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, we had to ask La Jungle to return for the feature. Described as a duo with six strings and four barrels in deep trance- they create unruly math rock. This year has been triumphant for the pair with the release of their 3rd Album ‘Past // Middle Age // Future’ which is hands down one of the best albums of 2019! The band have created a 9 track album which will obliterate your senses one which we were thrilled to have welcomed to our store earlier in the year. We speak to drummer Rémy to discover more about his last 12 months in music and memorable releases on his playlist…
My top releases and why :
U.F.O.F by Big Thief
Listened to the whole album a hundred time at the office
All Time Present by Chris Forsyth
Cancelled his European Tour, hope Chris will be back next year.
Sonic Citadel by Lightning Bolt
the best noises in the world are back
Ott by France
a live album from an amazing french trio you have to see live
4AM by Bryan’s Magic Tears
Bryans are back and this album is a 90’s tube machine
I by Follakzoid
Didn’t enjoy the live act at all but this new album is really great
I Was Real by 75 Dollar Bill
discovered this great duo and its new album last week, can’t wait for the gig in Brussels in December.
Novel by Nov3l
with members from Crack Cloud, post-punkers from Canada
Six Lethargies by Keaton Henson
I’m not into classical music but Keaton is always incredible
Massif Occidental by Hyperculte
our friends from Switzerland, I highly recommend the track Siamo Tutti ;
Deadbeat Freedom by Ignatz And De Stervende Honden
cosmic trio from Brussels
Probables by Tachycardie
new band from JB, drummer from french duo Pneu and trio Papaye
Face Stabber by Oh Sees
not my best Oh Sees album but still a really good one, with a huge work on double drumming
Breathe In/Out by Lysistrata
our friends from Saintes released their second album this year and it’s a blast
20/20 Hindsight by Youff
the best noisy band from Belgium, trust me
Juice B Crypts by Battles
they are back yeheeeww
Choolers Division by Choolers Division
first album by our friends from Liège playing hip-hop
Full Upon Her Burning Lips by Earth
one of the deepest band I listen too, great cure for your mind
The Mauskovic Dance Band by The Mauskovic Dance Band
the most groovy album from 2019
A Universe That Roasts Blossoms For A Horse by Sirom
thank you Didier (Black Basset Records) for the discovery
Sauropoda by L’Éclair
modern disco-funk from Switzerland
Two Hands by Big Thief
second album this year, seriously?
All My Heroes Are Cornballs by Jpegmafia
I rarely listen to hip-hop, but when I do..
Back At The House by Hemlock Ernst
solo project from Future Islands’s singer
Wie Is Guy? by Zwangere Guy
the best rapper from Belgium, really
Lost Wisdom part 2 by Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron
The best gigs performed this year and why:
Always hard to tell what gig was the best. Can’t tell you how many concert we did this year. Maybe eighty.
My best memories are probably from our gig in the Cernoy forest at Celebration Days festival. The most crowded gig of this year at Dour festival for sure. Klangtherapie festival in Plankenfels in Germany the funniest because of the people running all around the stage, absolutely insane. Many other summer festivals as Aucard de Tours, Décibulles festival in Neuve-Église, Basquieral Festival in Santa Maria de Lamas in Portugal, Gentse Feesten at Trefpunt Gent, La Ferme Électrique near from Paris… such great venues where people got crazy as hell during the gig.
A few more recent gigs I remember, indoor this time : our Arte Session with La Blogothèque at La Gaieté Lyrique in Paris, Het Depot in Leuven, Novo Local in Bordeaux, Blockhaus in Nantes, and at a wedding too haha, near from our hometown.
We also had a few release parties this year. I have good memories from our split release with Jozef Van Wissem, Noyades and Tomaga in Lyon, at Le Périscope. A brewery in Brussels also created a beer especially for us, and we had a crazy gig and party for the beer release in La Source.
For a year now, my mate Pierre and I have a new band called All Caps. Our best gigs were in Le Barboteur, Magasin 4 and Le Central in Brussels.
Thank you all dear promoters for this!
