Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Who will have the Human touch to win 2021 award?
Iwouldn’t have made much of it at the time, but in previous years, the NI Music Prize nominee list for Album of the Year has included a tiny bit of filler. Expecting a dozen or so worthy albums from a country as small as ours was a big ask, after all.
I’m not sure why – but each year the standard has improved a little and ultimately 2021’s list is – in my opinion – the highest quality batch of albums in the awards 11-year history. By some distance. Every album on the nominee list has something fantastic to offer, each is undeniably memorable for one reason or another. Which is especially remarkable given there’s fifteen included on this year’s list – which is the most ever.
The NI Music Prizes (as well as Album of the Year, there are gongs for Best Live Act, Best Single and Best New Act) will be given out at a special ceremony at The Ulster Hall on November 17. A splattering of nominees will be joined by Ash to perform live – with the event broadcast live on Youtube Music. Given how relentlessly grim it’s been for the entertainment industry here in the last eighteen months, the event is a perfect opportunity to celebrate a long overdue live music comeback and – despite everything – indulge in the rude health of Northern Irish music.
Without further ado then – my annual guide to our albums of the year!
BICEP – ISLES
Undoubtably the most successful act of the fifteen nominees – Bicep have got everything they deserve during the last few years – headine slots at festivals, two critically acclaimed albums and even a double Brit Award nomination. On Isles, Matt and Andy explored their own unique sound, adding further musicality and indulging sonic influences from all around the world.
FOR FANS OF – Orbital, Four Tet STANDOUT TRACK – Apricots CHANCES OF WINNING – as the biggest selling album on the list, they’re a cert not to win. HANNAH PEEL – FIR WAVE
Her output to date has been all over the place (in a good way) – concept albums, a collaboration with a poet and multiple small/big screen soundtracks. During lockdown, Hannah finally focused on a ‘straight’ album which ended up anything but. Looking to nature and shape for inspiration – and drawing vintage sounds from the archive of the pioneer composer Delia Derbyshire – each of these seven glorious songs exist in their own little world.
FOR FANS OF – Jon Hopkins, Four Tet
STANDOUT TRACK – Emergence in Nature CHANCES OF WINNING – The perfect storm of a genuinely leftfield album created by a familiar face – this is surely amongst the favourites.
CATALAN! – VERITAS
The work of Ewen
Friers of punk trio Axis
Of, this album shouldn’t quite sound like it does.
Yes, it’s noisy, outspoken and sprinkled with dread – but it’s also relentlessly colourful and loaded with curious twists and turns. Without a doubt the most underrated record on the list. While it got a decent amount of attention upon release, Veritas remains scandalously overlooked.
FOR FANS OF – Devo, XTC
STANDOUT TRACK – ‘Oka’
CHANCES OF WINNING – Definitely an outsider – but I’m oddly optimistic.
JEALOUS OF THE BIRDS – PENINSULA
She was already confident and effortlessly cool when releasing demo tracks recorded in her bedroom and performing shows as a one woman band. Now she’s critically acclaimed, signed to one of the coolest labels in the world and two LPS in – you can only imagine how wonderfully assured Portadown native Naomi Hamilton is. Travel, adulthood and adventures coast to coast in the states all feature on a record full of optimistic zeal.
FOR FANS OF – Pheobe Bridgers, Sharon Van Etten
STANDOUT TRACK – ‘oung Neanderthal CHANCES OF WINNING – Alternative sounding yet with broad appeal, it’s an album made for awards like this.
JOSHUA BURNSIDE – INTO
THE DEPTHS OF HELL
If I was his bank manager I’d be a bit miffed. Previous NI Music Prize winning record Ephrata – with it’s touch of the Arcade Fires – showcased an act on the brink of stardom. Yet for the follow up he’s gone down a bit of a creative rabbit hole – making an album which requires repeated listens to unleash it’s true appeal. A bold record from an artiste devoid of cynicism, these are songs for those really paying attention.
FOR FANS OF – Fleet Foxes, Lambchop STANDOUT TRACK – Whiskey Whiskey CHANCES OF WINNING – You’d assume him winning it previously will subconsciously put the judges off.
ARVO PARTY – INHERITANCE
It’s possible to be too prolific, of course – and Herb Magee has tickled that concept with an astonishing nine albums unveiled over the last two years. This is certainly the most cohesive of the lot, a sort of ‘best of’ collection of the endless ideas he’s played around with across a mammoth output. For a supposedly electronic artist – there’s also a distinct lack of straight up 4/4 – instead scuzzy, laid back breaks, atmospheric adventures, found sounds and even quiet introspection.
FOR FANS OF – LFO, Boards of Canada STANDOUT TRACK – Kyoto
CHANCES OF WINNING – Herb is a supreme talent, but you can’t help but wonder if he’d focused on one absolute corker of an album in
2020, he’d be a total shoe in. NEW PAGANS – THE SEED, THE VESSEL, THE ROOTS & ALL
I rate New Pagans as the most exciting new band in the country – and their debut album delivered on early promise.
