DW’s favourite albums of 2020

William Basinski - Lamentations

"A mournful yet uplifting stupor of existential malaise beckons."

- Dane

Lamentations by William Basinski, released 13 November 2020 1. For Whom the Bell Tolls 2. The Wheel of Fortune 3. Paradise Lost 4. Tear Vial 5. O, My Daughter, O, My Sorrow 6. Passio 7. Punch and Judy 8. Silent Spring 9. Transfiguration 10. All These Too, I, I Love 11.

2020 by Richard Dawson, released 11 October 2019 1. Civil Servant 2. The Queen's Head 3. Two Halves 4. Jogging 5. Heart Emoji 6. Black Triangle 7. Fulfilment Centre 8. Fresher's Ball 9. No-One 10. Dead Dog in an Alleyway 2020 is the sixth solo album from Richard Dawson, the black-humoured bard of Newcastle.

Richard Dawson - 2020

"Technically released at the end of 2019, but its name justifies it. I just love the raw energy of his music - his sound is so unique and for me this album was an awesome step towards a heavier sound, without losing any of the bizarre, somewhat brutal beauty that makes him stand out."

- Caitlin

Postvorta - Porrima

"Porrima is a perfectly balanced, sophisticated and powerful combination of emotions. It hypnotises the listener spinning its thoughts through elaborate rhythmical sections, then crushing them under unbearably heavy riffs. I got lost several times in the innumerable epic moments of this true masterpiece."

- Matteo

Porrima by POSTVORTA, released 20 February 2020 1. Epithelium Copia 2. Vasa Praevia Dispassion 3. Decidua Trauma Catharsis 4. March Dysthymia 5. Aldehyde Framework POSTVORTA have always been hard to classify. Since 2009, they have played music that's heavy and progressive, cinematic and intimate, dense and sometimes minimal.

AC/DC - Power Up

"It was just such a nice surprise and made 2020 look a bit less shitty for an hour. Every time you put AC/DC on, it's a party."

- Hugo

Adrianne Lenker - songs/instrumentals

"It's so pure. The lyrics of the songs section are really haunting but warm and the second half is just instrumental. She did it straight to tape, well a walkman- guitar and voice w really minimal overdubbing, and you can hear her fingers rubbing the strings...its just so close I feel like I'm cheating listening in on it....the whole thing's got a serious ache to it that hits me in the sweetest way."

- Robin

songs by Adrianne Lenker, released 23 October 2020 1. two reverse 2. ingydar 3. anything 4. forwards beckon rebound 5. heavy focus 6. half return 7. come 8. zombie girl 9. not a lot, just forever 10. dragon eyes 11.

Emma Ruth Rundle + Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full

"I'm very late to the party with ERR but after falling for her 'Marked For Death' record I've been making up for lost time. This meeting of minds between her ghostly, baritone songwriting and Thou's sludgetastic riffery was pretty much perfectly up my street."

- Mark

May Our Chambers Be Full by Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou, released 30 October 2020 1. Killing Floor 2. Monolith 3. Out of Existence 4. Ancestral Recall 5. Magickal Cost 6. Into Being 7.