2020

I didn’t get to everything in 2020 but these 15 albums got to me:

• Martina Bertoni – All the Ghosts Are Gone (FALK)
• Aril Brikha – Dance of a Trillion Stars (Mule Musiq)
• Mettaverse – Light Forms (S/R)
• Ak’chamel, The Giver of Illness – The Totemist (Akuphone)
• Wanderwelle – A State of Decrepitude (A Strangely Isolated Place)
• Spirit Fest – Mirage Mirage (Morr Music)
• Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Vodou Alé (Bongo Joe)
• Raymond Richards – The Lost Art of Wandering (ESP Institute)
• Azu Tiwaline – Draw Me a Silence (IOT)
• Flock of Dimes – Like So Much Desire (Sub Pop)
• Greg Foat – Symphonie Pacifique (Strut)
• Skyminds – Shapes & Traces (Internal Rhythm)
• Let It Come Down – Songs We Sang in Our Dreams (Joyful Noise)
• Various Artists – Door to the Cosmos + Dancefloor Sampler (On the Corner)
• Kiln – Astral Welder (Ghostly International)

Plus Five Songs:

• Luke Jenner – “All My Love” – 1 (Manono)
• Wye Oak – “Sky Witness” – No Horizon (Merge)
• Torgeir Waldemar – “Black Ocean” – Love (Jansen)
• Julianna Barwick (ft. Mary Lattimore) – “Oh, Memory” – Healing is a Miracle (Ninja Tune)
• New London Drone Orchestra – “Antisocial Closeness” – Isolation/Collaboration (Enter the Circle)

~ Megasoup’s 50 Favorite Albums (plus one fantastic compilation) from 2020 ~

• Ak’Chamel The Giver Of Illness – The Totemist (Akuphone)
• Alabaster DePlume – To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol.1 (International Anthem)
• Alicia Keys – Alicia (RCA / AKW)
• Andrea – Ritorno (Ilian Tape)
• Aril Brikha – Dance of a Trillion Stars (Mule Musiq)
• Aukai – Game Trails (aukaimusic)
• Awkward Corners – Dislocation Songs (Shapes of Rhythm)
• Azu Tiwaline – Draw Me A Silence (IOT)
• Babani Koné – Babani Koné (Discograph)
• Channelers – Isles Beyond (Inner Islands)
• Clap Clap – Liquid Portraits (Black Acre)
• Cleo Soul – Rose In The Dark (Forever Living Originals)
• CS + Kreme – Snoopy (The Trilogy Tapes)
• D.K. – Live At The Edge (12th Isle)
• Emily A Sprague – Hill, Flower, Fog (RVNG)
• Ezra Feinberg – Recumbent Speech (Related States)
• Flying Vipers – Cuttings (Jump Up!)
• Fools – Fools Harp Vol. 1 (Music From Memory)
• Golden Retriever and Chuck Johnson ‎– Rain Shadow (Thrill Jockey)
• Greg Foat – Symphonie Pacifique (Strut)
• Halftribe – Cloud Dreaming And Shadows (Shimmering Moods)
• Heliocentrics – Telemetric Sounds (Madlib Invazion)
• Huerta – Junipero (Voyage Recordings)
• Julianna Barwick – Healing Is A Miracle (Ninja Tune)
• Kenji Kihara – Slow Slope Sleeps (Inner Islands)
• Kiln – Astral Welder (Ghostly International)
• K-Lone – Cape Cira (Wisdom Teeth)
• Koyil – Healing Cycles (DIG)
• Kutiman – Wachaga (Siyal Music)
• Let It Come Down – Songs We Sang In Our Dreams (Joyful Noise)
• Luke Jenner – 1 (Manono)
• Martina Bertoni – All The Ghosts Are Gone (Karlrecords)
• Mary Lattimore – Silver Ladders (Ghostly International)
• Matthew Halsall – Salute To The Sun (Gondwanna)
• Mourning [A] BLKstar – The Cycle (Don Giovanni)
• Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner – Tradition Disc In Dub (Tradition Disc)
• Nihiloxica – Kaloli (Crammed Discs)
• Numün – Voyage Au Soleil (Musique Impossible)
• Ocoeur – Everything (n5MD)
• Plant Lab – Plant Lab (Crash Symbols)
• Run The Jewels – RTJ4 (BMG)
• Sault – Untitled (Rise) (Forever Living Originals)
• Sarah Davachi – Cantus Descant (Late Music)
• Siti Muharam – Siti of Unguja: Romance Revolution on Zanzibar (On The Corner)
• Sven Wunder – Wabi Sabi (Piano Piano)
• The Sorcerers – In Search Of The Lost City Of The Monkey God (ATA)
• Vagues Imaginaires – L’île D’or (Not Not Fun)
• Vestals – Holy Origin (Dust Editions)
• Wanderwelle – A State of Decrepitude (A Strangely Isolated Place)
• X.Y.R. – Pilgrimage (Not Not Fun)
• V/A – A Little Night Music: Aural Apparitions from the Geographic North (Geographic North)