The best gigs I attended :
– Lightning Bolt @ Atelier Claus – Brussels (November 2019)- Oh Sees @ Botanique – Brussels (September 2019)- Deerhoof @ Botanique – Brussels (September 2019)- King Gizzard And the Lizard Wizard @ Ancienne Belgique – Brussels (October 2019)- Oneida @ Het Bos – Antwerp (March 2019)
– Noyades @ Périscope – Lyon (February 2019)
– Tomaga @ Périscope – Lyon (February 2019)
– Jozef Van Wissem @ Petit Bain – Paris (February 2019)
– Hyperculte @ Brass – Brussels (April 2019)
– Bear Bones Lay Low @ Antipodes Mjc – Rennes (March 2019)
– Why The Eye @ Antipodes Mjc – Rennes (March 2019)
– Zwangere Guy @ Ancienne Belgique – Brussels (March 2019)
– Spagguetta Orghasmmond @ Parapluie National – Binche (June 2019)
– Stakattak @ Mars – Mons (September 2019)- Enablers @ Magasin 4 – Brussels (June 2019)
I am myself a promoter in a venue called Vecteur in Charleroi, Belgium. Here are the best gigs I had the chance to promote in 2019 :
– Joe McPhee and Paal Nilssen-Love duo @ Vecteur – Charleroi (May 2019)
– Chocolat Billy @ Vecteur – Charleroi (April 2019)- Tamara Goukassova @ Vecteur – Charleroi (April 2019)- La Récré @ Vecteur – Charleroi (November 2019)- Moon Duo @ Vecteur – Charleroi (November 2019)- Air LQD @ Vecteur – Charleroi (January 2019)- Cocaïne Piss @ Vecteur – Charleroi (June 2019)- Maulwürfe @ Vecteur – Charleroi (October 2019)
– Snapped Ankles @ Vecteur – Charleroi (June 2019)
– Glauque @ Vecteur – Charleroi (May 2019)
– Acid Mothers Temple @ Vecteur – Charleroi (November 2019)- Veence Hanao @ Vecteur – Charleroi (June 2019)- Mountain Bike @ Vecteur – Charleroi (October 2019)- Lawrence Le Doux @ Vecteur – Charleroi (September 2019)- Ignatz @ Vecteur – Charleroi (October 2019)
As I’m writing this list, a more few gigs to come at Vecteur by the end of the year.. looking forward :
Jozef Van Wissem is back with new materials in november ;
James P Honey, frontman from Buriers will perform solo ;
Choolers Division will release his 1st album here ;
And in other venues by the end of the year, I have my tickets for : 75 dollar bill @ Ateliers Claus
Kadavar @ Botanique
Artist/Band to watch for 2020 :
– Tachycardie will experiment new live next year, with guest musicians in each city where the orchestra goes ;- Big Thief will be back in Brussels, tickets in the pocket ;- La Colonie de Vacances will change the live setup of his quadraphonic show ;
– The Guru Guru is back with a new album and live act ;
– Ropoporose is writing new materials, really enjoyed to share the stage with them years ago ;
– Orgue Agnès released a great album last year, I have to see them too when they are back in Brussels ;
– Bill Orcutt and Chris Corsano, miss them too in les Atelier Claus, really hope they will be back pretty soon ;- Mountain Bike played three gigs this year with new songs, hope for a new album in 2020 ;
-Greg Fox, Liturgy’s drummer playing solo performances
I’m working on next year booking in the venue I work in Charleroi. Some acts confirmed, some others on the way (or not haha) : Green Milk From The Planet Orange, Nov3l, Zombie Zombie, Troy Von Balthazar, Lysistrata, Mont-Doré (try-out, they are back!), Goat, L’Éclair, Hazel Atlas, Steve Gunn, Annabel Lee (new album!)…
Best discovery this year
One band : Big Thief
Plans for the New Year
We are working on a lot of releases with many labels. I’m not sure I can tell you anything about this haha !
The first of these releases is a second repress (so it’s the third edition) of our first self-entitled album from 2015. 500 copies LP / 500 copies CD out soon on Black Basset Records.
Want to write new materials with my both bands, start a solo project (ok I say that for three years now..), tour as much as possible and book nice bands in Charleroi.
Thank you Naomi and Circuit Sweet for your support !
What a year!!! Incredible, to find the time to promote and play, congratulations on my personal album of the year and good luck for 2020
No Comments