TranscendNoise

40. Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone? ( Are You Alone? ) This song is just pure bliss. It´s descriptive power, it´s intricate message of human sadness and the interpersonal longing for understanding and being understood. What Majical Cloudz have crafted here is more then just a simple song, it´s a glittering questioning of what feeling sad and forlorn means and views this through the lens of an onlooker, a close friend seeing the pain of his loved one. In its sweet melodies and hazy atmosphere, the words will hit you the hardest. Are You Alone might be one of the best example of crafting a song with as few elements as possible and of writing a deep song with the simpelst words there are without becoming cheesy or redundant. 39. Humeysha – Burma Between You And Me ( Humeysha ) This is one artists, you´ll just have to check out this year! The approach of mixing, in the widest sense, Indian music with western "rock" music has been around for quite sometime....

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. Dust And Disquiet by Caspian 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...

90. Failure – Snow Angel ( The Heart Is A Monster ) I´m still fighting with myself if the return of Failure is a good thing or not. After disbanding in 1996, their work, especially the last album, Fantastic Planet grew to be one of the most beloved albums in term of alternative and space rock. Many bands I admire, admire Failure with good reason and the band members have had their hand in many great other projects. The Heart Is A Monster , with the whole build up (for example reissuing Fantastic Planet with a heavy price tag) can only be considered a fan service for those who wanted to see their favorite band live and experience new-ish songs from them, too. They could have done much more and much better and instead did a still good rehash of Fantastic Planet . On consequence Snow Angel will click instantly for everyone digging the band already, the apathetic and still emotional singing by Andrews, the zither like guitar picks and the star bursting chorus are played to perfe...

Undoubtedly, every year bears some musical gems for someone who listens to almost everything there is. Some genres might wield stronger releases and some might have fallen flat. This year however was strong an all sides and full of surprising releases, collaborations and great newcomers. I couldn´t be happier and my only gripe lies with me and my bad time management when it comes to writing reviews this year. One a thematic level, there is great variety, but drawing closer to the top, the albums that captured my experiences of this year were either pushing boundaries in their own musical right or mediating the vibes that hit me this year. Drawing a line, the non-musical year was full of interpersonal disappointments, getting to know the worst of people I cared about and as always learning the hard way how hard it is to truly connect with each other. But, enough whining because gladly, there is art to capture it all and I hope you´ll fine some gems for your own experiences and reflecti...