Getintothis writers and photographers look back at their highlights of 2015 – illustration Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
Taking a look and listen back at 2015’s best bits Getintothis scribes and snappers offer their opinions on the last 12 months and who they hope to see shine in 2016.
As 2016 approaches with a velocity akin to that of a bullet-train, the good folk here at Getintothis (comprising writers, photographers and those who lie comfortably in-between the two poles) gather together their yearly compilation of 2015 reflections.
You will already have seen our Getintothis top 100 albums of 2015, now this is a chance for all of our contributors to get in on the action and give you their opinion on what CD/vinyl/cassette/whatever they think you should be asking good old St Nick for.
Try not to enter into spiralling spells of dizziness as our motley crew demonstrates its diverse musical tastes with glorious aplomb. Have yourselves a listen to our Spotify playlist below as you plunge into the murky depths of the Getintothis team’s musical minds.
As always, we love to hear your opinions so give us a shout on our Facebook page.
Evil Blizzard
Zach Jones, GetIntothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Wonk Unit – Feel the Wonkness
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Blossom
- Slaves – Are you Satisfied?
- Turbowolf – Two Hands
- The St Pierre Snake Invasion – A Hundred Years a Day
Zach says: “For me 2015 was pretty heavy, and the punk and hardcore scene put too many good gems out to ignore. Most notably the return of ex-Gallows front man Frank Carter, who’s debut solo-ish work is crushingly heavy. As well as Slaves injecting some punk swagger into Radio One.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Roots Manuva – Facety 2:11
- Sleaford Mods – Cunt Make it Up
- Evil Blizzard – Are You Evil?
Zach says: “Preston lot Evil Blizzard brought out a phenomenal follow up record, followed by an intense and strange show at Bumper. Sleaford Mods also continued a wave of not holding back and in a year where there seemed to be a never ending wave of pop dross, Mods where at the very least a break.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Single Mothers – Studio 2, Liverpool
- Turbowolf – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Action Beat/Bodies on Everest – Drop the Dumbells, Liverpool
- Health/Barberos – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Dead Good Gathering w/ Inner Terrestrials & Faintest Idea – Constellations, Liverpool
Zach says: “So many good artists, so many standouts but for me it was the local supports who did themselves justice from Lying Bastards to Bodies on Everest, Dead Blends to Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies. Liverpool showed it has the might to stand shoulder to shoulder with the big internationals.”
Event of 2015
Manchester Punk Festival
Zach says: “Since I’ve already given a shout out to Dead Good Gathering, I’ll give the MPF lot two massive thumbs up. What all shows should be, bamboozling, raw and potentially dangerous. Bring on 2016.”
Music tip for 2016
Zach says: “Pounded by the Surf, Jacoby Ford from The Bronx‘s side project is a surf rock fans wet dream. Like a kaleidoscopic view of Dick Dale jamming with the Black Lips. Also I’m sure Jonah Falco of Fucked Up‘s solo work will be worth a listen.”
Single Mothers
Ste Knight – Getintothis dance music writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- DJ Krush – Butterfly Effect
- Ghost Culture – Ghost Culture
- Stephan Bodzin – Powers of Ten
- Floating Points – Elaenia
- Helena Hauff – Discreet Desires
Ste says: “2015 was a brilliant year for dance music, and techno in particular saw some really strong album releases. Floating Points dropped my personal album of the year. A stunning example of what electronica should sound like, Shepherd‘s ethereal Rhodes licks and synth bubble-blips make for a truly sublime long player. It is so fucking lovely, that it genuinely makes a tear come to my eye. Hip-hop heavyweight DJ Krush released his first album in 11 years and it demonstrated just why he’s been such a mainstay on the scene he dominates. Herzblut Records‘ label leader Stephan Bodzin really took techno to a whole new level with his sumptuous album of melodic, heartfelt dance music.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Steve Parry – Flippant
- Nick Höppner – Relate (The Black Madonna Remix)
- Leftfield – Head and Shoulders
Ste says: “It is really easy to lose count of how many impressive singles you hear over the course of one year. It is equally easy to lose count of the number of shit ones too. However, stand-out single of the year for me comes from Liverpool DJ and producer Steve Parry, who’s acid house banger Flippant has been getting some serious airing by big name DJ’s, the likes of whom include John Digweed. Solid!”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Ariel Pink – District, Liverpool
- Nina Kraviz – New Bird Street Warehouse, Liverpool
- The Blue Soul – The Caledonia, Liverpool
- Hardfloor – Williamson Tunnels, Liverpool
- Luke Vibert – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Ste says: “I tried to steer clear of an all out dance-based Top 5 gigs, not easy for a dance music writer! Ariel Pink for downright attitude and weirdness, Nina Kraviz for sheer techno obliteration, Hardfloor for bringing the tunnels down with their awesome 303 manipulations, The Blue Soul for rocking the Cali every time I’ve seen them play, and Luke Vibert for totally destroying the last Upitup in the Kaz.”
