Not changing at Retford

Foxhall Road was the final climb of the Sheffield Magnificent Seven hill race today. The hill wasn’t so much the problem as the headwind (fortunately the sleet had abated by the time the riders got up there). I had enough trouble getting up there, and I hadn’t done six more evil hills before it.

Mark Eitzel - Greystones Sheffield 8th March

2016 had many faults but it was brilliant for new records.

Kate Jackson – British Road Movies. A bit of a surprise I liked this so much, but it’s just a succession of excellent smart pop tunes. Like the cover the songs seem initially precisely tooled and sharp-lined. But get closer and the hand-crafted edges and warmth get more obvious.

Emma Pollock – In Search of Harperfield. Another collection of just superbly written guitar-pop songs (with some swooping strings just for good measure). It was the year for it.

Yorkston/Thorne/Khan – Everything Sacred. I’ve not seen this crop up in many end of year lists. It can only be because people forgot it came out this year. Indian/Scottish/English folk crossover that is just wonderful.

Modern Studies – Swell to Great. A lovely set of alt.folk tunes inspired by a Victorian harmonium. What’s not love?

The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left/Christian Fitness – This Taco Is Not Correct/This Becomes Us. The most creatively excellent household in the UK (plus Jack Egglestone and guests). They’re producing a child next year. Watch out 20 years or so hence.

Maarja Nuut – Une Meeles. Lovely Estonian-folk inspired oddness. Her performance on the roof garden of the Queen Elizabeth Hall was the greatest way to spend a summer’s evening in London.

Sarah Neufeld – The Ridge.  Odd and accessible at the same time – on the cusp of pop and classical, but that is usually shit. This is wonderful. Talking of which…

Colin Stetson – Sorrow. A re-imagining of Gorecki’s Third Symphony. Less aerobic that his usual oddness but an intriguing exercise. Lord knows what proper classical aficinados make of it.

Kristin Hersh – Wyatt at the Coyote Palace. Kristin Hersh. Always wonderful.

Virgin of the Birds – Secret Kids. Smart college songwriting. Gets better with every listen.

Steven James Adams – Old Magick. Smart, not very college songwriting. Simple, clever and great.

Battery-Operated Orchestra – Radiation. A duo who do old-skool electropop perfectly. Ace.

The Big Eyes Family Players – Oh! No, the Sheffield folksters didn’t hatch a Pokemon. They produced a psych-folk album par excellence.