Getintothis writers and photographers look back at their highlights of 2015 – illustration Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
Taking a look and listen back at 2015’s best bits Getintothis scribes and snappers offer their opinions on the last 12 months and who they hope to see shine in 2016.
As 2016 approaches with a velocity akin to that of a bullet-train, the good folk here at Getintothis (comprising writers, photographers and those who lie comfortably in-between the two poles) gather together their yearly compilation of 2015 reflections.
You will already have seen our Getintothis top 100 albums of 2015, now this is a chance for all of our contributors to get in on the action and give you their opinion on what CD/vinyl/cassette/whatever they think you should be asking good old St Nick for.
Try not to enter into spiralling spells of dizziness as our motley crew demonstrates its diverse musical tastes with glorious aplomb. Have yourselves a listen to our Spotify playlist below as you plunge into the murky depths of the Getintothis team’s musical minds.
As always, we love to hear your opinions so give us a shout on our Facebook page.
Evil Blizzard
Zach Jones, GetIntothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Wonk Unit – Feel the Wonkness
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Blossom
Slaves – Are you Satisfied?
Turbowolf – Two Hands
The St Pierre Snake Invasion – A Hundred Years a Day
Zach says: “For me 2015 was pretty heavy, and the punk and hardcore scene put too many good gems out to ignore. Most notably the return of ex-Gallows front man Frank Carter, who’s debut solo-ish work is crushingly heavy. As well as Slaves injecting some punk swagger into Radio One.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Roots Manuva – Facety 2:11
Sleaford Mods – Cunt Make it Up
Evil Blizzard – Are You Evil?
Zach says: “Preston lot Evil Blizzard brought out a phenomenal follow up record, followed by an intense and strange show at Bumper. Sleaford Mods also continued a wave of not holding back and in a year where there seemed to be a never ending wave of pop dross, Mods where at the very least a break.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Single Mothers – Studio 2, Liverpool
Turbowolf – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Action Beat/Bodies on Everest – Drop the Dumbells, Liverpool
Health/Barberos – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Dead Good Gathering w/ Inner Terrestrials & Faintest Idea – Constellations, Liverpool
Zach says: “So many good artists, so many standouts but for me it was the local supports who did themselves justice from Lying Bastards to Bodies on Everest, Dead Blends to Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies. Liverpool showed it has the might to stand shoulder to shoulder with the big internationals.”
Event of 2015
Manchester Punk Festival
Zach says: “Since I’ve already given a shout out to Dead Good Gathering, I’ll give the MPF lot two massive thumbs up. What all shows should be, bamboozling, raw and potentially dangerous. Bring on 2016.”
Music tip for 2016
Zach says: “Pounded by the Surf, Jacoby Ford from The Bronx‘s side project is a surf rock fans wet dream. Like a kaleidoscopic view of Dick Dale jamming with the Black Lips. Also I’m sure Jonah Falco of Fucked Up‘s solo work will be worth a listen.”
Single Mothers
Ste Knight – Getintothis dance music writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
DJ Krush – Butterfly Effect
Ghost Culture – Ghost Culture
Stephan Bodzin – Powers of Ten
Floating Points – Elaenia
Helena Hauff – Discreet Desires
Ste says: “2015 was a brilliant year for dance music, and techno in particular saw some really strong album releases. Floating Points dropped my personal album of the year. A stunning example of what electronica should sound like, Shepherd‘s ethereal Rhodes licks and synth bubble-blips make for a truly sublime long player. It is so fucking lovely, that it genuinely makes a tear come to my eye. Hip-hop heavyweight DJ Krush released his first album in 11 years and it demonstrated just why he’s been such a mainstay on the scene he dominates. Herzblut Records‘ label leader Stephan Bodzin really took techno to a whole new level with his sumptuous album of melodic, heartfelt dance music.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Steve Parry – Flippant
Nick Höppner – Relate (The Black Madonna Remix)
Leftfield – Head and Shoulders
Ste says: “It is really easy to lose count of how many impressive singles you hear over the course of one year. It is equally easy to lose count of the number of shit ones too. However, stand-out single of the year for me comes from Liverpool DJ and producer Steve Parry, who’s acid house banger Flippant has been getting some serious airing by big name DJ’s, the likes of whom include John Digweed. Solid!”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Ariel Pink – District, Liverpool
Nina Kraviz – New Bird Street Warehouse, Liverpool
The Blue Soul – The Caledonia, Liverpool
Hardfloor – Williamson Tunnels, Liverpool
Luke Vibert – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Ste says: “I tried to steer clear of an all out dance-based Top 5 gigs, not easy for a dance music writer! Ariel Pink for downright attitude and weirdness, Nina Kraviz for sheer techno obliteration, Hardfloor for bringing the tunnels down with their awesome 303 manipulations, The Blue Soul for rocking the Cali every time I’ve seen them play, and Luke Vibert for totally destroying the last Upitup in the Kaz.”
