With December here, Ban Ban Ton Ton is looking back on the musical year. Since Japanese superstition holds 7 as her luckiest number, we’re gonna try to keep each selection tight to this total, in the hope that our conjuring of 7 X 7 X 7 X … will collectively manifest some magic for 2025. You may witness some attempts to creatively bend the rules, blur / invent genres and rinse formats, in order to squeeze in as many great releases as possible…
Despite my monthly Chocolate Milk & Brandy round-ups, given the rules I set for these end-of-year lists, this was actually quite tricky. A sunset selection, inspired by those of Jose Padilla, should really segue, jump even, between genres. However, since overall here I’m trying to mention / highlight as many releases as possible, I’ve broken my choices down into multiple musical categories. I’ve already posted lucky 7s for Soul and Leftfield Dub, plus a collection of compilations. Jazz, Reggae, Rock, Techno, and, of course Balearic Beats, will follow. What you have below are sides that I could imagine spinning, cocktail in hand, at the Cafe del Mar, but that also don’t fit neatly into any other convenient pigeonhole.
SINGLES
A really nice reissue from Heels & Souls that repressed, remixed and unarchived early `90s tracks from Toronto trio, The Boomtang Boys. Three of the tunes were Balearic Beats, but the fourth, River Ride, which boasts a Bobby Konders inspired bass-line, was much more chilled.
A Man Called Adam / Estelle (Mixes)
AMCA made available digitally Sensory Productions mid-90s remixes of the Cafe del Mar classic Estelle. These ranged from beatless to 4 / 4-ed, and those in between in particular packed some proper piano.
Joan Bibiloni / Cofio Recorda Remembrance
A very special spoken word project from NuNorthern Soul, where veteran virtuoso guitarist Joan Bibiloni backed poems written by Waldo Williams and recited by Rhys Ifans and Pep Tosar. The version in Catalan couldn’t be more Balearic.
A fine 45 from Max that marked a slight change in direction, and saw the head Jansen Jardin-er make some limber library music-esque moves.
Robin Guthrie / Atlas & Astoria
In 2024 we got two new E.P.s from the highly influential guitarist / producer and founding member of the Cocteau Twins. These were among my favourite releases not least because they gave me the opportunity to meet Robin, see his studio and speak to him about The Cocteaus, This Mortal Coil, 4AD and his production work post-Cocteaus.
Another reissued Cafe del Mar classic, this time from Sound Migration, on a 12 that rescued not only the Jose Padilla favoured cut but also a couple of rare remixes.
Tam Tam / Ramble In The Rainbow
Members of Taikokissie`s Dub Passengers make daydreamy Lemon Jelly meet Lee Scratch Perry grooves.
ALBUMS
Continuing to corner the market in quality envelope-pushing modern classical, 130701, signed four new artists – Rikuto Fujimoto, Halvcirkel, Ava Rasti and Yngel – all of whom`s music balanced challenging and beautiful moments.
Mark Barrott / Everything Changes Nothing Ends
Ambitious, big, bold, brave, epic and then quiet and ultimately heartbreaking.
The highly anticipated new one from Phil put a focus on songs, and finally pressed his collaboration with Quinn Luke, Shelter, to vinyl. While this track in particular seemed steeped in post-pandemic positivity and optimistic, and testament to the power of friendship, another highlight was Phil`s terrific tribute to Jose Padilla, Auto Verde.
Like the Cocteau Twins reimagined for folks of Burial`s generation, this was a flawless float on whispered melancholy tides. Finally got a vinyl pressing.
Kevin McCormick / Passing Clouds
We covered a fair amount of music fashioned from fragile virtuoso fretwork, but Kevin McCormick`s Passing Clouds was my personal favourite.
Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood / Still My World
This Japanese promo CD got pressed to vinyl for Record Store Day. It may be a collection perhaps of odds and ends from Two Lone Swordsmen`s archive, but nonetheless the ambient pieces are understated and magical, with the broken, bruised romance of cuts such as The Crescents really creeping up on you. A big thank you to Martin Brannagan of The Flightpath Estate for my copy.
Hiroshi Yoshimura / Soundscape 1: Surround
Just when I thought I was Kankyo Ongaku-ed out, this gem got a repress. Hiroshi Yoshimura is one of those artists – Vini Reilly is another – where every album, on the surface, is kind of the same, yet always contains one treasure of a track that deviates from their norm. In this case it was the serene 6-string stylings of Something Blue.
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