I'm going to try and surprise you with even genres you probably think you are going to hate. Give'em a chance though
Rajaton Vocal Ensemble - Boundless (beautiful accapella only sextet that doesn't succumb to the overpolished/bording Manhattan transfer pseudo-jazz)
Pete Namlook - anything on his Fax Records label, but I'd recommend picking up Air I or Air II (dark droning electronica ambient that is powerful, gripping and minimalistic. Quite underrated and known by only a few)
Anything on
Recycle or Die label (This is the back catalogue of another good ambient/electronic label from Germany. More earthly and with a hint of the Frankfurt school, but also mesmerising. Slow builders, not instant pop gems)
Snuff - anything by this English melodic punk band who take a piss on many chart hits, but also go from ska to good ol' British melodic punk. Three minute pop gems, positive energy and funny. I particularly recommend
'Flibbidydibbydibo' and
'Snuff Said', but their more recent stuff is good as well.
Si Begg - Director's Cut (What can I say? I saw/heard Si Begg live at Koneisto festival and I had utterly given up hope on 99% of electronic music before that gig. This stuff is rockin'!)
In the same vein, if you like modern banging beats on an electro tip, try
T Raumschiemere's 'Radio Blackout' (equally dance inducing, but still inventive and fresh beats)
Jumpin' Disco Classics from the Underground Vol 1 & 2 (forget the cheesy commercial disco compilations, this is pure unadultered 70s UG disco the way it was played. Relatively good mastering on these releases as well. For that summer feeling
). If you like old non-mainstream disco, check out also the T.K. Disco 45, SAM Disco Classics and Solar Disco Classics compilations.
Anonymous 4 - An English Ladymass (another accapella group, singing mainly early music with so beautiful vocal harmonies that your 12 tone rone 'classical' music will sound like pseudo-mathematical harmony after this. Good recording as well, audiophile quality). BTW, this has been on the (classical) charts in the UK, so you've been warned
Bugge Wesseltoft - New Conception of Jazz Moving / Sharing / Filming (a good blend of turntablism, proper jazz compositions, mood and meshing of the boundaries of jazz and other genres. Highly recommended if you are in any way into modern non-US jazz). If you like Bugge, check out also Nils Petter Molvaer and Esbjörn Svensson Trio and anything on Jazzland label.
Urna Chahar-Tugchi : Hödööd or any other recording by her (Mongolian singing that is very little processed and so pure emotion that it'll make a grown man cry. Wonderful singing talent and a good disc to evalute that critical 'sense of presence' as well)
Non-Phixion: The Future is Now (for me, another "yes, it's still there" album, but now for rap. A curious blend of social issues, ill beats, horror movies samples and futurama gone wrong episodes. Works so much better than rappers who only talk about themselves, their cars, their ho's and whatnot)
Of the bit better known stuff, I'd also recommend
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (folkish/countrish US indie pop), Calexico (as previous), The
Notwist: Neon Golden (melancholic and melodic electronic pop),
Lemon Jelly: Lost Horizons/K.Y. (naivistic and really happy melodic electronica),
Kodo: anything, but "Best of Kodo Vol 2" is a good start (Japanese drumming with traditional woodwind instruments, non-vocal, really jamming stuff with excellent dynamics),
Mew: Frengers (shoegazing influenced melodic pop), Markus Schulz: Coldharbour sessions 2004(simple/smooth sounding melodic trance, if you're into that sort of thing. No goa/psy influences) and
Wrens: Meadowlands (more slit-wristing melancholic alt-country influenced pop, but good songs).
I'm also hunting for recommendations, always.
The trouble is that after having bought a decent amount of records (2000+) from various genres and having worked for too long in a record shop, one tends to get too jaded and cynical. It's hard to get by the inital pre-conceptions and listen to the music, unless something truly different about it grabs you immediately. I must be getting old
cheers,
halcyon
PS I have all the original release Ride EPs on vinyl
