaques Prince, Trudy, basically most based in Liverpool because it’s ace once again. Also The Sundowners, we share a rehearsal room, I’ve heard some of their new demos and they’re amazing, best LP.”

Mad Brains

Albums of the Year:

1. Vince Staples: Summertime ‘06
2. Suzanne Kraft: Talk From Home
3. Death Grips: Jenny Death
4. Dr. Yen Lo: Days With Dr. Yen Lo
5. Wiki: Lil Me

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. NxWorries (Anderson.Paak & Knxwledge): Suede
2. Kojey Radical: Bambu
3. Roll safe: Chantelle

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. KRS 1 at The Kazimer
2. Wzrdshit x Sonne Bien at The Stillery, London
3. Skepta at Sonar Festival, Barcelona
4. Beach Skulls at Old Blue Last, London
5. $immy at Beverly’s, New York 

Event of 2015:

Sonar, Barcelona

Tip for 2016:

Mad Brains says: “Chris Cartier is one to watch. (Note to self: Maybe look for a proper job, just in case like)”

Forest Swords

Albums of the Year:

1. Kamasi Washington: The Epic
2. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell (Getintothis review)
3. Vince Staples: Summertime ’06
4. Shopping: Shopping
5. JLin: Dark Energy

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Kendrick Lamar: King Kunta
2. Jack U: Where Are U Now
3. Stealing Sheep: Apparition (Getintothis review)

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Stevie Wonder at Prudential Center, Newark
2. Ben Frost at Brighton Haunt
3. Ex Easter Island Head/Bonnacons of Doom at Liverpool Psych Fest
4. Mogwai at London Roundhouse
5. Sufjan Stevens at Edinburgh Playhouse

Event of 2015:

Liverpool Music Week

Tip for 2016:

Visionist

All We Are’s Rich O’ Flynn

Albums of 2015:

1. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (Rich says: “What can you say about this one. A masterpiece. I think this will top most end of year lists.”)
2. Bill Ryder Jones : West Kirby County Primary (Rich says: “All round lovely guy, a great album and Guro sings on some of the tracks to boot. Winner.”)
3. Tame Impala : Currents (Rich says: “This is the album that got me and the rest of the world into Tame Impala. Loved this record.”)
4. Young Fathers: White men are black men too (Rich says: “We played at Other Voices in Ireland with these guys last December and they blew us away. They also blew up the sound system in the church. Such an incredibly powerful album from them.”)
5. Stealing Sheep: Not Real (Rich says: “Great second album from the girls and a complete reinvention. Loving it.”)

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Drake: Hotline Bling (Rich says: “Got to be in everyone’s list surely”)
2. Hooton Tennis Club:  POWERFUL PIERRE (Rich says: “How can you not love this tune?”)
3. Sleaford Mods: No one’s Bothered (Rich says: ”We need these guys around now more than ever. Such a tune and amazing performance of it on Jools Holland.”)

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Heavenly 25 Birthday Celebrations at The Kazimier. (Rich says: “Heavenly brought the party to Liverpool and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard blew everyone’s minds.
2. Songhoy Blues at The Crows Nest, Glastonbury (Rich says: “Vibez.”)
3. Super Furry Animals at The Park Stage, Glastonbury (Rich says “Such a great way to start our fezzie. Amazing gig.”)
4. Hooton Tennis Club at The Kazimier (Rich says: “Great gig but made even more powerful by the minutes silence as the reverb of the club was measured and recorded. Very poignant. “ (Getintothis live review)
5. Godspeed You Black Emperor! at Camp and Furnace (Rich says: “Another triumph for Liverpool music as these guys brought the art of the drone to the Baltic Triangle.”)

Event of 2015:

Rich says: “It hasn’t happened yet but the NYE celebrations to see off The Kaz already feels very, very special.”

Tip for 2016:

Rich says: “Not strictly musical but I’m going to tip the Wind Factory guys to make some really special stuff next year. Exciting times and the spirit of The Kaz lives on.”

XamVolo:

Albums of the Year:

1. Hiatus Kaiyote: Choose Your Weapon
2. Alabama Shakes: Sound & Colour
3. D’Angelo: Black Messiah
4. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp A Butterfly
5. Lianne La Havas: Blood

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. D’Angelo: Back To The Future (Part I)
2. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment: Something Came To Me
3. Nao: Bad Blood

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. D’Angelo at O2 Apollo Manchester
2. Hiatus Kaiyote at Manchester Club Academy
3. Bridget Kelly at East Village Arts Club
4. Labrinth at LIMFestival (Getintothis review)
5. Sound City (“as a general experience”)

Event of 2015:

XamVolo says: “ Regardless of what I think it’s probably going to be Star Wars isn’t it?”

