Category: colectivo plays

2011 = colectivo favorites!

Photograph by Stefano Pesarelli, winner of national geographic 2011 photo

you’ve probably already seen about a million top lists of 2011, but that won’t deter us from sharing our most memorable records of the year. we asked our contributors to provide their favorite lists and when all the results came together these were the albums that provided the year’s most outstanding listens.

listen to our favorite albums of 2011 on spotify

+ drake - take care [cash money] another fantastic effort by drizzy proving that you can combine superb production values with enough pop appeal to get any party going. outstanding track: HYFR (hell ya f***ing right)

+ the weeknd - house of balloons [self released] no other artist had a better year, the weeknd went from nowhere to everywhere by releasing 3 outstanding albums and giving them away for free! swag. outstanding track: the morning

+ gil scott-heron / jamie xx - we’re new here [young turks] a fantastic recontextualisation of the late great’s final album and a clear example of the production wizardry of the british wunderkind. outstanding track: the crutch

+ sbtrkt - sbtrkt [young turks] bass musics meets pop music and what a wonderful thing it is; the best thing about this record is you can either dance to it or simply sing along. outstanding track: something goes right

+ the horrors - skying [xl recordings] future sounding album that proves rockers can sport synthesizers without sounding overly cheesy. outstanding track: moving further away

+ the war on drugs - slave ambient [secretly canadian] a proper rock album full of atmospheric soundscapes, slave ambient is awfully reminiscent of some of the best krautrock records ever released. outstanding track: your love is calling my name

+ thundercat - the golden age of tomorrow [brainfeeder] surprising debut album from soul bassist extraordinaire with co-production by the one and only flying lotus. outstanding track: it really doesn’t matter to you

+ james blake - james blake [atlas recordings] dubstep’s prodigious child gifts us a very personal album full of introspective moments, transcending genres and flirting with timelessness. outstanding track: to care (like you)

+ hype williams - one nation [hippos in tanks] equally mysterious as its creators, this album is one hell of a trip! always on the verge of falling apart, the album is abound with far-out synth explorations providing great and often weird results. outstanding track: break4love

+ cities aviv - digital lows [self released] another proof that you don’t have to be signed to a label to stand out. bringing together the most disparate of influences, this memphis-based rapper oozes originality and flair. outstanding track: a beautiful hell

+ africa hitech – 93 million miles [warp] our favorite bass music related album of the year by far. combining a host of influences, this record will lift all the right spirits and set the feet in motion. outstanding track: our luv

+ m83 - hurry up, we’re dreaming [m83] a more than worthy return of epic proportions, making it seem like they never really went away. perhaps one of the year’s most emotionally charged records. outstanding track: midnight city

No Comments by el colectivo futuro on January 15, 2012

filed in colectivo plays, sounds

tagged best albums 2011, colectivo plays, music, playlist

2010 = colectivo favorites!

photo by Aron Lim Boon Teck, winner of national geographic 2010 photo contest

with the year coming to a close, we would like to present an unpretentious (spotify) playlist with some of our favorite albums from 2010. this list is by no means a definitive “best of”, but instead a collection of records that have provided a worthy soundtrack for our daily grind.

check out the list on amazon or listen to it via spotify

+ deerhunter – halcyon digest [4AD]. an expanded instrument palette results in an outstanding album top to bottom.

+ matthew dear – black city [ghosly international]. a dark,mature offering that oozes the influence of new york across the board.

+ toro y moi - causers of this [carpark records]. probably the best in a sea of many chill-wavers and purveyors of washed out pop.

+ the drums – the drums [downtown]. feel good album of the year made in the mold of vintage beach boys.

+ lcd soundsystem - this is happening [DFA]. a much awaited comeback that will make you want to lose your chair and bust a few moves.

+ wild nothing - gemini [captured tracks]. a one-man-band that brings back the sound of vintage synth-pop reminiscent of the cure.

+ andreya triana - lost where I belong [ninja tune]. a restrained, yet noteworthy debut, produced by bonobo (see above).

+ darkstar - north [hyperdub]. a melancholic album that takes cue from other brit counterparts such as OMD or the human league.

+ twin shadow - forget [4AD]. a forward-looking debut full of subtleties that won’t let us forget the past.

+ aloe blacc - good things [stones throw]. a fantastic effort by one of the finest purveyors of modern soul.

+ shigeto - full circle [ghostly international]. wonderfully constructed beats full of psychedelia.

+ caribou - swim [merge]. a proper slice of modern pop with cuts that’ll stick to your head for days.

+ andrew bird - andrew bird & the mysterious production of eggs [righteous babe]. a folk gem full of heartbreak references with a touch of wit.

+ drake - thank me later [universal motown]. yeah it’s a bit mainstream, but the production work on it is fantastic!

+ efterklang - magic chairs [4AD]. beautifully orchestrated neo-pop from one of the most unique bands around.

+ seabear - we built a fire [morr music]. a not-so-typical indie record made by a not-so-typical icelandic band.

+ bonobo - black sands [ninja tune]. a proper exercise in jazz-infused trip-hop with hints of bass musics.

+ broken social scene - forgiveness rock record [arts & crafts]. canadian indie-rockers at it again with another grandiose, torch-carrying effort.

+ glasser - ring [true panther]. a perfectly concocted menagerie of textures that remain suspended in time.

+ beach house - teen dream [sub pop]. a confluence of past influences and new approaches provide one of the indie highlights of the year.

No Comments by el colectivo futuro on December 30, 2010

filed in colectivo plays, sounds

africa = global roots musics!

now that the south african world cup events are over, we can move on without the much annoying vuvuzelas and make amends in the name of quality african sounds via this carefully curated spotify playlist. for this instance of the colectivo plays series, we weren’t satisfied with just including the already known big names of african music, such as fela kuti, tony allen, mulatu, et al… but we embarked on a month long research journey through the most obscure corners of the continent to find not only sounds of past, but also forward looking artists who are currently igniting the vast african scene. whether it’s afrobeat, ethiopian jazz, bazombo, afrorock, or soul, we’ve got you covered with this 30 track spotify playlist.

tracklist & link below (click on link to add the playlist to your spotify client)…

africa = global roots musics

01 boubacar traoré – maciré
02 lionel loueke – karibu
03 ali farka touré & toumani diabaté – warbé
04 cheikh lo – banbay gueej
05 peter king – african dialects
06 fela kuti – water get no enemy
07 mulatu astatke – mulatu’s mood
08 abdullah ibrahim/dollar brand – bombella
09 tumi & the volume – floor
10 jimi tenor & kabu kabu – grind!
11 geraldo pino – africans must unite
12 salah ragab & the cairo jazz band – egypt strut
13 mahmoud ahmed – wey feqer
14 ismael lo – sophia
15 orchestra baobab – deé moo wóor
16 wale oyejide – africahot!
17 ofege – adieu
18 cesaria evora – angola (carl craig remix)
19 jimi tenor & tony allen – three continents
20 toumani diabaté – djelika
21 konono no. 1 – konono wa wa wa
22 mulatu astatke & the heliocentrics – esketa dance
23 manu dibango – africa boogie
24 seun kuti & egypt 80 – don’t give that shit to me
25 tony allen – kilode
26 tumi & the volume – in a minute
27 the sweet talks – eyi su ngaangaa
28 orlando julius – psychedelic afro shop
29 monomono – kenimania
30 fela kuti – shakara (oloje)