~ Megasoup’s 10 Favorite EPs & 12″ singles from 2020 ~

• Azu Tiwaline – Magnetic Service (Livity Sound)
• Dengue Dengue Dengue – Continentes Perdidos (On The Corner)
• Deradoorian – Cosmic Garden EP (Self Released)
• D.K. – The Ancient Kingdom (Good Morning Tapes)
• Green House – Six Songs For Invisible Gardens (Leaving)
• Nicola Cruz – Hybridism (Multi Culti)
• Penya Na Msafiri Zawose – Penya Safari E.P. (On The Corner)
• Planets Don’t Last – Planets Don’t Last (Aural Canyon)
• Sugarloaf Gangsters – Temarasa / Chor Gway (G.A.M.M.)
• V/A – Espectrum 2, Ep1 (AvantRoots)

~ Megasoup’s 20 Favorite Reissues / Archival Releases from 2020 ~

• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Just Coolin’ (Blue Note)
• Brian Eno – Film Music 1976-2020 (UMe)
• Global Communication – Transmissions (Evolution)
• Hiroshi Yoshimura – Green (Light In The Attic)
• Intergalactic Federation – 1 / 2 (Fantasy Enhancing)
• Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry with Seskain Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo – Roots From The Congo (Planet Ilunga)
• OK Jazz – Pas Un Pas Sans (Planet Ilunga)
• Orchestra Baobab – Mouhamadou Bamba (Syllart)
• Orchestra Baobab – Viva Bawobab S1/Si Bou Odja (Syllart) 
• Prince – Sign O’ The Times: Super Deluxe Edition (Warner)
• Priscilla Ermel – Origens Da Luz (Music From Memory)
• Ranil – Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical (Analog Africa)
• V/A – 12 Bombazos Bailables (Vampi Soul)
• V/A – Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol. 2 (Strut)
• V/A – Color De Tropico: Compiled by El Dragon Criollo & El Palmas (El Palmas)
• V/A – Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History Of The World’s Music (Dust To Digital)
• V/A – Oriental Rare Groove: Rare Funky Songs From The Arabic World (Wagram)
• V/A – Guasa, Cununo y Marimba – Afro-Colombian Music From The Pacific Coast (Vampi Soul)
• V/A – The World Is A Cafeteria: American Soul Music (and one song from Ghana) 1955-1998 (Cairo)
• V/A – Time, Tone, & Texture (Invisible, Inc.)

