Top Tracks 2015 Part III 80–71

80. Caspian – Dust & Disquiet (Dust & Disquiet)

Caspian seem to be one of the few post-rock bands that has no problem in keeping their new output interesting in all the right places. While Waking Season was toying with the idea of vocals, on Dust and Disquiet the bands has pretty much implemented the best parts of this idea into their work. And still, the lengthy closer and title track touches the sublime without any of these new elements. It´s something that would have fitted into their earliest works and yet shows a band that has been honing their craft for years now. Dust & Disquiet will enhance you and show every newcomer to the genre of instrumental music in the vein of post-rock, just how mind-blowing this music can be.

79. Ratking – Arnold Palmer / Flurry (700 Fill)

I just couldn´t decide which of these tracks is greater. The hypnotic swirling of Arnold Palmer or the freezing yearning of Flurry. Both tracks were released for free via torrents by Ratking and reminded me how great this New York group is. While the members were also branching out and released some solo work, the combination of the elements, from the impeccable production of SportingLife to the rough voice of Wiki and the soulful hollow of Hak, is what creates the biggest appeal. Just listen to the stuff and vibe with the catchy hook of Flurry.

78. Fatima Yamaha – What´s A Girl To Do / Sooty Shearwater, King Of Migration (What´s A Girl To Do / Imaginary Lines)

This song has been around since 2004 but was reissued this year in anticipation of Yamaha´s debut album. I only caught on to this track this year and despite being ten years old, it´s place on this list is well deserved. This is a sparkling techno cut. The groovy, very comedic sounding synths cutting over the simple beat let you return to this track time and time again. There is a playfulness that is countered in the otherwise very laid back instrumental in these few simple keys; the perfect example of building something everlasting without densely packed production. For good measure, listen to Yamaha´s newer track Sooty Shearwater, to get the feel of Yamaha´s playful style while resting assured that Imaginary Lines is well worth your time and movement of crowds.

77. Wavves X Cloud Nothings – No Life For Me (No Life For Me)

After getting to know Cloud Nothings last year, they have been on the rise to becoming one of my favorite bands in recent time. Dylan Baldi´s songwriting and divide between energy and agitation is as memorable as it is catchy. Collaborating with the pop-punk act Wavves, both bands definitely met on the common-ground of catchy hooks and a lighter mood. The title track No Life For Me comes to closes to what I would call "fun" in music. The driving pace, the group vocals and the straightforward bass line all work in favor of a quick, simple but still very satisfying listening experience.

76. Slow Meadow – Blue Rose On A Windsill (Slow Meadow)

I´ve been a fan of Hammock ever since they started releasing music in 2005, but must admit that I´ve grown a little weary of their flood of releases in the last years. So it was a good thing, that they started doing what great acts with a reputation should: finding new talent. Slow Meadow´s whole album brings the beauty of ambient instrumental without becoming forgettable or heavy handed. Blue Rose On A Windsill is a kind conversation of piano and strings in the background of a few well places layers of drone. No elements protrudes, grasps the lead, giving the listener the opportunity to change up the focus multiple times and more importantly, experience the lush beauty of Slow Meadow from different angles every time.

75. Driftoff – Straphanger (Modern Fear)

Driftoff is a project with members of very prolific bands like Rosetta, City Of Ships, Superblonde and Junius. The latter being represented with Mike Repasch-Nieves and Joel Munguia got me pretty excited because I´ve been fond of everything Junius has released. That being said, there isn´t any transcendental notion in Driftoff. This is straightforward, in-your-face Post-Hardcore music, with crashing riffs, hard drumming and harsh vocals. And yet, on Straphanger, there are parts reminiscent of the uplifting and contemplative moments of the respective bands. The song opens up towards the end, drops it´s pace for a more melodic comeback. For everyone who´s into heavy music, Driftoff will do anything but disappoint.

74. Pearson Sound – Glass Eye (Pearson Sound)

Pearson Sound´s Glass Eye does everything a good electronic track should be able to pull of. It builds a dance-able vibe through it´s many drum sounds while still introducing many detailed variations and progresses through these touches seamlessly. You´ll bump your head to the infectious drum beat and will nonetheless find the variety of ideas inherent with continuous listens.

73. The Winter Passing – Nowhere Still (A Different Space Of Mind)

This was the best blind-buy based of one song of 2015. Browsing through 6131 after pre-ordering Julien Baker´s album, The Winter Passing seemed interesting enough to get the LP and the whole album didn´t disappoint at all. This song just resoneted with me and will with all twenty-somethings on a level or not. Youth and idealism go hand in hand and the moment when age becomes apparant and not just a thing of the future, many beliefs are in upheval. The bands dynamic, especially the dual vocals with it´s contrasting sweet/harsh qualities capture this spot on.

72. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Sunday Candy (Surf)

The hopes for Surf were very high and I guess most fans felt pretty satisfied with the final product. After hearing Sunday Candy I was certain that the whole project could deliver catchy tunes, great vocal appearances and everything this song has. But unfortunately this is truly the one and only highlight of Surf and without much surprise Chance The Rapper is the reason. The barbershop / 50/60´s inspired visuals captures the natural instrumentation and spiritual vibe very well. Chance crafts a great omage to his grandma and delivers his bars with great emotion and wordplay. “You smell light, gas, water, electricity, rent” is as sweet as it is a powerful commentary on social conditions and the importance of family bonds. Not much happy songs in the upper register, but this is meant to create a smile.

71. Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – Scale Of Volatility (Like Water Through The Sand)

This eerie, looped sounding piano could soundtrack your personal Lynchian montage. Farrouch released her record as part of the relaunch of the neo-classical imprint 130710 of FatCat Records and the whole feel of the album will satisfy purist as much as experimentalists. Her songs don´t only play as polite tunes but bring pathos and a whole scope of intentions. Scale Of Volatility starts of haunting and circular only to transform into a tortured crescendo with strangly uplifting untertones. Ludovico Einaudi might come to mind, but as his music sounds pretty expressionistic, Levienaise-Farrouch is much more intrinsic, and impressionistic so to speak. Be sure to listen to the whole of Like Water Through The Sand.