Music Wrapped Ramblings 2024
As readers may know I enjoy exploring and sharing music. With spotify wrapped come and gone this year being kinda underwhelming, With wrapped never showing the full picture of different music that have listened to or enjoyed through the year.
I thought I would revisit Music wrapped ramblings. Music Ramblings is a longer form of Music Muse where I share various music suggestions and summaries. Didnt share many music musings this year, but that doesn’t mean I wasn't listening and discovering some different tracks spanning all moods and genres that folk may enjoy.
As always this track list, opinions and music genre classification is just what I feel or think on the particular tracks and artists.
Most of the links provided are spotify links, which is mostly for ease of access. I am aware Spotify is increasingly being a shit company for artists so remember to support your artists how you can. Have supplied bandcamp links when available
This list is organized via loose genre or categories in no particular order.
Feel free to explore If you curious what my top songs according to spotify this year can look at this playlist
All of the songs in this writeup have been added to a playlist here if anyone wants just the all the tracks in one area (Excluding the Full Albums mentioned)
Instrumental
Instrumental tracks were one of my largest listens this year With my instrumental track playlist from this year reaching at 245 tracks at around 17 hrs in total if we were to listen to every track I discovered or listened to in this genre. This doesn't include the softer slower type instrumentals that go into a separate category. Anyway here are some random instrumental tracks
From the vault by The Trouble notes
A Saxy dancy instrumental track from the 2018 album Lose your ties. It has brass wind instruments, funky guitar riffs and changes styles from a jazz type influence to more spanish sounding flamenco guitar that blend into a adventurous type mix.
From their bandcamp page
“In an effort to reduce cultural barriers, The Trouble Notes have made it their mission to create their own cultural universe, mixing influences from all over the world”
I believe the Troubled notes do quite well through this album as a whole if you want to listen. Otherwise just check out From the vault by The Trouble Notes
Support through bandcamp
A Track from Thomas Azier 2023 EP Zondel Titel
A driving rhythm, a shifting melody, this is an earworm type song. Could be considered a progressive house type beat. It builds with a sense of momentum but then just ends leaving you feeling there should be more to the track. Is a nice enjoyable earworm despite it just ending.
This track is like a gentle hum lullaby delivered straight to your ears. Its intimate and lovely, a mix of piano and hummed melody that slowly grows and swells embracing you in a hug that draws feelings of melancholy. Is part of a single so if you want more have to look to other albums. The album Human is a short but beautiful album. Is a bit different from the track threads but is beautiful in its own way with its ethereal voicing and ambient soundscapes.
Buy Album on Bandcamp
Bassy dramatic opera type track that has been electronically modified so the opera comes across a bit glitchy. Seems like the type of track that might play as a prelude to a boss fight, not quite boss fight but maybe the build up before meeting the boss.
Narratology by Ernesto Schnack
Always a sucker for acoustic guitar, Ernesto has been a favorite I have come back to. They mix sweeping riffs with harmonics where each song is an adventure journey and full story in a single song. Narratology comes from the 2024 album of the same name, looking at the track titles likely inspired from Brandon Sanderson novels which I enjoy the nod to.
Tales of a life seeker (fireplace) kisnou
A 2016 single, A soft story by the fireplace, the song starts with sweeping pads and soft strings and grows to a lofi hiphop beat and sweeping dramatic instrumentals. To me it is like a story by the fireplace with peaks, lows and drama of storytelling.
Bandcamp Support
Guinevers’s Grip By Soda Plains
Song starts off with a high melody with a darker base that grows in the background. A choir of voices comes in that transforms into a glitchy surreal beat. Electronically minimal type beat that hints at another world that is dramatic but consistent.
Beyond the rift by Charles Berthoud
A tangle of harmonic guitar melodies and bass. A song mostly harmonics played on a guitar that form a crystalline soundscape that builds with a slow momentum. This Song makes me think of a playful curious nature.
