TranscendNoise

10. Trouble & Mike Will Made It – Edgewood The best rap album came in the form of Edgewood and newcomer Trouble. If there is something like a ghetto symphony or a Bildungsroman in rap, Edgewood would be both. The immersion Mike Will Made It creates through his nocturnal beats is impeccable. After the introduction “Real Is Rare / Edgewood” we are thrown into the action with “The Woods” interlude, helicopter swirling, a man running and cursing. Following, the collage “It's In Your Hands” might be the best Raime track without the UK duo laying down a bass that bursts your skull. The prayer, calling upon God to reaffirm your standing as a gangster and wishing for the safe journey of a young one open up a world without even giving slight narrative pointers. It is just in the sound and feeling that the scene is set and the following tracks are to unfold. Mike Will and Trouble did not weigh down their tracks with skits or interludes, the changes happen by Mike Will´s beats an...

10. Sumac – The Task (Love In Shadow) After becoming a holistic entity on their previous album and laying the groundwork of a threshold to be passed in Love In Shadow , Sumac learned to evolve into a breathing body, a dynamic entity that not only allows for each part of the trio to work meticulously in unison with each other and play more complex forms of hide and seek, but to push even further, allow space and substance beyond rational musicianship. Surely, The Deal was far from being a melodious or even easy to digest album, but the sense of a band finding grooves to carry was still audible enough, the abstraction and deconstruction the cream between the cake of song structure. In accordance with Sumac linking up with experimental overlord Keiji Haino, “The Task” is the continuation of the collaboration, even if it may have preceded the recording of American Dollar Bill by a few months. Turner and his mates go from a razor-sharp onslaught in the first six minutes to silence ...

30. The Winter Passing – A Different Space Of Mind The dynamic of duo vocals, a female and a male voice, is a known in emo bands. The Winter Passing also have that trait running in favor of their place in this genre: The rougher male vocals, the also punky, but more tender female vocals. Nonetheless, the way the band is able to utilize this dynamic, not only trading verses or having a song lean on the one more than on the other, is drawing you in. Take “Flowerpot” for example: The tender vocals deliver the chorus, but do not work against the tortured male part, delivering maybe an uplifting moment, and work as two parts of the same. A Different Space Of Mind can be read as a fight with the troubles of adolescence, more often than not the lingering question of purpose in life. This also, is very emo, but doesn´t grow old, especially as the interplay of The Winter Passing is not in any way lax or lo-fi, escaping any associations of being aimless and full of negativity altoget...

60. Okada – Vulnerability ( Impermanence ) I´ve been a fan of Greg Pappas ever since his zxyzxy projects and I´m glad he resurfaced as Okada. After re-releasing what was originally 2010´s C.A.B as the album Anathema this year, he dropped his 4-part eletronic epic through N5MD in August. His way of mixing various electronic aspects was supereb from his earliest work and on Impermanence he added female vocals for perfection. Vulnerability is definitely a find for every fan of Andy Stott´s latest releases. The dark yearning of the few vocal slivers, while still being understandable as lyrics paired with the sparse and haunting electronics and keys consumes the listener fully. As Stott is on the heavier side and exhausts the perception with a deep gloominess, Vulnerability has a more ambient, more contemplative vibe to it. Be sure to check out the whole project for the whole experience. Impermanence by OKADA 59. Hudson Mohawke – Indian Steps feat. Antony ( Lantern ) If...