Lindsey Mcdougall has everything you want from a singer – her voice has an intensity to match her angry, provocative and thoughtful lyrics. She adds a real edge to the riffs of guitarist Cahir O’doherty (who happens to be her husband) – a songwriter already well regarded for the riff driven pop punk of his previous band – Fighting with Wire. They truly are a remarkable songwriting duo –and that’s before you consider a trio of incredibly accomplished musicians who complete a quintet like no other.
FOR FANS OF – Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs STANDOUT TRACK – ‘t’s Darker
CHANCES OF WINNING – If it’s not unfairly dismissed as a straight up rock album like the rest, it could easily – and deservedly win.
SAINT SISTER – WHERE I SHOULD END
It was hard enough categorising what Saint Sister did before this record made it borderline impossible. The first album was sort of folk, sort of ambient, sort of electronic – Morgan and Gemma’s sublime harmonies the only consistent. On album number two, they’ve taken all those semi concepts, sliced them up further, added a bunch of fresh ideas and made a record that’s wonderfully inconsistent and admirably adventurous.
FOR FANS OF – LCD Soundsystem, Clannad STANDOUT TRACK – Karaoke Song
CHANCES OF WINNING – Any other year they’d be favorites, but the competition is maybe just to strong in 2021.
ANDREW MCGIBBON – NORTHERN GOTHIC
Andrew’s just one of those guys who has to be at something. On downtime from triumphant records and tours with The Bonnevilles – the blues duo he fronts – Andrew built a studio in his garden and got to work, performing every note on every instrument for a thrilling debut solo album. It’s scuzzy and lo-fi, angry and joyous all at once.
FOR FANS OF – The Black Keys, The White Stripes
STANDOUT TRACK – Northern Gothic
CHANCES OF WINNING – Hugely impressive but perhaps lacking the required broad appeal.
DANI LARKIN – NOTES FOR A MAIDEN WARRIOR
A true journey, it’s an album that starts off with raw, banjo driven gothic ballads. A lo-fi sound only adds to the intensity, the opening tracks transporting you to another world. Later, the sound begins to settle, becoming gentle and borderline sweet, demons seemingly stricken down. A collection of songs set to grow and grow, which we’ll be talking about for a very long time.
FOR FANS OF – Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan STANDOUT TRACK – Bloodthirsty
CHANCES OF WINNING – An album with a sound so individual and a creator so charming, this one is the proverbial dark horse.
PETER J MCCAULEY – AMNESTY
Peter’s music has always sounded ambitious – his debut as Ram’s Pocket Radio remains an orchestral masterpiece. He’s scaled down just a little here and is sounding reflective – but the songs prevail, the vibe still uplifting. And – as always – nothing is quite straight forward with Peter’s songwriting – there are twists and turns everywhere – which only adds to the appeal.
FOR FANS OF – Ben Folds, The Decemberists STANDOUT TRACK – Anywhere My Love Will Go CHANCES OF WINNING – Another great album but just lacking a little something or other to really stand out.
THIS SHIP ARGO – ALWAYS THE BEES: NEVER THE HONEY
Yo’ll probably find it difficult to get your head around Aileen Mckenna’s album – but will certainly have great fun trying. Part experimental art, part soundtrack to an imaginary apocalypse, there’s a great deal to take in – on every individual track. Moments of sounds found in nature are surrounded by scuzzy beats and glitchy FX, the album flirting between zen and wonky IDM.
FOR FANS OF – Hannah Peel, Aphex Twin STANDOUT TRACK – ‘Isomer’
CHANCES OF WINNING – Unlikely – but only because she was relatively unheard of until featuring here. A wonderful gem uncovered all the same.
TRÚ – NO FIXED ABODE
Like Dani Larkin, the influence is primarily roots and the pagan vibe is strong. This trio – featuring the always unpredictable sonic time traveller Mike Mormecha – have made an album that sounds like what we’d imagine the first music ever performed on this island sounded like. Yet, during some cosmic moments, it also sounds oddly futuristic.
FOR FANS OF – Planxty, Dervish STANDOUT TRACK – The Blacksmith CHANCES OF WINNING – A little too niche to win, but another it’s great album to throw on everyone’s radar. VERSECHORUSVERSE – WHAT IF WE WON
Tony Wright is another prolific sort – the albums he’s created or featured on now approaching double figures. But there’s always a fresh sound, a new spin – depending on his mood, shifting influence and collaborations. On this record he’s finding a little funk and plenty of soul, scaring off any idea once and for all that he’s your average singer songwriter.
FOR FANS OF – Alabama 3, Fun Loving’ Criminals STANDOUT TRACK – Be Proud
CHANCES OF WINNING – Tony is destined to win this prize one day, but perhaps not with this particular record.