Event of 2015
Ste says: “For me this has got to be Sound City. Whilst it was a bit of a mix music-wise, it was my first ever gig for Getintothis and I was thrown right in at the deep end. I fucking loved it and I haven’t looked back since. Got onto some really awesome acts who I’d never even heard of before so it was a real learning experience on several levels.”
Music Tip for 2016
Ste says: “Not an easy one to choose just a single artist or band, so I’m going to plump for two. Paddy Clegg‘s band The Bad Habits are really going from strength to strength so I expect big things from any these youngsters in 2016. The Blue Soul is the latest project from Nick Ellis. The band are sounding super tight and with regular shindigs down at The Caledonia you really want to be checking them out before they’re playing less intimate venues. Word on the street is there’s an album being recorded as you read so keep your eyes peeled and your ears peeled-er.”
Nina Kraviz
Tom Konstantynowicz – Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool
Kathryn Joseph – bones you have thrown me and blood i’ve spilled
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Charlie Barnes – More Stately Mansions
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Blaenavon – Hell Is My Head
Pale Waves – The Tide
Wolf Alice – Your Love’s Whore
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Wolf Alice – All of them
Deaf School – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Vennart & Charlie Barnes – Soup Kitchen, Manchester
Twin Planets – Bumper, Liverpool
Pale Waves – Kraak, Manchester
Event of 2015
Tom says: “Deaf School at The Kaz was special for me, I got to take my dad to watch a band he loves and hadn’t seen since the seventies, all in the iconic surrounds of The Kazimier in one of its last ever nights.”
Music Tip for 2016
Tom says: “Blaenavon have been on the books of Transgressive for a while now, signing officially a few months back ahead of their Miss World EP release. They’re one of the most exciting bands around and if they can get a long player out in 2016 it’s sure to be there or thereabouts in the end of year lists, Transgressive rarely get it wrong,”
Hidden Charms
Lauren Jones – Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
The Serpent Power – Serpent Power
Grimes – Art Angels
Pell – Limbo
Sudakistan – Caballo Negro
Dan Wilson – All Love is Blind
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Hidden Charms – Dreaming of Another Girl
Mellor – Seona
The Vryll Society – Coshh
Top 5 gigs of 2015
Heavenly Records 25th Anniversary – The Kazimier, Liverpool
LMW Telegram, Floormen, Ohmns and Strange Collective – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
The Sundowners, Sankofa, Marvin Pwell and She Drew the Gun – The Kazimier, Liverpool
The Vryll Society, Sankofa, Hidden Charms – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Go Fiasco’s 90’s Euphoria with Stillia, The Cheap Thrills and Visitors – District Liverpool
Event of 2015
With Love From Liverpool, concert for Syrian refugees
Music Tip for 2016
MiNNETONKA
The crowd at Foals
Adam Lowerson – Getintothis Writer and Deputy Editor
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Everything Everything – Get To Heaven
East India Youth – Culture of Volume
Courtney Barnett – Somethimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit
Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point in Cliff Town
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Everything Everything – Regret
Foals – Mountain At My Gates
Hooton Tennis Club – Jasper
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Foals – Olympia, Liverpool
The War on Drugs – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Super Furry Animals – Albert Hall, Manchester
Lapsley – Leaf, Liverpool
Young Fathers – Glastonbury Festival
Event of 2015
Glastonbury
Music Tip for 2015
Trudy
Everything Everything
Gary Lambert – Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Nothing But Thieves – Nothing But Thieves
Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Nightsweats – Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Nightsweats
The Dead Weather – Dodge and Burn
Sleaford Mods – Key Markets
The Bohicas – The Making Of
Gary says: “My favourite album has had to have been Dodge and Burn for the fact that having such talented musicians playing together on record that it propelled some of them to new heights and for the first time ever on a collaborative piece, in my opinion, Jack White did not overshadow everyone else by virtue of being Jack White. The pomp of Impossible Winner showed how this wasn’t just blues-by-numbers but a glimpse into the future of rock ‘n’ roll.”
