The meaty part of the album release year has produced the goods in 2021 with some fantastic releases dropping. Once again, local releases have tended to outshine international albums, as was the case early in the year, however, a couple of international releases still managed to hog some of the limelight.
Here are my picks from the last few months.
Black Midi “Cavalcade”
‘Cavalcade’ is a solid comeback from Black Midi and, in many ways, is the perfect companion album to their debut. There is more variety on this record, more light and shade, and all in all, a completely different vibe that shows Black Midi are not simply one-trick ponies. ‘Cavalcade’ is the album they needed to make to prove there was more to their musical bow than just straight-out post-punk exuberance and intense musicianship.
Fave Tracks: John L, Slow, Dethroned, Ascending Forth
Flamingo Pier “Flamingo Pier”
The kings of class Flamingo Pier produced the perfect Summer dance record in the dead of winter with their self-titled debut album. This album bangs hard and fuses the best of jazz, funk, disco, and dance in a sound that would get anyone out of their seat dancing. With guest spots from the likes of Nathan Haines, this album proves there is so much more to the NZ dance scene than simply EDM and DnB. Get on it!!
Fave Tracks: Eternal, Last Call, Honey, Cosmic Sunset
Mara TK “Bad Meditation”
‘Bad Meditation’s’ minimalist production and simple instrumentation really allows TK’s impressive soulful vocals to shine through and dominate the 13 tracks, while the reflective and deeply personal nature of the songs show another depth to his songwriting. If one had questions about TK’s ability to go it alone, outside the realm of a group environment, this album well and truly puts those to bed. He plays the roles of songwriter, singer, instrumentalist, and producer to perfection, making it clear this is well and truly a solo effort. ‘Bad Meditation’ is the start of a new chapter in the musical life of Mara TK, and a chapter that looks well worth following if this first-up effort is anything to go by.
Fave Tracks: Highly Medicacted, Bed Meditation, Every Hori Is A Star, Met At The River
Troy kingi & Delaney Davidson “Black Sea Golden Ladder”
Kerikeri’s very own musical chameleon Troy Kingi is now halfway through the decade-long run of his ambitious 10 albums in 10 genres (10/10/10) series, with his latest self-proclaimed ‘folk album’, ‘Black Sea Golden Ladder‘, easily his most daring and risky release yet. This album isn’t folk as we know it in the traditional sense, but instead, it’s Kingi putting his unique spin on the genre, with the usual splatterings of soul and rock. I would call it a Troy-twist on folk. Whether it will hold up within the already exalted context of his 10/10/10 concept remains to be seen, but for now, ‘Black Sea Golden Ladder’ is a welcome addition to a project that has so far never failed to surprise.
Fave Tracks: Sleep, Never Take Me Away, Come Around, Twilight
Tyler, the Creator “Call Me If You Get Lost”
With ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’, Tyler, the Creator completes a trilogy of modern-day classic rap albums that will be looked at as such in ten years. ‘Flower Boy’, ‘Igor’ and this album are as good as it gets in hip hop right now and highlights Tyler’s transition into both a quality MC and producer. Few people have mastered both of these skills, but Tyler is well on the way to joining the likes of Kanye and Q Tip in the small group who have managed this. This is his moment, and he deserves it, especially after struggling to remove the quirky, disrupter stereotype that many rap fans placed on him for years.
Fave Tracks: Wusyaname, Hot Wind Blows, Sweet/I Thought You Wanted To Dance, Rise
- Sam
Nowhere Bros 