Event of 2015
Ste says: “For me this has got to be Sound City. Whilst it was a bit of a mix music-wise, it was my first ever gig for Getintothis and I was thrown right in at the deep end. I fucking loved it and I haven’t looked back since. Got onto some really awesome acts who I’d never even heard of before so it was a real learning experience on several levels.”
Music Tip for 2016
Ste says: “Not an easy one to choose just a single artist or band, so I’m going to plump for two. Paddy Clegg‘s band The Bad Habits are really going from strength to strength so I expect big things from any these youngsters in 2016. The Blue Soul is the latest project from Nick Ellis. The band are sounding super tight and with regular shindigs down at The Caledonia you really want to be checking them out before they’re playing less intimate venues. Word on the street is there’s an album being recorded as you read so keep your eyes peeled and your ears peeled-er.”
Nina Kraviz
Tom Konstantynowicz – Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool
- Kathryn Joseph – bones you have thrown me and blood i’ve spilled
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
- Charlie Barnes – More Stately Mansions
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Blaenavon – Hell Is My Head
- Pale Waves – The Tide
- Wolf Alice – Your Love’s Whore
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Wolf Alice – All of them
- Deaf School – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Vennart & Charlie Barnes – Soup Kitchen, Manchester
- Twin Planets – Bumper, Liverpool
- Pale Waves – Kraak, Manchester
Event of 2015
Tom says: “Deaf School at The Kaz was special for me, I got to take my dad to watch a band he loves and hadn’t seen since the seventies, all in the iconic surrounds of The Kazimier in one of its last ever nights.”
Music Tip for 2016
Tom says: “Blaenavon have been on the books of Transgressive for a while now, signing officially a few months back ahead of their Miss World EP release. They’re one of the most exciting bands around and if they can get a long player out in 2016 it’s sure to be there or thereabouts in the end of year lists, Transgressive rarely get it wrong,”
Hidden Charms
Lauren Jones – Getintothis writer
- The Serpent Power – Serpent Power
- Grimes – Art Angels
- Pell – Limbo
- Sudakistan – Caballo Negro
- Dan Wilson – All Love is Blind
- Hidden Charms – Dreaming of Another Girl
- Mellor – Seona
- The Vryll Society – Coshh
Top 5 gigs of 2015
- Heavenly Records 25th Anniversary – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- LMW Telegram, Floormen, Ohmns and Strange Collective – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
- The Sundowners, Sankofa, Marvin Pwell and She Drew the Gun – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- The Vryll Society, Sankofa, Hidden Charms – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Go Fiasco’s 90’s Euphoria with Stillia, The Cheap Thrills and Visitors – District Liverpool
Event of 2015
With Love From Liverpool, concert for Syrian refugees
Music Tip for 2016
MiNNETONKA
The crowd at Foals
Adam Lowerson – Getintothis Writer and Deputy Editor
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Everything Everything – Get To Heaven
- East India Youth – Culture of Volume
- Courtney Barnett – Somethimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit
- Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point in Cliff Town
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Everything Everything – Regret
- Foals – Mountain At My Gates
- Hooton Tennis Club – Jasper
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Foals – Olympia, Liverpool
- The War on Drugs – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Super Furry Animals – Albert Hall, Manchester
- Lapsley – Leaf, Liverpool
- Young Fathers – Glastonbury Festival
Event of 2015
Glastonbury
Music Tip for 2015
Trudy
Everything Everything
Gary Lambert – Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Nothing But Thieves – Nothing But Thieves
- Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Nightsweats – Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Nightsweats
- The Dead Weather – Dodge and Burn
- Sleaford Mods – Key Markets
- The Bohicas – The Making Of
Gary says: “My favourite album has had to have been Dodge and Burn for the fact that having such talented musicians playing together on record that it propelled some of them to new heights and for the first time ever on a collaborative piece, in my opinion, Jack White did not overshadow everyone else by virtue of being Jack White. The pomp of Impossible Winner showed how this wasn’t just blues-by-numbers but a glimpse into the future of rock ‘n’ roll.”
Top 3 tracks of 2015
- Nathaniel Rateliffe and The Night Sweats – S.O.B
- The VryllSociety – Air
- Blossoms – Charlemagne
Gary says: “Air by The Vryll Society is probably the most exciting piece of music I have heard in a decade. When everybody is trying to keep it simple, to hear a band at the start of their career sound so brash, confident, expansive and tuneful makes me desperate for the next steps. They’re magic, you know.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Shellsuit – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
- Blossoms – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Deaf School – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Flaming Lips – Sound City, Liverpool
- Spiritualized – Psych Fest, Liverpool
Gary says: “The high point was Spiritualized at Psych Fest and how they managed to turn the usually serious PZYK audience into the equivalent of an Oasis stadium gig with strangers hugging each other and dancing and singing together. Everybody did Come Together at the end of that set.”
Event of 2015
Gary says: “Heavenly 25 at The Kazimier. Despite going to festivals from age 18 this was probably the most consistently great day of music I have ever had. All killer, no filler with something for every aural taste-bud.”
Tip for 2016
Gary says: “Rory Wynne – a Mancunian lad with more than a touch of the Alex Turner‘s about him. He completely overshadowed Declan McKenna when supporting Blossoms with a healthy dose of wit to go with some uplifting, simple guitar play. His track Post Party Confusion is guaranteed to raise a smile.”