Non English Songs
Always enjoy listening to tracks from other countries. This years non english song list was a bit shorter and less varied than previous years with most of the tracks from Europe, Japan, and Korea
Elle ne t’aime pas by La Femme
A song from the 2016 album Mystère is a catchy poppy French song that has sounds of digital synth reminiscent of early Nintendo games. Even without knowing French it has a catchy sing along type vibe. Looking at the translation is about a guy who is obsessing about a girl who no longer feels the same way, who has to accept this situation.
Otyken A Siberian band mixing traditional instruments, throat singing and modern elements is a bizarre mix that comes together in this song. It's a chant its kinda hip hop its dancy catchy and weird. Won't be everyone's taste but that's alright.
Haunting choir chants to start this track draws you in with intrigue. Then switches to a soft piano and a smooth French voice. This track has sounds and effects that I quite enjoy, from disjointed voice choir, to glitchy accented effects and nice sounding vocals.
After listening a couple of times I explored the music video and english translation of the track. This added a somber sadder layer to the understanding of the song. This song definitely became a favorite discovery of this year. Comes from the 2022 Album Multitude
Which in itself is a nice listen.
El Pandorazo acusitco by Sesiones das la cuadra, Breila Ojeda
Powerful vocals, to an acoustic guitar backing. Sounds passionate, intimate and warm in the way similar to NPR tiny desk concerts or triple j unplugged. Simple but enjoyable Spanish song.
Karrija rose to the public perception through Eurovision with their song Cha Cha which was a strange blend of styles frankensteined together into a catchy bop. Rusoska is a similar hybrid mixing metal, electro pop synth vocals and heavy electronic music into a catchy song that can expect from Eurovision contenders.
A Spanish pop Rnb type sounding song. Is catchy vocals dancing type vibes. Is a short but enjoyable song
A non serious German pirate themed song. Following pirates hunting for treasure getting into shenanigans that pirates do. Is mostly an amusing catchy non serious song
A slow fantasy, traditional sounding track mixing haunting vocals with fidel and accordion? Is a nice track to be found in a Inn off a dusty road.
Peregrino ii: Decepción by hacienda Libre
A newly formed Progressive metal/rock Spanish band with the guitarist Ernesto Schnack whose track that I shared earlier. This track is a random track from the album Tiempos Violentos Peregrino ii Decepcion is track that grabs you with punchy guitars and the clean vocals of Cuz Robles. Interested in seeing Hacienda Libre grow as they settle into their style
A gentle Japanese track with instrumental backing that sounds like something from a ghibli type animation crossed with a jazz ensemble. Tomoo with calming soft vocals. This song builds from a soft intro into a dancy sing along type track.
Miscellaneous
Songs in a variety of categories that have enjoyed throughout the year
Allergies (feat Delaney Bailey) By Marcin
Slow indie pop voice reminding me of The Marias or Billie Ellish, Delaney Bailey has a nice sounding voice. Paired with Marcin melodic guitar playing creates a dreamy mellow track.
Down in flames By Wax Talior, Sara Genn
From the Album Dusty rainbow from the dark This track makes me think of the old noir jazz lounge cafes that would be smoke filled with gangsters in the 1920s, with the show girls singing on stage. This track has odd time signatures at times, but Sara Genn’s voice mixed with Wax tailors jazzy funky instrumental can send you through a portal to an imagined different time.
A slow haunting yet beautiful track. Is one of the slower tracks from The Marias recent album Submarine Slow brass jazz with dreamy vocals. A track that belongs in a late night lounge bar.
Stretch your eyes By Agnes Obel
The starting track from the 2016 album Citizen of Glass Stretch your eyes is a haunting lovely chamber pop soundscape that have come to know and expect from Agnes Obel. A mix of piano, violin and vocals tired together to generate a dreamy track.
Dreamlight human and intimate, a soft hummed chant type track with swelling strings. Gives imagery of foggy icy morning laced with determination Amma is one of the louder tracks from the album. Chandani as a whole album is a soft love letter to put on and float to if you want to.
Creeping into my soul cyroshell
The type of track that appeals to my inner teenager guess makes sense as this track is from 2010 from the album Cryshell. A female vocal to an electro rock backing with a male vocal bridge. Draws memories of bands like Linkin Park or Evanacesance, probably isnt the best track of Cryoshell but is the first one I discovered this year
A soft ethereal voicing type song to piano. Has a sense of momentum a good song to put on in the background for some study or chill.
