This Year's Records 12+13/18

Another double feature in this countdown. Not only for the reason that this artist released their new albums almost at the same time it is a reason for this feature. It is more that I follow both artists over many years and they never made any bad records. And this happened once again. Both albums are full of great and well arranged songs. It is classic songwriting with superb arrangements. Timeless and beautiful. Nothing more to say, because the songs speak for themself.

Gruff Rhys - Frontier Man

Gruff Rhys - Oh Dear

Gruff Rhys - Selfies In The Sunset

When Rhys on Babelsberg sometimes sounds like a reborn Lee Hazlewood, Gaz Coombes was inspired by Bowie and Lennon. I really don't know if I prefer his faster songs or the ballads. It really depends on the mood I am in. Anyway, Coombes is able to write and arrange songs far over the average. 

Gaz Coombes - Worlds Strongest Man

Gaz Coombes - Walk The Walk

Gaz Coombes - Vanishing Act

English Ruse

If anyone remembers Supergrass, an Oxford based band which was named as another brit-pop band you might forgot them as well as me. Their lead singer and guitarist Gareth 'Gaz' Coombes released his first solo record a few month ago called Matador. It is one of those records that impress me much. Good guitars, an afficted voice and a great arrangement and some Krautrock improvisations added. Hymns for the future if somebody would listen to. The more I listen to them the more I get addicted to them. Not the usual sound with a beat, a repeating refrain or a guitar riff - more than very clever arranged songs where you explore more and more details the more you listen to it. Surely a highlight this year (and there were a lot of).