The LEGS dancers at Heavenly 25
Joe Woodhouse, Getintothis writer:
- Low – Ones and Sixes
- Peaches – Rub
- Pond – Man It Feels Like Space Again
- Screaming Females – Rose Mountain
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
- Ought – Beautiful Blue Sky
- Doldrums – Loops
- Death Grips – I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States
- Flying Lotus – Manchester Academy
- Low – Manchester Cathedral
- Babes In Toyland – Manchester Gorilla
- Lightning Bolt – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
- Thurston Moore Band – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
Ride
Shaun Ponsonby, Getintothis writer and Cosmic Slop columnist:
- ESKA – ESKA
- Steven Wilson – Hand Cannot Erase
- Saun & Starr – Look Closer
- Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
- Lonelady – Hinterland
Shaun says: “ESKA‘s album was 2015’s major find as far as I’m concerned. A colossal talent. The entire album is a unique, spellbinding journey. Although often cited as a soul artist, there is a healthy dose of unexpected influences like Gentle Giant and Captain Beefheart. A real treasure. She was robbed of that Mercury.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- ESKA – Shades of Blue
- Prince – 1,000 X’s & O’s
- Amique – The Infinite Divine
Shaun says: “I already labelled the ESKA‘s album my #1 choice, and this is my favourite track. No brainer.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- The Replacements – Roundhouse, London
- George Clinton & Parlaiment / Funkadelic – The Ritz, Manchester
- Xiu Xiu – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- ESKA – Constellations, Liverpool
Shaun says: “I had high expectations for PE, so there was a good chance they would have disappointed. But…they exceeded everything I thought they’d be. So much so that I completely lost my shit at the gig and couldn’t fully compose myself in time to write the review for this very site. Still vibrant after all these years.”
Event of 2015
No Homer’s Club – Constellations, Liverpool
Shaun says: “As Getintothis’ resident Simpsons fanatic, I really couldn’t pick anything else, could I? Constellations’ garden even had a Flaming Moe’s stall, with a bartender dressed as Moe and occasionally got crank calls that he announced to the waiting queue. Organ Freeman’s set of Simpsons classics (Baby On Board, Can I Borrow A Feelin’?, a Planet of the Apes medley) and seeing the three stages of Marge Simpson’s Chanel suit sealed the deal.”
Tip for 2016
Shaun says: “Galactic Funk Militia. I didn’t really want to pick a local act, because we do so much local music on the site…but, to hell with it…I fuckin’ love this band. The Funk is alive and well and living in Liverpool. Their live performances are amazing, their recordings have so far been great and I can’t wait to see where they go.”
Kaleidoscope
Patrick Clarke, Getintothis New Music Editor and Unknown Pleasures Columnist
Top 5 albums of 2015
- Hey Colossus: In Black and Gold
- Joanna Newsom: Divers
- Algiers: Algiers
- Teeth of the Sea: Highly Deadly Black Tarantula
- Hot Chip – Why Make Sense
Patrick says: “It’s a tough pick between Hey Colossus‘ In Black and Gold and their other album released this year, Radio Static High, but the former takes the cake. Brutal, searing, heavy psych at its pinnacle, it was my album of the year from its release in January and never topped. They were the standouts among standouts at Psych Fest too. Honorable mentions must go to Grimes, H Hawkline, Gnod, C Duncan and Polish outfit Stara Rzeka‘s impeccable, if unpronouncable, epic, Zamknely sie oczy ziemi.
Top 3 tracks of 2015
- Weaves – Tick
- Public Service Broadcasting – Go
- Holy Thursday – In My Mind
Patrick says: “Of all the tracks I came across in my new music column this year, Weaves‘ Tick stood out as the most perfect alt-pop banger of the lot. It’s been an absolute delight to see Public Service Broadcasting see such success this year too, I’ve been a fan since their first EP. As for Holy Thursday, why these guys don’t get more attention beyond Liverpool is completely baffling to me. In my opinion the best riffs on Merseyside at the moment”
Top 5 gigs of 2015
- Polar Bear – The Kazimier
- Manic Street Preachers – Cardiff Castle
- Echo and the Bunnymen – Liverpool Philharmonic
- Kaleidoscope – Leaf
- The War on Drugs – Brixton Academy
Patrick says: “The toughest decision of the lot. I’ve got luckier with the gigs I’ve seen this year than ever before. I’ve decided to leave out festival sets like Patti Smith at Glastonbury, The Flaming Lips at Sound City, Hey Colossus at Psych Fest and The Antlers at Green Man, if only in the interest of cramming more in, but those sets alone are contenders for my favourite gigs ever.
“That Polar Bear gig caught me completely by surprise. It was only moderately full, I was taking time off from a 5,000 word essay that I really couldn’t afford, and was generally mardy as hell. Thankfully the band’s transfixing set helped me get my priorities back in order. Fuck essays kids, go see jazz. Kaleidoscope at LEAF was also completely fucking ludicrous in all the best ways, so particular props for that.”
