While this isn’t necessarily a list of the year’s best, I could easily state that the first 6 would be found on my top 12. ‘Everything Getting Older’, given my advanced years, resonates strongly enough to be my actual number 1.
It is, however, a list of the records purchased on vinyl this past year. I got rid of all my vinyl at least 20 years ago. For the most part, I don’t miss the collection much. Afterall, it was primarily the 80’s. There are a few things I wished I kept but generally speaking I’ve always been one to search out new material as opposed to becoming to comfortable with and settling for the old. In each generation of music, I would look for something that moved me as much as the previous. Thankfully that something was never limited to just a certain sound.
Last Christmas, I received a turntable. My initial reaction was a befuddled bemusement. I owned exactly 2 records. Blue Peter’s Radio Silence ( the sole record from my original collection) and a never listened to Urusei Yatsura signed debut that I’ve kept for 15 years. I bought it in addition to the CD at an instore on launch day. Getting the turntable occurred just at the point where mp3s themselves were threatening to replace CD. I had been acquiring so much music that I couldn’t honestly claim I had the time to enjoy and listen to all of it. When you can’t actually name a good deal of what comes up on an ipod shuffle, you’ve probably gone to far.
Then instantly – everything slowed down again. I’m now down to a single emusic account that I have to be reminded to empty of credits at the end of the month. Getting something immediately digitally is still impressive but I’ve come to be equally fond of the Royal Mail. There is a noticeable difference in tone between analog and digital. It really does have a comforting warmth that is especially noticeable after all these years away from it. I’ll wait until next year to make my subjective pronouncements of which ones are the ‘best’. For now, it is as if I’ve rediscovered music itself.
Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells – Everything is Getting Older
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
Zoey Van Goey – Propeller Wings
Found – Factorycraft
We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Mogwai – Earth Division
KC and the Canaverals – 7”
The Seventeenth Century – Part 1 and 2
Delgados – Universal Audio
Delgados – Peleton
Lord Cut Glass – Lord Cut Glass
Aereogramme – Chemikal Underground Box Set
Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love
Broken Records – Let Me Come Home
Mitchell Museum – The Peters Port Memorial Service
Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Camera Obscura- My Maudlin Career
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Automatic
Urusei Yatsura – Urusei Yatsura
Los Compesinos – Hello Sadness
Sigur Ros – Inni
Comet Gain – Howl of the Lonely Crowd
U2 –remastered October
Asobi Seksu – Fluoresence
Morrisey – Swords
Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring
Loney Dear – Hall Music
Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers
iLiketrains – Elegies to Lessons Learnt
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing
A Minor Reflection – Pledge Music EP
British Sea Power – Valhalla Dancehall
Kid Canaveral – Shouting at Wildlife
My Kid Canaveral came yesterday and a copy of the last Twilight Sad is on its way. Counting it, 22/35 of these are Scottish artists. I am looking forward to hearing what 2012 will bring; whatever the format. Wherever possible, I’ll be looking to buy it on vinyl. And as you can see in my little squirrel friend, this time around, I’m making the music even more personal. Bring on the Fence 7″ subscription.
T&P
A little Corner of Scotland 