This is obligatory, right? That we’re expected to give our validation to a set of records which made their way into the world over the last 12 months.
Well, in some ways, screw that. If you have created something then that is its own validation. We salute you. Keep creating. Keep sharing. It’s beautiful and we <3 it.
In other ways, here’s a list of records we’ve really loved in 2016. As soon as we publish it we’ll probably remember a few more, as is the way with these things. We should all just agree that the records by David Bowie, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, PJ Harvey are definitely in any best of – we’ve gone a bit more underground with our selection here.
You could also check out The Rumble tag on here to find playlists from our weekly radio show, or find our end of year episode here.
Reckless Yes album and EP picks for 2016
(in no particular order)
Unqualified Nurse Band – Debasement Tapes
What kind of label would we be if we didn’t pick our own artists? One that isn’t picking its releases based on how much they love the record I guess. So, this was the first long player from Reckless Yes Records and the debut from Unqualified Nurse Band. Buy it here.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter. See them play with Mouses and You Want Fox at the Hairy Dog on 11 March – tickets here.
Pet Crow – Pet Soundz EP
Another member of the Reckless Yes family and the debut EP dropped just a month after they played their first gig together. We’re really excited to release their long player in February 2017 but this four-track collection introduces their nu wave of garage pop perfectly.
Find their website here and they are also on Twitter.
Leggy – Leggy
Compilation album formed from the dream pop band’s first three EPs.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Kitten Forever – 7 Hearts
Super dirge pop punk from Minnesota.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Cherry Hex and The Dream Church – Tea Tears EP
There’s something of the Portishead about this electro-pop duo from Nottingham. Looking forward to more from them in 2017.
Find them on Soundcloud and on Twitter.
The Julie Ruin – Hit Reset
A return for the Kathleen Hanna fronted punk pop band – their first since 2013’s Run Fast – and a far more personal and intimate album without being anything less than the pointed and poignant take we’ve come to expect.
Find an interview Sarah did with Kathleen Hanna in the July issue of Louder Than War magazine – back copies available here.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Bentcousin – Bentcousin
Debut long player on Team Love Records from Brighton / London based band who are high make lyrically controversially but melodically infectious cute core indiepop. Some great hook-ups with producers and guest artists across this album.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Tacocat – Lost Time
Third album from the mighty Tacocat. I think we played I Hate The Weekend at every Six Impossible Things night – forever on a RY playlist.
Find them on Bandcamp and Twitter.
Martha – Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart
If we had to pick one record between us for 2016 then (aside from our own releases) it would probably be this one. We fell in love with the second album from Durham pop-punks Martha as soon as we heard it and seeing them play Hairy Dog, Derby was one of our gigs of the year (also the first time we got to see Pet Crow and we signed them on the spot). Beautiful coloured vinyl too – and their label FortunaPOP! one of the sad losses of 2016.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
You Want Fox – You Can’t Sit With Us
Debut self-release from the Nottingham duo, now signed to Reckless Yes. Pop hooks to rival the likes of Taylor Swift and the sort of sugar-sweet vocal over dirty as hell rhythms that Sleigh Bells do so well. We can’t wait for new material from this pair.
Find them on Soundcloud and on Twitter. See them play with Mouses and Unqualified Nurse Band at the Hairy Dog in Derby on 11 March – tickets here.
Nervous Twitch – Don’t Take My TV
A double release for this album this year – first on cassette and then on vinyl via Odd Box Records. A highlight of our gig going year both opening Indietracks (<3) and then playing for us at Six Impossible Things in November.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Deux Furieuses – Tracks of Wire
Rightful fury and defiance in this debut from the London duo in an album reflective of the atmosphere of foreboding and change around in 2016.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Ed Harcourt – Furnaces
Seventh solo album from the singer songwriter and perhaps his most emotive and accomplished work yet. He said he “wanted to make a record that people can cry, fuck and fight to.” Job done.
Find him on his website and on Twitter.
Three Trapped Tigers – Silent Earthling
A second album – and an astounding one which moves on their signature complex beats – from the band. Full of grooves, hooks and repeat listen rewards.
Find an interview Sarah did with the band for Louder Than War here.
Find them on Twitter.
Richard J Birkin – Vigils
A modern classic – gentle, teasing and suddenly under your skin and pushing all your feelings unstoppably to the surface. Beautiful.
Find him on his website and on Twitter.
Grawl!x – Aye
The second instalment in the trilogy dealing with the theme of grief and it’s another beautiful and emotionally resonant album from Derby-based multi-instrumentalist James Machin. One of our gigs of the year was the launch for this album in Derby Cathedral with Richard J Birkin and Haiku Salut – stunning.
Find him on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Riding the Low – Are Here To Help The Neighbourhood
Tch…actors in bands *rolls eyes*, amarite? Yes, well you can check that prejudice in the cloakroom to the left and take a listen to this second album from Paddy Considine-fronted Riding the Low. These are arms-around-your-best-mate anthems of male friendship, and the creeping mists of nostalgia with a band-as-gang mentality and Guided By Voices influence throughout.
Find them on their website and on Twitter.
Skating Polly – The Big Fit
Forth album from the Oklahama duo and another bringing their riot grrrl and free approach to melody and lyric to the fore.
Find them on their website and on Twitter
Let’s Eat Grandma – I, Gemini
Eclectic and experimental electro-pop from Norwich duo.
Find them on their website and on Twitter.
Natterers – Demo ’16
A first offering of hardcore punk from this East/West Yorkshire band – looking forward to more from them in 2017.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Nine Tons – No Frills
Debut long player from Newcastle band fronted by Duncan Lovatt – member of Swimmer and Ten Benson. Great shoutrock.
