Top Tracks 2020 Pt.1 - Ambient, Jazz, Deep House

‘TR’ 2020 Round Up [Ambient, Jazz, Deep House]

03.01.21

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My top records of 2020 are’t full of club slammers and peak time groovers. Given the nature of the year just gone by I have chosen music that I have been listening to rather than playing or DJ’ing. These picks range from ambient and beautiful to soulful jazz, with a few groovers in between. Usual suspects like Kruangbin delivered their beautiful album “Mordechai”, and like their other albums the unmistakable smooth, silky guitar textures shine through accompanied by soft broken drums and dreamy vocals.

Sault responded to the year gone by with their album “Untitled (Black Is”). The quality of the production is unmistakable and the variation of emotion culminated through the 20 tracks is a feat to behold. Lead track “Wildfires” stirs a sadness balanced with hope and is utterly beautiful to listen to, whilst tracks like “Monsters” almost acts a summoning to action, through this electronically charged blues jam.

For me album of the year is Athletic Progression with their album “Athletic Progression”. It evokes the swung groove of power houses like J dilla, mixed with the kind of synthwork and sound designed which is being championed by the UK jazz scene. The stand out track for me is “White Crayon”. The delicate swing of the drums accompanied by the piano melody create a groove which is impossible not to nod the head to.