As one year in music draws to a close, as another is about to open, we take a look back into the past as well as ahead with some of our writers to see what most impressed them in 2014, and what they are looking forward to in 2015.
Dave Beech
Whilst 2014 might have been an odd year in terms of music, at least for me personally at any rate, one thing that's for definite is that it saw a whole host of debut records blow their more established competition right out of the water. The big stories such as Prince's intimate shows, U2's invasion of privacy and Kate Bush's London residency, all left rather a lot to be to be desired and actually impacted very little overall on the year's musical landscape, at least once the hype had died down, at any rate.
No, whilst such news stories dominated the headlines of the music press, debut releases from the likes of Eagulls and Woman's Hour made longer-lasting impressions on reviewers almost universally. The sheer energy and aggression of the former's early-March debut shaking off any lingering winter blues; the sleek sophistication of the latter's 'Conversations' providing an elegant an understated juxtaposition, making my favourite two records of the year, an eclectic choice.
Gig-wise 2014 has been somewhat quiet. A couple of truly memorable occasions stand head and shoulder above their peers but when compared to last year it really does seem a little flat. The Pixies at Castlefield Bowl was a show I wish I could go back and relive time and time again, it really doesn't get much better than seeing your favourite band on a balmy summer evening outdoors. Y-Not Festival, too, was another highlight. My first festival experience as press and, despite camping with the clean-up crews accidentally, allowed me to finally meet Frank Turner and allowed Dizzee Rascal to redeem himself after Wakestock 2009's shambolic headline set.
I can only hope that 2015 will be a less erratic musical year, but if the festivals are as frequent, and if the standard of the debuts which will start flowing in January is anywhere near the quality that we've seen this year, then we'll have little to worry. Let's just hope too, that those musical stories which threaten to break the music press are a little more worthy of the hyperbole, and that those albums which have the hype machine rolling before barely a track's laid manage to match expectation.
Ones I'll be watching closely next year are Pinkshinyultrablast, with a new LP dropping in January; The Jacques, signed to 25 Hour Convenience Store and just released their debut EP, and Slow Down Molasses, a Canadian garage rock/punk, another with a January album to kick start the next 12 months.
Linn Branson
If there's one song that is going to remind me of 2014 then it's Bad Breeding's 'Burn This Flag'. Short, sharp, as fierce as fuckin' hell - and which I played practically non-stop for two weeks on first hearing it. The Stevenage boys really brought it home with that. It may not necessarily been the best track of the year, but the band's street cred and ethos is much to be applauded.
So many wonderful albums out this year, but sadly also too many that were overlooked. One of which is Dragon Turtle's 'Distances'. The US East Coast duo delivered a poetic and melodic work of beauty. If you haven't heard it - do so. Other notables are New Yorker Mitski who provided us with with one of the best albums of the year in 'Bury Me At Make Out Creek', and must surely be a very definite 'one to watch' next year; Soft Walls, Dan Reeves' (Cold Pumas) parallel life, gave new meaning to psych drones on 'No Time', proving both surprising and hypnotic in equal measure.
Next year, I can't wait to see and hear more of the mysteriously good St. Tropez, who have definitely lit a spark with their recent debut 'I Don't Wanna Fall In Love'. Palace really graced themselves and left a big impression, which I feel sure will be further replicated in 2015. Storms have just signed a three album deal, which means I am not the only one feeling spine chills about them. Allusondrugs and Glasgow's Jim Valentine are both looking like big New Year hitters.
Personally, next year I would like to hear a lot less of the synthesizer in music, and electronica as a whole - unless it is within a framework of something more original. So much of this genre's output has now for the last couple of years sounded very formulaic. Come on, let's have something really new and energizing.
Alison Mack
I think next year we will see the rise of the solo artist, the singer / songwriter, oft to be found with a guitar slung around his neck, or flexing fingers across a keyboard. Hitchin's Rhodes, Leeds-based folk grunger Eaves, and Shivum Sharma, with his debut EP out now, and songstress Laura Doggett are all ready to explode. 16-year-old Sydney girl MAra (featured on Little Indie Blogs recently) has an interesting take on electronica - she plays a glockenspiel too! - that makes her worth paying attention to.
Live standouts this year, in pole position has to be The War On Drugs at Flèche D'Or, Paris in May, who, with their album 'Lost In The Dream' have really had a great year; Perfume Genius at Visions festival, and strangely, The Hell at Nightmare festival, Camden. Damon Albarn and Hookworms also pulled out some crackers in the album stakes, while FKA Twigs owned it with 'Two Weeks', as did the irrepressible Jungle with their slick and synthy 'Busy Earnin'.