Event of 2015
Patrick says: “Sound City and Psych Fest were as special as ever, while a hedonistic jaunt to Green Man was one of the messiest festival experiences I’ve had, but Glastonbury still takes the crown. My third trip there, it was on life-changing form. I managed to swindle a ticket for next summer too, so roll on 2016!”
Tip for 2016
Patrick says: “I’d love to see Pearl Charles do well. I came across the LA singer’s suave, smokey first EP doing my column and she’s got all the talent anyone could hope for.”
Adam Scovell, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 albums of 2015
- Rob St.John – Surface Tension
- The Inward Circles – Belated Movements for an Unsanctioned Exhumation August 1984
- Palace Of Swords – La Belle Époque (2010-2014)
- Laura Cannell – Beneath Swooping Talons
- Sharron Kraus – Friends And Enemies; Lovers And Strangers
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- John Foxx – When The City Stops For Snow
- Julia Holter – Sea Calls Me Home
- Outfit – Boy
Event of 2015
Heavenly 25th – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Tip for 2016
Eccentronic Research Council
Outfit
Will Neville, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 albums on 2015
- Giant Sand – Heartbreak Pass
- Ezra Furman – Perpetual Motion People
- LoneLady – Hinterland
- The Sonics – This Is the Sonics
- Ryley Walker – Primrose Green
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Strange Collective – Sun
- Courtney Barnett – Elevator Operator
- I, Ludicrous – Old Professors V Young Professors
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Ride – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Paul McCartney – Echo Arena, Liverpool
- Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- The Buzzcocks – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- The War On Drugs – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Will says: “Interviewing The Pop Group’s Mark Stewart, and seeing Flavor Flav rapping while zooming around the stage on a Segway.”
Tip for 2016
Will says: “Audiovisual adventurer TVAM and Madrid lo-fi garage surf punksters The Parrots.”
Ezra Furman
Craig MacDonald, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Young Fathers – White Men are Black Men Too
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
- Blur – Magic Whip
- Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin
- Grimes – Art Angels
Craig says: “This year has been a stellar year for music with some true whoopers when it comes to albums. From Kendrick Lamar’s timeless To Pimp A Butterly proving he was not just a one trick pony, to the magnificent return of Blur in with their Magic Whip, there has been some solid long players. Ghostpoet more than justified his Mercury nod with the incredible Shedding Skin constantly finding its way into my ears as did the latest crazy crusade from Grimes her visionary spectacular Art Angels. But the album of the year for me is White Men Are Black Men Too by Young Fathers. They more than lived up to the hype after winning the Mercury and released an album that will continue to hit you to the core.”
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MO – Lean On
- Kanye West – All Day
- Circa Waves – T-Shirt Weather
Craig says: “Although not the case here with us folk at GIT HQ, in the days of the download, many people choose to listen to a track rather than a whole LP. From almost stealing the Brits from Madonna and her cape to smashing Glastonbury, Yeezy’s All Day was a highlight of the year for me. Likewise, Circa Waves were rightly many peoples soundtrack to the summer with their joy filled anthem T-Shirt Weather but for the me, the track of the year would be Lean On by Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat MO. It just makes you want to move and by the time you read this it’s probably got another gazillion plays on Soundcloud and Spotify.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Foals – The Olympia, Liverpool
- Echo & The Bunnymen – LIMF
- Young Fathers – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Public Enemy – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- The Vryll Society – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Craig says: “Sadly we can’t all manage to get to every gig but from what I managed to get to this year, in the summertime I saw the iconic Echo & The Bunneymen play a mesmerising set at LIMF while much earlier in the year, Young Fathers played one of the last truly great gigs I’ve seen in The Kazimier. More recently, The Vyrll Society blew me away when they tore up The Kaz while Public Enemy left everyone in a state of euphoria who saw them at the O2 Academy. But for me,Foals at the Olympia was the gig of the year. To be on the front row of that was insane. Eavis needs to give his head a wobble if they don’t headline Glasto!”
Event of 2015
Craig says: “The Kazimier closing. Such a massive part of our city that nowhere can come close to. It will be a dark day when its doors close.”
Tip for 2016
Craig says: “Ho99o9 are mental live and I’m really looking forward to seeing them put that craziness into their debut LP next year. If they get to our city in 2016, I implore you to go watch them!”
Young Fathers at the Kazimier
James Sullivan, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes
- Crocodiles – Boys
- Whyte Horses – Pop or Not
- Maniac – Demimonde
- Lusts – Illuminations
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Crocodiles – Crybaby Demon
- Man and the Echo – I Don’t Give a Fuck What You Reckon
- Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Fat White Family – Ritz, Manchester
- Ryan Adams – Academy, Leeds
- Courtney Barnett– Ritz, Manchester
- Giuda – Lexington, London
- Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
Event of 2015
James says: “Finally getting into Bruce Springsteen.“
Tip for 2015
LL Burns
Fat White Family
Jake Marley, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Stealing Sheep – Not Real
- Charli XCX – Sucker
- Grimes – Art Angels
- The Sundowners – Sundowners
- Björk – Vulnicura
Jake says: “Stealing Sheep is one of the best start-to-finish records I’ve heard all year, and seeing them perform it live a few times has cemented it’s place in my new music loving heart. Charli XCX and Grimes have killed the world of pop all year long, both taking totally different paths but both absolutely smashing it with phenomenal recordings and live shows. The Sundowners‘ self-titled debut has been on repeat all year long for me and again similarly to Stealing Sheep, hearing the record played live a few times made it a shoe-in. I waxed lyrical on the amazing piece of art that is Vulnicura earlier in the year and, even at 50, Björk is still amazing in every way. Some will say it’s not her best record ever but I say it’s miles away from being her worst and is certainly one of 2015’s crown jewels.