Find them on Bandcamp and Twitter. See them play at the Hairy Dog in Derby on Sunday 12 February 2017 – tickets available here.
Church of the Cosmic Skull – Is Satan Real?
Part band, part religious cult – brilliantly realised debut of psychedelic prog from Nottingham supergroup.
Find them on their Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Mouses – The Mouses Album
Lo-fi garage rock full of melodic fun and lyrically self-deprecating introspection.
Find them on their website and on Twitter. See them play the Hairy Dog Derby with support from Unqualified Nurse Band and You Want Fox on 11 March – tickets here.
Goddesses – Goddesses
“As a debut this is a quiet, slow-burn of an album but proof that it is not always those that make the biggest noise that create the most striking sound.”
Read Sarah’s full review for Louder Than War here.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Hogg’s Bison – Dog Party Call EP
Brilliant math rock from Bristol.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter
Ceiling Demons – Belly of the Hopeless
Dark, bleak, brilliant hip hop.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Azzurro Peaks – Leave It On The Island
Frankly incredible looping solo project of alternative folk.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Babe Punch – Control EP
This band get better every time we see them – they opened the first Reckless Yes show back in June and we’re excited by the maturing of their sound.
Find them on Soundcloud and on Twitter.
Great Raven – Magnetic Smoke
Concept album around the summer solstice of ethereal and atmospheric avant-garde dream folk.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Tough Tits – Hairless EP
“There is a feral quality to these first tracks and in the approach of the band, control lies firmly with this three-piece through their confrontational critiques; this is riot grrrl in it’s most-punk form”
Read a full review from Sarah on Louder Than War here.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Bearcats – Break Up Stories EP
Grunge-infused garage pop.
Read an interview Sarah did with the band for Louder Than War here.
Find them on Bandcamp.
Diseases of Venus – Psychospiritual Guitar Loops
Dark and psychedelic solo project from Derby artist.
Find them on Bandcamp.
The Tuts – Update Your Brain
Brilliant debut from pop-punk trio.
Find them on Bandcamp.
School of Seven Bells – SVIIB
This fourth and final album from the duo is a devastating and beautiful love letter from start to finish, recorded together but released following the death of Benjamin Curtis.
Find them here.
Lucy Dacus – No Burden
“bold with vulnerabilities, is sharply observed and warmly melodic.”
Read an interview Sarah did with Lucy for Louder Than War here.
Find her on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Angel Olsen – My Woman
Shut Up Kiss Me one of the tracks of 2016. Fact.
Find her on her website and on Twitter.
Jenny Hval – Blood Bitches
Musical menstrala from Norwegian singer-songwriter. Melodically one of her more accessible albums and yet lyrically still presenting challenge and boundary pushes.
Find her on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Anna Meredith -Varmints
Debut long player from innovative electronic artist.
Find her on Soundcloud and on Twitter.
Ryley Walker – Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
Another entrancing offering from American troubadour and folk / indie guitarist.
Find him on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Mull Historical Society – Dear Satellite
Dealing with the theme of home this is a fantastically realised album released to coincide with the artist’s debut novel.
Read an interview Sarah did in the March issue of Louder Than War magazine by getting your back issue here.
Find him on his website.
Pixies – Head Carrier
“masters of their past but more importantly, their future.”
Read a live review of Pixies by Sarah on Sounds Magazine and an interview she did with David Lovering in the latest issue of Louder Than War magazine available here.
Find them on Twitter.
Barry Hyde – Malody
A brutal and beautiful musical reflection of a bipolar diagnosis from The Futureheads frontman.
Find him on his website.
The Wedding Present – Going, Going…
Fantastic album from classic band.
Find them on Twitter.
The Goon Sax – Up To Anything
“Full of pop hooks and perfectly capturing the pairing of awkwardness and hope that defines many a teenage year.”
Read an interview Sarah did with the band for Louder Than War here.
Find them on Facebook.
Teenage Fanclub – Here
First long player in six years from the classic indie band.
Find them on Twitter.
Batteries -The Finishing Line
Second long player from noise pop solo project of Sci-Fi Steven of Bis.
Find them on Facebook. See them play the Hairy Dog Derby on 19 February – tickets here.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Eighth long player from the Australian band in six years and described by them as an endless album with tracks flowing seamlessly and the end connecting sonically back to the beginning.
Find them on Bandcamp.
The Empty Page – Unfolding
Debut from grunge-infused Manchester alt-rock trio.
Read an interview Sarah did with the band for Louder Than War here.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter. See them play the Hairy Dog Derby on 28 January with Desperate Journalist – tickets (selling fast) here.
The Cult of Dom Keller – Goodbye To The Light
Deeper, darker and more spun out psych than ever before from this band.
Find them on Bandcamp.
The Lucid Dream – The Lucid Dream
Experimental indie psych that stays melodically light while getting deeply spun out.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Deerhoof – The Magic
Raw and raucous on possibly the most accessible while also typically experimental albums from enduring band.
Find them on Bandcamp and Twitter.
Dog Chocolate -Snack Fans
Debut album of synth pop from London quartet.
Find them on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Sleigh Bells – Jessica Rabbit
Typically demanding listen to the thrash electro on the fourth album from noise pop duo.
Find them on Soundcloud.
Globelamp – The Orange Glow
This second solo album from Elizabeth Le Fey seemed to quietly sink on release this summer but we loved the dreamy but dark take on psych folk. Sarah reviewed for Louder Than War here.
You can find her on Bandcamp and on Twitter.
Living Body – Body Is Working
“Soaring vocals, crashing melodies and a collaborative project which exists for creative curiosity rather than individual’s indulgence.”
Read Sarah’s full review for Louder Than War here.
Find them on their website and on Twitter.


