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Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2017: Clarence Ewing
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2017. Our next list is from DJ and Online Media Director Clarence Ewing. My list this year is somewhat Euro-centric. Why is that? I don’t know. There’s just a lot of cool stuff going on in Europe, I guess. |
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#1 Framework by A Projection (Tapete) |
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#2 Laisse Ça Être by Aquaserge (Crammed Discs) |
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#3 Krokofant III by Krokofant (Rune Grammofon) |
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#4 Communicating by Hundred Waters (OWSLA) |
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#5 Songs We Taught the Lord (Vol. 1 & 2) by Phil X. Milstein and Thurston Moore (Feeding Tube) |
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#6 Triptych by Tim Daisy Michael Thieke Ken Vandermark (Relay) |
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#7 100 Bells by Buck Gooter (Ramp Local) |
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#8 Any Other Way by Jackie Shane (Numero Group) |
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#9 The Mysticism of Sound & Cosmic Language by Hy Maya (Smog Veil) |
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#10 Theory of Colours by Dauwd (Technicolour) |
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Single of the Year:"TCR" by Sleaford Mods. I don't care if this song came out in 2016, it sounds like I've felt for much of 2017. |
Five Swedish office drones ditch their day jobs to follow their passion. The result is air-tight post-punk, performed with urgency and joy. The antidote for a trying year in most folks' non-music areas of life.
Guitars + horns + flutes + electronics + krautrock + bossa nova + funk + progressive rock + lounge pop from a French supergroup playing the kind of genre-bending, inclusive music that America was known for back in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Tasty Jazz-Rock from Norway. Think Paul Desmond fronting Black Sabbath with the bass cranked up.
In a world where the production toolbox for making pop songs has become as varied as a Starbucks latte, Hundred Waters takes the sound palette of Skrillex....SKRILLEX!!!...and turns bro-step into shimmering, atmospheric mood music.
Tape manipulator and sound collagist Phil Milstein joins forces with Sonic Youth guitarist, singer, and songwriter Thurston Moore for an extended drone music trip. It's worth either track's 40+ run time to tune in, drop out, and take your brain in for a wash and wax.
Another fantastic year for Chicago's jazz scene. This album's a collaboration between two heavyweight Chi-town players and Berlin-based musician Michael Thieke. A great addition to the modern Free Jazz lexicon.
"There's only ever been one war...a war on the poor." There's been a little bit of political protest music this year, with only a few memorable results. These guys have been on the outside looking in for a while now. They know how to do it with directness and irreverence.
Almost 60 years after the fact, one of the most electrifying R&B singers of the Motown era gets a national spotlight.
The work of Robert Bensick's ensemble (formed when he was at Cleveland State University) is a critical chapter in the development of American independent/underground music. Those who don’t know their history may never repeat it.
The debut album from Wales-born, Berlin-based electronica pro on Ninja Tune's imprint. If you dig the synths, this is one for you.
Next entry: CHIRP Radio Best of 2017: Al Gabor
Previous entry: The Fourth Wall: Mindhunter