I’m relatively content with the way that Sonic Breakfast has gone this year. A few random conversations and, before I really knew what I was doing, it launched in March. Despite a Summer break when I was far too busy in festival fields, there’s still been 112 posts this year that have been read in 91 countries of the world.
I care about every single one of the acts that I feature on Sonic Breakfast. I write about them because something appeals to me about their music and attitude; it’s not and never will be genre specific; I’m too ancient to be chasing the next big thing – although that’s not to say that some of the acts I’ve featured this year might not strive to greatness in 2015.
I thought (because it seems to be all the rage) I’d do a ‘Sonic Breakfast’ top 10 of 2014. Ten discoveries for me this year; ten artists or tracks that I want to revisit; numbers ten to six will come today and then five to the coveted number one slot later this week.
This will look like no other end of year chart that you’ll see….
(10) Tapestry
It was quite a year for Tapestry. Bursting on to the Leicester scene, Elliot, Alex and Taylor precociously announced their presence by storming the Original Bands Showcase. A prominent slot at Simon Says where the eFestivals reviewer highlighted their set for praise by saying – “the very first band on the outdoor Hobgoblin stage that afternoon, the fresh-faced three-piece Tapestry were perhaps the most experimental bunch of the entire weekend, doffing their saxes and synths to Alt-J and Goblin. ” Alex left the band due to musical differences in the late summer. It remains to be seen if Elliot and Taylor can continue to develop without their drummer. Still young and with their fingers in all sorts of musical pies, don’t bet against something special in 2015.
(9) Huskies – Sober
I was charmed when I first heard Huskies back in April by their brand of indie-pop. Since then, they’ve continued to get noticed in all the right places. A successful EP launch less than a month ago and well received gigs around the country marks these out as ones to watch. I saw them play at Y-Not when writing for eFestivals and said this about them:- “Their jingle jangle form of pop arguably sits in that hole between The Strokes, The Housemartins and Vampire Weekend. This correspondent predicts big things for these dogs.”
It seems like an age ago when my friend, Val McCoy, played me Sean’s video on her mobile phone and suggested she’d try to get him along to an OBS unplugged night. Sean travelled up from Northampton and impressed all who saw him. Other Musician shows followed for him and his band as did a slot at Simon Says. Incredibly impressive inter-blog coverage since and a neat line in videos suggests he’s travelling a considered path. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke (and band). Tonight, they play a set at London’s Sebright Arms. This recently released video to ‘Fairground Fighter’ oozes class.
(7) Son Little – Your love will blow me away when my heart aches
Let’s not beat around the bush. This is one of my songs of the year. I was sat in my comfy armchair listening to new music on my headphones and this just left me quivering. I heard it being used by the BBC in one of their programme links a few weeks later and I was so happy that a wider audience might now question who was behind this incredible track. He’s played a few UK shows in the past month. Foolishly, I conspired to miss them. Follow up tracks to ‘Your Love’ have been well received… That voice….
Finally for today we come to this gem of a track by Elliot Moss. This could be number one in my top ten and I’d be happy. Not only did I write about this but I also wrote about the remix by Hippie Sabotage. Writing about remixes isn’t something that comes easy to me! Elliot’s sheer act of generosity in sending his CD, at considerable cost, across the Atlantic Ocean still sticks with me. His is an album that deserves to get under more skin in 2015.
With such quality amidst numbers ten to six, I bet you can’t wait to see what’s in the Sonic Breakfast top five?
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