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Blossoms – Charlemagne
- Daughter – Doing The Right Thing
- Grimes – Kill V. Maim
Jake says: “Charlemagne is just an outright banger from the Blossoms lads, I’ve missed hearing funky indie-pop of that degree for awhile. Daughter’s Doing The Right Thing is the most beautiful song I’ve heard all year, the most emotion packed into one tiny little voice, ever. Your mind, body and soul all captivated at once. Grimes has reached new heights with Kill V. Maim, it’s just the kind of outside the box, groovy pop filth that every ear needs.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- The Sundowners – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- The Big Moon – (DIY Magazine NEU Tour) – Magnet, Liverpool.
- Blossoms – 02 Academy, Liverpool.
- Pink Kink & The Orielles – The Kazimier, Liverpool.
- Shura – Liverpool Music Week, East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
Jake says: “All relatively new, emerging artists as that’s my game. Sundowners are one of the best live bands on the local circuit, hands down. The Big Moon and Blossoms are going to be massive, even bigger than my head, both of them. Pink Kink are the grooviest new live band Liverpool’s got, 2016 might just be their year and that Kazimier gig alongside the equally groove-some Orielles will live long in the memory. Shura is also heading for much bigger things and her captivating set to an intimate crowd at Liverpool Music Week just had to be noted.”
Event of 2015:
Liverpool Sound City 2015
Jake says: “Simply phenomenal from start to finish, seeing The Flaming Lips live on English soil was a mental one, so much diverse art and music in one place and like-minded people everywhere, a truly captivating & memorable event, although The Coral & co. might top it next year.”
Tip for 2015:
Jake says: “The Big Moon. They’re bubbling fast towards the big time these girls, quite simply one of the best live bands on the circuit. I recall saying in a live review earlier this year, they simply HAVE to be big. You have it on record that I’ll eat my hat if they’re not. The minute they drop an album my head will explode anyway, so…”
The Big Moon
Paul Riley, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Slug – RIPE
- Bjork – Vulnicura
- Death Grips – The Powers that B
- Tame Impala – Currents
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi Love
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Billie Marten – Heavy Weather
- Louis Romegoux – The Refugee
- Slayer – Repentless
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Richard Dawson, Easter Island Head – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Blue Rose Code – Leaf, Liverpool
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Dead Rat Orchestra – Camp & Furnace, Liverpool
- Bonobo, Gilles Peterson, Danny Fitzgerald – St Luke’s Church, Liverpool
- The Apples, Rumjig, The Soul Rays – The Kazimier, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Paul says: “It hasn’t happened yet, but Return to Planet Kronos on New Year’s Eve in the Kaz will most likely snatch this accolade. There will be tears, there will be dancing, and it is going to get very, very messy. Expect tantrums and breakdowns come 5am kicking out time.”
Music Tip for 2015
Paul says: “A massive fan movement will prompt Fugazi to come out of their indefinite hiatus so I can see them and die happy. Vinyl with digital download codes will make me buying CDs a thing of the past. If I had to pick one artist I think will be making waves in 2016, it would be Ed Prosek. He releases an album early next year and judging by what he has already released, it’s going to be incredible.”
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Emma Walsh, Getintothis writer:
- Dan Mangan & Blacksmith – Club Meds
- Villagers – Darling Arithmetic
- Glen Hansard – Didn’t He Ramble
- SOAK – How to Dream
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowel
- The Frames – The Marquee, Cork
- Joan Armatrading – The Philharmonic, Liverpool
- Ryan Adams – The Guild, Liverpool
- Rusangano Family – The Kazimier Gardens, Liverpool
- Benjamin Booker – O2 Academy, Liverpool
The Rusangano Family
Martin Summerfield, Getintothis writer
- Kamasi Washington – The Epic
- Joanna Newsome – Divers
- Ben Folds – So There
- New Order – Music Complete
- Chemical Brothers – Born in the Echoes
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Shamir – On the Regular
- Missy Elliot – WTF (Where They From)
- De Lux – The Future
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Deaf School – Liverpool
- Flaming Lips – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
- Belle & Sebastian – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
- Everything Everything – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
- Thabo & the Real Deal – Sound City 2015, Liverpool
Event Of 2015
Martin says: “Liverpool Sound City. Although I miss going to a variety of different bars and clubs like The Kazimier (wistful sigh), Mello Mello (pours one out), Zanzibar, etc, I felt like in 2014 it needed a real shot in the arm. In 2015 they got that shot in the arm when moving to the docklands. It made it feel more coherent having everything closer together and had great headliners like Belle & Sebastian and Flaming Lips. The only fault I had was sound bleeding from adjacent stages, which also caused a hell of a bottleneck when things got crowded, and the unnecessary fairground. It turned a selection of gigs into more of a festival feel.”
