Nice one CSL.
Here's some things that have made the world a better place for me this year.
Moritz von Oswald & Ordo Sakna: 2 x 10" EP.The other half of techno-dub pioneer's Basic Channel and Rhythm and Sound collaborates with the folk musicians of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawIB6zmMzE&list=PLI1QDlgN3uN59PHbdxxXGSX3utM55_vU5
Silenced: Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II.
Heavy, as f*ck, musically amazing and a valuable piece of political art inspired by #blacklivesmatter. Donald SAM the II'nd is a solid jazz/hip-hop/rock drummer - this album (available as a download from Bandcamp and on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbDuOjCSQ5GOp5i724HSS4UDALFfDNHR8) is in six pieces. All improvised duets with each collaborator based around the deaths of seven black people killed by police over the past five years.
Max Richter: Three Worlds - Music from Woolf Works
Richter's score to accompany a dance piece based upon three Virginia Woolf novels. It's absolutely wonderful stuff..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVLFh0tPTlQ
Weaves - #53A brilliant spiky pop-punk band. Listened to this track a lot to wake up and get moving.
Cornelius & Penguin Cafe Orchestra: Umbrella EP
Lush collaboration between these two covering their favourite of each others music from the last few years.
Various – Even A Tree Can Shed Tears: Japanese Folk & Rock 1969-1973
A double LP from Light in the Attic full of virtually unknown Japanese music from the late sixties and early seventies. It's absolutely lovely..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAwV4QUITYY
Andrew Weatherall: QualiaI was at a Faber social event earlier in the year when David Keenan was doing a reading from his book 'This Memorial Device'. Weatherall played some music and it was brill. Couldn't find it anywhere but it turns out it was his own stuff that he was working on and released later in the year. Love it.
https://soundcloud.com/andrew-weatherall/between-stations
Colin Stetson: All this I do for GloryExperimental saxophonist and minimal beats.. quality (and not as mental as it sounds)
Lots of fab reissues out this year.
Emanuelle Perrenin: Maison RoseBreathy folky magic from France in the early 70's. Poor Emanuelle opened (alongside members of Gong) for The Clash on their first tour in France.
Barney Wilen: Moshi Wilen took an extended trip through Africa in the early 70's with a load of recording gear and French musicians. Moshi was the result.
Okay Temiz and Johnny Dyani: Witchdoctors Son
Turkish/African Jazz Funk from '76
Alice Coltrane: TuriyasangitanandaAlice's devotional music recorded at the Ashram
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCscgiV1RQGJlUhBP5oFZIvAI think that's it for now... I'm sure I've forgotten lots of things so will share as and when they crop up. Looking forward to all the other suggestions.