• Novelist – “Stay With Me” (S/R)
• Coby Sey – River (Curl)
• Krust – The Edge of Everything (Crosstown Rebels)
• Katya Yonder – Multiply Intentions (Métron Records)
• V/A – HOA010 & HOA011 (HAUS of ALTR)
• Parris – Polychrome Swim (The Trilogy Tapes)
• Parris – Terrapin (Wisdom Teeth)
• Josey Rebelle – Josey In Space (Beats In Space)
• EquiknoxxMusic – Equiknoxx Music in 2020(EquiknoxxMusic)
• Upsammy – Zoom (Delmantel)
• Nailah Hunter – Spells (Leaving Records)
• Good Bad Happy Sad – Shades (Textile Records)
• Beatrice Dillon – Workaround (Pan)
• Call Super – Every Mouth Teeth Missing (Incienso)
• Autechre – Sign (Warp Records)
• Nidia – Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes (Príncipe)
• Magnetizer – Soulseeker (S/R)
• Duval Timothy – Help (Carrying Colour)
• Laura Groves – A Private Road (Bella Union)
• Speaker Music – Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry (Planet Mu)
• Vague Imaginaires – L’Île Sous l’Eau (12th Isle)
• Actress – 88 (S/R)
• Actress – Karma & Desire (Ninja Tune)
• Actress – Unseen_Werk No.1 (Braindead)
• Lafawndah – The Fifth Season (Latency)
• LOG – LOG ET3RNAL (Experiences Ltd.)
• Klein –  Frozen (S/R)
• Overmono – Everything U Need (XL Recordings)
• Molero – Ficciones Del Trópico (Holuzam)
• Space Afrika – hybtwibt? (S/R)
• Niagara – Pais & Filhos (Príncipe)
• U – Lowlands (Where To Now?)
• Ulla – Tumbling Towards A Wall (Experiences Ltd.)
• CS + Kreme – Snoopy (The Trilogy Tapes)
• dBridge – Inhibited (Exit Records)
• KeiyaA – Forever, Ya Girl (Keiya)
• Jonnine – Blue Hills (Boomkat Editions)
• John Carroll Kirby – My Garden (Stones Throw Records)
• Minor Science – Second Language (Whities)
• Bullion – We Had A Good Time (Deek Recordings)
• Loraine James – Nothing (Hyperdub)
• Karl D’Silva – Disapear (S/R)
• Novelist – Quantum Leap (S/R)

• Actress – Karma & Desire (Ninja Tune)
• Ammar 808 – Global Control / Invisible Invasion (Glitterbeat)
• Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic)
• William Basinski – Lamentations (Temporary Residence)
• Andrew Bird – Panthology Songs (S/R)
• Bo Ningen – Sudden Fiction (Alcopop!)
• Louise Bock – Abyss for Cello (Geographic North)
• Rose Bonica – Tears for The Tea Maker (Roses are Red)
• Café Ale – Third Age (Simballrec)
• Sonia Calico – Simulation of An Overloaded World (More Time)
• Clap Clap – Liquid Portraits (Black Acre)
• Cocina Povera – Tyyni (Night School)
• Cold Beat – Mother (DFA)
• Cornershop – England Is A Garden (Ample Play)
• Cults – Host (Sinderlyn)
• Philippe Doray & Les Asociaux Associes – Nouveaux Modes Industriels (Souffle Continu)
• Steve Earle – Ghosts Of West Virginia (New West)
• Matt Evans – New Topographics (Whatever’s Clever)
• Fatwires – The Wicked Path (Depth of Field)
• Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans (Text)
• M. Geddes Gengras – Time Makes Nothing Happen (Hausu Mountin)
• Guedra Guedra – Sun of Son (On the Corner)
• Lilly Hiatt – Walking Proof (New West)
• Anna Homler – D? Ya Sa´ Di D? (A Sonic Geography) (Berlston)
• Boldy James/Sterling Toles – Manger on Mcnichols (Sector 7-G)
• Jiony – Sí Y No (Drosssel)
• Kaleema – Nómada (Tropical Twista)
• Faten Kanaan – A Mythology of Circles (Fire)
• Kassa Overall – I Think I’m Good (Brownswood)
• Madeline Kenney – Sucker’s Lunch (Carpark)
• Mikado Koko – The Japanese Rimbaud (S/R)
• Various Artists – Komposisi Kompos (Divis162)
• Kraus – A Golden Brain (S/R)
• Sophia Loizou – Untold (Houndstooth)
• Loma – Don’t Shy Away (Sub Pop)
• Mapache – From Liberty Street (Yep Roc)
• Ela Minus – Acts of Rebellions (Domino)
• Moodymann – Taken Away (KDJ)
• Moon Wiring Club – Tabitha Reverb (S/R)
• Mukdad Rothenberg Lankow – In the Wake Of Memories (Clermont Music)
• Sascha Muhr – Fuive Part 2 (S/R)
• Naked Roommate – Do the Duvet (Trouble in Mind)
• Nape Neck – Nape Neck (Gringo)
• Thiago Nassif – Mente (Gearbox)
• Nazar – End of Guerilla (S/R)
• North Americans – Roped In (Third Man)
• Novellor – Arrow (Ba Da Bing!)
• Agnes Obel – Myopia (Blue Note)
• Lawrence Pike – Prophecy (Leaf)
• Public Practice – Gentle Grip (Wharf Cat)
• Red Brut – Cloaked Travels (Ikuisuus)
• Lina Raül Refree – Lina Raül Refree (Glitterbeat)
• Romperayo – Uyuyuis (S/R)
• RVG – Feral (Fire)
• Sault – Untitled (Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)
• Seabuckthorn – Through A Vulnerable Occur (Iikki)
• Sevdaliza – Shabrang (Twisted Elegance)
• Shabaka And the Ancestors – We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse!)
• Sufjan Stevens – The Ascension (Asthmatic Kitty)
• Sweeping Promises – (Feel It)
• Sylvan Esso – Free Love (Loma Vista)
• Tl0741 – Refractory (HC3)
• Terror/Cactus – Confluencia (S/R)
• Azu Tiwaline – Magnetic Service (Livity Sound)
• Yosuke Tokunaga – 13 Monotonousness (Audio Visual Atmosphere)
• David Toop – Apparition Paintings (Room40)
• Tvii Son – Tvii Son (Music Inspired)
• Melanie Velarde – Bez (Commend There)
• Winter – Endless Space (Between You & I) (Bar None)
• Women of The Pore – Folk Music (Orb Tapes)
• Woods – Strange to Explain (Woodsist)
• X – Alphabetland (Gat Possum)
• Y-Bayani & Baby Naa And the Band Of Enlightenment – Nsie Nsie (Philopon)
• Zenobia – Halek Halek (Crammed Discs)