Music Tip For 2016
Martin says: “Shijo X were something of a hidden gem at Sound City 2015, being shoved into a tent half filled with records and memorabilia, but despite that what I heard was a promising band, reminiscent of the smoky jazz stylings of Portishead. This is a band to dance to in a darkened room with wild abandon, it is worth your time and your ears.”
New Order
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
- Tame Impala – Currents
- Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
- Kagoule – Urth
- Gengahr –A Dream Outside
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- The Babe Rainbow – Planet Junior
- Blossoms – Blown Rose
- Foals – A Knife In The Ocean
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- The Babe Rainbow – Fallow Cafe, Manchester
- Blossoms – 02 Ritz, Manchester
- The Vryll Society – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Go Go Penguin – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Deerhunter – Camp and Furnace, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Tip for 2016
Telegram
Foals
Paul Higham, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Föllakzoid – III
- Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness
- Ian William Craig – Cradle for the Wanting
- Ought – Sun Coming Down
- Thee Oh Sees – Mutilator Defeated At Last
Paul says: “Seriously, this list could have been entirely comprised of Liverpool acts. We’ve been so fortunate to have had records from the likes of Outfit, Hooton Tennis Club, Bill Ryder-Jones and Stealing Sheep land on our doorstep and make compelling claims for inclusion. However in a year where the competition for top honours felt stiffer than it ever was, for me Föllakzoid just about shaded it, an incredible and boundary-pushing release that is as poised and restrained as it is transcendentally invigorating. Magic.
“Special mention also to Ian William Craig who has produced, hands down, the best ambient album of the year and one that fans of Stars of the Lid or Julianna Barwick will lap up.”
Top 3 tracks of 2015
- Bill Ryder-Jones – Two To Birkenhead
- Hooton Tennis Club – P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L P.I.E.R.R.E.
- Nap Eyes – No Fear of Hellfire
Paul says: “2015 saw a wealth of great songs from the buoyant Liverpool scene, hell, Hooton Tennis Club made an album chock-full of potential killer hit tunes. Special mention must go to Nap Eyes, a genuine musical discovery from the racks of Probe all the way from Nova Scotia, Canada. Wrap your ears around No Fear of Hellfire – it’s a belter.”
Top 5 gigs of 2015
- Sufjan Stevens – 02 Apollo, Manchester
- William Basinski – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Thee Oh Sees – ATP Festival, Prestatyn
- Deerhunter – Liverpool Music Week Closing Party, Liverpool
- The Heads – Liverpool Psych Fest, Liverpool
Event of 2016
Paul says: “While Liverpool had much to celebrate with a revamped Sound City and an incredible and expanded Liverpool Psych Fest, the return of ATP Festival filled a festival-sized void this winter and didn’t disappoint. A finer celebration of the alternative and avant-garde leftfield you’d struggle to find – roll on next year when Stewart Lee takes turn to curate.”
Tip for 2016
Paul says: “Having seen Trudy support Hooton Tennis Club earlier this month, it’s fair to say that they have a big future ahead of them. I am also expecting big things from RongoRongo and MiNNETONKA following exquisite recent releases from both. That said, my favourite thing of 2016 will likely be something that is as yet unknown to me. That’s why we keep on keeping on in this endless voyage towards new discoveries.”
Wolf Alice
Nick Lodge, Getintothis writer:
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
- Houndstooth – No News From Home
- Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool
- Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
- New Order – Music Complete
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Teleman – Fall in Time (just because I love this band and wanted to have them in the mix)
- Younghusband – Blonde Bending
- Sufjan Stevens – Should Have Known Better
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Sleaford Mods – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Kiran Leonard – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
- Courtney Barnett – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Wire – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Ezra Furman – Arts Club, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Final 10 Bands/10 Minutes at The Kaz
Tip for 2016
Younghusband
Sleaford Mods
Jamie Carragher,GetIntothis Writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
- Lianne La Havas – Blood
- Bill Ryder Jones – West Kirby County Primary
- Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point in Cliff Town
- All We Are – All We Are
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Father John Misty – Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
- MiNNETONKA – Birds of Prey
- Lianne La Havas – What You Don’t Do
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Belle and Sebastian – Sound City, Liverpool
- Blur – Madison Square Gardens, New York (Hate me, it happened)
- Hooton Tennis Club – Sound City, Liverpool
- Hyde Tyde – The Arts Club, Liverpool
- I Am Kloot – 02 Academy, Liverpool
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
- Bill Ryder-Jones – West Kirby Primary
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
- Matthew E White – Fresh Blood
- Blue Rose Code – The Ballads of Peckham Rye
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band – Velvets in the Dark
- Euros Childs – Julia Sky
