The 50 Best Albums of 2016
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We are back with another collection of outstanding albums, lovingly re-issued and repressed, saving us from those Discogs sharks or listening to these records on YouTube. The number of quality reissue albums and collections seems not to be abating across all genres - this list features everything from Japanese ambient, jazz, long lost dub albums (the unreleased dub version of Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine') to deep house and techno.
Just for the record, a 'collection' is a one artist compilation and not a straight up album reissue such as Claro Intelecto's 'In Vitro' which, luckily for us, collects most of his singles on two doublepacks or Patrick Cowley's 'Mechanical Fantasy Box' lovingly restored from long-lost cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes!
We've tried to choose those albums that have been introduced to most of us for the first time thanks to this reissue. Previously obscure and known only to a select few, we would like to thanks Chuggy at Emotional Rescue for their hard work in securing a re-issue of such delights as Michael Sterns' 'Planetary Unfolding' and Ernest Ranglin, Kay Suzuki and Ken Hidaka for the amazing Bill Laswell's Gigi project (the Time Capsule label is consistently one to watch!) and Ed Isar and Musique Pour La Danse for their excellent TV soundtrack obscurity that is Coil's 'Theme from the Gay Man's Guide to Safe Sex'.
We look forward to more forgotten gems in 2020!
Out of press on vinyl for over 30 years, Stearns masterful electronic symphony in 6 movements, recorded using his Serge modular synthesizer at the Continuum Studio in 1981 finally gets a full release thanks to Emotional Response. Involved in music since his teens, he graduated from guitar bands in the late 60s to an increasing interest in the principles of electronic music synthesis and the physics of musical instruments. With Planetary Unfolding, the musical ideas that Michael performed on the Serge developed into this 52-minute masterpiece of music, six movements, three on each side of the LP. Based on the idea that the universe is made of sound held together through resonance, where atoms, cells, oceans, plants, animals and humans, all are part of a complex orchestration - the Earth as a being of sound. With the label first approaching Michael in 2013, he was uncertain if the album could be rereleased in a way that the music would be given justice. however, finally he agreed and this vinyl issue saw the light of day! And what an awe-inspiring record!
Musique Pour La Danse gave us Coil's unreleased soundtrack for the VHS only, pre-internet, sexual education documentary entitled 'The Gay Man's Guide To Safer Sex', originally released in 1992. This killer album features six Balearic, jazz and ambient house masterpieces, true to Coil’s signature style. Simply amazing!
Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, Mort Garson’s biologically inspired album 'Mother Earth’s Plantasia' from 1976 is a short yet transformative Moog-led trip. Its a beautifully crafted, cosmic and emotive masterpiece!
Bill Laswell’s dub reinterpretations of Ethiopian singer Gigi’s debut album 'Illuminated Audio’ received a stunning reissue via Kay Suzuki’s Time Capsule label in 2019. This absolute gem of a record features guest appearances from Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and more. Utterly essential!
This was the first in a three part compilation series celebrating the life and music of legendary US house producer Dana Kelley aka Callisto. Eight exquisitely deep and soulful tracks feature on this stunning 2x12", each touching on elements of house, techno, ambient and jungle. Proper!
Such an incredible meeting of minds - legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders teamed up with famed gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania and American musician and producer Bill Laswell to create this mind-blowing and deeply hypnotic jazz album back in 1994. Originally it was released on Laswell’s own label, Axiom, although it was only in 2019 that it got its first ever vinyl release. We thank Zehra Records for this one!
Originally recorded in Canada in 1982, this obscure Indian / Hindi-pop five track album from Rupa was a rare gathering of Eastern and Western musicians combining powerful vocals, traditional Indian instruments with the driving sounds of electric guitars, drums, space-age synthesiser keyboards and haunting melodies. For us its all about the incredible 'Aaj Shanibar’. Amazing!
Talk about a timely reissue! released on July 19 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This very special anniversary edition – Apollo: Soundtracks & Atmospheres Extended Edition features the original album remastered by Abbey Road’s Miles Showell as well as an accompanying album comprising of 11 new instrumental compositions reimagining the soundtrack to For All Mankind. An incredibly popular album, tracks from it have been streamed in excess of 300 million times. Since its release many of the songs from Apollo have found a life of their own, making their way into any number of films, television shows and commercials, most notably Trainspotting, Traffic, 28 Days Later, Drive and Love. “An Ending (Ascent)” was also used in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony.
The genius Burial and nearly every track he's made spread across 2 CDs, what more could we ask for? Burial arguably changed the face of UK music this decade and it's easy to hear exactly why when it's all put together in a single package.
Ernest Ranglin and Noel Williams aka King Sporty’s collaborative six track mini-LP ‘Be What You Want To Be’ from 1983 receives its first ever reissue via Emotional Rescue. This reggae/disco masterpiece is truly magnificent!
Delsin Records kindly pieced together this stunning two part series, showcasing a collection of Claro Intelecto’s finest works to date. Claro’s deep and atmospheric techno classics ‘Peace Of Mind (Electrosoul)' and 'Chicago' feature on these excellent 2xLPs. Very nice indeed!
Knitting Factory Records dished up the stunning reissue of Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti’s joint album 'Music of Many Colours’ earlier this year. The album was recorded after a three week tour of Nigeria's major cities in 1979, during which Roy Ayers performed as the opening act for Fela's band. Truly magical stuff!
Dark Entries Records also dished up ‘Mechanical Fantasy Box’ in 2019 - a spectacular collection of Patrick Cowley's previously unreleased songs, recorded between 1973-1980 to coincide with his homoerotic journal of the same title (sold separately). This mind-blowing album features thirteen tracks in total, each taking inspiration from funk, kraut and psychedelic ambient electronics, with heavy Tomita and Kraftwerk influences. Simply amazing!
Satoshi Ashikawa’s 1982 environmental/ambient album Still Way (Wave Notation 2) was reissued for the first time thanks to WRWTFWW Records. Midori Takada, Masami Ashikawa, Yuki Utsumi, Tomoko Sono and Junko Arase all feature in his incredible band. Essential Japanese ambient!
This near mythical electro-boogie album by Emerson was finally reissued for Record Store Day 2019. Super funky and soulful synthesiser business from the late ‘80s that was originally only released as a limited private-press 7”. So good!
Featuring the classics 'Don't You Care' and 'Never Did I Stop Loving You’, Alice Clark’s sought-after self-titled album from 1972 was given a top-quality reissue via Wewantsounds in 2019. This powerful record is widely acknowledged as one of the best soul albums of all-time... and its easy to see why!
Patrice Rushen’s legendary R&B, disco and jazz songs have been famously sampled by everyone from Will Smith to J Dilla to Prince Paul over the years. This compilation showcases her glorious original works, including the big hits ‘Forget Me Nots’, ‘Music Of The Earth’ and ‘Let’s Sing A Song Of Love’. What a voice!
Mappa Mundi's only-ever release 'Musaics' was released on Belgium's legendary USA Import label in 1990, riding on the wave of early trance and ambient house sounds and exploring the same sonic terrain and worlds as The Orb, The KLF, Sun Electric and other like minded outfits. A big shout out to Brian Not Brian for reissuing this leftfield / new beat / downtempo belter via his Midnight Drive label!
This epic 3xLP from Newworldaquarium was arguably one of the finest techno and house albums to be released in the last fifteen or so years. A well-deserved and well-loved reissue!
Originally created in 1998, Mad Professor’s previously unreleased, radical remixes and dub mixes of Massive Attack’s all-time classic album ‘Mezzanine' are now finally available courtesy of UMC / Virgin. A wonderful meeting of minds!