Dälek - Brilliance of a Falling Moon (2026)

More Dälek can't be bad. I love their old-school, smart, heavy, dark and combative hip-hop. But I'm still being a bit disappointed by Brilliance of a Falling Moon. It's a good album, but won't be remembered as among their most inspired ones, sounding a bit too much more of the same. I feel they played it safe on this one. Their recent collab with Charles Hayward was more interesting and better. I hope they will challenge themselves more for their next one. That being said, a less memorable Dälek album is still better by far than almost any other hip-hop album.

 

The BC page. 

 

Dälek - Precipice (2022)

Five years after the last album Endangered Philosophies and three after the last EP Respect to the Authors, alt/noise/gaze rap duo Dälek are back with Precipice (and back with Ipecac records). Long time collaborator and guitarist Mike Mare/Manteca replaced Oktopus since Asphalt for Eden, and Precipice is maybe where his shoegazing guitars are the most prominent, bringing a strong melancholic feel to the album. But everything that made up the Dälek sound is present, old school and smart rapping, boom-bap beats, subtle sampling and production, heaviness. Precipice is a worthy addition to their extraordinary discography. Recommended! 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Human Impact - Human Impact (2020)

Since I've been listening regularly to Unsane for twenty years now, and like Cop Shoot Cop and Swans as well I feel a bit embarrassed to discover only now, thanks to the "best of 2020" lists, that Chris Spencer (guitar and vocals in Unsane) formed Human Impact with guys from Cop Shoot Cop and Swans and that they released their first, self-titled album in March 2020. Anyway that's a very good surprise, and it totally deserves being featured in many "best of 2020" lists. As could be expected it sounds a bit like a more polished, subtle and slightly experimental version of Unsane, on the smart side of noise rock, and at home in the Ipecac catalogue. Obviously recommended.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Cunts - Cunts (2019)

Released by Ipecac Recordings, and with the guitarist of Dead Cross, it had chances to be good. And indeed it delivers and don't disappoint. Cunts is a very fine old school hardcore album, a bit in a Black Flag vein. Recommended!

The BC page.

Mike Patton & Jean-Luc Vannier - Corpse Flower (2019)

I place Corpse Flower, a collaboration with French composer Jean-Luc Vannier (who worked with Serge Gainsbourg and other well known French singers), among the albums of Mike Patton that matters most. The songs are exquisitely written and arranged and offers the best musical environment for Mike Patton to show once again how good a singer he is. One of the very best for sure and maybe the most interesting to follow. When "pop rock"(with many elements including traditionnal French music, violins, swing/jazz, rock, etc.) is as sophisticated and classy, as nicely done, with such freshness and inventivity (and the slight subtly weird and disturbing touch we are accustomed to with Patton!), then everyone can love it (grind and noise freaks like me included). Corpse flower is one of those instant classic that sounds better at each listen (and since I discovered it it became a daily listen for me). This is not "just" "album of the year" material, but another timeless classic in Mike Patton discography. Can't be recommended too much, try it you won't regret.


The Bandcamp page.