Best New Music 2016

[Originally posted on Soundwaves Review]

As the year draws to a close, everyone is reflecting on the past 12 months and I’ve been noticing many ‘best of’ and ‘top 10/20’ lists for music.

It’s impossible to make a complete list of the best new music releases for 2016, of course, because I haven’t heard all the new music that’s been released! 🙂 However, certain albums and EPs have come to my attention this year that deserve a wider audience. I’m going to list them here (in no particular order).

I’m only including music that doesn’t fall within the rock/metal genre because there will be another “best of” list (which I’ve compiled with Maria Haskins).

So here are some of my favourite indie releases of 2016.

Bauer – Impossible is Nothing

I reviewed this exceptional album on the blog. You can read that HERE.

Buy the album: http://www.baueronline.co.uk/

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Willow Robinson – EPs: Stones and Ocean Blue

Willow Robinson has released two EPs this year. I featured the mesmerising Stones on the blog earlier in the year.

He’s recently released Ocean Blue, a 4-track EP, which includes the tracks “Ocean Blue” and “I’ll Tell You Goodnight” – previously featured on the blog – as well as a gorgeous cover version of “Feelin’ Good” (Newley/Bricusse).

Buy the EPs: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/author/willow-robinson/id553504920

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Red-sided Garter Snakes – Blue Lake

You can check out my review of this excellent album HERE.

You can buy the album direct from Sympathique Independent Music.

Send an e-mail to: Info-at-Sympathiqueindependentmusicltd.co.uk

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velettes – EPs: Colour Studies and Resolve

velettes have released two brilliant EPs this year, both of which have been reviewed on the blog: Colour Studies and Resolve.

Buy the EPs: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/velettes/id1030404384

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Jason Achilles Mezilis – COMEDOWN

I interviewed Jason Achilles Mezilis about his awesome instrumental album, “COMEDOWN”, earlier this year: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/pre-order-comedown-by-jason-achilles-mezilis/

Buy the album: http://jamezilis.bigcartel.com/

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jason-achilles-mezilis/id342123837

I must also mention Jason’s latest release, which is a fabulous classical track, Schizmatique No.2, featuring the Budapest Film Orchestra.

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Murmur Tooth – The Room

I featured this EP on the blog earlier in the year: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/07/03/free-music-the-room-ep-murmur-tooth/

Buy the EP: https://murmurtooth.bandcamp.com/releases

Pat Heath – String Theory

I interviewed Pat Heath about this excellent new instrumental album in May: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/interview-with-pat-heath

Buy the album: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/string-theory/id1153321787

 

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Tarot Rats – Minor Arcana

“Minor Arcana”, by the talented Tarot Rats was previously featured on Rock and Roll: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/05/07/new-music-debut-ep-minor-arcana-by-tarot-rats/

Buy the EP: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/tarot-rats/id1110374037

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Burning Astronomers – Pounds, Shillings & Pence

I also featured this EP on Rock and Roll when it was released: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/new-music-pounds-shillings-and-pence-burning-astronomers/

Buy the EP: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pounds-shillings-and-pence-ep/id1079512746

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Nigel Brown – The Sands of Time

Check out my review of Nigel Brown’s EP, “The Sands of Time”, here: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/new-music-the-sands-of-time-nigel-brown/

Buy the EP: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-sands-of-time-ep/id1153896350

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JIANT – Sanctuary

This brilliant instrumental EP was featured on the blog recently: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/featured-artist-jiant

Buy the EP: https://jiant.bandcamp.com/releases

 

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Puppet Rebellion – The Pact

I also want to mention the EP “The Pact” by Puppet Rebellion, although I don’t think it’s been officially released as an EP. I do have a copy that was being sold at their recent gig, so it falls within 2016 releases for me.

They released the wonderful title track with a video this month.

Buy the single: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-pact-single/id1178703206

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I hope you’ll find some new favourite bands/musicians from this list 🙂