Music Tip for 2016:

XamVolo says “A lot could happen. I hope authentic UK Soul does as well in 2016 as Grime did in 2015”

Loved Ones’ Nicholas Glover

Albums of the Year:

1. Silicon: Personal Computer
2. Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Multi-love
3. Golden Ticket: Golden Rules
4. Onoe Caponoe: Voices from Planet Cattele (Getintothis review)
5. Jib Kidder: Teaspoon to the Ocean

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Silicon: Burning Sugar
2. Surfjan Stevens: Death with Dignity
3. Young Fathers: Nest

Top Gigs of 2015:

1.   Young Fathers at Skelmersdale Library (Nicholas says: “The Kazimier show ranks with the best gigs ever held there, but the Skem Library show shades it because of the professionalism they brought to a very weird event. The library is a big ugly sixties brutalist box in the middle of a retail park, the ‘door staff’ were library volunteers, the ‘bar’ was a collapsing table selling Kit Kats and San Pellegrino (and no alcohol) and the library’s photography club were roughly the size of the rest of the crowd combined. YF put on as focused and energetic a show there as at The Kaz. That’s professional.”)
2. Cowtown at Brudenell Social Club (Nicholas says: “They were supporting Deerhoof, and Cowtown were better. I should have seen them about ten years ago, but I’m glad I finally have.”)
3. Blackalicious at The Kazimier (Nicholas says: “Gift of Gab is a titan and any chance to see Blackalicious has to be savoured. Think Tank has been a revelation.”)

Event of 2015:

Just So Festival (Nicholas says:  “I’ve got a little boy now so I don’t get to  go to festivals, but Just So was as close as I’ll get for a few years, and it was loads of fun. First time I ever successfully hula-hooped.”)

Music tip for 2016:

Nicholas says: “Drought are rehearsing in our studio now, and they sound massive.”

The Tea Street Band’s Dominic Allen

Albums of the Year:

1. Jamie XX: In Colours
2. Deerhunter: Fading Frontier (Getintothis review)
3. Beach House: Cherry
4. Toro Y Moi : What for?:
5. New Order: Music Complete

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Grimes: Realiti
2. Kelela: Rewind
3. Jamie XX: Gosh
4. Hot Chip: Need You Now
5. Panda Bear: Boys Latin

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Tame Impala at Olympia
2. Caribou at Glastonbury
3. Cast at Philarmonic Hall (Getintothis  review)
4. Flaming Lips at Sound City (Getintothis review)
5. New Order at Olympia

Event of 2015:

Sound City

Tip for 2016:

Dominic says: “Lots of good stuff coming out of Liverpool so 2016 looks promising.”

The Tea Street Band’s Nicholas Otaegui 

Albums of the Year:

1. Tame Impala: Currents
2. Bill Ryder-Jones: West Kirby County Primary
3. New Order: Music Complete
4. Kurt Vile: B’leive I’m Goin Down
5. Stealing Sheep: Not Real

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Bill Ryder-Jones: Two To Birkenhead
2. Tame Impala: Let It Happen
3. The Vryll Society: Beautiful Faces (Getintothis review)

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. The Flaming Lips at Sound City
2. George Clinton, Parliament, Funkadelic and The Family Stone at West Holts, Glastonbury
3. The Heavenly 25th Bday Party at The Kazimier.
4. Tame Impala at Olympia
5. Craig Charles Funk & Soul Disco at The Pier Head

Event of 2015:

Nicholas says: “FestEVOL, Probably my final ever gig in the amazing Kazimier. Both nights filled the place with the nicest heads from Merseyside. The line-up displayed just how healthy and exciting the music scene is up here. Antics!”

Tips for 2016:

Nicholas says: “Sugarmen & Vryll Society to smash superb debut albums. The Corals return to be epic. Adele & Christian from ‘Bird’ to come back with a belter new project. Tea Street new album expected early summer, gonna be massive ;)”

Nadine Carina:

Albums of the Year:

1. Noah: Sivutie
2. Soley: Don’t Ever Listen
3. Oklou: Avril EP
4. Briana Marela: All Around Us
5. Princess Chelsea: The Great Cybernetic Depression

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Banoffee: With Her
2. Cosmo’s Midnight feat. KUCKA: Walk With Me
3. Sui Zhen: Infinity Street

