Quite a good one, this week: I think I can be more or less positive about everything here, actually, with the vague exception of the Yellow Swans live comp, which is a bit too industrial for me (John Cale, as it happens, described them thus: “The Swans’ sound grates on your nerves – like you’ve put your head in a jet engine.” Thumbs up!).
Thanks to Robin who, following the Harappian Night Recordings post, recommended an old Moroccan band called Jil Jilala, who sound excellent. And before anyone starts asking about a new reissue, that Joni record is my old copy I brought in, to check a hunch that an album I’m reviewing occupied some similar territory…
1 Joni Mitchell – Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Asylum)
2 Carlton Melton – Pass It On… (Mid-To-Late)
3 White Hills – White Hills (Thrill Jockey)
4 Andrew WK – Close Calls With Brick Walls/Mother Of Mankind (Steev Mike)
5 Andrew Thomas – Between Buildings And Trees (Kompakt)
6 Major Stars – Return To Form (Drag City)
7 Caribou – Swim (City Slang)
8 Sleepy Sun – Fever (ATP Recordings)
9 Various – Kompakt Pop Ambient 2010 (Kompakt)
10 Jil Jilala – MP3 at Awesome Tapes From Africa
11 Dove Yellow Swans – Live During War Crimes #3 (Release The Bats)
12 Various Artists – Afro-Rock Volume One (Strut)
13 The Triffids – Wide Open Road: The Best Of The Triffids (Domino)
14 Mushroom – Naked, Stoned & Stabbed (4Zero)