Year two of Covid ups and downs and a quiet year for us here. Following the songs list here comes the favorite albums and EP list for the first time together. If not for more, than certainly a great Duran Duran return and anniversary celebrating 40 years in the music business.
Time to roll back and motor through some of the great single releases from 2021. Musical highlights are certainly the albums by London Grammar, Wolf Alice, Big red Machine and the Duran Duran come back. More about this in the album selection.
The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving difficult consequences for the population everywhere.
It certainly did affected the the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.
On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music.
Our Top 50 songs list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this years saw some interesting new comers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and come backs. Hope you enjoy the Songs list!
"Melody" was one of the two single releases for the Canadian New Wave band Boys Brigade. It was released in 1983 and it was also featured on the band's debut and only album which was never reissued.
Workings Men's Club is one of the finest new comer bands to emerge this year. Hailing from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, England, the band were formed in mid-2018 by vocalist/guitarist Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, guitarist Giulia Bonometti, and drummer Jake Bogacki. The band is known for their very unique turbulent post punk sound which draws influences from both the 80's and early 90's. After releasing a single "Bad Blood" heavily influenced by guitar-based post-punk, Working Men's Club signed to Heavenly Records under which they released their self titled debut album. Their lead single "Valley" is where you will certainly feel the 90's influence both in sound and video production.
Cindy is a music project of the electronic artist Kai based in Antwerp Belgium who also recorded music under the name Palmbomen II in the 10's. His music could be categorized as living room DIY synth pop and chill wave.
With the Cindy project he gives a new context to his music where Cindy is the main character and the songs are soundtracks to her own world. In 2019, he recorded several songs about Cindy where she sings about her mom, her boyfriend Justin, her cat and other personal sides of her life. Cindy is portrayed by the actress and artist Blue LoLãn who also provided vocals for the songs on the album.
Musically this record is a collection of dance songs and ballads where smooth Shoegaze melts down with Italo Disco drive. Cindy's debut album I'm Cindy contains 13 tracks and it was released on World Of Paint on June 5, 2020
The 90's electro dance act U96 who made prominence in the early 90's with "Das Boot" and other string of hits have united with Wolfgang Flur of the classic Kraftwerk line up to and recorded an album together. Their first single is out now and pretty much "Transhuman" pretty much resurrects the Kraftwerk sound introducing it to the new decade. The album of the same name was released in early September through Radikal record label.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Pindrop, the lauded first album by cult Manchester post-punk group The Passage, LTM presents a new 2xCD set combining their 1980 debut with their third and most commercially successfully album, Degenerates, from 1982. Both Pindrop and Degenerates are expanded on CD to include companion singles and radio sessions, with archive images and detailed liner notes contained in the 16 page booklet. For more reading and full track listing, check the link below.
https://www.ltmrecordings.com/pindrop_degenerates_ltmcd2589.html
