It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2019 rapidly approaches and we somehow end this decade- we take a personal look back on familiar names, features and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been another crazy year filled with plenty of highs and lows- it’s the releases that have once again pulled a lot of people through the year.
Now in it’s 9th year, we let our favourites take over the site to tell us the records that have made their end of year lists. Telling us their most loved events/gigs and what we can look forward to from them next year.
Continuing the take-over and the first edition from a label, we hand the site over to Jack of the newly established but equally one of the most promising DIY UK labels- Devil Town Tapes. We first discovered Devil Town Tapes around the mid point of 2019 due to their input with the commendable release from Dilary Huff. the small cassette tape label based in Bournemouth has some huge ideas and we can’t wait to have/hear more on their platform. Jack of Devil Town Tapes tells us more about his year in music…
Top 5 releases of the year
Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
Stella Donnelly’s lyrics and storytelling are striking, and delivered in a way that is totally addictive to listen to. Her vocal style has an almost Lily Allen-like feel to it to my ears, melodic whilst being very conversational at the same time, I love it! Also, this album has some absolute bops on it, Die is easily the catchiest song of the year!
Katie Dey – Solipsisters
I’ve been a fan of Katie Dey since Flood Network, her music is very mysterious and otherworldly to me. With Solipsisters Dey brings her vocals to the fore for the first time and it’s a revelation. She has always been able to evoke strong emotion through her use of sound, but with this album she revealed a powerful lyricism to go along with it.
Bedtime Khal – Wake Up
This EP is so so good! Super catchy indie pop with an emo slant, which is basically all the stuff I love all in one place! Wake Up is one of those releases that I just wanna put on again straight away after it finishes.
Alex G – House of Sugar
Alex G is the most important artist putting out music right now. He’s one of the few musicians I know of who can veer so wildly between different genres and sounds, without it ever seeming jarring or forced. Sonically this album is as wild as ever, but also has possibly his strongest and most direct songwriting to date.
Cult Film – Mona
This is the release that launched Devil Town Tapes, so safe to say, this is a pretty important record to me! I find Cult Film’s music so cathartic to listen to, it brings me so much joy.
The best gig you have attended
Tugboat Captain & Powdered Cows @ Sixty Million Postcards (11/04/19)
Easily the most fun I’ve had a gig, probably like, ever? If Tugboat Captain ever play a show in your town, GO! Also the weirdest gig yet from local legends Powdered Cows, who I’ll never tire of seeing live.
Label Highlights of your year
2019 was the first year of the label existing, so everything has felt like a highlight in its own way! My personal highlight, if I had to pick one, would be the release show for the Cult Film EP. That night was the culmination of so much work. It was so surreal to finally see it all come to life.
Best discovery this year
omes
I fell in love with Omar’s music from the moment I first heard it, and being able to help get his stuff out there has just been the absolute best.
Artist/Band to watch for 2020
flirting released one of the most unique EPs of 2018, and I’m super excited to hear what they are going to do next! If you haven’t heard This Would Be Funny If It Were Happening to Anyone but Me yet, give it a spin and then start getting as excited as I am!
Plans for the New Year
Releasing more tapes! 2020 will see the label releasing a couple of great artists from America which is still kind of crazy to me! Closer to home, I hope to put on some more shows in and around Bournemouth, and *fingers crossed* put together the first Devil Town Tapes compilation! I would also like to get a dog.
A huge thank you, we’re so excited to hear more from DTT in 2020!
https://deviltowntapes.bandcamp.com/
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