Chrysalismusic’s Blog

‘Come on, chaps – let’s have a listen to that new joint from Chrysalis.  Thompson’s gone on a pimp juice reccy. Last one to get crunk is a wet blanket’

Indeed. Well, there’s nothing like gathering in Norwegian woollen jumpers, lighting pipes and giving the last 12 months in music a right going over. That’s exactly what we’ve spent the last month doing. We now have a massive pipe tobacco dependance, broad 1940s accents and a penchant for calling each other by surname only. More truthfully, 2009 has been a sensational year for Chrysalis artists. Much lauded albums released, big gigs played, festival crowds won over, new artists signed, ads synched, tv spots spotted, Mercury prize nominations nominated, picnics played, Letterman’s performed, end of year lists invited.. So with that in mind for your aural (and sexual?) pleasure (no, probably not) here compiled are our musical revelations of the year. The ones that will endure in our minds for the longest into the new decade and beyond. Of course the choosing was very difficult. But 2009 according to Gareth, Sophie, David and Will was all about this:

Gareth ‘I’m the boss so I’m not putting anything here’ Smith:

1. YYY’s ‘Zero’ – Is the bit about a minute and a half in when the song is launched into orbit that makes me smile. On the tube. At randoms. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.
2. THE CRIBS ‘Cheat on Me’. Effortless, honest and unpretentious.
3. EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS ‘Home’. A singalong stroke of brilliance by a band of 15 smiling people on stage – a cult you want to join.

Sophie ‘S’aink S’aink’ Urquhart:

1. THE BIG PINK ‘Too young to love (Unkle Remix)’ – Ridiculously cool track in itself. The Unkle remix just gives it that special s’aink s’aink. Pure ear joy.
2. THE LOW ANTHEM ‘Charlie Darwin’ – This song makes me want to smile and cry simultaneously.
3. GOSSIP ‘Four Letter Word’ – I love the insanely catchy synth bassline in this track which makes me feel like I’m at an 80′s discotheque every time I listen to it, which is a lot.

David ‘Why use one word when fifty will do’ O’Bryan:

1. BAT FOR LASHES ‘Daniel’ – Despite being drenched to the core at her Somerset House gig, seeing her perform a flawless rendition of this mystical pop song of Fleetwood Mac proportions is a definite gig highlight of ther year for me.
2. NATHAN FAKE ‘The turtle’ - I love techno when it’s for the head, like Aphex Twin. I love techno when it’s for the dancefloor, like Dubfire. But when you have techno that’s for the head AND the dancefloor in one song, it’s perfection. This song is just that.
3. PATRICK WOLF ‘Hard Times’ – His show at the Palladium is one of my favourite gigs of the year… seeing him sing this song in a giant glitter cape, whilst spinning like a pagan dandy, is one of my music highlights of the year.

Will ‘I grew attached to it’ Theakston:

1. THE HORRORS ‘Mirrors Image’  I have listened to this song 7,863 times this year. I marked each play by dropping a small paper effigy of the band in my ‘I love the Horrors bassline’ hope chest. That’s not weird.
2. METRIC ‘Satellite Mind’ The greatness of this song and Metric’s album should be screamed from the rooftops. We’re not allowed on our roof anymore, so I’ll scream it from a, er, blog.
3. ANDREW BIRD ‘Fitz and Dizzyspells’  If you could open a can and summer came out this song would be the accompaniment. LOVE the bird.
   
   

 Oh, and without further ado..