Richard O'Hagan
Oh 2014, how did I love thee? Well, for these reasons, really. The Cure at the Royal Albert Hall - how can anyone complain that one of the best live bands in the world played for too long? Lola Colt's 'Away from the Water' - guitars as instruments, not afterthoughts. Metallica making a big show off playing Glastonbury and then sucking harder than a hungry newborn. A decent new album from a revitalised Blyth Power. Annie Keating’s ‘I Want to Believe’ - proving there is such a thing as goth/folk. SANDY. Suzerain being as good as they were eight years ago. Eat the Evidence's 'Tories go to Waitrose' - now a constant refrain around my way. Jesus Jones back on tour...and whilst we are at it, the mildly incestuous Wonder Stuff/Jesus Jones drummer swapping.
That's a lot to live up to, 2015, but this is what I'm expecting: More guitars ...more soul...the end of reality talent shows...Coldplay splitting up...Radiohead not making a record...One Direction spontaneously combusting...no-one I like dying or splitting up...a comeback for Pretty Girls Make Graves...someone to take up my radio show...A decent Indian takeaway opening near my house...lots and lots of lovely commissions from Little Indie Blogs...and, of course, for Little Indie Blogs to become the go to site for quality writing about all of the best music. Dammit, I nearly forgot Babymetal, quite the most bonkers thing to happen in music this year
Andy Runacres
So another year passes and as is usual we all take a look back to see how it’s treated us musically. I can’t say that I think 2014 has been a classic year but it has still provided plenty of excitement. My personal highlight of the year has been the continuing rise of Ty Segall and the scene that surrounds him. 2014 has not only seen Ty release the album of his career in 'Manipulator', but has also seen him take up drumming duties on the wonderful debut album from fuzz rockers Meatbodies. Added to that was an psych pop gem of an album from long time collaborator White Fence, and a fuzzed-out psychedelic offering from Wand which was released on Segall’s Drag City imprint God. If you have a soft spot for Tame Impala and haven’t heard the Wand album yet, I highly recommend checking it out. Another 2014 highlight was getting hold of the debut Temples album and finally getting to see them live, when they played a stunning set at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Little Indie Blogs was the first site to alert me to the potential of this band in October 2012 and I had been keenly following their every move since that first article came out so to finally get the album and not only that but to find that it delivered on all that they had previously promised was a great thing. The world is truly their oyster.
As is the way with the music business whilst we are reviewing the year just passed we are also looking ahead to the New Year and eagerly eyeing up the new music ahead. I’ve been keenly following the wonderful Theatre Royal for several years now, who released their third long player in 2014 - another album packed with intelligent lyrics and sharp melodious jangle pop. Mourning Birds have been exciting me more and more with each single release, and the word is that they have their debut album ready to go, sometime in early 2015. They specialise in 2- to 3-minute trashy/grungy garage rock outs, and these guys have the potential to be huge. Deux Furieuses, an all female duo, grabbed the attention of the blogs and John Kennedy on XFM with their angry garage punk debut 'Can We Talk About This?' back in September. The Parade have been around for a few years slowly building interest through sporadic internet releases and regular live shows. This year, however, saw their first 7” single release, 'Connected'. It was another instant classic showcasing their exciting brand of folk/punk/pop. Let’s hope for more of the same in 2015!
Pollyanna Sheehan
Live events which stand out for me this year have been Jack Garratt playing at The Louisiana, Bristol, Vance Joy at the Anson Rooms, and Years and Years at Thekla. Jack Garratt is a London-based singer and multi-instrumentalist who combines intense electronic sounds and guitar solos with incredible songwriting and a stunning voice that is reminiscent of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. His debut EP ‘Remnants’ was released in October and live he gave a stunning performance. It's no surprise that Garratt has established a dedicated following that continues to grow. Vance Joy is an immensely talented singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia, who writes beautifully and teams his songs with catchy, upbeat acoustic guitar riffs that are impossible not to sing along to. He too proved himself on delivering an exceptional performance to the sold-out crowd featuring many tracks that are equally as stunning as ‘Riptide’, showing that he has much more to offer. Years and Years are an electro-pop trio are not to be missed, and following acknowledgement through their Brit Award Critics’ Choice nomination, they look set for a big 2015.
Fyfe, 23-year-old Manchester University graduate Paul Dixon, who has previously released music under the name ‘David’s Lyre’, completed the ‘Communion New Faces’ tour recently, which should set him up in good stead for his album ‘Control’, which arrives in March. Amber Run, the Nottingham five-piece, also have an early '15 album due. During my interview with them, the band divulged that work had been finished on the album since early this year, but they were waiting until they had finished touring to release it as this allowed them to expand their already loyal fanbase and ensure that their debut would be released to as many people as possible. Following the release of their incredible 3 EPs ‘Noah’, ‘Spark’ and ‘Pilot’, it will be exciting to see what new material the band will have contributed. Hopefully it will contain more of the stunning harmonies that feature on tracks such as 'I Found'.
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