Hey there!
I hope your year is off to a manageable start wherever and whenever you’re reading this. Maybe you’ve been drying out these first couple weeks, maybe you’ve been getting out there and cozying up with friends. Whatever it’s been, sending love from a frosty, grey, dark Berlin to you as we go forth.
Matt and I have had so much fun writing this thing this year. It’s led to discovering so many amazing records through friends, getting put onto artists we would’ve never found otherwise, and generally being tuned into new music in a year that felt like one of the more prolific in recent memory for quality releases.
Most importantly though, it’s been an outlet to connect with good buds more often through music. Our foray into Dad Rock a prime example.
As with NL01 - the feeling of discovering a new song or album that you can’t help but rinse to death in a day or a new artist you know a specific bud will love is the dragon we’re chasing here… and it’s been a fruitful year.
I’ve loved getting buds involved and for this one it’s - ‘what was your favorite thing you listened to this year? - which brought about some lovely stuff.
If you’re in a rut with what to listen to lately, I have no doubt there is something in here that will light the flame and get them toes tappin’.
Rounding things out there’s another exceedingly chilled-out radio show ditty up there at the top with some of my favorite finds this past month. If you’re inclined, fill a glass, kick your feet up, and give it a rinse. I’ll be doing the same with these recs.
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Tune: Voice Stealer - Evaluation (2001)
Cody: My favorite listen of the year is this moody electro-type beat from Carl A. Finlow, originally released in 1997 under his Voice Stealer moniker. Heard it in the summer and was immediately shocked it took me so long to discover. If I were on a spaceship and someone handed me the aux, this is what I’d put on as we cruise by some chill looking planets. It’s deep and dreamy, a bit spooky and dark, but also hopeful… all in all, a perfect electro track.
Album: Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood (2024)
Callie: I choose to represent my feelings through a visual medium like the millennial scum who works in advertising that I am:
I don’t know how to say in words, just Sopranos, how much Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman mean to me.
Album: Nathy Peluso - GRASA (2024)
Calvin: Rapper, singer, diva Nathy Peluso. A clear lover of rap, pop, hip-hop, R&B, she lets all of these sounds and more permeate this killer Latin pop album. The album is an exhilarating listen — she has a top-notch personality, a stunning voice, with lyrics to match. This album kept giving on continued listens for me. Plus, it put me on to a new favorite artist of mine who had my favorite Tiny Desk of the year — Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso.
Tune: Goldie Boutilier - The Actress (2024)
Sue: I’ve been obsessed with ‘The Actress’, the title track from Goldie Boutilier’s latest release. It’s sexy and sensual. The beat practically demands you tap your foot, but then, underneath that snappy groove, you start noticing the intense, dark lyrics that feel at odds with the song's polish. That contrast is pure magic. I love when artists hit that sweet spot where light and dark crash into each other. It’s the kind of thing that keeps the song stuck in your head long after you’ve heard it.
Goldie’s also a perfect example of someone who walked away from the major-label dream, flipped the script, and carved her own path. Self-releasing isn’t for the faint of heart, but when it works, it just makes the story that much better. And this new version of her is her best yet. I’m hooked. If this is just the start of her post-label chapter, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Album: Gay In The Life - Adventures in Queer Underground (2000)
Charles: Not much info on this release other than it contains an eclectic mix of queer-friendly early 00's tunes from down under such as "Gay Sex Guru" and "Leather Lover". The Australiana hits hard with "Pokeaman - Lycra or Not". Lovely downtempo chug with a healthy dose of rambling.
Tune: ddwy - Pendorlan (2024)
Alessandro: ddwy are my favourite discovery of 2024. I had a few of their tracks I could’ve picked from (first and foremost the one that initially led me to them, ‘Spinning Stones’) however this track really struck a chord with me on first and repeat listens and I found myself coming back to it repeatedly. I found my taste in 2024 skewed towards more dreamy, introspective type tracks and the gorgeous way ddwy layer sounds in this track allows you to get absolutely lost in sound while giving you the space to let it take you anywhere your imagination needs to go. One for the headphones. Looking forward to what this duo brings forth in 2025.
EP: Verraco - Breathe… Godspeed (2024)
Olivia: “Breathe...Godspeed” by Verraco is a dizzying journey through metallic soundscapes, intricate dembow rhythms, and erotic bass pressure. Each track blends cinematic atmospheres with kinetic energy, seamlessly balancing chaos and serenity. From weightless euphoria to introspective depths, the EP explores dualities with a masterful touch, culminating in a cathartic crescendo that feels both transformative and eternal. Verraco’s artistry shines as a bold statement in techno, inviting listeners to reflect, feel, and simply breathe….Godspeed.
Tune: Rhythm & Sound - Music a Fe Rule (1997)
Jack: I experienced seemingly endless music discovery this year but one of my favorite finds was this 1997 two-part track ‘Music a Fe Rule’ from Rhythm and Sound. I’m still green when it comes to the wide array of techno, but remain a proactive nerd for any and all branches of reggae and dub music; this track checks boxes and then some! Heavy bass, tape delay, and Paul St. Hilaire toasting throughout... this is really lovely music :)
Album: Chanel Beads - Your Day Will Come (2024)
Gaëtan: "Your Day Will Come" the debut album from New York band Chanel Beads blends dreamy ambient soundscapes with post-apocalyptic pop. Haunting vocals, saturated guitars, and jangly chords create an otherworldly vibe— which becomes even more captivating live. Go catch them in your city if you have the chance.
Album: Amyl and the Sniffers- Cartoon Darkness (2024)
Katie: This album came to me at the perfect time. I had just gotten dumped, put my dog down & up and moved all in 2 months. For no one reason in particular, I was filled with rage and looking for a confidence boost. Sure I had my other go-to albums for crying (looking at you Oh, Inverted World) but this album was for when I was ready to pick myself up and keep it moving.