Top 3 tracks of 2015
Nathaniel Rateliffe and The Night Sweats – S.O.B
The VryllSociety – Air
Blossoms – Charlemagne
Gary says: “Air by The Vryll Society is probably the most exciting piece of music I have heard in a decade. When everybody is trying to keep it simple, to hear a band at the start of their career sound so brash, confident, expansive and tuneful makes me desperate for the next steps. They’re magic, you know.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Shellsuit – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
Blossoms – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Deaf School – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Flaming Lips – Sound City, Liverpool
Spiritualized – Psych Fest, Liverpool
Gary says: “The high point was Spiritualized at Psych Fest and how they managed to turn the usually serious PZYK audience into the equivalent of an Oasis stadium gig with strangers hugging each other and dancing and singing together. Everybody did Come Together at the end of that set.”
Event of 2015
Gary says: “Heavenly 25 at The Kazimier. Despite going to festivals from age 18 this was probably the most consistently great day of music I have ever had. All killer, no filler with something for every aural taste-bud.”
Tip for 2016
Gary says: “Rory Wynne – a Mancunian lad with more than a touch of the Alex Turner‘s about him. He completely overshadowed Declan McKenna when supporting Blossoms with a healthy dose of wit to go with some uplifting, simple guitar play. His track Post Party Confusion is guaranteed to raise a smile.”
The LEGS dancers at Heavenly 25
Joe Woodhouse, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Low – Ones and Sixes
Peaches – Rub
Pond – Man It Feels Like Space Again
Screaming Females – Rose Mountain
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Top 3 Tracks
Ought – Beautiful Blue Sky
Doldrums – Loops
Death Grips – I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States
Top 5 Gigs
Flying Lotus – Manchester Academy
Low – Manchester Cathedral
Babes In Toyland – Manchester Gorilla
Lightning Bolt – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Thurston Moore Band – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
Event of 2015
Joe says: “The Return of the 90’s. I never got to see Babes in Toyland, Ride, Lush, L7, Blur, Flying Saucer Attack… (the list goes on into what seems like eternity) back in their heyday, so seeing all these bands return to the stage has given me the opportunity to make up for being a child back then.”
Tip for 2016
Joe says: “Woke. Flying Lotus + Shabazz Palaces + Thunder Cat = Woke, a super group to end all super groups. It’s a dream come true for many hip hop fans, and the currently released track The Lavishments of Light Looking (featuring George Clinton), sounds like the soundtrack to a beautifully lucid dream.”
Ride
Shaun Ponsonby, Getintothis writer and Cosmic Slop columnist:
Top 5 albums of 2015
ESKA – ESKA
Steven Wilson – Hand Cannot Erase
Saun & Starr – Look Closer
Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
Lonelady – Hinterland
Shaun says: “ESKA‘s album was 2015’s major find as far as I’m concerned. A colossal talent. The entire album is a unique, spellbinding journey. Although often cited as a soul artist, there is a healthy dose of unexpected influences like Gentle Giant and Captain Beefheart. A real treasure. She was robbed of that Mercury.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
ESKA – Shades of Blue
Prince – 1,000 X’s & O’s
Amique – The Infinite Divine
Shaun says: “I already labelled the ESKA‘s album my #1 choice, and this is my favourite track. No brainer.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
The Replacements – Roundhouse, London
George Clinton & Parlaiment / Funkadelic – The Ritz, Manchester
Xiu Xiu – The Kazimier, Liverpool
ESKA – Constellations, Liverpool
Shaun says: “I had high expectations for PE, so there was a good chance they would have disappointed. But…they exceeded everything I thought they’d be. So much so that I completely lost my shit at the gig and couldn’t fully compose myself in time to write the review for this very site. Still vibrant after all these years.”
Event of 2015
No Homer’s Club – Constellations, Liverpool
Shaun says: “As Getintothis’ resident Simpsons fanatic, I really couldn’t pick anything else, could I? Constellations’ garden even had a Flaming Moe’s stall, with a bartender dressed as Moe and occasionally got crank calls that he announced to the waiting queue. Organ Freeman’s set of Simpsons classics (Baby On Board, Can I Borrow A Feelin’?, a Planet of the Apes medley) and seeing the three stages of Marge Simpson’s Chanel suit sealed the deal.”