Red in tooth and claw Imogen heap
From the 2022 Album Chordata Bytes 1 Red in Tooth opens withTribal forest beats with Imogen humming a melody to take you through the lost jungle of a forgotten world.
I discovered this year that, Madison Mcferrin daughter of Bobby Mcferrin, who is known for tracks like dont worry be happy, is a musician. Her tracks are warm soul vocals to a soft funky mellow electronic beat. Stay away is a silky soulful track from the album Hope you can forgive me
Traingazing by Sam Willis, Honey Moonica
Seem to be a sucker for songs that have a duet type nature with contrasting vocals. This track is a soft silky indie song sung in a duet type format.
Mermaid In Lisbon by Patrick Watson, Teresa Salgueiro, Attacca Quartet
A gentle duet type song mixing deep kind of raspy voice with high melody voicing. Is the kind of song that I imagine could be a concept track for an adventure through a new country local town.
An alt pop electro synth track that kinda burrows into your head a potential earworm.
Catchy
Catchy songs in different ways. Either sing along, earworms, or dancy type that have discovered and enjoyed
Sucker(from arcane) By Marcus King
This earworm was played in the Tv series Arcane season 2, Guitar riffs, and a full raspy male vocal backed with beats mixed with some choir call and response blend together to create a song that will stick in your mind for a while.
Many of the songs from Arcane were pretty good. If you want a playlist or album to explore.
A funky dancy house beat. Move your body and enjoy
Dr.Smythe by ungus ungus ungus
From the 2016 album Cosmic Carnival. This song is a blend of traditional instruments played to a party, Kinda 1930s swing, kinda gypsy swing. This song could be played as a backing to old cartoons. It's silly catchy and good fun
To ashes and blood (from arcane) Woodlandkid
Another song from the arcane series, Is the type of song found on some modern movie trailers. Kinda dark beat, deep vocals then dramatic contrasting cinematic choir chorus what's not to love.
Coral Crown By Daren Korb, Erin Yvette, Ashley Barrett, Alice Lee
Rocky catchy and dark. Imagine a song sung by a siren vampire lulling you into their embrace but as a rock song I want to blast it full volume on repeat.
This track is from the game Hades 2, which I am keen to play once it exits beta. Was going to wait to play the game before listening to this. But Music from Daren Korb is generally good. I'm glad this song was one of my top songs of this year.
Find previous releases on bandcamp
Driving drum beats with kinda chant-like vocals that sync with the drums this is a song that drills into your skull and rattles around stuck as an earworm for a while.
From the 2016 album Egomaniac
A electro pop rock track, reminds me of something at the tip of the mind, a familiar sound but unsure who reminds me of. Is a catchy upbeat grungy track
Can support on bandcamp
Disco funky house, with a bit of city pop vibe. Is a bouncy electric bop that will get you moving and grooving.
Can find more of their tracks on bandcamp
Erre By MonkyMan, Nasna, Irali
This is one of my weird favorite discoveries from this year. It starts of with slow momentum bouncy bass With melody that can draw association to Bojack horseman theme, Then out of nowhere a solo Spanish? Rap that stops as it gets good leaving a feeling of surely there is more, but only left with a long instrumental outro.
Albums
Full Albums that i enjoyed throughout the year, with multi listens
Haven't played the full game of cuphead so was a bit hesitant to go through this album in its entirety, but the game has been out long enough thought why not. What a bop, mix of jazz, and show tunes vibes this album was on repeat a couple times throughout the year.
Treny Jacaszek, Michael Jacaszek
Ambient experimental and late night vibes. This album I played a few times throughout the year, in the dark late night before going to sleep. Mostly slow ambient buildups with slight electronic glitches and sweeps throughout some of the tracks.
A slower instrumental album, Each track telling its own standalone story. This album is spacy drifting and good to consider the universe of your mind to.
Momentum their dogs were astronauts
A progressive rock album, with interesting guitar riffs, its punchy its expansive overall a good listen.
Hope you have enjoyed this music rambling, feel free to send through music recommendations
till next time
Chun