TranscendNoise

50. Kadhja Bonet – Childqueen Childqueen might be the closest expression of an “Alice In Wonderland” like fairy-tale done by a black woman. By way of her vocals, her musical influences and lastly her virtuosity of never being bogged down by making “funk”, “RnB” or “experimental” music, Bonet transgresses realism in favor of surrealist sound-collages and expressions befitting a magical drink that shrinks and enlarges your view of the world – to push you to explore and understand your own viewpoint being a mere slice of a whole world. Playing every instrument herself, producing the whole thing and doing her own artwork, there is no gap, no place where the vision ends, even a slight flute detail, synth rise or string section are born from the same mind that hits us with psychedelic heart piece “Delphine”. Throwback might be a part of the message, or a modus Bonet is familiar with, but for my part, these sonics and compositions stem from a time where I wasn´t alive or conscious enough...

50. Travis Scott - Watch (feat. Lil Uzi Vert & Kanye West) "One year it's Illuminati / next year it´s the sunken place" stands as one of the most telling Kanye lines of this year and incorporates both his twitter persona and all political disarray regarding our former Yeezus. Released as a teaser track for Travis Scott´s Astroworld , "Watch" was the powerful riposte towards talk about the album not happening. With both Lil Uzi and Kanye appearing on one track, Scott made one of the best and most surprising collaborations happen before people thought about something like Kanye and Lil Pump being possible. In a swagged out fashion both Scott and Vert introduce the carnivalesque sound of Astroworld and do so with immediacy and playfulness. And yet Kanye switches away and takes over with his last verse, going IT on people expecting a simple and funny verse, drowning us in his addiction, him feuding about his political and personal views and laying down his...

Before the numbered lists start, I present to you my honorable mentions of 2015. All the tracks that are worth being listened to, but didn´t make the final cut. A simple alphabetic order and one sentence to get you hooked. Enjoy and stay tuned for the real deal. As this year was packed with great releases, expect to be blown away. So in the spirit of 2015: A$AP Rocky – Canal Street feat. Bones ( AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP ) As Rocky presents himself and his persona, there isn´t much sadness and grit. But by A.L.L.A , it exists. Akisai – Sicilienne ( Images ) A dreamy ballad, think Studio Ghibli and tender emotions. (A snippet of Sicilienne starts around 0.47) Alpines – Up For Air ( Yuck ) Straightforward drum beat muzzled through a crashing of layered vocals full of longing. Andrea – Without You ( Black Magic ) Not a big year for trap infused beat music, but Andrea knows how to keep it solid and banging. href =...