Intuitive Music

Intuitive Music has selected what we consider the best 20 albums released during 2005 from all of the music that has comed to our hands. A selection of the best alternative music of the year, including experimental, electronica, jazz and progressive music. Jagga Jazzist, Animal Collective, Four Tet, Machine & the Synergetic Nuts, Et Sans, Jon Anderson, Biosphere, Brian Eno, Anthony Phillips, Björk, Phil Manzanera, Kate Bush, Mice Parade are some of our choices.

This is Intuitive Music’s selection of what we consider the best 20 albums released during 2005, from the music that has comed to our hands. The albums are listed in alphabetical order since we don’t see possible to pick which are better than the others, specially because the selection includes different genres, including electronica, experimental, jazz and progressive music.

Animal Collective – Feels – Fat Cat
"Feels" is the Animal Collective’s 7th album to date and, as has come to be expected, sees them again kicking off from previous releases to explore further fresh territory. Moving further away from the suggestion of folkish affinities, it is electrified, rhythmically more urgent, and overall a considerably denser work. One of the most original and unique productions of the last few years.

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Anthony Phillips – Field Day – Blueprint Records
A double album of acoustic pieces from the original guitarist of the early Genesis,"Field Day" is based around acoustic stringed instruments in both solo and duet form. As well as the usual 6-string and 12-string guitar pieces, Phillips has also composed beautiful new pieces for instruments such as charanga, English bazouki and cittern. A nice work of traditional and advanced music made with craftmanship and taste.

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Biosphere – Dropsonde – Touch
In "Dropsonde" Biosphere is pushing new directions towards the jazz colours of Miles Davis and Jon Hassell, whilst re-invigorating the pulse and projection of his signature sound: a hypnotic combination of pleasure and dread. A perfect invitation to new paths in electronic fusion music for the 21st century.

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Brian Eno – Another Day on Earth – Hannibal
Eno has said that this is the 1st work he has done that he likes for 25 years or so. Eno’s early dedication to the musical avant garde was always steeped in wit and a passionate regard for the classic history of purely popular music from black American doo-wop through the volatile lullabies of the Velvet Underground to the eerie soundscapes of Can. A very personal work from one of the most personal music architects of our era.

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Björk – The Music From Drawing Restraint 9 – One Little Indian
Soundtrack for the film "Drawing Restraint 9" in which Björk also played a small acting roll. This work is primarily oriented around the traditional musical forms of Japan, featuring the sho player Mayumi Miyata, one of the world’s foremost sho players who has premiered compositions for the instrument by John Cage and Toru Takemitsu. A window opened to the exploration of the richness of traditional ethnic music into our time.

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Et Sans – Par Noussss Touss Les Trous de Vos Cranes! – Alien 8
Montreal experimental band Et Sans produces a revision of the most cutting-edge krautrock sound into the 21st century. Of all of the advanced artists who are recovering the limitless treasure of krautrock music Et Sans is one of the richest and most promising proposals, no matter which step they take in the future.

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The Fellowship – In Elven Lands – Voiceprint
Jon Anderson of Yes joined with a small fellowship of recording artists to create music inspired by the writings of J.R.R. and set out to record music that actually came from the author’s mythical worlds. "In Elven Lands" features songs in Elvish, English and Anglo-Saxon that reflect details gleaned from Tolkien’s personal notes. Features a wide variety of ancient instruments and early-music performance practices. A respectfull project that for the very first time pays a faithfull musical tribute to the unique world of Tolkien.

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Four Tet – Everything Ecstatic – Domino
A unique mix of jazz, folk and hip-hop and electronica by Kieran Hebden -aka Four Tet-. One of the most creative artists from a new generation of genre transgresors into modern electronic music.

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Jaga Jazzist – What We Must – Ninja Tune
One of the most advanced and creative bands from Norway takes a new step into the fusion of electronica and jazz, with influences from progressive rock and shoegazer pop. A must have album from the 2005 and and invitation to a rich world world of freeforms, deep landscapes and fresh arrangements by the "21st Century Organized Chaos Band".

