Another fantastic year for new music is almost at an end and toady we bring you our top ten most loved albums. Over the past twelve months, we’ve heard some fantastic music and as usual, it was hard picking just ten although the 10 pretty much picked themselves. If you want to take a look or have a listen to the music we’ve been listening to in 2015, then head over to our SoundCloud, Tumblr or Spotify pages. Huge thanks for listening and following the music we’ve shared on Twistedsoul, it’s very much appreciated and in 2016 we’re looking to get bigger and better. If you think we’ve missed a particularly strong album, then let us know in the comments section. Head below to listen to a playlist featuring our top 10.
Floating Points – Elaenia
What we said: This is one of those albums that offers something new and different on each listen. Drawing inspiration from classical, jazz, electronic music, soul and even Brazilian popular music, “Elaenia” – named after the bird of the same name – is the epitome of the forward-thinking Floating Points vision in 2015. It goes without saying that “Elaenia” will be topping many end of year best album charts.
Mbongwana Star – From Kinshasa
What we said: Mbongwana Star are bringing something really special with their music, it’s brave, experimental and very refreshing – definitely deserves your attention. Take a listen below, you won’t be disappointed.
Eska – Eska
What we said: London-based singer/songwriter ESKA weaves together many diverse musical elements – hints of folk, soul, psychedelia and electronica on her self-titled debut album. This is one of those albums that only gets better with repeated listens.
Ibeyi – Ibeyi
What we said: The first six tracks blew me away and I’m not even done as I write this. Ibeyi’s eponymous debut combines a love of two very different worlds – the Yoruba chants of their ancestors and the electronic, hip-hop and jazz influences of growing up in the city.
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
What we said: Each track in this collection of eleven songs begins with a fragile melody that gathers steam until it becomes nothing less than a modern hymn. It’s not an easy listen, by any means, but it is very beautiful.
D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah
What we said: The Neo soul legend that is D’Angelo has made good on the promise made by his manager Kevin Liles with his first studio album in fourteen years.
Dawn Richard – Blackheart
What we said: Having only heard this album for the first time just over a week ago we haven’t written about it before. It’s been featuring heavily on many year-end lists and once heard you’ll know why. The second installment in Richards planned Heart trilogy this is experimental R&B at it’s very best. Her vocals and production will take you to places that you didn’t know existed. This is heavenly.
Björk – Vulnicura
What we said: Following the leak earlier this week, Vulnicura, the new album by Bjork, has just been released on iTunes, two months ahead of its official physical release on CD and vinyl. As we previously mentioned, Vulnicura features production from the likes of Arca and The Haxan Cloak, and from what we’ve heard so far, its bloody damn good.
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
What we said: You can now stream the new album from Kendrick Lamar, one of the records we’ve most been looking forward to hearing this year.
Kamasi Washington – The Epic
What we said: Modern jazz music has never sounded so good. As a listening experience, the album is best consumed in its entirety but standouts “Change Of The Guard,” “Miss Understanding,” “Henrietta Our Hero,” “Clair Du Lune,” “Re-Run Home” and “Seven Prayers” truly highlight Washington’s skill at creating meticulously arranged compositions.
Other notables:
GABI – Sympathy
Ruby Ruston -Two For Joy
Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra – Into Forever
Nadine Shah – Fast Food
Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too
Annabel (lee) -By The Sea . . . and Other Solitary Places
LV – Ancient Mechanisms
Georgia – Georgia
Letha Rodman Melchior – Shimmering Ghost
Holly Herndon – Platform
Jam City – Dream A Garden
Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness
Archie Marshall – A New Place 2 Drown
Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment – Surf
Natalie Prass – Spacebomb
Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp
Jasmine Sullivan – Reality Show
Vince Stapes – Summertime 06′
Sons Of Kemet – Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do
Owiny Sigma Band – Nyanza
Fantasma – Free Love
Ryley Walker – Primrose Green
The Weather Station – Loyalty
Heather Leigh – I Abuse Animals
Jamie Woon – Making Time
Tame Impala – Currents
Holy Forest – Holy Forest
Dexter Story – Wondem
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit
Joanna Newsom – Divers
Duane Pitre – Bayou Electric
