ISAN (southend on sea/denmark)
favorite list 2012
MUSIC
Ela Orleans – Mars is Heaven. This came out at the end of 2011 so I got into it in 2012. She’s my favourite artist right now, I really love all of what she does, such chaotic sounds..
Alexander Tucker – Third Mouth. His lyrics really intrigue me, and mostly I just ignore lyrics. I think if he wrote a book I’d read it. And there’s a really dark undercurrent to all of the music which brings out the teenage goth in me.
Karen Novotny X – Nothing Here Now But These Recordings (78-79). Brilliant discovery, the kind of thing that feels like a hoax because it’s just too perfect. I don’t really mind either way. The white vinyl’s gorgeous too.
Simon Scott – Below Sea Level. I used to live near the places which inspired these recordings, my mum still lives in the Fens. It’s a landscape I struggle to enjoy, but Simon’s release makes me feel more fondly towards it than I have done for years.
Tiiu Helinä – Veli. Don’t know if this is officially out yet, but if not then it will be shortly. Finnish organic electronics with a folk leaning. But even better than that sounds. More like transporting electronics into the past, rather than trying to bring folk instruments into the future.
Brian Eno – Lux. Just lovely. Nice of him to make one of these again.
P.Mannaseh – ANA. A collection of beautiful electronic pieces on Wayside and Woodland which I think deserves a lot more recognition than it got. Really a wonderful thing, and a really cute package too.
BOOKS
Chris Adrian – A Better Angel. I love short story collections and this is one of the best I’ve read in ages. I read “The Childrens Hospital” by him as well. Also good.
Nicola Barker – The Yips. She’s just my favourite author. She builds worlds that are savage and hilarious and surreal and familiar all at the same time and she’s at least ten times cleverer than me.
Richard Mabey – Weeds. As a gardener I’m supposed to dislike weeds. I always had a bit of admiration for them, but after reading this I like them rather too much. Also, in terms of accepted ecological wisdom, Richard’s a bit of an iconoclast and I find his viewpoint very refreshing (because I’m an awkward bastard too).
