Albums 2021
I decided to collect here some of my favourite albums that were released this year. I will only provide links to albums available on Bandcamp and whatnot. As it turns out, this year I've been listening to more hip-hop and less anime music. Could it be a redemption arc for me?
Albums listed in no particular order.
V/A – Heisei No Oto: Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age, 1989-1996
Bandcamp. Genre: electronic/pop
This is a fantasti compilation of otherworldly pop music from Japan. I am not familiar with any of the artists on this compilation (apart from Tadahiko Yokogawa). Very cool, very calming. I am very glad I stumbled upon this album.
Tomoko Omura – Branches Vol. 2
Bandcamp. Genre: jazz
Tomoko Omura is a Japanese-American jazz artist, and on this record she teams up with the “Roots” quintet once again to produce an amazing jazz album full with traditional Japanese folk melodies.
ACCORD ON CODES – Live2019
Booth. Genre: jazz.
ACCORD ON CODES is a small jazz band known for their arrangements of Touhou music. They often sell their CDs at Comiket. As far as I understand, this album contains some live recordings made in 2019 (duh). Do check their other albums too!
R.A.P. Ferreira – bob's son
Bandcamp. Genre: hip-hop/beat poetry.
This album, released in Janurary, is already a classic for me. Amazing poetry from RAP Ferreira. The full name of the album is “bob's son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel”. In this context, the bob is Bob Kaufman, an American beat poet and originator of the term “beat poetry”. Bob Kaufman was a true poet, and RAP Ferreira is following his footsteps and paying homage to the poet hero with this album. Listen to bob's son.
Pink Navel – EPIC
Bandcamp. Genre: hip-hop.
Pretty EPIC album from a non-banyary rapper/producer Pink Navel. Apparently they produced this album live on Twitch. You can definitely here the influences of chiptune and video games music in the production. And the lyrics are straight-up internet culture-infused. Another artist I discovered this year.
JPEGMAFIA – LP!
Bandcamp. Genre: experimental/hip-hop
I am not a huge fan of the particular experimental style that is championed by JPEGMAFIA, but this album I found really gripping. Heck, I might be confused a bit, but I am pretty sure that there is some vaporwave-inspired production on this album.
Fire-Toolz – Eternal Home
Bandcamp. Genre: experimental/electronic.
What a weird amalgamation of vaporwave and metalcore(?) with harsher electronic sounds, with elements of jazz and prog rock. Glad that I discovered this artist.
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Haram
Bandcamp. Genre: hip-hop
Fantastic album, excellent lyricism from ELUCID and billy woods on this, and the production is absolutely superb! One song just flows into the next one.
YUNGMORPHEUS and ewonee – Thumbing Thru Foliage
Bandcamp. Genre: hip-hop
Fantastic “lo-fi” style record from YUNGMORPHEUS, who keeps smoking weed and attacking crackers. The prog/funk production by ewonee provides perfect vibes for the chill delivery.
nishaiar – Nahaxar
Bandcamp. Genre: metal.
I am not a huge metalhead, but I like this calming atmospheric black metal.