These lists aren’t final until they are up on the site to give a chance to those November and December releases that often get forgotten. That said, a basic list usually gets drafted quite far in advance as a guide. This list however is the exception. It took a long time to narrow down to a top ten, and even longer to decide on the final order. It’s been an impressively consistent year for EPs across the board, but after much deliberation I’ve settled on my final rankings. Continue reading
lokki
Top Tracks: Lokki – High
Following the success of his debut EP Cirrhi earlier this year, Lokki (aka Drew MacFarlane of Glass Animals) is back with a brand new track. Reminiscent in places of The Last Shadow Puppets, ‘High’ details the feeling of taking a step back from your life to take a look at the bigger picture. It carries the same lush vibe that made his EP so compelling, but what really sets this track apart is the stunning stop motion video. Made from thousands of photographs strung together (along with added illustrations, as if it wasn’t complicated enough to make already!) by animator Tayo Kopfer, it is a mightily impressive work in its own right and adds a deeper layer of charm to and already charming song.
Spotlight!: Lokki
If there was any music trend that particularly stood out for me in 2017 it was that of members from established bands branching out and releasing solo work every bit as engaging, and sometimes even more so, than their previous work within the band. The debut release from Lokki seems a sure sign of that trend continuing well into 2018. This new project from Drew McFarlane of Glass Animals fame sees him exploring new horizons with the debut EP Cirrhi. The title track has a mystical feel to it, and you can just imagine the tune being carried through a forest on the mist, daring you to delve deeper. The timeless elegance of ‘Breathe A Breath Of Me’ has a few hints of The Beatles and is fleshed out beautifully by the addition of a choir, and the sweet and simple style of ‘I Catch You’ is reminiscent of the golden age of singer/songwriters, recalling the likes of James Taylor and Carole King. The androgynous inflections found in closing track ‘The Night’ really serves to showcase Drew’s range and versatility, and supplements his piano work with a smooth swell of strings. Even down to the artwork, everything points to Lokki being a project that is here to delight us for a long while to come.
Fans of Sampha, The Last Dinosaur, Flyte and London Grammar should check out Lokki’s debut EP Cirrhi
Belwood Music 