I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 11-20

 

For the last eight years We have compiled annual Best Of 's  because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. A reminder that only new albums are included among these 100.

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The 100 albums are posted in reverse batches of 10. For each album, A song is embedded from the album and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

The Top 10 appears tomorrow.

11 Custard Flux - Einsteinium Delirium     IDHAS Review

12 Feet - Make It Up      IDHAS Review

13 Log Flume - Splash Hit     IDHAS Review

14 Quivers - Oyster Cuts    IDHAS Review

15 Tom Minor - Eleven Easy Pieces On Anger & Disappointment     IDHAS Review

16 Tamar Berk - Good Times For A Change        IDHAS Review

17 The Vegetarians - Space Age Pagliacci      IDHAS Review

18 Custard - Suburban Curtains      IDHAS Review

19 Steve Robinson - Window Seat      IDHAS Review

  

20 The Trafalgars - About Time     IDHAS Review

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Steve Robinson - Window Seat

 

We do like what Steve Robinson does. His 2021 album, Swallowing The Sun is a cracking example of Pastoral Pop and featured in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year. You can read our review here. Window Seat is his solo follow up to that album.

However, in between these two albums was a duo album with Ed Woltil, Shadow Play, their second, in which I described it as the pensive meeting the jaunty. You can read that Review here. That album appeared in our Best Albums Of 2022.

So we were expecting big things from this release and boy do we get them. Ed Woltil is again present on production duties and adding some exceptional Guitar. Dave Gregory again guests on two songs, one of which is a dead ringer for XTC.

Dealing with that song first, The King Of Scatterbrain is very much a sort of Mr Empty Head Part 2, but Gregory is present on this one and Robinson's vocal is so Andy Partridge whilst the arrangement is very Oranges And Lemons with acoustic hints that are more Mummer. Emma Robinson even sounds a little Colin Moulding at the end. It is Psych Pop of the highest order.

Robinson is a long time Englishman abroad and the songs do sound more than a little Brit, but the closest that his gentle melodic vocal comes is to that of Neil Finn. The album does feel even more laidback than previous albums, there are less burst out moments than what has gone before.

That doesn't lessen the album, quite the reverse, because the lyrical adeptness reveals itself far more and these songs are lit up by inspired Guitar moments. There are also some real standout moments.Are We There Yet? is wonderfully brooding and builds and builds.

Hesitation Blues is great 70s Pop Rock with a vocal that is very Gilbert O'Sullivan and Unnecessary Wars is a corker of a song with a killer chorus and again a fine turn from Gregory. An album to be listened to from start to finish. Why Oh Why is Steve Robinson not much bigger?

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD or as a Download.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2022 : 21-30

This year, the standard has been the highest since IDHAS began six and a half years ago. Narrowing things down to this 100 as been really difficult. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. 

No 21 : The Green Pajamas - Forever For A Little While    IDHAS Review

No 22 : Ian McNabb - Nabby Road      IDHAS Review





No 23 : Uni Boys - Do It All Next Week    IDHAS Review

 

No 24 : The Chrysanthemums - Decoy For A Dognapper!         IDHAS Review

No 25 : Nick Frater - Aerodrome Motel  IDHAS Review

 

No 26 : The Sun Sawed In 1/2 - Triptych (2CD)       IDHAS Review


  


No 27 : Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil - Shadow Play     IDHAS Review

No 28 :  Bird Streets - Lagoon    IDHAS Review


 

No 29 : Dave Cope - Killer Mods From Inner Space   IDHAS Review

No 30 : The Toms - Stereo       IDHAS Review

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil - Shadow Play

 

Steve Robinson's last album, Swallowing The Sun, was one of the most popular albums on I Don't Hear A Single last year (You can read the IDHAS Review here) and to follow the rave reviews, Robinson teams up with Ed Woltil for their second album together, 7 years after the debut.

Although Pastoral Pop generally covers the description, there is a wonderful knot that ties the differences between the two. The Folk Pop of Robinson with the Indie Guitar Pop of Woltil, the pensive mixed with the jaunty, the acoustic meeting the electric,

It works beautifully, particularly the combination of vocals and although I think many IDHAS followers will be particularly drawn to the Guitar Pop, everything blends together without fault. As with Swallowing The Sun, Dave Gregory adds his Guitar mastery to two songs which makes Shadow Play even more essential.

Gregory adds Guitar to Life On A Trampoline and Ultramarine, two very different songs. The former is poptastic, bordering at times on Toytown, yet the latter is an epic moodier piece, a little Prog in places with a killer chorus. The arrangement is outstanding and Gregory's playing is as great as anything he has ever added to.

