Number 20: Kenya Grace – The After Taste
Another singing producer-DJ, ‘Strangers’ is the ubiquitous stand-out track, closing in on a billion streams on Spotify, but the rest of the album is equally worthy of attention. Mostly this is gentle drum and bass, though you can understand why she cites Norah Jones and Katie Melua as influences.
Number 19: Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
After playing around with a different look and style on her second album, Billie seems far more comfortably herself on this third collection of songs. The brilliance and success of Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy winning ‘What Was I Made For’ gave her the confidence to fully embrace the quieter moments on this album (‘Skinny,’ ‘Wildflower,’ ‘The Greatest,’ ‘Blue’) as well us up-tempo guitar and keyboard powered pop (‘Lunch,’ ‘Birds of a Feather). That she is producing music this complex and mature at only the age of 23 is mind-boggling. A truly generational talent that could dominate music for decades to come.
Number 18: St. Vincent – All Born Screaming
The 6th album from this highly rated female guitarist, formerly of The Polyphonic Spree, is a collection of slightly scuzzy rock, pop and electronica tracks that makes for a satisfyingly cohesive whole. ‘Broken Man’ is one of the best tracks she has ever done.
Number 17: Confidence Man – 3AM
Tilt was such an incredibly good dance album that this follow-up is in danger of feeling like a disappointment. That, though, would do it a disservice. Whereas Tilt borrowed widely from all of dance history this focuses on more of a late 90s, early noughties vibe – though always feeling fresh rather than being a nostalgia act. This is very much an out and out club and party album. There is very little in the way of pause for breath or quiet moments. Lead single ‘I Can’t Lose You’ is an absolute banger.
Number 16: Paris Paloma – Cacophony
Opening track ‘my mind (now)’ makes it abundantly clear that you are in the presence of an intriguing artist, the narrow anxiety and overthinking giving way to a wide-screen track. My initial feeling, confirmed by interviews, was that Paris Paloma is well versed in classical fiction. This is infinitely preferable to the other possibility, that she had been in a series of abusive relationships. ‘Labour’ has taken on a life of its own and passed the 200,000,000 streams mark with its righteous take on the unpaid physical and emotional labour women perform. ‘Drywall’ is just as good. A great debut, marking her out as a talent to watch and pay attention to.
Reading Indie Life 
Leave a comment