It didn’t matter what song I started on, I would let this album loop over and over. The sharp certainty in Amyl’s voice and the cutting drums and guitar made me ready to fight. Whether I was cleaning my room, driving for hours, or working on my computer I’m never sick of it.
This album nestled into my subconscious and made me both mentally and physically ready to kick a door down.
Tune: Jonny L - I Want You (1995)
Alex: In a somewhat 2024 pensive year, I had a moment of musical nirvana while watching Djrum at Waking Life festival. As a long-time jungle appreciator, this DJ set felt like the zenith of drum and bass possibilities. Of the few IDs I could ascertain, this Jonny L cut was certainly a highlight.
The almost birdsong-like vocal line felt like it was guiding the willing crowd into the sunrise out of the murky depths of the previous night, getting a breath of air before fluctuating back into the face-scrunchy amen breaks.
Mix: Taslo - On Float (2024)
Tim: On float - aptly named, given the way Taslo blends seamlessly into your afternoon, carrying you along as you drift steadily into a cruisy, effortless state. Jazzy keys, blue notes, and the occasional wobblies make for a bright and bouncy listening experience. It doesn’t take long for things to kick into gear, and this mix has been a regular fixture over my summer. Top your glass up, kick back and settle in - from Pizza Oltra to a houseboat on the Hawkesberry, this mix is a hot number over a couple of sundowners.
Album: Hurray For The Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive (2024)
Marisa: It’s hard to pick a favorite of Alynda Segarra’s songwriting on their 2024 Hurray for the Riff Raff album ‘The Past is Still Alive’. But maybe it makes some sense to start with the record’s final ballad, ‘Ogallala’. It’s a tune that encompasses the grief and nostalgia of the album but ends with the sentiment that we’re born into the times we were meant to play a part in. The time travel of their writing somehow will always meet the moment.
Mix: CCL - Rock Pools (2024)
Ollie: It’s always difficult to pick out one piece of music as a highlight of the year, so for 2024 I’ll go for this beautiful mix by CCL on their liquidtime show for Refuge. My definite clubbing highlights of last year were CCL’s chugged-out (sub 115bpm) set at Fandango (big up!) and their all-night solo gig at OHM. Both sets showed CCLs eclectic mastery behind the decks and this mix helped transport me back to those two nights. Mind that all the liquidtime mixes are great, but this one stood out for me :)
Album: Daryl Johns - Daryl Johns (2024)
Antonio: Daryl Johns' latest album is a captivating and eclectic journey. A vibrant tapestry woven from threads of twisted college powerpop, nostalgic C86 reminiscences, and masterful jazz flourishes. It's a thrilling rollercoaster ride that constantly shifts gears between infectious melodies and eerie, atmospheric landscapes. This album has been my perfect winter flu companion, and I regret not discovering it sooner.
Album: Vegyn - The Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions (2024)
Matt: Much like my other AOTY selection (Mk.gee), Vegyn’s 2024 contribution also managed to evoke eerie familiarity and nostalgia from eras past (for me: Trainspotting and Human Traffic OSTs), while still maintaining his unique sonic stamp.
Standouts for me: A Dream Goes On Forever, Halo Flip, Last Night I Dreamt I Was Alone.
Tune: Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve (1978)
Tom R: My journey in making music actually started far from the clubs and the 909s that shape it today. My first gig was being a singer in a punk band (at the tender age of 14, before my voice had fully dropped, to add some imagery) and I always loved how that kind of music so easily walked the tightrope between bitter sadness or terrible anger and joy or fun or just a stupid bit of silliness. Last year was a bit of a wild one for me, so my ears needed some comfort food, which is what lead me back down the road of ripped up jeans and loud 2-chord guitar riffs all the way back to late 1970s England and the Buzzcocks.
For this I had to choose ‘Ever Fallen In Love’, it being their smash hit - that almost 50 years later still sounds surprisingly current - but all of the late 70s albums are full of lovely songs, if you like your music silly, loud and fast.
Also recommended are their songs: ‘Sixteen Again’, ‘I Don‘t Mind’ and, if (like me) you like your songs being a bit stupid, ‘Orgasm Addict’.
Tune: pigbaby - Baby foxes & me. (2024)
Tom L: pigbaby is an old friend of a friend, which is how I came across this. I was aware he was dabbling in some music stuff for a little while leading up to this, but he's always dabbling in a lot of different stuff. And I think this (or the bunch of tracks that this was released alongside) was his real debut as a musician.
As a person, he's always been this kinda weird enigmatic guy in my mind due to all the various dabblings of which I know him for. Whatever he's doing, he always comes across as a unique character. He's definitely a real one. I have a soft spot for that weird grey zone between catchy bop, lofi minimalistic shit, cutesy/sweet, sad, happy, but ultimately just nice and weirdly personal. FFO: that Headache album that came out in 2023.
Album: Elkka- Prism of Pleasure (2024)
Nick: The 9+ minute techno-jazz odyssey with John Carroll Kirby was a standout for me but I’ve probably listened to this one front to back more than any other this year. A gorgeous album about queer intimacy that’s filled with genre-bending tracks touching on R&B, house, ambient, and techno aimed just as much at the bedroom as the dancefloor. Dancefloor euphoria fit for many a set and setting. Particularly been hitting on nighttime strolls through the city.
🥭 Here’s a Spotify playlist that has a taste of everything mentioned 🥭
That’s it! If you enjoyed this one, or any other editions from this past year and feel inclined, pass it on to a friend.
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See ya in a couple weeks for NL21!
Nick + Matt
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