Del Lumanta (Video Ezy)

This is probably the third or fourth year that I haven’t listened to very much new music from overseas, which is pretty sad. I did get to listen to the new Grouper and Tim Hecker releases, they are both excellent. Goaty Tapes put out a bunch of interesting tapes this year. Son of Salami’s songs on ‘Sontava Nights’ reminded me of Dump, a solo project from a member of Yo La Tengo who did some nice Prince covers in 1998 and Harmony Molina’s shit talking and gossip on ‘Happiness Thief Inside’ made me chuckle, then made me feel unsure if I was supposed to.

Anyway, here are some lists, they are not in any order.

Favourite releases of 2013:

The Friendsters – UP2 (Heavy Lows)

‘Sane’ is my favourite song of the year. Some days I don’t feel like getting out of bed or looking at other human beings. This has been the song playing in my head when I’m preparing to approach all the boring tasks in the world.

Multiple Man – all releases (Major Crimes)

Multiple Man is the band I’ve been most excited about all year. I saw them on my first trip to Brisbane while visiting for Deadshits Festival at a house show, I think the place was called the Milton. Everyone was drenched from the rain and everything was wet (it had been flooding that week). No one seemed excited about seeing bands play. Not many people showed up either. While they played I was forced to stop feeling so miserable as I was enveloped by their perilous throb and clang. It sounded like the world was on the verge of destruction and it was welcomed. Shaun has written about them here, here, here, and here. Their new 7 inches are gonna rule.

Lucy Cliché – Picture This (self-released)
The Native Cats – Dallas (R.I.P. Society)
Angel Eyes – Final Fare (Bedroom Suck)
Love Chants – Self-titled EP (Quemada Records)
Vincent Over the Sink – Bible Bashers (2009 reissue, Goaty Tapes)
Sacred Product – Self-titled EP (Albert’s Basement)
Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys – Ready for Boredom (R.I.P. Society)
Greg Boring – Heavy Syrup (Critical Heights)

Revisits* and discoveries from other years:

Celesteville with Luv[Sic] – Sing Like Birds* (Tape Mountain, 2009)
Eleven Pond – Bas Relief (Game Hen Records, 1986)

Martin Dupont – Just Because* and Sleep is a Luxury (Facteurs d’Ambiance, 1984, 1985)

Favourite live sets of 2013:

M.O.B.’s first set w/ Lawrence @ Blackwire
Half High @ 55 Sydenham Road
Heatsick, Lucy Cliché, Sarah Spencer, Red Belly Black Snake, Cured Pink, Flat Fix, Matthew Brown, Gareth Psaltis, Multiple Man, Red Red Krovvy @ Sound Summit
Sleep @ Manning Bar
ESG @ Oxford Art Factory
Any Four Door, Zanzibar Chanel + Native Cats set.

Other stuff:

Sound Summit: All hail Nic, Liza and Dan and everyone else involved for moving S.S. to Sydney and working so hard on the best music festival line up of the year.
Ears Have Ears live series
Leisure Link
Sad Boys Volume 1, by Goaty Tapes
Heatsick – ‘Snakes and Ladders’

I didn’t understand:

“Slacker” music

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