About ten years ago my friend who is a writer told me about his theory for pulling an all nighter to get a big commission done. He said the key was to start drinking red wine at the same time as starting the writing. He told me: “You have to take the first sip at exactly the same moment you make the first keystroke. If you start drinking first, you’ll just fuck it off and go to the pub, and if you start writing first you’ll just get tired and disheartened and not finish.” I think he put this theory into practice on several occasions while a computer games journalist. One night he had to write the entire 18 page news section for X Gamer magazine and started at 10pm at night, finishing just before his deadline of 10am the next morning.
Somewhere around 4AM, seven large glasses of cabernet sauvignon in, his juices must have been really flowing as he unleashed a masterful potato metaphor, the like of which the world had never seen before and has probably never seen since.
He began by saying that racing games were like the humble spud – a staple so basic that there were limits to how much culinary trickery could embellish it. TOCA (Touring Car Racing) were about to release a new game called Racing Driver, but this one came complete with a narrative that was “a tale of romance, drama and revenge”. He then asked the reader to imagine a bored housewife dressing a series of baked potatoes in miniature tuxedos to illustrate the pointlessness of the game’s narrative. The foodstuff had been pushed beyond breaking point by decorative fuckwittery. His news piece concluded along the following lines: “Romance? In a driving sim? It’s fucking ridiculous! And if TOCA serve us up a baked potato in a tuxedo then heads are going to roll!”
All I can say is that if you try the same approach with Monster energy drink (Chaos, Energy and Assault flavours) and highly sugared tea, the same amounts of inspired creativity do not materialise, only despondency, panic and double vision. In fact the only potato related event to happen to me in the all-nighter it’s taken to complete this chart is the fact that I now have the theme music from CBeebies’ Small Potatoes trapped on loop inside my noggin. So I’m going to keep this introduction quite short.
2014 is probably the first year for a while where the release schedules for the second half look a lot more promising than the first half, but that hasn’t stopped this list of 75 albums from being one we’re really buzzing off. As usual the left field electronic/dance choices of Rory Gibb have been a key element to the list looking like it does. We’re sad to announce that after three excellent years Mr Natty Gibb will be leaving the Quietus. He’s been a good friend and an absolute asset to the site – we’re hoping he’s going to keep on writing for us – but we’re pleased that in the future he’s going to be adding to the sum of human knowledge while listening to ear-boggling footstep on his iPod. Jah bless Mr Rory Gibb.
Of course the aesthetic of tQ is an organic thing and it has already shifted dramatically in other positive directions because of the welcome addition of our newest recruit, Sophie Coletta, who also voted toward this chart along with Laurie Tuffrey, Luke Turner and myself. As always, this isn’t supposed to be a tablet brought down from Mount Sinai in a hail of thunderbolts, it merely represents the albums that the staff have listened to the most this year so far. Taste in music is completely subjective and so is this Top 75. It is compiled from studio albums released between January 1 and June 30, 2014… well, for the most part at least. It wouldn’t be a Quietus chart if we didn’t bend the rules a few times. For example, we know Jar Moff’s Financial Glam came out in December 2013, but we hadn’t got to grips with it then. Also we’ve been a bit cheeky with ‘Pipes’ by Katie Gately… it’s not an album and it came out last year but it’s just so great we had to acknowledge it (although it has been reissued recently). The same goes for the live album released by Islam Chipsy’s group EEK on December 31 last year.
To put it simply, we’re not as interested in the rules as we are in spreading the word about great music. However, I fully appreciate that due to a lack of excellent and extended potato metaphors, many readers will skip straight over this intro so as to waste no time before getting stuck into posting pedantic comments at the foot of this feature. More fool them: the silly pilchards. There is another kind of reader, however; the reader who digests the introduction entirely, unswayed by flashy root vegetable-based literary flourishes, who is strikingly handsome, quiveringly beautiful and possesses fabulous smelling hair. And that reader is, of course, you, dear heart.
As you’ll probably notice there are a lot of bands and artists from Poland in the chart. This reflects an interest that everyone in the office has in Polish underground music. In fact we have some interesting news about this on the horizon, but more on that in due course.
I hope you enjoy the chart as much as we’ve enjoyed listening to all this music. Please feel free to give us your own selections below and draw our attention to albums we may have missed. Thanks for reading. Take it easy. Don’t imbibe Monster energy drink: it’s horrible – you’d be just as well getting some whizz in.
75. Teitanblood – Death
(Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
More on Teitanblood coming soon
74. Yann Tiersen – ∞
(Mute)
73. Leyland Kirby Presents V/Vm – The Death Of Rave (A Partial Flashback)
(History Always Favours The Winners)
Read our review of The Death Of Rave here
72. Fatima Al Qadiri – Asiatisch
(Hyperdub)
Read our review of Asiatisch here
71. Man Forever – Ryonen
(Thrill Jockey)
Read our review of Ryonen here
70. Derek Piotr – Tempatempat
(MonotypeRec.)
