Nu jazz is a fuzzy category. It’s based on jazz, loosely or strongly, and usually features electronic music influence, and can also have hints of R&B, hip-hop, and other genres. I think it’s a fantastic genre, and here are my favourite albums of 2021!
Number Five: Portico Quartet – Monument
Art in the Age of Automation was one of my favourite albums from 2017, and Portico are back with yet another really strong album in Monument. This electro-jazz album is full of highlights and filled with delights, and if you missed it (what are you doing?), now’s the time … Read more
I want to hear crass distortion, bass-heavy songs with harsh vocals! This is noise rock!
Number Five: Изразец – Изразец
Изразец (Izrazec) is… noise jazz? This one is somewhat hard to classify, as I first put it into the jazz category, before listening to it again more closely and ranking it with noise rock. Well, one thing is for sure, that blend is rather unique, and it’s also super satisfying! One discovery for you!
Number Four: Guzzlemug – Uncarved
Guzzlemug is a strange thing, and on Uncarved we get to hear two of their long-form compositions shine their brightest. It’s … Read more
Number Five: Wood River & Cantus domus – Sediments We Move
On Sediments We Move, Charlotte Greve takes us on quite the panoramic tour! Backed by the Cantus domus choir, this is jazz with choir, and it’s positively disconcerting. I love it so much!
Number Four: Skrim – The Crooked Path
The avant-garde jazz journey of Skrim’s Crooked Path release is one you can’t easily forget, as you’ll constantly be thrown this way or that, to the whim of the composers-improvisers leading the boat. An amazing album!
Let’s hear it for the most crushing metalcore albums of 2021!
Number Five: Warring Monk – 僧兵
That Warring Monk album is a last-minute entry, but I had to include it here! Despite its lower production standard, it’s filled with incredible riffs, an amazing guitar distortion sound, and it’ll be a great discovery for most of you!
Number Four: Vildhjarta – Måsstaden under vatten
I don’t feel like Vildhjarta recaptured the lightning in a bottle that the original Måsstaden ended up being, but the under vatten follow-up is still really freaking good!