Tip for 2016
Shaun says: “Galactic Funk Militia. I didn’t really want to pick a local act, because we do so much local music on the site…but, to hell with it…I fuckin’ love this band. The Funk is alive and well and living in Liverpool. Their live performances are amazing, their recordings have so far been great and I can’t wait to see where they go.”
Kaleidoscope
Patrick Clarke, Getintothis New Music Editor and Unknown Pleasures Columnist
Top 5 albums of 2015
Hey Colossus: In Black and Gold
Joanna Newsom: Divers
Algiers: Algiers
Teeth of the Sea: Highly Deadly Black Tarantula
Hot Chip – Why Make Sense
Patrick says: “It’s a tough pick between Hey Colossus‘ In Black and Gold and their other album released this year, Radio Static High, but the former takes the cake. Brutal, searing, heavy psych at its pinnacle, it was my album of the year from its release in January and never topped. They were the standouts among standouts at Psych Fest too. Honorable mentions must go to Grimes, H Hawkline, Gnod, C Duncan and Polish outfit Stara Rzeka‘s impeccable, if unpronouncable, epic, Zamknely sie oczy ziemi.
Top 3 tracks of 2015
Weaves – Tick
Public Service Broadcasting – Go
Holy Thursday – In My Mind
Patrick says: “Of all the tracks I came across in my new music column this year, Weaves‘ Tick stood out as the most perfect alt-pop banger of the lot. It’s been an absolute delight to see Public Service Broadcasting see such success this year too, I’ve been a fan since their first EP. As for Holy Thursday, why these guys don’t get more attention beyond Liverpool is completely baffling to me. In my opinion the best riffs on Merseyside at the moment”
Top 5 gigs of 2015
Polar Bear – The Kazimier
Manic Street Preachers – Cardiff Castle
Echo and the Bunnymen – Liverpool Philharmonic
Kaleidoscope – Leaf
The War on Drugs – Brixton Academy
Patrick says: “The toughest decision of the lot. I’ve got luckier with the gigs I’ve seen this year than ever before. I’ve decided to leave out festival sets like Patti Smith at Glastonbury, The Flaming Lips at Sound City, Hey Colossus at Psych Fest and The Antlers at Green Man, if only in the interest of cramming more in, but those sets alone are contenders for my favourite gigs ever.
“That Polar Bear gig caught me completely by surprise. It was only moderately full, I was taking time off from a 5,000 word essay that I really couldn’t afford, and was generally mardy as hell. Thankfully the band’s transfixing set helped me get my priorities back in order. Fuck essays kids, go see jazz. Kaleidoscope at LEAF was also completely fucking ludicrous in all the best ways, so particular props for that.”
Event of 2015
Patrick says: “Sound City and Psych Fest were as special as ever, while a hedonistic jaunt to Green Man was one of the messiest festival experiences I’ve had, but Glastonbury still takes the crown. My third trip there, it was on life-changing form. I managed to swindle a ticket for next summer too, so roll on 2016!”
Tip for 2016
Patrick says: “I’d love to see Pearl Charles do well. I came across the LA singer’s suave, smokey first EP doing my column and she’s got all the talent anyone could hope for.”
Adam Scovell, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 albums of 2015
Rob St.John – Surface Tension
The Inward Circles – Belated Movements for an Unsanctioned Exhumation August 1984
Palace Of Swords – La Belle Époque (2010-2014)
Laura Cannell – Beneath Swooping Talons
Sharron Kraus – Friends And Enemies; Lovers And Strangers
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
John Foxx – When The City Stops For Snow
Julia Holter – Sea Calls Me Home
Outfit – Boy
Event of 2015
Heavenly 25th – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Tip for 2016
Eccentronic Research Council
Outfit
Will Neville, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 albums on 2015
Giant Sand – Heartbreak Pass
Ezra Furman – Perpetual Motion People
LoneLady – Hinterland
The Sonics – This Is the Sonics
Ryley Walker – Primrose Green
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Strange Collective – Sun
Courtney Barnett – Elevator Operator
I, Ludicrous – Old Professors V Young Professors
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Ride – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Paul McCartney – Echo Arena, Liverpool
Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
The Buzzcocks – The Kazimier, Liverpool
The War On Drugs – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Will says: “Interviewing The Pop Group’s Mark Stewart, and seeing Flavor Flav rapping while zooming around the stage on a Segway.”