More on Derek Piotr coming soon
69. HTRK – Psychic 9-5 Club
(Ghostly International)
Read our review of Psychic 9-5 Club here
68. Liars – Mess
(Mute)
67. Lust For Youth – International
(Sacred Bones)
Read our review of International here
66. Echoes Of Yul – Tether
(Zoharum)
More on Echoes Of Yul coming soon
65. Eomac – Spectre
(KILLEKILL)
Read our interview with Eomac here
64. Ekoplekz – Unfidelity
(Planet Mu)
Read our review of Unfidelity here
63. Wrangler – LA Spark
(Memetune)
Read our interview with Wrangler here
62. Cities Aviv – Come To Life
(Young One)
Read our review of Come To Life here
61. Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun
(Reprise)
Read our review of Once More ‘Round The Sun here
60. Gyratory System – Utility Music
(Soft Bodies)
Read our review of Utility Music here
59. Behemoth – The Satanist
(Nuclear Blast)
Read our review of The Satanist here
58. Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
(Jagjaguwar)
Read our review of Burn Your Fire For No Witness here
57. Innercity Ensemble – Black/White
(Instant Classic)
Read our review with Kuba Ziołek here
56. Prostitutes – Petit Cochon
(Spectrum Spools)
Read our review of Petit Cochon here
55. The Soft Pink Truth – Why Do The Heathen Rage?
(Thrill Jockey)
More on The Soft Pink truth coming soon
54. Ronika – Selectadisc
(Record Shop)
More on Ronika coming soon
53. Moodymann – Moodymann
(KDJ)
Read our review of Moodymann here
52. Scott Miller, Lee Camfield & Merzbow – No Closure
(Cold Spring)
More on No Closure coming soon
51. Ø – Konstellaatio
(Sähkö)
Read our review of Konstellaatio here
50. Tinariwen – Emmaar
(Emar)
Read our review of Emmaar here
49. YG – My Krazy Life
(Pu$haz Ink/CTE World/Def Jam Recordings)
Read our review of My Krazy Life here
48. Heterotic – Weird Drift
(Planet Mu)
Read our interview with Heterotic here
47. 100s – IVRY
(Fool’s Gold)
46. Anat Ben-David – MeleCh
(self-released)
More on Anat Ben David coming soon
45. Some Truths – Some Friends I Lost To Bedlam, Others I Abandoned There
(Mordant Music)
Read our review of Some Friends I Lost To Bedlam, Others I Abandoned There here
44. Owen Pallett – In Conflict
(Domino Recording Company)
Read our review of In Conflict here
43. Traxman – Da Mind Of Traxman Vol. 2
(Planet Mu)
More on Traxman coming soon
42. Sd Laika – That’s Harakiri
(Tri Angle Records)
Read our review of That’s Hara Kiri here
41. DonChristian – Renzo Piano
(Camp & Street)
Read our review of Renzo Piano here
40. Legowelt – Crystal Cult 2080
(Crème Organization)
More on Crystal Cult 2080 coming soon
39. Marc Almond – Dark London: The Tyburn Tree
(Sospiro)
Watch the Quietus for more on Marc Almond later this year
38. Stephen O’Malley, Oren Ambarchi & Randall Dunn – Shade Themes From Kairos
(Drag City)
More on Shade Themes From Kairos coming soon
37. Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies – Earth Air Spirit Fire Water
(Ván)
Selim Lemouchi R.I.P.
36. Toumani & Sidiki Diabate – Toumani & Sidiki Diabate
(World Circuit)
Read our interview with Toumani and Sidiki Diabate here
35. DJ Taye – Overdose On Teklife Vol II
(self-released)
34. Diamond Version – CI
(Mute)
33. Noura Mint Seymali – Tzenni
(Glitterbeat)
More on Noura Mint Seymali coming soon
32. Merkabah – Moloch
(Instant Classic)
More on Merkabah coming soon
31. KIT – Lownt God Rising
(self-released)
More on KIT coming soon
30. Bong – Stoner Rock
(Ritual Productions)
Read our interview with Bong here
29. DJ Q – Ineffable
(Local Action)
More on DJ Q coming soon
28. Ibibio Sound Machine – Ibibio Sound Machine
(Soundway)
Read our review of Ibibio Sound Machine here
27. Willie The Kid & Bronze Nazareth – The Living Daylights
(Embassy Entertainment)
More on The Kid & Bronze Nazareth coming soon
26. Jar Moff – Financial Glam
(PAN)
Read our review of Financial Glam here
25. Future Islands – Singles
(4AD)
Read our review of Singles here
24. St. Vincent – St. Vincent
(Loma Vista/Republic)
Read our review of St Vincent here
23. Laibach – Spectre
(Mute)
Read our review of Spectre here
22. Yvette – Process
(Tough Love)
Read our review of Process here
21. Joey Anderson – After Forever
(Dekmantel)
Read our review of After Forever here