The stand out here though is the wonderful piano pop of The Way You Love Him, a little Nick Heyward, a little Aztec Camera maybe. It really is a joy. Elsewhere, Kickstart is very Gerry Rafferty,  On The Way To My Appointment With Death is an ace slice of Folk Pop.

The title track is a splendid example of 70s American Pop Rock and Vulgar Tongue may be Acoustic, but is venomous with some top notch vocal harmony. and Make Amends is a fine closer, Simon and Garfunkel-ish. Shadow Play is proof that Pop doesn't have to be in your face to grip you. A wonderful duo, a wonderful match, a wonderful album!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil - Shadow Play

 

Last year Steve Robinson released an absolute gem of an album, Swallowing The Sun. The album made the IDHAS Best Of Year and was one of the most popular reviews of 2021. For someone with a reputation as a Folkie, it was a wonderful poptastic surprise. 

The review can be read here. Previously in 2015, a year before I Don't Here A Single began, Steve had released an album with Ed Woltil, Cycle and that was similarly wonderful. Shadow Play is the follow up to that debut album and it is a joyful listen.

This is a heads up really as I've been fortunate to have a pre-release and the album is only released on 21 October. I don't generally like to review albums too early and usually when there are links up to direct readers to one or two songs.

Shadow Play is splendid pastoral melodic guitar pop. The quality is very high. Just as on Swallowing The Sun, Dave Gregory guests on two songs and his playing is as magnificent as ever. There will be a full review nearer the time, so look out for that.

You can read about the duo on their Facebook page @steverobinsonandedwoltil  You can listen to Cycle, the first album here. Steve Robinson's Bandcamp Site can be found here. Ed Woltil's Bandcamp page can be found here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 31-40

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point?

However, for the last few years I have compiled annual Best Of 's  because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

There are few rules. All albums have to have been reviewed on IDHAS. Reissues and Live Albums are not included. Previously unreleased albums are included, but Best Of's are not. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album. 

No 31 : A.M. Slingers - A.M. Slingers    IDHAS Review

No 32 : The Gold Needles - What's Tomorrow Ever Done For You        IDHAS Review





No 33 : The Junior League - Bridge And Tunnel     IDHAS Review

No 34 : Iain Hornal - Fly Away Home          IDHAS Review

      

No 35 : Ex Norwegian And Friends - Sing Jimmy Campbell     IDHAS Review

No 36 : Peter Hall - Light The Stars      IDHAS Review


  


No 37 : Mark & The Clouds - Waves      IDHAS Review

No 38 :  The Legal Matters - Chapter Three    IDHAS Review

  

No 39 : Byron Rimes - Byron Rimes Greatest Hits   IDHAS Review 

 
No 40 : Steve Robinson - Swallowing The Sun       IDHAS Review

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Steve Robinson - Swallowing The Sun

 

Steve Robinson is an Englishman who isn't in New York, but is in North Carolina after previously being in Florida. The Headlights were a band noted for Folk Rock and at times sounded more American. This solo album sounds far more English, far more in common with his Scunthorpe roots.

With The Headlights connection, it will probably be labelled Folk Pop, but Swallowing The Sun is more Pastoral Pop. It is a beautifully arranged album, gentle, magnificently moody, whilst still being melodic. Plenty of hooks, but far more it is about a vibe.

The only real Folk standout is probably Skinful which has a real Celtic tinge. Milk And A Dash edges that way, but there is a Toytown Psych Pop theme trying to break out. This is a Pop album with an Acoustic platform that is expanded splendidly in the instrument additions and arrangements. 

Many of you know how tired I get of XTC comparisons, but the whole affair feels very Nonsuch, not in the songs, but certainly in the style. So it is no surprise that Dave Gregory guests on two songs. The two are Quiet One which is very George Harrison and Needle In The Red.

Needle In The Red is a fantastic song, the album stand out and Gregory's Guitar work throughout is jaw dropping from the Slide to the soloing. The song approaches 6 minutes and that seems too short. Make You Mine reminds me a lot of Dear Madam Barnum. 

Dizzy Love Song is great McCartney Pop and Mr Empty Head is another gem of a song, very 70s Pop Rock. All 11 songs here, although very different, merge into a splendid soundtrack. It is is an uncomplicated album, yet you admire the thought that has gone into the writing and arrangements. Highly Recommended!

You can listen to and buy the album here. 

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