Anno domini MMIX was a tumultous year for everyone. It was characterized by a global financial meltdown, political unrest in Iran, misbehaving politicians, and deaths of a host of celebrity icons (including two men very important to the NLP: in January, the music community lost Telefon Tel Aviv’s Charles Cooper, and just recently, Contellation Records’ own Vic Chesnutt). At times the year felt positively doomed.
On the other hand, the twelve months brought plenty to be celebrated, especially memorable releases in epic post-rock, ambient, bedroom electronica, and neo-classical. The NLP line-up changed as well. Chris Polley, one of the programs founders, moved on to bigger and better things (read: life), and in December, intern Willie filled the vacancy.
We’re kicking off the next decade with nostalgia, recounting the top 24 soundtracks that helped us through when the money was tight or the news too bad to bear. You’ll find a good mix of hyper-local bar blasters, as well as ultra-international star-gazers. Efforvescent electronica had a strong showing, and so did the music that started it all for Nowlikephotographs: loud, cathartic post-rock.
Here you are, the Best 24 Instrumental Albums of 2009, as voted on by NLP deejays and our loyal listeners.
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24. Florine by Julianna Barwick
23. All is Wild, All is Silent by Balmorhea
22. Henry May Long OST by Max Richter
21. Animals as Leaders by Animals as Leaders
20. Holofon by Dorena
19. More After We’re Gone by Signal Hill
18. Patriot by Cougar
17. Paper Canyon by Codes in the Clouds
16. Above the Earth, Below the Sky by If These Trees Could Talk
15. Sing the Word Hope in Four-Part Harmony by Maybeshewill
14. Sol Eye Sea I by Irepress
13. Cryptoscience & Hard Times by Falcon Arrow
12. Tertia by Caspian
11. It Doesn’t Matter by Saxon Shore
10. Cardboard Rocketships by Mint
9. Sagarmatha by The Appleseed Cast
8. Siegfried: an Original Score by The Calm Blue Sea
7. On Little Known Frequencies by From Monument to Masses
6. Standing in Silence by Rhian Sheehan
5. And So I Watch You From Afar by And So I Watch You From Afar
4. Take My Breath Away by Gui Boratto
3. Other Truths by Do Make Say Think
2. Hymn to the Immortal Wind by Mono
1. El Siete Es La Luz by French Teen Idol
3 responses so far ↓
1 A dude // Jan 9, 2010 at 9:57 pm
9. Sagarmatha by The Appleseed Cast – definitely NOT instrumental.
2 willie // Jan 10, 2010 at 2:43 pm
True, however the instrumental bits made the album. Interestingly, the album made it that far up the year-end list mostly from listener votes.
3 Top 24 Songs of 2009 // Jan 13, 2010 at 6:46 pm
[...] whatever trick of fate, many solid albums didn’t make Nowlikephotographs’ 2009 album countdown. They are, however, graced by withering glitch beats, swelling saxophone drone, or face-melting [...]
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