- Balloons – Tom Low
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Ryan Adams – Liverpool Guild, Liverpool
- Matthew E White – Leaf, Liverpool
- The Stairs – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Julian Cope – The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool
- Takotsubo Men – Smithdown Festival, Liverpool
Event of 2015
LIMF
Tip for 2016
Tom Low, Deltasonic Records
Fireworks bring LIMF 2015 to a spectacular close
Lily Corke Butters,GetIntothis Writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Pond – Man it Feels Like Space Again
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Paper Mache Dream Balloon
- Tame Impala – Currents
- Mac Demarco – Another One
- Swim Deep – Mothers
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- The Vryll Society – Deep Blue Skies
- Blossoms – Charlemagne
- Tame Impala – ‘Cause I’m a Man
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Tame Impala – Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool
- Pond – Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
- Drenge – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Peace – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Mac Demarco – The Albert Hall, Manchester
Loyle Carner
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Ruby Rushton – Two for Joy
- Steve Cobby – Everliving
- Floating Points – Elaenia
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
- Kamasi Washington – The Epic
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Thundercat – Them Changes
- NxWorries – Suede
- The Internet – Girl
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Marcos Valle – Kazimier, Liverpool
- RA the Rugged Man –Kazimier, Liverpool
- Jeremy Underground b2b Hunee – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Mr Scruff – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Tenderlonious – Kazimier Garden, Liverpool
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Bitchin Bajas – Transporteur (Hands in the Dark)
- Mind Over Mirrors – The Voice Calling (Immune)
- Xam – Tone Systems (Deep Distance)
- Germanager – Smiles (upitup)
- Jon Brooks – Walberswick (More than Human)
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Groupuscule – Je Suis Marxiste (Polytechnique Youth)
- Listening Centre – Our Material (Ghost Box)
- Pye Corner Audio – Stars Shine Like Eyes (Death Waltz Originals)
Michael Townsend, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Hop Along – Painted Shut
- Romare – Projections
- Hunee– Hunch Music
- Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – A Year With 13 Moons
- Lakker – Tundra
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Hop Along – Waitress
- Gonno – A Life With Clarinet
- Young Marco – The Best I Could Do (With What I Had)
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Leila + Lakker – Oval Space, London
- Sharon Van Etten – Shepherds Bush Empire, London
- Gerd Janson – Shapes (Hackney Wick), London
- Oneohtrix Point Never – Village Underground, London
- Soundstream – Dance Tunnel, London
The Vryll Society
Neal McGrath, GetIntothis Writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Phil Cook – Southland Mission
- Joan Shelley – Over And Even
- Nev Cottee – Strange News From The Sun
- JD McPherson – Let The Good Times Roll
- Paul Weller – Saturns Pattern
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Nev Cottee – track If I could tell you
- Joan Shelley – Not Over By Half
- Bully – Trying
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- The Vryll Society – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Matthew E White –Leaf, Liverpool
- Ryan Adams – Uni, Liverpool
- Richard Hawley – Grand Central Hall The Dome, Liverpool
- Richard Thompson – The Philharmonic, Liverpool
Ryan Adams
Thomas Doyle, Getintothis writer
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Title Fight – Hyperview
- Drenge – Undertow
- Everything Everything – Get to Heaven
- Lamb of God – VII: Sturm und Drang
- Neon Indian – VEGA INTL. Night School
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Stealing Sheep – Sequence
- FEWS – The Zoo
- Everything Everything – Spring / Sun / Winter / Dread
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Drenge – The Magnet, Liverpool
- Tame Impala – Olympia, Liverpool
- Slipknot – Echo Arena, Liverpool
- John Power – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Todd Terje – Bombed Out Church, Liverpool
Veyu
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
- Father John Misty – I love you, Honeybear
- Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell
- Tame Impala – Currents
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Flyte – Please Eloise
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Necessary Evil
- Blur – Pyongyang
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Bombay Bicycle Club – Liverpool Guild of Students, Liverpool
- Flyte
- Dan Croll – The Buyers Club, Liverpool
- Of Montreal
- Frank Turner – Manchester Academy, Manchester
Event of 2015
Nick says: “Seeing Dan Croll perform as the first act at the newly opened Buyers Club. As Liverpool mourns the loss of its much-loved Kazimier, Buyers Club Music offered an immediate sense of optimism, and will
hopefully develop into a respected, welcoming venue for a variety of new and established artists to perform.”
Tip for 2016
GEoRGiA
Halem
Steph Niciu, Getintothis writer
Top Album of the Year
Tove Lo – Queen of the Clouds
Top 3 Tracks
- Tove Lo – Talking Body
- Chris Brown – Zero
- Pia Mia – Touch
Event of 2015
Steph says: “Kanye West at Glastonbury. West was everything you would want a Glastonbury headliner to be. His performance was such a spectacle. He was truly awesome.”