Tip for 2016
Will says: “Audiovisual adventurer TVAM and Madrid lo-fi garage surf punksters The Parrots.”
Ezra Furman
Craig MacDonald, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Young Fathers – White Men are Black Men Too
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Blur – Magic Whip
Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin
Grimes – Art Angels
Craig says: “This year has been a stellar year for music with some true whoopers when it comes to albums. From Kendrick Lamar’s timeless To Pimp A Butterly proving he was not just a one trick pony, to the magnificent return of Blur in with their Magic Whip, there has been some solid long players. Ghostpoet more than justified his Mercury nod with the incredible Shedding Skin constantly finding its way into my ears as did the latest crazy crusade from Grimes her visionary spectacular Art Angels. But the album of the year for me is White Men Are Black Men Too by Young Fathers. They more than lived up to the hype after winning the Mercury and released an album that will continue to hit you to the core.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MO – Lean On
Kanye West – All Day
Circa Waves – T-Shirt Weather
Craig says: “Although not the case here with us folk at GIT HQ, in the days of the download, many people choose to listen to a track rather than a whole LP. From almost stealing the Brits from Madonna and her cape to smashing Glastonbury, Yeezy’s All Day was a highlight of the year for me. Likewise, Circa Waves were rightly many peoples soundtrack to the summer with their joy filled anthem T-Shirt Weather but for the me, the track of the year would be Lean On by Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat MO. It just makes you want to move and by the time you read this it’s probably got another gazillion plays on Soundcloud and Spotify.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Foals – The Olympia, Liverpool
Echo & The Bunnymen – LIMF
Young Fathers – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
The Vryll Society – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Craig says: “Sadly we can’t all manage to get to every gig but from what I managed to get to this year, in the summertime I saw the iconic Echo & The Bunneymen play a mesmerising set at LIMF while much earlier in the year, Young Fathers played one of the last truly great gigs I’ve seen in The Kazimier. More recently, The Vyrll Society blew me away when they tore up The Kaz while Public Enemy left everyone in a state of euphoria who saw them at the O2 Academy. But for me,Foals at the Olympia was the gig of the year. To be on the front row of that was insane. Eavis needs to give his head a wobble if they don’t headline Glasto!”
Event of 2015
Craig says: “The Kazimier closing. Such a massive part of our city that nowhere can come close to. It will be a dark day when its doors close.”
Tip for 2016
Craig says: “Ho99o9 are mental live and I’m really looking forward to seeing them put that craziness into their debut LP next year. If they get to our city in 2016, I implore you to go watch them!”
Young Fathers at the Kazimier
James Sullivan, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes
Crocodiles – Boys
Whyte Horses – Pop or Not
Maniac – Demimonde
Lusts – Illuminations
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Crocodiles – Crybaby Demon
Man and the Echo – I Don’t Give a Fuck What You Reckon
Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Fat White Family – Ritz, Manchester
Ryan Adams – Academy, Leeds
Courtney Barnett– Ritz, Manchester
Giuda – Lexington, London
Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
Event of 2015
James says: “Finally getting into Bruce Springsteen.“
Tip for 2015
LL Burns
Fat White Family
Jake Marley, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Stealing Sheep – Not Real
Charli XCX – Sucker
Grimes – Art Angels
The Sundowners – Sundowners
Björk – Vulnicura
Jake says: “Stealing Sheep is one of the best start-to-finish records I’ve heard all year, and seeing them perform it live a few times has cemented it’s place in my new music loving heart. Charli XCX and Grimes have killed the world of pop all year long, both taking totally different paths but both absolutely smashing it with phenomenal recordings and live shows. The Sundowners‘ self-titled debut has been on repeat all year long for me and again similarly to Stealing Sheep, hearing the record played live a few times made it a shoe-in. I waxed lyrical on the amazing piece of art that is Vulnicura earlier in the year and, even at 50, Björk is still amazing in every way. Some will say it’s not her best record ever but I say it’s miles away from being her worst and is certainly one of 2015’s crown jewels.
