It’s been another great year for music in Brighton with several scenes brewing that look set to explode in 2014. Key music industry players have been talking up the strength of the city’s talent this year, and there are a few big signings on the horizon (some included below). Here’s our writers to guide you through the best Brighton tracks of the last 12 months.
1. British Sea Power
‘Machineries Of Joy’
Swooping in like the first warm breeze of spring, the title track of BSP’s fifth album married generous faith in humanity lyrics to gossamer trails of viola and guitar, and echoes of Kraftwerk’s decaying ‘Radioactivity’ synth lines.
2. Traams
‘Klaus’
It’s over seven minutes long, all bassline groove and motorik beat, full of insistent guitar riffs and disorientating vocals – how else could Traams end their stunning debut album and their intense gigs? The cover of NME awaits.
3. The Wytches
‘Beehive Queen’
A doomy despatch from the brink of mania, ‘Beehive Queen’ was a twanging, tightly wound, garage rock plea seemingly unearthed from Lux Interior’s grave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZOkGeiPw4
4. IYES
‘Til Infinity’
‘Til Infinity’ is completely fresh yet feels like it’s already been a hit, as Melis’ vocal hook gets instantly in your head like any great pop song should. Next year’s looking big for IYES.
5. Royal Blood
‘Out Of The Black’
A thundering introduction to 2014’s most hotly tipped Brighton band, ‘Out Of The Black’ was louder than any simple guitar-drums pairing had the right to be. Next stop, Finsbury Park.
6. Rum Committee
‘Bar After Bar’
Rolling, old school, none-more-Brighton hip hop track from December’s SOURCE New Music headliners Rum Committee. ‘Bar After Bar’ managed to namecheck almost every decent boozer in the city, and then some. Seriously clever.
7. Phoria
‘Red’
The standout track from the ‘Bloodworks’ EP, the silky piano-led ‘Red’ was simply beautiful. Slow building soundscapes and soft vocals make it deliciously sumptuous.
8. The Physics House Band
‘Abraxical Solapse’
From their ‘Horizons / Rapture’ EP, ‘Abraxical Solapse’ is a huge tumble through 100 massive riffs, 200 obtuse time signatures and 1000 math-melted brain cells. And yet it has the immediacy and urgency of the most pop of pop. Wonderful instrumental wizadry.
9. Tigercub
‘Little Rope’
Tigercub were the year’s fuzziest ball of grunge rock fun and the stealthy strut of ‘Little Rope’ was their lustful, growling calling card.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fxvwRL6j9k
10. Kins
‘Aimless’
A highlight of Kins’ summer debut, ‘Aimless’ was a little more focused than the title suggests, adding a woozy Washed Out haze to the band’s steady xx grooves.
11. The Hundredth Anniversary ‘The Jump’
12. Us Baby Bear Bones ‘Mountains’
13. Natasha Khan And Jon Hopkins ‘Garden’s Heart’
14. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds ‘Jubilee Street’
15. Tyrannosaurus Dead ‘Sadie’
16. Anushka ‘Yes Guess’
17. Chris T-T And The Hoodrats ‘The Bear’
18. Curxes ‘Further Still’
19. Yumi And The Weather ‘Must I Wait’
20. MC Cashback ‘Homemade Burgers’
