I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : Top 10

 

So we get to our Best 10 Albums Of 2024. Any of these 10 could have been Number 1 and this reflected how diverse I Don't Hear A Single has become over the years. It is essentially a home for Indie Pop Rock, but it isn't afraid of taking different paths. For instance Prog and Psych is placed well amongst the 100 albums, which is a testament to how open the ears of followers are.

We chose The Armoires because we believe it was so different to much of everything else we heard in 2024. But, any album that is reviewed on IDHAS is recommended. We only review what we have liked. The 100 albums will be posted as a list later.

1 The Armoires - Octoberland     IDHAS Review

2 The Mommyheads - One Eyed Band      IDHAS Review

3 Teenage Frames - Everything Has Led To This     IDHAS Review

4 King Black Acid - Victory For Mad Love    IDHAS Review

5 Emperor Penguin - Gentlemen Thieves     IDHAS Review

6 Silk Cut - Silk Cut       IDHAS Review

7 Amateur Ornithologist - Hide      IDHAS Review

8 Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic      IDHAS Review

9 Ward White - Here Comes The Dowsers      IDHAS Review

  

10      James Sullivan - Vital Signs     IDHAS Review

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Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic

 

I don't often trail album releases, it isn't what we do, we are about new music, not a PR agency. So an album has to be special to warrant such a step and this is special. It is also a nod to the excellent Welsh label, Libertino, who are Indie saviours.

Silent Forum really encapsulate what this place has always been about. We have forever been melted by quirky, inventive, intelligent Indie Pop and Rock that offers unexpected angular arrangements that are lyrically laced with humour and cynicism.

I don't remember the 80s fondly musically. Of course, there were moments, but they were not the norm. Too much plastic, syndromes and plinkity plonkity synths. It seemed more about dressing up than actually what was being released. I gave up on the UK for a good few years, immersing myself in the IRS scene and such.

Domestic Majestic feels like one of those moments I mentioned, The likes of which XTC, Talking Heads etc unleashed. Albums that made you feel that there were bands who were on your wavelength and capable of rising above the mediocre.

At times, the band remind me of XTC, although they are much more Pop orientated. Ditto The Sugarplastic. But they are even more melodic throughout the song with splendid arrangements and massive choruses.

Silent Forum can even enter light Prog. Listen to Cat Pose and imagine Jon Anderson singing it. Although very much a Guitar band, Petrol Station Flowers is awesome Synth Pop, almost a Torch song. U OK? bursts out the blocks with an almost Goth Rock riff, great great Indie Rock.

Forgive me if I give the impression that this is an 80s album, it isn't, but the vibe is. Lyrics are about the now and incredibly adept and wit laden. For all the cleverness and invention, it is the choruses that grab you most.

Yes Man has an incredible verse, but the chorus is killer. Here's The Email is probably the best thing on show, but this is an album listened to from start to finish and then to be listened to again. An absolute Tour De Force. An album that deserves to be bought, not listened to on some poxy 128 streaming site.

You can buy and listen to the album here. You can find out more about Libertino Records here.

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Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic (Heads Up)

 

A quick heads up about an album that I've been waiting to tell you about for ages. A full review will come after tomorrow's release. One of the best things that I've heard in a long time. It must be something in the South Wales water. I still remember Bandicoot getting our album of the year.

This Cardiff quartet have it all, an ability to sound like the crowd that came up with Franz Ferdinand's angular Rock, but also an inventiveness akin to the 80s Indie Gravitas Pop that we love. They can sound like a UK New Wave 1979 band, but equally border Modern Prog.

The album is an absolutely wonderful. You can listen to four tracks now and pre-order here. Alternatively you can hear the whole thing tomorrow. This post will be removed when the actual review goes up after release.

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