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Blossoms – Charlemagne
Daughter – Doing The Right Thing
Grimes – Kill V. Maim
Jake says: “Charlemagne is just an outright banger from the Blossoms lads, I’ve missed hearing funky indie-pop of that degree for awhile. Daughter’s Doing The Right Thing is the most beautiful song I’ve heard all year, the most emotion packed into one tiny little voice, ever. Your mind, body and soul all captivated at once. Grimes has reached new heights with Kill V. Maim, it’s just the kind of outside the box, groovy pop filth that every ear needs.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
The Sundowners – The Kazimier, Liverpool
The Big Moon – (DIY Magazine NEU Tour) – Magnet, Liverpool.
Blossoms – 02 Academy, Liverpool.
Pink Kink & The Orielles – The Kazimier, Liverpool.
Shura – Liverpool Music Week, East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
Jake says: “All relatively new, emerging artists as that’s my game. Sundowners are one of the best live bands on the local circuit, hands down. The Big Moon and Blossoms are going to be massive, even bigger than my head, both of them. Pink Kink are the grooviest new live band Liverpool’s got, 2016 might just be their year and that Kazimier gig alongside the equally groove-some Orielles will live long in the memory. Shura is also heading for much bigger things and her captivating set to an intimate crowd at Liverpool Music Week just had to be noted.”
Event of 2015:
Liverpool Sound City 2015
Jake says: “Simply phenomenal from start to finish, seeing The Flaming Lips live on English soil was a mental one, so much diverse art and music in one place and like-minded people everywhere, a truly captivating & memorable event, although The Coral & co. might top it next year.”
Tip for 2015:
Jake says: “The Big Moon. They’re bubbling fast towards the big time these girls, quite simply one of the best live bands on the circuit. I recall saying in a live review earlier this year, they simply HAVE to be big. You have it on record that I’ll eat my hat if they’re not. The minute they drop an album my head will explode anyway, so…”
The Big Moon
Paul Riley, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Slug – RIPE
Bjork – Vulnicura
Death Grips – The Powers that B
Tame Impala – Currents
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi Love
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Billie Marten – Heavy Weather
Louis Romegoux – The Refugee
Slayer – Repentless
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Richard Dawson, Easter Island Head – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Blue Rose Code – Leaf, Liverpool
Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Dead Rat Orchestra – Camp & Furnace, Liverpool
Bonobo, Gilles Peterson, Danny Fitzgerald – St Luke’s Church, Liverpool
The Apples, Rumjig, The Soul Rays – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Paul says: “It hasn’t happened yet, but Return to Planet Kronos on New Year’s Eve in the Kaz will most likely snatch this accolade. There will be tears, there will be dancing, and it is going to get very, very messy. Expect tantrums and breakdowns come 5am kicking out time.”
Music Tip for 2015
Paul says: “A massive fan movement will prompt Fugazi to come out of their indefinite hiatus so I can see them and die happy. Vinyl with digital download codes will make me buying CDs a thing of the past. If I had to pick one artist I think will be making waves in 2016, it would be Ed Prosek. He releases an album early next year and judging by what he has already released, it’s going to be incredible.”
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Emma Walsh, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Dan Mangan & Blacksmith – Club Meds
Villagers – Darling Arithmetic
Glen Hansard – Didn’t He Ramble
SOAK – How to Dream
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowel
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Emma says: “Haven’t kept on top of new tracks this year whatsoever. I’ve had Uptown Funk in my head for decades now though and it still never fails to make me dance embarrassingly round the kitchen. Have that, just to bring the tone down.”
Top 5 Gigs
The Frames – The Marquee, Cork
Joan Armatrading – The Philharmonic, Liverpool
Ryan Adams – The Guild, Liverpool
Rusangano Family – The Kazimier Gardens, Liverpool
Benjamin Booker – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Emma says: “Liverpool Irish Festival. Best year yet and bursting with new energy and potential!”
