Matthew Levinson

2008 favourites

Published on 01/08/09
by matt

I looked down to work out what I’d fit into my favourites for the year and then all of a sudden it was a different year.

Things I liked last year included all of the following and undoubtedly loads more that have faded into the mesh of was it 2006 or 2009 or 1998 or something else. I can vouch for these though.

Charge Group’s Escaping Mankind was the record I chose when FBI Radio asked for my 2008 favourite. I even produced a passionate 30 second promo about it to play across the station. Spartak’s Tales From The Colony Room was so great I was inspired to track down its maker Shoeb Ahmad for an interview in Cyclic Defrost.

I came across Justin Townes Earle when he played a tiny bar in New York City last year. I bought his record, The Good Life, from him as I left. Not quite as good as him live – probably not possible – but a rollicking good listen.

I slept on the first Brightblack Morning Light I heard. Not sure whether I’d moved generations by the time Motion To Rejoin dropped or what, but I love this record. I listen over and over. And I feel the same way about their previous records too. Languid and lovely.

Seaworthy shows throughout the year hit a similarly soft spot.

Ron Peno’s record as The Darling Downs was great, as was No Age’s Nouns.
Tim Gane & Seon O’Hagan’s soundtrack for La Vie d’Artiste was perfect. I loved getting the chance to discover Tactics and Gas via fantastic reissues. On the same ‘should’ve picked up on ages, but didn’t for some reason’ vibe, come Alps of New South Wales and Castings. Both fantastic. And I continue to be amazed by Robert Wyatt’s Comicopera, one of the most affecting records I’ve heard in years.

Other music makers I loved include.

Daniel Martin Moore
Vincent Over The Sink
Alexander Tucker
Tujiko Noriko, Lawrence English and John Chantler
Fuck Buttons
Los Campesinos
Micah P Hinson
Moe Grizzly’s blues/garage EP
Growing
Fabulous Diamonds
Grouper
Pocahaunted
Wavves
Kath Bloom

When I was dancing, sadly not too often, it was to Wiley’s awesome ‘Wearing My Rolex’ (especially the Heatwave version with Beenie Man), Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Flex’, Gang Gang Dance with Tinchy Stryder – actually the entire grimetapes.com catalogue – and a well and truly back on form Tricky, with the South Rakkas Crew remix of ‘Council Estate’.

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