TOP CHOICES FOR 2020 According to Big Beautiful Noise/ Lee Henderson

NOTE: 2020 was a trying time for artists all over the world. Those musicians who did release recordings should ALL be on a TOP CHOICE LIST, and I even considered just making this statement and leaving my usual year end Top Choice list blank otherwise, but this pandemic is flowing over into 2021 so we take a look at what came to me in 2020 and rocked my world.  I made this 2020 list with the same format as 2019, where I do not assign numbers to the entries. As explained before, had too many people misunderstanding those numbers as a ranking of first, second etc.  

Easy enough. The entries ARE in alphabetical order, as always, and should only be seen as a whole list, not what comes first or last. They are ALL great recordings, or they would not have made it to my TOP CHOICES list.

The year of 2020 has been tremendous for creative music despite the Covid-19 world we all are facing. A thank you to all the labels, individual artists, promotional operations, and people in general, who sent physical compact discs (we still hold those as the status for great listening and review) thru the tough year.

Most of the recordings have been reviewed (or will be) in Big Beautiful Noise and you can find them in Archives (which is also listed in alphabetical order).
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REISSUES

OFFICER! - Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes (Klanggalerie)  Originally released as a vinyl LP in 1988, NO 001.


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2020 NEW RELEASES

 

ROSIE ABBOTT - Magnified (self release)

AKSAK MABOUL - Pieces (Crammed Discs)

ARCH GARRISON - The Bitter Lay (Believer's Roast)

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ARMY OF MOTHS - By Word Of Moth (self release)

ARTCHIPEL ORCHESTRA - Truly Yours, Musiche Di Phil Miller (Musica Jazz)

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BABAL - Dreams For Imaginary Puppet Show On The Radio (Melodic Revolution Records)

LAVINIA BLACKWALL - Muggington Lane End (self release)

BLAIR - Contes centristes de l'éternel déclin (Gnougn Records/ MisèRecords) = vinyl released in 2020

BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN - s/t (37d03d)

COLLECTRESS - Different Geographies (self release)

DANTCHEV: DOMAIN - Say It (Glomama Music)

DEEP ENERGY ORCHESTRA - The Return (7D Media)

DEERHOOF - Future Teenage Cave Artists (Joyful Noise Recordings)

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DWIKI DHARMAWAN - Hari Ketiga (The Third Day) (MoonJune Records)

DINOSAUR - To The Earth (Edition Records)

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TOM DONCOURT and MATTIAS OLSSON'S CATHEDRAL - s/t (Roth Händle Recordings)

 

TOM DONCOURT - Lantern (self release)

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FLAIRCK - Back Alive! (Home Records)

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KEVIN GODLEY - Muscle Memory (The State51 Conspiracy)

LE GRAND SBAM - Furvent (Dur et Doux)

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GRYPHON - Get Out Of My Father's Car (Talking Elephant)

HOMUNCULUS RES - andiamo in giro di notte e ci consumiamo nel fuoco (AMS Records)

GARY HUSBAND & MARKUS REUTER - Music Of Our Times (MoonJune Records)

THE INNOCENCE MISSION - See You Tomorrow (Thérèse Records)

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ISLET - Eyelet (Fire Records)

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JAKKO M. JAKSZYK (JAKKO) - Secrets & Lies (InsideOutMusic)

LOGAN KANE NONET - Nope, Science (Orenda Records)

ANDERS KOPPEL/ HENRIK DAM THOMSEN - Still Life (Dacapo Records)

EMMI KUJANPAA - Nani (Nordic Notes)

LIMITE - Mountains Inside (Off Records)

MANNA/MIRAGE - Face (New House Music)

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BRIAN Ó HEADRA & FIONA MACKENZIE - Tuath (Naxos)

ORCHESTRA OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE - Theta Five (Discus Music)

PIIRAINEN/BLOM/COMPANY - Matka: The Path (Bafe's Factory)

NICK PROL and the PROLETARIANS - An Erstwhile Alphabestiary: Book One (self release - USA)

MARKUS REUTER - Truce (MoonJune Records)

ALEX REX - Andromeda (Tin Angel Records)

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TERJE RYPDAL - Conspiracy (ECM)

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SALT HOUSE - Huam (Hudson Records)

SANGUINE HUM - A Trace Of Memory (Bad Elephant Music)

ELIZABETH S. - Gather Love (self release)

JENNY STURGEON - The Living Mountain (Hudson Records)

TAUTUMEITAS - Dziesmas no Aulejas : Songs from Aulejas (CPL-Music)  

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STEPHAN THELEN - World Dialogue [featuring Kronos Quartet]  (RareNoiseRecords)

JG THIRLWELL & SIMON STEENSLAND ‎– Oscillospira (Ipecac Recordings)

     
KAVUS TORABI - Hip To The Jag (Believers Roast)

TRYING SCIENCE - Next  [Limited Edition 4 song EP]  (self release - USA)

TWELVE THOUSAND DAYS - Field's End (Final Muzik)

RACHEL WALKER - Gaol (Ros Dearg Records)