Recommended Albums of 2008

In this section of our annual music recap we would like to familiarize you with ten albums that, while not essentially worth making it to the Top 10, deserve much more praise than they have received from other worldwide music publications.


Johan Agebjörn
Mossebo
[Lotuspike]

The solo effort of Disco Romance's architect was probably the most anticipated album by me last year, and when I eventually got my fingers on it, I was completely mesmerized. Although we had thousands of records like that in the 90's, you can't help but love such astounding tracks as "Dulciter Somni" and "Ambient Computer Dance". Ultimately, while it may lack some qualities needed for the inclusion in Porcys' top ten record ranking, this charming endeavor at mingling classical music with ambient and electronica (in the vein of Autechre's Amber) is still a remarkable work. –Wojciech Sawicki

Bird And The Bee
One Too Many Hearts (EP)
[Blue Note]

Seems like the whole trend for post-Belle and Sebastian indie-pop has come to its end, and Bird and the Bee's debut album was one of its last instances (although to be completely fair, it did blend the style with electro-jazz influences). Last year's extended play, One Too Many Hearts, is however rid of the indie-pop elements, and the songs only got better. "Birthday" stands out from the bunch as a hit material, more appropriate in that respect even than "Fucking Boyfriend". I also like the ethereal cover version of "Tonight You Belong to Me", and the beautiful "Last Day of Our Love", which sounds a bit like a hypothetically ideal Lily Allen song. Not that all this is very original, but certainly solid. –Kamil Babacz

James Blackshaw
Litany Of Echoes
[Tompkins Square]

James Blackshaw is a twenty-something Brit who takes modern classical music to a whole new level with his 12-string guitar. Litany of Echoes is almost solely written for that instrument, only occasionally using piano and violin (played by Fran Bury) as backup. Such modest arrangement is yet more then enough to build up intimate atmosphere between the listener and the sounds coming out of the speakers. What is most ravishing about Litany of Echoes is the way Blackshaw manages to devise heart throbbing, emotionally balanced stories in his longer compositions, which are also strikingly refined and sophisticated. Highly recommended listening. –Łukasz Halicki

Canon Blue
Halcyon (EP)
[Rumraket]

Clocking at only seventeen minutes, this EP by Canon Blue (a moniker for Daniel James) is an exceptionally cheerful mini-album that weaves traditional folk with unpretentious sound experiments, and then dips it all in ambient sauce. All four tracks are richly composed yet unassuming, and also contain an unspeakable warmth; like when James, backed by his piano, intonates "Stop the mystery is over / The mystery is over / Stop the mystery is over now". I don't know about you, but this makes me feel really good. –Paweł Greczyn

Morgan Geist
Double Night Time
[Environ]

The only thing I could have against Morgan Geist is his predictability. Double Night Time is like a colorful xerox copy with a few additional photoshopped details; it is nowhere as fresh as Osborne's work in the way it transforms electronic music's roots. Nevertheless, Geist takes no advantage of the popularity of its sub-genre or the help of Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan, but works really hard on providing excellent sound and first-class hooks. "The Shore", "Most of All" and "City of Smoke and Flame" are the ultimate proof of that. –Zosia Dąbrowska

Kings Of Caramel
Kings Of Caramel
[My Shit In Your Coffee]

If it was up to me, Kings of Caramel would proudly occupy one of the top spots of our final album recap; the LP's emotional appeal is comparable to some of the best Polish outings of the decade, namely Lenny Valentine and Ścianka's Białe Wakacje. The best thing about KoC is its purity and casualness; it is free of cynicism, sarcasm, and evil marketing tricks. Michał Biela appears to be the main originator behind this approach, and the acoustic songs played and sang by him are downright enchanting. –Marek Fall

Nicolay & Kay
Time: Line
[Nicolay Music]

Another masterly production work of Dutch transplant Nicolay, arguably the most accomplished beat maker of 2008. Time: Line, his collaboration with Houston MC Kay, perfectly complements Foreign Exchange's incredible Leave it All Behind, including pretty much everything that Nicolay & Phonte's creation lacked. From Kay's upbeat, new-school rhyming to lively beats reminiscent of 2004's Connected, this album redefines the notion of "freshness" in rap music. Nicolay himself calls it hip-hop of the future, and we know better than to argue with that. –Patryk Mrozek

Pocahaunted
Island Diamonds
[Not Not Fun]

These guys just popped out of nowhere and recorded what might possibly be one of the year's best ambient LPs. Actually, sticking that label to Pocahaunted is a bit ungratifying, since their music actually includes elements of drone and psychedelic folk, and the resulting sound is nothing short of unique. Island Diamonds is also one of those albums that you really have to listen to on your headphones, from front to back, paying maximum attention to every detail. Then you will be able to appreciate Pocahaunted's untypical approach to ambient music and the out of ordinary atmosphere this record infallibly creates. –Kacper Bartosiak

Syclops
I've Got My Eye On You
[DFA]

Remember "Yeah (Crass Version)", and that one moment when the nice dance-punk themes slowly turn into an incomprehensible techno bloodbath? Remember when Squarepusher put together intellectual jazzy feel and idiot drum bashing and completely overwhelmed you? What about every single mind-destroying Black Dice song? Well, Maurice Fulton and his band definitely remember. I've Got My Eye On You is one big visionary WTF that hits you right in the face. –Filip Kekusz

We Versus The Shark
Dirty Versions
[Hello Sir]

Here and here; do I really have to say it one more time? Alright then: punk people listen to this, for fuck's sake! Got it?! –Jan Błaszczak