John Hackett – Checking Out of London – Camino
Flute player John Hackett features the collaboration of several reputed musicians such as his brother Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) on guitar and harmonica, Nick Magnus on keyboards, and Tony Patterson (ReGenesis) on vocals. A modern and exquisite piece of rock music following the high quality tradition of the progressive rock artists.

 

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Jon Anderson – Tour of the Universe – Classic Pictures Entertainment
A beautiful array of songs produced by using computer software and sequences triggered from a MIDI guitar. The album also includes new solo versions of some Yes and Jon and Vangelis classics, such as "Long Distance Runaround", "State of Independence", "The Revealing Science of God", "Nous Sommes du Soleil". A personal collection of hopefull and enlighten pieces from this 21st Century trovadour.

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Kate Bush – Aerial – Virgin
After a 12 years hiatus, Kate Bush is back with this new studio work that started back in 1999 and features the contributions of Mick Karn (bass), Stuart Elliott (drums), Chris Hall (accordion), jazz percussionist Peter Erskine, and classical musicians Emma Murphy and Susanna Pell. A continuanion of Kate Bush’s brilliant career with a new glimpse of her personal and intimate world. A different way to interpretate modern pop music with an original array of sounds a very poetic insight.

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Kinski – Alpine Static – Subpop
A combination of avant-garde experimentalism picked up from their interest in composers like Terry Riley and Steve Reich with a fondness for ’70s krautrock pioneers like Ash Ra Tempel, and the gut-level thrust, heft and swing of Black Sabbath, the Groundhogs, Kinski have established themselves as Seattle’s foremost psych rock explorers. One of the top newcomer bands of the year in the world of experimental music.

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Machine & the Synergetic Nuts – Leap Second Neutral – Cuneiform

The first work from Machine & The Synergetic Nuts is a true breath of fresh air for contemporary fusion music with a powerful combination of acid jazz and free jazz in a very personal revision. From super-acid and squeaking Hammond organs to progressive arrangements and metals that evoke the classic Miles Davis 60’s sound. A real revelation for the 21st century of overwhelming progressive jazz that won’t cause indifference to the lovers of this style. One of the most impressive jazz works from the last few years and probably the album that has caused a strongest impression on us during 2005.

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Mice Parade – Bem-Vinda Vontade – Fat Cat
Mice Parade turned into a full band consisting of the cheng, drums, vibes, violin, classical guitar, synths, to blend a wonderful world of electronica and post rock. A highly recommended for the lovers of experimentation and breaking boundaries music.

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Oneida – The Wedding – Rough Trade
For this album Oneida built the largest music box on the East Coast of the United States, using plywood, salvaged marine pilings, industrial motor parts and over seventy saw blades. Oneida created and recorded unearthly tones and melodies; these were subsequently used as the basis for a series of melancholy, yearning songs that now see the light of day as ‘The Wedding’. A beautiful work that takes you to a new dimension in experimental music.

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Patrick Wolf – Wind in the Wires – Tomlab
A trip to the wild ancient landscapes of the West Country and to the sound of night trains, plucked pianos and gypsy strings. Patrick Wolf, who sings and plays all instruments on the album, including viola, violin, baritone and soprano ukelele, piano, and reed organ. A personal world from a representative of the new ways of fussion between electronica and vintage music genres.

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Phil Manzanera – 50 Minutes Later – Hannibal
In this album Phil Manzanera is joined by Roxy Music’s members Paul Thompson and Andy Mackay plus old time friends Robert Wyatt and Brian Eno. A perfect sample of how much some veteran musicians have to say in this decade.

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Syn – Syndestructible – Umbrello
British pioneer psychedelic band Syn have a comeback with a reformed line-up including Chris Squire (bass), Stephen Nardelli (vocals), Jeremy Stacey (drums), Gerard Johnson (keys) and Paul Stacey (guitar). The new Syn have described themselves as Prog Modernists and have stated that they are "taking the concept of Progressive music into the 21st century". A wonderfully produced album that heads a renaissance of progressive music into our time.

Tetsu Inoue – Yolo – DIN
The reputed Japanese ambient musician dissects a combination of Max random synthesised sounds and field recordings into fragments and particles which are then sieved through in microscopic detail. "Yolo" is without a doubt one of the most beautiful, delicate and charming works of minimal electronic music of our times.