20. Sleaford Mods – Divide & Exit
(Harbinger Sound)
Read our review of Divide And Exit here
19. Copeland – Because I’m Worth It
(self-released)
Read our review of Because I’m worth it here
18. Chrononautz – Public Domain Fuckover Series #1 – 6
(self-released)
More on Chrononautz coming soon
17. Klara Lewis – Ett
(Editions Mego)
16. Sunn O))) & Ulver – Terrestrials
(Southern Lord)
Read our review of Terrestrials here
15. Stein Urheim – Stein Urheim
(Hubro)
Read our review of Stein Urheim here
14. Wild Beasts – Present Tense
(Domino Recording Company)
Read our review of Present Tense here
13. Xiu Xiu – Angel Guts: Red Classroom
(Bella Union)
Read our review of Angel Guts: Red Classroom here
12. Kasai Allstars – Beware The Fetish
(Crammed Discs)
Read our review of Beware The Fetish here
11. Russell Haswell – 37 Minute Workout
(Diagonal)
Read our Russell Haswell primer here
10. EEK ft. Islam Chipsy – Live At The Cairo High Cinema Institute
(Nashazphone)
Read our review of Live At The Cairo High Cinema Institute here
9. Actress – Ghettoville
(Werkdiscs/Ninjatune)
Read our review of Ghettoville here
8. Olga Bell – Krai
(One Little Indian)
7. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib – Piñata
(Stones Throw)
Read our review of Piñata here
6. Kassem Mosse – Workshop 19
(Workshop)
Read our review of Workshop 19 here
5. Katie Gately – Pipes
(Blue Tapes)
4. The Body – I Shall Die Here
(RVNG Intl.)
3. Perc – The Power And The Glory
(Perc Trax)
Read our review of The Power And The Glory here
2. East India Youth – TOTAL STRIFE FOREVER
(Stolen)
Read our review of TOTAL STRIFE FOREVER here
1. Swans – To Be Kind
(Mute)
Read our review of To Be Kind here
The Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far 2014
- Swans – To Be Kind
- East India Youth – TOTAL STRIFE FOREVER
- Perc – The Power And The Glory
- The Body – I Shall Die Here
- Katie Gately – Pipes
- Kassem Mosse – Workshop 19
- Freddie Gibbs and Madlib – Piñata
- Olga Bell – Krai
- Actress – Ghettoville
- EEK ft. Islam Chipsy – Live At The Cairo High Cinema Institute
- Russell Haswell – 37 Minute Workout
- Kasai Allstars – Beware The Fetish
- Xiu Xiu – Angel Guts: Red Classroom
- Wild Beasts – Present Tense
- Stein Urheim – Stein Urheim
- Sunn O))) & Ulver – Terrestrials
- Klara Lewis – Ett
- Chrononautz – Public Domain Fuckover Series #1 – 6
- Copeland – Because I’m Worth It
- Sleaford Mods – Divide & Exit
- Joey Anderson – After Forever
- Yvette – Process
- Laibach – Spectre
- St. Vincent – St. Vincent
- Future Islands – Singles
- Jar Moff – Financial Glam
- The Kid & Bronze Nazareth – The Living Daylights
- Ibibio Sound Machine – Ibibio Sound Machine
- DJ Q – Ineffable
- Bong – Stoner Rock
- KIT – Lownt God Rising
- Merkabah – Moloch
- Noura Mint Seymali – Tzenni
- Diamond Version – CI
- DJ Taye – Overdose On Teklife Vol II
- Toumani & Sidiki Diabate – Toumani & Sidiki Diabate
- Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies – Earth Air Spirit Fire Water
- Stephen O’Malley, Oren Ambarchi & Randall Dunn – Shade Themes From Kairos
- Marc Almond – Dark London The Tyburn Tree
- Legowelt – Crystal Cult 2080
- DonChristian – Renzo Piano
- Sd Laika – That’s Harakiri
- Traxman – Da Mind of Traxman Vol 2
- Owen Pallett – In Conflict
- Some Truths – Some Friends I Lost To Bedlam, Others I Abandoned There
- Anat Ben-David – MeleCh
- 100s – IVRY
- Heterotic – Weird Drift
- YG – My Krazy Life
- Tinariwen – Emmaar
- Ø – Konstellaatio
- Scott Miller, Lee Camfield & Merzbow – No Closure
- Moodymann – Moodymann
- Ronika – Selectadisc
- The Soft Pink Truth – Why Do The Heathen Rage?
- Prostitutes – Petit Cochon
- Innercity Ensemble – Black/White
- Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
- Behemoth – The Satanist
- Gyratory System – Utility Music
- Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun
- Cities Aviv – Come To Life
- Wrangler – LA Spark
- Ekoplekz – Unfidelity
- Eomac – Spectre
- Echoes Of Yul – Tether
- Lust For Youth – International
- Liars – Mess
- HTRK – Psychic 9-5 Club
- Derek Piotr – Tempatempat
- Man Forever – Ryonen
- Fatima Al Qadiri – Asiatisch
- Leyland Kirby Presents V/Vm – The Death Of Rave
- Yann Tiersen – ∞
- Teitanblood – Death
