Blog → Looking back at 2009

I had a lot in my mind when it came down to this overview, however my taste has been all over the musical universe last year and so making all kinds of lists of indie, dark electro, ambient and metalcore would be too much in my opinion.

Therefore I limited myself to mentioning the best albums in my favourite genre: electro (mainly its dark side). As this is an overview I will only briefly describe the albums.

Fever Ray – Fever Ray
Atmospheric and amazing is all you need to know
First track that gets to you: When I Grow Up
Track that will silence you: Keep the Streets Empty for Me

Psyclon Nine – We The Fallen
Concept album cherishing dark and resentful tracks
First track that gets to you: Heartworm / Widowmaker
Track that will silence you: Under the Judas Tree

Third Realm – Love Is the Devil
Shows how Nathan Rainer has evolved his style and dares to push his boundaries
First track that gets to you: Bleeding In Her Nightmare
Track that will silence you: Love Is The Devil

Velvet Acid Christ - The Art Of Breaking Apart
Magnificent return of an industrial artist, expanding his style.
First track that gets to you: Black Rainbows / Caustic Disco
Track that will silence you: The Art Of Breaking Apart

Before going to the worthy mentions along the spectrum of music, I want to focus on a release this year on my favourite label (Tympanik Audio) which again showed progression of an artist I have been following since mid-2005:

Autoclav1.1 – Where Once Were Exit Wounds
It may be titled electronic and it may be released on an electronic and progressive label, but Autoclav1.1 exceeds the tag wholeheartedly and excels gloriously on the ambient side of music as well. From the moment you listen to it, you get sucked in. In a way every album by Autoclav1.1 starts off where the previous album left off. Although it’s clear that Tony Young has developed himself again and throughout the record you can hear that. Where Once Were Exit Wounds is enriched with more stringwork which can coexist brilliantly with the IDM by the hands of Tony Young. Summer is the albums closer and leaves its listeners soothed and dreaming.

At risk of sounding like a fanboy, I wanted to highlight Tympanik Audio as they have released a set of marvellous records this year yet again (check out 2008, so I’d like mention my favourites:
Access to Arasaka – Oppidan
Ad•ver•sary – A Bright Cut Across Velvet Sky
Esa – The Immaculate Manipulation
Pandora's Black Book – Black Brothel
Stendeck – Sonnambula

This year, 2010, I believe will be no different with this label. As they will continue to be releasing new records with a fine collection of musicians. Take the Emerging Organisms collection reaching its third volume or Cloud Nine for example, who will debut on the label. He has already done an excellent remix of Ad•ver•sary’s No Exit (Sartre Wasn't Kidding Remix by Candle Nine). Give it a listen, it's a free download.
Bottomline: This is definitely a label to check out if you’re into IDM and progressive electronics.

Worthy mentions I couldn’t neglect:
Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
another excellent record by best survivors of the 00s britpop wave
Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
decent record with strong ambiance
Helalyn Flowers – Stitches of Eden
HF are on their way back, I can hear it
Muse – The Resistance
a solid album that has re-imbued my interest for the band