Top 10 Bristol Tracks of 2020
Posted on: 27 Dec 2020We pick ten of our 2020 favourites as a difficult year for Bristol music comes to an end.
This is it - 2020 is finally nearly over, and the chance to start fresh in 2021 is almost upon us. This year has been an absolute write-off, a truly unprecedented few months that hopefully we can all start to recover from in a few weeks' time.
Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, few sectors have been hit quite as hard as the UK's live music industry, with events cancelled en masse, venues of all shapes and sizes forced to remain closed for months on end and artists inexplicably advised to 'retrain in cyber'.
As a result, a few of the tracks on this year's Top 10 list have never made it onto the stage, destined to remain on heavy rotation in homes and offices across Bristol and beyond until things start to return to normal.
Read on for a rundown, in no particular order, of our Top 10 Bristol Tracks of 2020, and be sure to support the city's music scene wherever and whenever you can in the new year.
IDLES - 'GROUNDS'
Ultra Mono
IDLES have truly gone from strength to strength since forming in the mid-2010s, and their eagerly-anticipated third studio album, Ultra Mono, was a crowning achievement upon its release in September.
The typically-uncompromising 'GROUNDS' was our pick of the record, accompanied by a visually-excellent video featuring lead singer Joe Talbot racing through the streets of Bristol in the muted dawn daylight.
Securing the Number One spot in the UK Albums Chart was a massive milestone for the band, cementing their reputation as one of the most exciting musical acts in the UK right now.
Katy J Pearson - 'Fix Me Up'
Return
When we spoke to Katy J Pearson back in January as part of the second issue of LOUD Magazine, the Bristol-based singer-songwriter was excitedly preparing for the release of her debut album, Return, later in the year.
No-one could have predicted what was about to happen in the months following that interview, but despite the huge difficulties we've faced in the past few months, the record remains a rare shining light in the absolute shambles 2020 turned out to be.
It wasn't easy for us to pick a highlight from such a refreshing and technically polished album, but the eternally optimistic 'Fix Me Up' is a real joy to listen to.
Waldo's Gift - 'The Hut'
The Hut
Waldo's Gift had been playing weekly shows in Bristol for the best part of three years at the turn of 2020, captivating audiences at The Gallimaufry with their ethereal improvisation and razor-sharp instrumentation.
The trio have finally started to get some recognition further afield in 2020, and although their prolific playing schedule was disrupted by the pandemic, their releases this year have been excellent.
'The Hut', a landmark debut release on Bristol-based label Black Acre, is steeped in the rippling guitar notes, tight drum sections and understated basslines that have established Waldo's Gift as a focal point of Bristol's rapidly-emerging jazz scene.
Chikaya - 'Maze'
Bristol-based songwriter Chikaya's latest track, 'Maze' only landed a few weeks ago, but it's been on repeat in the 365Bristol office since its release. Hazy, absent-sounding vocals perfectly complement an other-worldly beat, creating the ideal dreamy sound for the weeks and months we've spent at home this year.
SCALPING - 'Deadlock'
SCALPING have been a firm fixture on Bristol radars for a while now, and it was announced in November that they'd be joining the likes of Hodge, Special Request and Aïsha Devi on esteemed London-based label Houndstooth going forward.
They celebrated the news with the long-awaited release of 'Deadlock', a no-nonsense single exploring the band's far-reaching influences and demonstrating their relentless quest to drive the Bristol sound forward.
Elder Island - 'I Fold You' (Kinlaw Remix)
The Omnitone Collection Remixed
Appearing on our Top 10 list for the second year running, Elder Island returned in 2020 with a collection of remixes of tracks on their acclaimed debut album.
The Omnitone Collection showcased the band's impressive ability to borrow from a wide range of genres, and the material was taken to another dimension this year by the likes of PBR Streetgang, Hubie Davidson and Bristol's own Kinlaw.
The latter's rework of 'I Fold You' stood out for us, adding even more atmosphere to lead singer Katy Sargent's trademark vocals and taking a slow, emotional track in an entirely different, much darker direction.
Poisonous Birds - 'Mood Stabiliser'
We Can Never Not Be All of Us
Poisonous Birds currently occupy a similar space to fellow Bristol outfit SCALPING, blurring the lines between rock, electronic music and industrial noise. The duo's second EP, We Can Never Not Be All Of Us, was arguably the most refined example of their talent so far, with weighty synths and delicate vocals coming together to great effect on 'Mood Stabiliser'.
Hodge - 'The World is New Again'
Shadows in Blue
How many times have you heard the terms 'sci-fi soundtrack' and 'banger' in the same sentence? Probably not a lot.
Hodge's 'The World is New Again', taken from his well-received debut album Shadows in Blue, sounds as though it could have been lifted straight out an 80s space adventure, but features the intricate layering and signature drum patterns that we've come to expect from one of Bristol's best-loved producers.
Cousin Kula - 'McLovin You'
Casa Kula Cassette
Bristol-based six-piece Cousin Kula seem to be flying under the radar slightly, but their laid-back psych-pop sound has been the ideal tonic for the upside-down lives we've been living in 2020.
Currently living together and recording in their basement, the band's output sounds like it's been recorded by a close-knit group, with all cylinders firing in perfect balance.
'McLovin You' was our favourite from their latest EP, Casa Kula Casette, and we're very much looking forward to hearing more from Cousin Kula in 2021.
LEECHES - 'All of the People'
Easy
LEECHES are right up there with our favourite Bristol-based bands right now, consistently outdoing themselves with their musical output that encompasses rock, funk, psych and much more.
Having featured on our 2019 Top 10 list with the excellent 'Flowers in the Garden', they return this time around with 'All of the People', a trippy slow burner that showcases the band's ability to take things up a notch and hop in and out of a rich, punchy sound without warning.
You can find all the above tracks and more on our regularly-updated Spotify playlist, Bristol Radio.
Read more:
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LOUD Magazine Issue 2 (March 2020) | Take a look back at interviews with Katy J Pearson, SCALPING, Waldo's Gift + more
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Bristol Radio December Update: Follow new releases from Bristol artists with our dedicated Spotify playlist
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
