- Wed Jan 11, 2017 10:51 am
#90431
This was difficult. Random order, mix of first pressings and reissues:
Manuel De Sica - Dellamorte Dellamore (Lunaris) - All the way back to January 2016, this personal film favorite and score got many listens throughout the year. Delightful artwork and package to go along with the entertaining music. A bit difficult to describe, and somehow both eclectic and electronic, this one is hard to pin down and also hard to forget.
Bixio, Frizzi, Tempera - Magnetic Systems (Finders Keepers) - Culminated with my own obsessive personal research project into this trio, and worth the time if only to hear the "Film Version" of Escape. Also, helped spread the love of many excellent and rare 45's and LP's in a nicely curated compilation album.
Wojciek Kilar - The Ninth Gate (Silva Screen) - A second monolith next to Bram Stoker's Dracula in Kilar's annals of demonic horror. Long-desired and finally pressed to vinyl in worthy fashion. Although I grabbed a black vinyl copy, there are even reports of unbelievers enjoying strangely deformed colored vinyl which was melted solely by the power of Satan himself.
Repeated Viewing - Frozen Existence (Lunaris) - I have been caning test pressings of this album since 2015, and I am going to include this one as it is just so good that it has to be recognized in 2016. Very likely my favorite album from the last few years, and has been enjoyed on many different formats, but the Lunaris LP sleeve design and solid vinyl pressing make this an easy repeat listen.
Clint Mansell - The Fountain (Mondo) - I seemed to have lucked out with my splatter vinyl copy, but retail black vinyl is available as well. I was also going to mention Requiem for a Dream in this year's list, and it just seems like a wealth of Mansell albums have been pressed to vinyl in the last few years. The Fountain is where my heart is though, and it will probably continue to be that way. A very personal and powerful album for me, and I appreciate the presentation from Mondo. Meeting Clint at MondoCon only solidifies the experience. Thank you.
Giuliano Sorgini - Zoo Folle (Four Flies) - Full disclosure: my hearing isn't anywhere near @texasvinyl's, but I found this to be an enjoyable listen. Drums on tunes like Ultima Caccia just can't be beat. Edda's vocals on Red, Old Skies are lovely. A grail worthy of being called a grail. We all still quest for an OG copy, but few of us will ever land one.
Morricone Youth - Night of the Living Dead (Country Club) - Surprise of the year for me, and very likely one of the best live performances I have heard recorded in a while. I feel this is a highly worthy rescore of NotLD, and I am jealous of those who had the pleasure of seeing this performed live. Highly recommended. Thank you to @ScoJo for introducing me to this band.
John Carpenter - Lost Themes II (Sacred Bones) - I haven't seen this one in too many lists, but I felt it was just as exciting as volume I. I'm sure the timing of the tour/show had some impact on my appreciation for this album, but it's all killer music to my ears. I would probably pick favorites from both volumes, but I found this to be irresistible.
Brad Fiedel - The Terminator (Milan) - Although I had some pressing issues with the very eye-catching colored vinyl on this release, having the expanded Terminator experience on 2LP is as good as it gets. An absolute favorite of the year, and I find Fiedel's work to be some of the most inspiring to revisit after all these years. Also, very fitting artwork style from Milan on this package. Looks great next to Robocop.
Dust Brothers - Fight Club (Mondo) - So much fun I could not ignore it. Completely missed the original vinyl release back in the day, and very stoked to have an affordable copy. Prime time trip hop that would fit into many a set. Bonus points for the overall package design and nerd needling.
Alain Goraguer - Brigitte Lahaie, Le Disque De Culte (private press) - The year-long wait alone is worth mentioning, but what a delightful package to receive at the end. Lush eye candy aside, Goraguer is on fire on these tunes, which are well-arranged and curated (and sound great). The kickstarter thing was a bit much, but hopefully more copies will surface as the music should be heard far and wide.
Bruno Nicolai - The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Death Waltz) - Stunning, magical, otherworldly... funky? Death Waltz continuing to bring the heat, along with many other rad releases this past year. Love everything about this, and I don't see it going too far out of reach. More, please.
So much great music this last year! I could not even begin to keep up, and still need to pick up a copy of of Torossi and Brugnolini's Musica Per Commenti Sonori along with a couple hundred other soundtracks and library albums. Also, plenty of enjoyment for Candyman II, Prometheus, Arrival, Esterno Giorno/Notte, Shock Waves, Micalizzi on DW, Papaya, Tetsuo bootleg, F13 III, Feelings, Bone Tomahawk, Twin Peaks, and all those tapes: LARVA, Bryce Miller's W A S P, Ver Sacrum.... and on and on.
Last edited by deafmetal on Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.