Nubya Garcia - Odyssey
An album I really like that is described on Bandcamp as blending orchestral arrangements with R&B, jazz and dub.
2 Likes
Might be a bit too Belgian for the Neptune prize. She is based in London though. Tagging @sean for clarification on this one. 
1 Like
Ha I managed to miss the UK and Ireland part of the description. Nomination removed
2 Likes
The Murder Capital - Blindness
Melodic post-punk from Ireland. This one feels a lot more loose and casually energetic / noisy than the previous two (which are also excellent).
3 Likes
Brilliant electronica.
2 Likes
Half Man Half Biscuit - All Asimov and No Fresh Air
I assume they will be cruelly overlooked for the Mercuryâs once more.
Their 16th album! Includes this, the finest ever song written about Neil Warnock:
5 Likes
Honesty - U R HERE
At times trip hop, at times motorik hyper pop with lots of little hooks buried within it and immaculately produced.
1 Like
Quade - The Foel Tower
Unquestionably my favourite album of the year so far. Pastoral post-rock in the Talk Talk vein.
Moin - You Never End
Brooding instrumental/experimental rock, now incorporating guest vocalists alongside the usual found sound clips of speech.
HONESTY - U R HERE
A strangely nostalgic sounding album, tapping into 90s sounding Massive Attackish trip hop, as well as bits of Burial and a host of other influences.
Julia-Sophie - forgive to slow
Hazy and slightly downbeat electronic pop. I keep coming back to this one.
5 Likes
Divorce - Drive to Goldenhammer
Fun debut from the Nottingham group. Folky-indie music with some great vocals. The first song, Antarctica, is one of my faves this year, has an absolutely great chorus.
1 Like
Djrum - Under Tangled Silence
What they said.
5 Likes
Cwfen - Sorrows
Doomgaze and goth. Sludgy riffs. Absolutely ferocious.
Rhins - The Burnout
A sonic furnace of drone. A raw, unflinching exploration of the breakdown of communicationâboth internal and external
Whatever The Weather - Whatever The Weather II
Second instalment of Loraine Jamesâ ambient project, a response on our ever deteriorating climate.
Geordie Greep - The New Sound
Former Black Midi frontman tries to smash as many flavours, twists and turns into 1hr of album time as he can. Makes wildly outrageous claims. A wild ride.
3 Likes
Greentea Peng â Tell Dem Itâs Sunny
Neo-soul, dubby R&B, trip-hop and a bit of breakbeat make for an intoxicating mix. Feel pretty certain this will be at or near the top of my album of the year list. At its best for me when she goes a bit Beth Gibbons smoky-room trip-hop, like on the track Green.
1 Like
Alrighty, here are a few:
Sandwell District - End Beginnings
Surgeon - Shell Wave
DJrum - Under Tangled Silence
Sacred Paws - Jump Into Life
Sam Binga - Presents Club Orthodontics
The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
Al Wooton - Rhythm Archives
4 Likes
Oooh I didnât realise this was eligible as it woulda been on my list above. Was in our albums of 2024 list
1 Like
Token Death Metal entry.
Vacous - In His Blood
Excellent LP from London based crew.
3 Likes
Had to double check, but yep, just falls into the timings. Came out July 26th 2024.
1 Like
Bryan Ferry & Amelia Barratt - Loose Talk
Beautiful moody instrumental (mainly piano-based) pieces from the Roxy Music man under Barrattâs slightly disconcerting spoken word narratives delivered in a clipped RP style. A little bit like Evangeline Ling from audiobooks in the delivery style, but maybe more oblique in the content. Possibly the best album of the year so far, in my opinion.
Jill Lorean - Peace Cult
Folky indie rock, Jill OâSullivanâs plaintive voice giving these songs some real emotional heft. OâSullivan is American and Glasgow-based, but the other band members are both Brits so I think this is eligible.
Also the Sweet Williams album, but that shit is LONG and I havenât had enough time with it yet.
Two very different extensions of Irish folk, both wonderful:
lullahush - Ithaca
Poor Creature - All Smiles Tonight
3 Likes