Albums of the Decade - 70. Forest Swords - Engravings (2013)

70. FOREST SWORDS - ENGRAVINGS (2013)

Could pick either three of his dusty records for an entry on-board these parts, but this sophomore LP secures it, as it is just dusty enough before his dub became widescreen. Think Ry Cooder mixed with Lee Scratch Perry mixed with Burial mixed with garlic and onions.

When the drums rumble through the sensational "Onward," it makes this gravelly journey feel paradoxically smooth; a smooth rumble. Also the superb densened vocal jam on "Gathering" is wedged into such a tail section of the wagon overall, that the dust wags off.

I just shot down a glass of apple cider vinegar, and while it might take for some tough-going at first, the benefits pay off later with some perseverance and trying. With the fantastic and optimal closer "Friend, You Will Never Learn" we know that we've secured the dub record of the decade. Not everything is pretty on the outside, but it's what's buried beyond the surface that counts.

albums of the year 2013

2013 IN MUSIC - RECORDS OF THE YEAR

 2013 WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR MUSIC. FROM THE ELECTRONIC MUSIC THAT HITS THIS LIST TO THE NODS OF MY HEAD MEANT FOR SAMPHA AND FUCK BUTTONS, YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME RETROSPECT AND GO WANDER. MY GIG OF THE YEAR WAS DEFINITELY THE DODOS @ REVOLVER IN TAIPEI. INDIE FOLK AT ITS BEST!  MANY HEADS WILL THINK THE NATIONAL SHOULD’VE GONE AND WON THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR BUT THE TOP 3 SEEMED TO JUST SORT ITSEF OUT. UNTIL NEXT TIME WHICH AT THE TIME OF WRITING IS JUST A FEW DAYS. POO.

1.       BURIAL – RIVAL DEALERS

2.       FOREST SWORDS – ENGRAVINGS

3.       THE FIELD – CUPIDS HEAD

4.       THE NATIONAL – TROUBLE WILL FIND ME

5.       JAMES BLAKE – OVERGROWN

6.       BOARDS OF CANADA – TOMORROWS HARVEST

7.       NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – PUSH THE SKY AWAY

8.       KURT VILE – WALKIN’ ON A PRETTY DAZE

9.       GHOSTFACE KILLAH – TWELVE REASONS TO DIE

10.   ELUVIUM – NIGHTMARE ENDING

11.    MBV – MBV

12.   VAMPIRE WEEKEND – MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY

13.   DEAN BLUNT – THE REDEEMER

14.   INC. – NO WORLD

15.   DARKSIDE – PSYCHIC

16.   DEAN BLUNT – STONE ISLAND

17.   ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER – R PLUS SEVEN

18.   COLIN STETSON – NEW HISTORY WAREFARE VOL 3: TO SEE MORE LIGHT

19.   THE DODOS - CARRIER

20.   SAMPHA – DUAL EP

21.   JOHN TALABOT – DJ KICKS

22.   MATANA ROBERTS – COIN COIN CHAPTER 2

23.   LONE – AIRGLOW FIRES EP

24.   RHYE – THE FALL

25.   FUCK BUTTONS – SLOW FOCUS

26.   NEKO CASE – THE WORSE THINGS GET, THE HARDER I FIGHT……

27.   APPARAT – KRIED UND FRIEDEN (MUSIC FOR THEATRE)

28.   ATOMS FOR PEACE – ATOMS FOR PEACE

29.   DAFT PUNK – RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES

30.   JAMES HOLDEN – THE INHERITORS

31.   DUSTIN WONG – MEDITATION OF ECSTATIC ENERGY

32.   RUN THE JEWELS – RUN THE JEWELS (RTJ – RTJ)

33.   TORO Y MOI – ANYTHING IN RETURN

34.   PRIMAL SCREAM – MORE LIGHT

35.   JENNY HVAL – IMPS OF PERVERSION

36.   DELOREAN – APAR

37.   THE KNIFE – SHAKING THE HABITUAL

38.   LUCKY PIERRE – THE ISLAND COME TRUE

39.   BRITISH SEA POWER – FROM THE SEA TO THE LAND BEYOND

40.   JOHN WIZARDS – JOHN WIZARDS

41.   THE DIRTBOMBS OOEY GOOEY CHEWY BLOOEY

42.   BLONDES – SWISHER

43.   BOMBINO – NOMAD EP

44.   CLASIXX – HANGING GARDENS

45.   THE ROOTS & ELVIS COSTELLO – WISE UP GHOST

46.   BILL CALLAHAN – DREAM RIVER

47.   GHOSTPOET – SOME SAY I DO I SAY LIGHT

48.   THE MEN – NEW MOON

49.   PARQUET COURTS – LIGHT UP GOLD

50.   THUNDERCAT - APOCALYPSE

Records of 2010 - 04 - Forest Swords - Dagger Path

Records of 2010 - 04 - Forest Swords - Dagger Path

In which cowboy music meets dub. In which subtlety meets coyness. In which dark nights meet bright mornings. In which intelligence meets soul. In which rustiness meets a search for oil. In which Leftfield meet Ennio Morricone. In which craft meets texture. In which roughness meets a smooth execution. In which a promising start means a great future. In which lo-fi should be played on your hi-fi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjLIjYEYQ4