It would be fair to say that 2020 has been the strangest of my 60 years of life. Most of the time has been spent confined to home, which should have given me more time to devote to listening to music in all its variety and wonder. However, this has not been so - my consumption of music seems to have been constrained by Lockdown, rather than enhanced. Add to that the total lack of any live music this year - when I should've been enjoying Nick Mason, Jeff Beck, Brand X, Summer's End and a couple of iterations of HRH Prog, among many others I'm sure - and you begin to see how different the year has been.
So, it's been a quiet year - I've only managed to acquire 67 albums this year: my lowest tally since 2011, and some of them have left me feeling a bit flat to be honest. But of those 67, here's 20 that have stayed with me and left more than a fleeting impression on me this year. Putting them into any kind of rank seems somewhat churlish, as my particular 'favourite' seems to fluctuate depending on my mood/ sobriety/ particular whim, so they are simply listed alphabetically.
Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee
Six years on from their spellbinding eponymous album, this is a beautifully touching collection of songs that reminds me of just what great songsmiths these guys are.
Stand-out track - Sepia & White
Anubis - Homeless
An album from this Australian band is always worth the wait, and this offering doesn't disappoint.
Stand-out track - Home.
Dinosaur - To The Earth
Having been nominated for the Mercury Prize with their debut, Together , As One, jazz quartet Dinosaur continue to produce stunning contemporary jazz, rooted in tradition but pushing boundaries.
Stand-out track - To The Earth
Dyble Longdon - Between a Breath and a Breath
Two of the most distinctive and distinguished vocalists in the UK - Big Big Train's David Longdon and former Fairport Convention member Judy Dyble - produced a touching collection of songs which was, sadly, to be Dyble's epitaph. Truly heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
Stand-out track - Whisper
Fish - Weltschmerz
Another epitaph of sorts, as Fish draws to a close a career that spans nearly 40 years, as part of Marillion and as a solo artist. His lyrical dexterity is still as strong as ever, and he finishes on what is probably his strongest album to date.
Stand-out track - Garden of Remembrance
John Holden - Rise and Fall
Proving, with the 'difficult second album', that his critically-acclaimed debut was not a flash in the pan, John Holden brings another exceptional collection of songs to birth (with a third due to land early next year).
Stand-out track - Leap of Faith
I Am The Manic Whale - Things Unseen
Another strong album, touching thematically and musically on the 'classic' Prog of the 1970s but picking up themes a little more contemporary in a way that is sometimes twee, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, but always entertaining.
Stand-out track - Celebrity
Lionel Loueke - HH
One man (and his guitar)'s tribute to his mentor, Herbie Hancock. Loueke gives his own particular interpretation of Hancock's music, with a couple of self-penned homages. An understated yet stellar project.
Stand-out track - Watermelon Man
Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods
Riverside bassist Mariusz Duda's side project goes from strength to strength with this seventh outing. Stunning, atmospheric music.
Stand-out track - Summoning Dance
John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain - Is That So?
Heavily influenced by Indian musical forms, this is a trippy exploration of meditative music from the musical maestro.
Stand-out track - The Beloved
Pat Metheny - From This Place
Metheny continues to produce complex, atmospheric, cinematic music of the highest quality in his own distinctive style.
Stand-out track - America Undefined
Pendragon - Love Over Fear
The neo-Prog stalwarts produced a set of great songs, possibly their best for many years, to show that there's still life and creativity around.
Stand-out track - Truth and Lies
Verneri Pohjola - The Dead Don't Dream
A solid collection of modern jazz magic, at times clearly (to me) channelling the spirit of Miles Davis.
Stand-out track - Monograph
Chris Potter - There is a Tide
Tunes written and performed solely by Chris during Lockdown. This
is such a wonderful, uplifting collection of tunes, and just what we
all need on these dark winter days as we wait for an end to this year of
isolation and misery.
Stand-out track - Like A Memory
Pure Reason Revolution - Eupnia
In a year that saw the re-release of their seminal album, The Dark Third (with extra tracks) we also were delighted to receive new material in their inimitable Proggy/ psychedelic/ dance style.
Stand-out track - Silent Genesis
Sanguine Hum - A Trace of Memory
Atmospheric, intelligent, thoughtful Prog, played as only this band can. They should be a lot bigger than they are, imho.
Stand-out track - Still as the Sea
The Tangent - Auto Reconnaissance
An album from The Tangent is always worth waiting for, and this year's offering was no exception. As always, a stunning collection of songs from Andy & the rest. Further reflection here.
Stand-out track - Jinxed in Jersey
Alexa Tarantino - Clarity
Excellent,
proficient, melodic - would love to see what she does with the songs
live, and the pianist blows me away! My only criticism (if it is such)
is that it can seem a little like 'jazz by numbers' at times - hence the
desire to hear it played live. I'm not denying the obvious talent on
show, just how it's allowed to express itself (if you see what I
mean...)
Stand-out track - Through
Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep
Norwegian masters who tap into the soul of classic Prog, whilst bringing their own particular take to it, this continues the fine tradition that has been present throughout their catalogue.
Stand-out track - By The Banks
Zopp - Zopp
Clearly and lovingly influenced by the 'Canterbury' sound of the 1970s, this is a wonderfully evocative collection of songs that thrills and excites.
Stand-out track - V
So, there we have it. Another year over, a new one just beginning (to almost quote Mr Lennon...). Despite the constraints placed upon us by the blessed virus, there has still managed to be some outstanding music produced, and these are just some of the offerings I've enjoyed over the past 12 months. My list may not appeal to everyone, but maybe there's something here that you've missed - as I'm abundantly sure there's lots I've missed.
Farewell 2020, and let's see what delights 2021 brings us!