Tip for 2016
Daithi
The Rusangano Family
Martin Summerfield, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Kamasi Washington – The Epic
Joanna Newsome – Divers
Ben Folds – So There
New Order – Music Complete
Chemical Brothers – Born in the Echoes
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Shamir – On the Regular
Missy Elliot – WTF (Where They From)
De Lux – The Future
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
Deaf School – Liverpool
Flaming Lips – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
Belle & Sebastian – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
Everything Everything – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
Thabo & the Real Deal – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
Event Of 2015
Martin says: “Liverpool Sound City. Although I miss going to a variety of different bars and clubs like The Kazimier (wistful sigh), Mello Mello (pours one out), Zanzibar, etc, I felt like in 2014 it needed a real shot in the arm. In 2015 they got that shot in the arm when moving to the docklands. It made it feel more coherent having everything closer together and had great headliners like Belle & Sebastian and Flaming Lips. The only fault I had was sound bleeding from adjacent stages, which also caused a hell of a bottleneck when things got crowded, and the unnecessary fairground. It turned a selection of gigs into more of a festival feel.”
Music Tip For 2016
Martin says: “Shijo X were something of a hidden gem at Sound City 2015, being shoved into a tent half filled with records and memorabilia, but despite that what I heard was a promising band, reminiscent of the smoky jazz stylings of Portishead. This is a band to dance to in a darkened room with wild abandon, it is worth your time and your ears.”
New Order
Matthew Wood, GetIntothis Writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
Tame Impala – Currents
Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
Kagoule – Urth
Gengahr –A Dream Outside
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
The Babe Rainbow – Planet Junior
Blossoms – Blown Rose
Foals – A Knife In The Ocean
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
The Babe Rainbow – Fallow Cafe, Manchester
Blossoms – 02 Ritz, Manchester
The Vryll Society – Kazimier, Liverpool
Go Go Penguin – Kazimier, Liverpool
Deerhunter – Camp and Furnace, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Glastonbury
Tip for 2016
Telegram
Foals
Paul Higham, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
Föllakzoid – III
Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness
Ian William Craig – Cradle for the Wanting
Ought – Sun Coming Down
Thee Oh Sees – Mutilator Defeated At Last
Paul says: “Seriously, this list could have been entirely comprised of Liverpool acts. We’ve been so fortunate to have had records from the likes of Outfit, Hooton Tennis Club, Bill Ryder-Jones and Stealing Sheep land on our doorstep and make compelling claims for inclusion. However in a year where the competition for top honours felt stiffer than it ever was, for me Föllakzoid just about shaded it, an incredible and boundary-pushing release that is as poised and restrained as it is transcendentally invigorating. Magic.
“Special mention also to Ian William Craig who has produced, hands down, the best ambient album of the year and one that fans of Stars of the Lid or Julianna Barwick will lap up.”
Top 3 tracks of 2015
Bill Ryder-Jones – Two To Birkenhead
Hooton Tennis Club – P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L P.I.E.R.R.E.
Nap Eyes – No Fear of Hellfire
Paul says: “2015 saw a wealth of great songs from the buoyant Liverpool scene, hell, Hooton Tennis Club made an album chock-full of potential killer hit tunes. Special mention must go to Nap Eyes, a genuine musical discovery from the racks of Probe all the way from Nova Scotia, Canada. Wrap your ears around No Fear of Hellfire – it’s a belter.”
Top 5 gigs of 2015
Sufjan Stevens – 02 Apollo, Manchester
William Basinski – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Thee Oh Sees – ATP Festival, Prestatyn
Deerhunter – Liverpool Music Week Closing Party, Liverpool
The Heads – Liverpool Psych Fest, Liverpool
Event of 2016
Paul says: “While Liverpool had much to celebrate with a revamped Sound City and an incredible and expanded Liverpool Psych Fest, the return of ATP Festival filled a festival-sized void this winter and didn’t disappoint. A finer celebration of the alternative and avant-garde leftfield you’d struggle to find – roll on next year when Stewart Lee takes turn to curate.”
Tip for 2016
Paul says: “Having seen Trudy support Hooton Tennis Club earlier this month, it’s fair to say that they have a big future ahead of them. I am also expecting big things from RongoRongo and MiNNETONKA following exquisite recent releases from both. That said, my favourite thing of 2016 will likely be something that is as yet unknown to me. That’s why we keep on keeping on in this endless voyage towards new discoveries.”
Wolf Alice
Nick Lodge, Getintothis writer:
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
Houndstooth – No News From Home
Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool
Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
New Order – Music Complete
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
Teleman – Fall in Time (just because I love this band and wanted to have them in the mix)
Younghusband – Blonde Bending
Sufjan Stevens – Should Have Known Better
Top 5 Gigs of 2015