• IDLES – Ultra Mono (Partisan)
• Klo Pelgag – Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs (Secret City)
• Fiona Apple – Fetch the Boltcutters (Epic)
• Yelle – L’Ere du Berseau
• Alex the Astronaut – The Theory of Absolutely Nothing (Network)
• Buen Aurelio Malazar – pre.pro.post (Unknown Tone)
• U.S. Girls – Heavy Light (4AD)
• DakhaBrakha – Alambari (S/R)
• Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn – Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways)
• The Architect – Une Plage Sur La Lune (Face B)

7″

• Aladean Kheroufi – Sorry If I Hurt You (Kimberlite)
• CB Radio Gorgeous – EP (Thrilling Living)
• Lewsberg – Through the Garden (S/R)
• Neutrals – Personal Computing (Slumberland)
• Neutrals – Rent/Your House (Domestic Departure)
• Ribbon Stage – My Favorite Shrine (K)
• Romero – Honey (Cool Death)
• Shark Toys – Out of Time (Chunklet)
• Violent Change – S/T (Sloth Mate)

12″

• Astute Palate – S/T (Petty Bunco)
• Chronophage – Th’ Pig Kiss’d Album ‎(Cleta Patra)
• The Cool Greenhouse – S/T (Melodic)
• Galore – S/T (Rocks in Your Head)
• Lithics – Tower of Age (Toruble in Mind)
• Sweeping Promises – Hunger For A Way Out (Feel It)

Cassettes, Demos, etc.

• Dummy – EP2  (Born Yesterday)
• Hits – Sediment Seen (Paisley Shirt)
• Modern Needs – Survey of the Animal Kingdom (S/R)
• Nape Neck – S/T (S/R)
• Permits – Time Permits (Tenth Court)
• Privay Issues – S/T (S/R)
• The Snogs – Boyfriend’s Dead (Paisley Shirt)