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Lapsley in London at Tufnell Park
2. Stealing Sheep crazy-cool show at Kazimier for Mythopoeia (and crazy huge legs)
3. Briana Marela in Baden at Royal, Switzerland
4. Mirel Wagner at Foce in Lugano, Switzerland
5. Lydia Ainsworth in St. Gallen, Swizterland

Event of 2015:

Mythopoeia in Liverpool w Stealing Sheep at Kazimier

Tip for 2016

Nadine says: “New Album by Phoebe Kiddo and debut album by Lapsley”

Hooton Tennis Club’s Callum McFadden

Albums of the Year:

1. Waxahatchee: Ivy Trip
2. Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit
3. Bill Ryder Jones: West Kirby County Primary School
4. Dick Diver: Melbourne, Florida
5. Ought: Sun Coming Down

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Waxahatchee: Under a Rock
2. Bill Ryder Jones: Two to Birkenhead
3. Surfjan Stevens: 4th of July

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Spiritualized at Glastonbury.
2. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at The Scala
3. The Parrots at any of the shows they supported us on.
4. Drinks at End of The Road
5. Courtney Barnett at Glastonbury

Event of 2015:

End of The Road Festival

Tip for 2016:

Callum says: “NOTS, four piece from Memphis playing immediate, yet squelchy punk. Out on Heavenly Recordings“

Hooton Tennis Club‘s Ryan Murphy

Albums of the Year:

1. Panda Bear: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
2. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly
3. Julia Holter: Have You In My Wilderness
4. Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear
5. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Panda Bear: Tropic of Cancer
2. Animal Collective: Floridada
3. Kendrick Lamar: Alright

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at The Scala, London
2. PINS at The Kazimier for Stealing Sheep‘s Mythopoeia III
3. Sleaford Mods at The Kazimier
4. Alvvays at Glastonbury
5. Colin Eccleston at The Cosmolodge in the Kazimier Garden

Event of 2015:

Ryan says: “We had a “family and friends” meal at The Quarter in Liverpool on the day our album Highest Point in Cliff Town came out. We ate so much food and drank so much champagne, it was brilliant!”

Tayá

Albums of the Year:

1. Kehlani: You Should Be Here
2. Justin Bieber: Purpose
3. Drake: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
4. Dr Dre: Compton
5. Jess Glynne: I Cry When I Laugh

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Kehlani ft Chance The Rapper: The Way
2. Bryson Tiller: Don’t
3. Wstrn: In2

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Kehlani at Heaven
2. Goldlink at XOYO
3. John Legend at Manchester Arena
4. Rita Ora at Big Weekend
5. Distortion

Event of 2015:

Roc Nation‘s pre-Grammys brunch

Tip for 2016:

Alessia Cara

She Drew The Gun‘s Louisa Roach

Albums of the Year:

1. Father John Misty: I Love You Honeybear
2. Tame Impala: Currents
3. Holy Holy: When The Storms Would Come
4. Joanna Newsom: Divers
5. Ezra Furman: Perpetual Motion People

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Joanna Newsom: Divers
2. Kate Tempest: Europe Is Lost
3. BØRNS: 10,000 Emerald Pools

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Fink at Tempedrome, Berlin
2. The Cribs at Sound City
3. Tame Impala at Liverpool Olympia
4. All We Are at Festevol
5. Space at LIMF

Event of 2015:

Chilled in a Field Festival

Tip for 2016:

Louisa says: “I can’t wait to see what Kate Tempest does next”

RongoRongo‘s Jonny Davis Le Brun

Albums of the Year:

1. Joshua Abrams: Magnetoception
2. Outfit: Slowness
3. Viet Cong: Viet Cong
4. Julia Holter: Have You In My Wilderness
5. Bjork: Vulcinaria
6. Beach House: Depression Cherry

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Lubomyr Melnyk: Evertina (“Released 15th Dec 2014 after most of last year’s lists were released”)
2. Outfit: Swam Out
3. David Bowie: Blackstar

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. The Flaming Lips at Sound City
2. Outfit at The Kazimier
3. A Winged Victory for the Sullen at St Philip’s Church, Salford
4. Shocking Pinks at Maguire’s
5. Richard Dawson and Asiq Nargile

Event of 2015:

Jonny says: “Sound City. Moving out of the city could have been a disaster but the calibre of the line up made it worth the trip.”

Tip for 2016:

Jonny says: “NASDAQ / FTSE 100 – It’s been five years since they’ve recorded anything but it appears that something new is on the horizon.”