Music Tip for 2016
Liverpool pop outfit Halem
Richard Dawson
Jamie Bowman, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point in Cliff Town
- Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness
- Blur – Magic Whip
- Dungen – Allas Sak
- Richard Dawson – Nothing’s Important
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Hooton Tennis Club – Jasper
- Richard Dawson – The Vile Stuff
- Tame Impala – Let It Happen
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- The Stairs – Kazimier, Liverpool
- Happy Mondays – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Ride – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Richard Dawson – Kazimier, Liverpool
- The Lemonheads – The Ritz, Manchester
Mike Stanton, Getintothis writer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015:
- Outfit – Slowness
- Public Service Broadcasting – The Race for Space
- East India Youth – Culture Of Volume
- Holly Herndon – Platform
- Lonelady – Hinterland
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Deap Valley – Royal Jelly – Mike says: “Funk scorched post-punk sleaze with a chorus that pays off big time.”
- Blanck Mass – Dead Format – Mike says: “Charged and brutal electronic pugilism. Glorious and frightening in equal measure.”
- Beck – Dreams – Mike says: “Funked-up liquid disco throw downs.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2015:
- Girls Names – The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool – Mike says: “An absolute belter. Wave after wave of almighty noise fused into songs that spat with shock and awe.”
- Oneirogen – The Kazimier, Liverpool – Mike says: “A kaleidoscope of sub-bass, decaying white noise and harmonic synths. An immense, hypnotic and immersive experience.”
- Dustin Wong – The Everyman Bistro, Liverpool – Mike says: “Looped sonic collages constructed layer-by-layer. An ambient odyssey of sounds, manipulating and warping them, forming a sonic whole.”
- LoneLady – Central Library, Liverpool – Mike says: “Funk-fused new wave groove with warm melodies and cool posturing.”
- Outfit – The Kazimier, Liverpool – Mike says: “Superlative performance, charging the atmosphere with sweeping melodies and epic soundscapes. The capacity crowd roared its approval.”h
Event of the 2015:
Liverpool Music Week
Tip for 2016:
Velvet Morning
Mike says: “Blissful, psychedelic and washed out melodies. Too young to be this talented. Good things are surely on the horizon.”
Vicky Pearson, Getintothis photographer, writer and social media editor
Top 5 Albums of 2015:
- Ryan Adams – 1989
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.
- Bill Ryder Jones – West Kirby County Primary
- Evil Blizzard – Are You Evil?
- Foals – What Went Down
Top 3 Tracks of 2015:
- Bill Ryder Jones – Two to Birkenhead
- The Weeknd – The Hills
- Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian at Best
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Courtney Barnett – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Hey Colossus – Liverpool Psych Fest
- Richard Dawson – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Swans – Sound City
- Flaming Lips – Sound City
Event of 2015
Heavenly 25 at The Kazimier
Music Tip for 2016
Palmas
Swans
Keith Ainsworth, Getintothis photographer:
Top 5 Albums of 2015
- Chvrches – Every Open Eye
- New Order – Music Complete
- Lonelady – Hinterland
- Richard Hawley – Hollow Meadows
- Best Coast – California Nights
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Chvrches – Leave A Trace
- East India Youth – Turn Away
- Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best
Top 5 Gigs
- Foals – Olympia, Liverpool
- Flaming Lips – Sound City
- Circa Waves – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Buzzcocks – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Polyphonic Spree – Arts Club, Liverpool
Event of 2015
Liverpool Psych Fest
Music Tip for 2016
The Basement Effect
The Flaming Lips at Sound City 2015
- Tinariwen – Live in Paris
- Nai Harvest – Hairball
- New Order – Music Complete
- Lindi Ortega – Faded Gloryville
- Little Boots – Working Girl
- Throw Down Bones – Saturator
- Dirty Ghosts – Quicksand Castle
- Zun Zun Egui – Ruby
- Gang of Four – Camp & Furnace (Liverpool Music Week Closing Party)
- Deaf School – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Evil Blizzard – District (Liverpool Psych Fest)
- Bluebird Cafe at the Bluecoat – Bluecoat (LIMF)
- Throw Down Bones – The Blade Factory (Liverpool Psych Fest)
Deaf School
- Peace – Happy People
- Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool
- Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point In Cliff Town
- Circa Waves – Young Chasers
- Foals – What Went Down
- Natalie McCool – Cardiac Arrest
- Pretty Vicious – Are You Ready For Me?
- Sunset Sons – She Wants
- New Order – Olympia, Liverpool
- Black Honey – Studio 2, Liverpool
- Blossoms – O2 Academy, Liverpool
- Vant, The Big Moon & Inheaven – Magnet, Liverpool
- Peace – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Drenge
- Mark Lanegan – Houston
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
- Sleater Kinney – No Cities To Love
- Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin
- This Is The Kit – Bashed Out
Top 3 Tracks of 2015
- Sleater Kinney – Bury Our Friends
- Drenge – Running Wild
- Faith No More – Sunny Side Up
Top 5 Gigs of 2015
- Benjamin Booker– O2 Academy 2, Liverpool
- Thurston Moore – Sound City
- Get Your Gun – Sound City
- Drenge – The Kazimier, Liverpool
- Fucked Up – Sound City
Event of 2015
Sound City
Tip for 2016
Tom says: “I think Alessa Cara, Jack Garratt, Blossoms, Hinds, Spring King, Vant, Hooton Tennis Club, Pumarosa, Billie Marten, Sunflower Bean and Pretty Vicious are all going to make significant steps forward in 2016.”
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