RongoRongo‘s Mick Chrysalid

“In no particular order…”

Albums of the Year:

1. Viet Cong: Viet Cong
2. Outfit: Slowness
3. Protomartyr: The Agent Intellect
4. Julia Holter: Have You In My Wilderness
5. LA Priest: Inji

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Outfit: Smart Thing
2. Sufjan Stevens: Should Have Known Better
3. Viet Cong: Sillhouettes

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Outfit at The Kazimier
2. Arthur Russel’s Instrumentals at The Kazimier
3. Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Sound City
4. Titus Andronicus at The Kazimier
5. Ariel Pink at District (“Boy he had a twist on, but still highly entertaining”)

Event of 2015:

Liverpool Psych Fest

Top for 2016:

God Colony

VEYU

Albums of the Year:

1. Foals: What Went Down
2. Genghar: A Dream
3. Viet Cong: Viet Cong
4. Nils Frahm: Solo
5. Public Service Broadcasting: The Race for Space

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Viet Cong: March of Progress
2. Grimes: Realiti
3. Foals: What Went Down

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. FestEVOL at The Kazimier
2. Outfit at The Kazimier
3. Peace at Sound City
4. The Flaming Lips at Sound City

Event of 2016:

Liverpool Sound City

Tip for 2016:

GoGo Penguin

Lo Five‘s Neil Grant

Albums of the year:

1. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie and Lowell
2. Helios: Yume
3. Annabel (lee) and Richard E: If Music Presents: By the sea… and other solitary places
4. Neon Indian: Vega Intl. Night School
5. Tobacco: The Excorcise Tape Instrumentals

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Sufjan Stevens: Fourth of July / I Should Have Known Better
2. Helios: The Root
3. Neon Indian: Annie

Top Gigs of 2015:

Neil says: “I only attended 5 gigs in total, and no festivals, so this was an easy one.”

1. Stephen Steinbrink at Studio 2
2. Dustin Wong at Everyman basement
3. Polypores at The Well Space
4. War Room Records Christmas Party at Constellations
5. Howie Payne at Leaf

Event of 2015:

Neil says: “I was very proud at how my new Emotion Wave nights went down at the Well Space, so I’ll be organising some more for next year. Besides that I didn’t get out very much, so for me it was Aphex Twin uploading a shitload of old demos and sketches to Soundcloud.”

Tip for 2016:

Neil says: “My new album, obviously. I’ve heard some new VEYU music that sounds gorgeous. Also looking forward to new releases from VHS Head, Rongo Rongo, AGP and Loka – who I’ve produced a couple of remixes for.”

Blue Saint, aka Daniel Sebuyange

Daniel says: “You have no idea how hard it was to do this, it was so, so, so hard. I had to listen and re-listen to a whole lot of albums I’d heard this year as well as the albums I’d already listened to on repeat to somehow form a decision… Plus (compared to the year before 2015) I haven’t listened to as many albums this year so I had some major catching up to do. It was so hard making a decision on who to put on my list this year because I liked so many people for so many different reasons… it was so, so hard.” 

Albums of the Year:

1. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly
2. Lupe Fiasco: Tetsuo & Youth
3. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment: Surf

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Lupe Fiasco: Mural
2. Wstrn: In2
3. Nick Brewer: Talk To Me
4. Shakka: Say Nada
5. Nathan Sykes: Over and Over Again
6. Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth: See You Again

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Labrinth at LIMF
2. Kate Tempest at The Kazimier
3. Blue Saint, Sociation EP launch at The Shipping Forecast (Daniel says: “I really, really enjoyed my most recent gig at The Shipping Forecast, it went down exactly how I wanted, I really like how it turned out, so for that reason I have to put it up here!”)

Event of 2015:

LIMF 2015

Tip for 2016:

Daniel says “The Vryll Society, I recently listened to their song Air and thought that it was a real dope song, and then heard another song from them, Coshh from the Pangea EP that I thought was also good“

Clean Cut Kid

Albums of the Year:

1. Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom
2. Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit
3. Grimes: Art Angels
4. Waxahatchee: Ivy Tripp
5. Blur: The Magic Whip

Top Tracks of 2015:

1. Kurt Vile: Pretty Pimpin’
2. Grimes: Flesh Without Blood
3. Youth Lagoon: No One Can Tell

Top Gigs of 2015:

1. Vaults at Rough Trade, New York
2. Shura at Brixton Electric
3. The Springtime Anchorage at Zanzibar, Liverpool
4. St. Luke’s Church Christmas Carol Concert in Kentish Town, London (“It was epic”)
5. All We Are at Liverpool Music Week

Event of 2015:

CMJ Festival, NY, or Latitude Festival

Tip for 2016:

Lying Bastards

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