musical journey pt1

Even though I spend more time on music than I do on films it doesn't really show on my blog. I do review an album from time to time but restrict myself to those albums I think deserve the attention the most. And even though I'll keep doing that I figured it would be nice to pick up an older habit and breath new life into it now that I have a blog of my own.

I present you a list of 100 tracks which will be evenly spread across 10 posts (that's 10 tracks per post if you're still counting). This list is not supposed to hold my top 100 all-time favorites but behaves more like a journey through the music I like. There will be a logical flow throughout the list as it will sail past the genres and sub genres I love listening to.

It is not the first time I make up such a list but since I have the power of my own blog at my disposal I made things a little nicer than before. For each track I included cover art, a link to the album it appears on, a little introductory text and last but not least, the Imeem widget so you can listen to the tracks right away while reading (just press play). Can't make it any easier than that, can I?

So without further ado, here's the first 10 tracks of the list, starting out slow and curling itself past trip-hop, instrumental hip-hop and noisy cross-overs right into the UK grime scene. If you want more, be sure to keep checking for weekly updates on this very blog.

1. 001. The Fading Collection - Space

   check the The Fading Collection album
   

   Starting the list is a soothing track from a pretty unknown trip-hop collective. A real shame, as their first album is a genuine masterpiece where they show off theirs skills of blending melodies and vocals to perfection.

2. 002. Alphawezen - Speed of Light

   check the Alphawezen album
   

   Somewhat more uptempo, Alphawezen is a group nesting itself in between the realms of sophisticated pop and trip-hoppy electronics. Lovely mellow track that makes me smile every time.

3. 003. Bent - A Ribbon For My Hair

   check the Bent album
   

   Still floating somewhere between pop and trip-hop but injected with British electronic influences, Bent is quality pop music, though a little bombastic, but ultimately very romantic.

4. 004. Hooverphonic - Battersea

   check the Hooverphonic album
   

   Talking about trip-hop, there is no way around our Belgian pride, Hooverphonic. More symphonic and rhythmic in nature, their first album is a lovely example of an execelent blend of electronic pop.

5. 005. Boa - Duvet (Cyberia Mix)

   check the Boa album
   

   A little project that gained much attention when they provided the Serial Experiments Lain theme song. A bit more loungey and hip-hoppy in feel bridging from trip-hop to hip-hop.

6. 006. cLOUDDEAD - The Teen Keen Skip

   check the cLOUDDEAD album
   

   Ultraweird but genius hip-hop project. Not your regular bling-crap but very interesting instrumental experimentation strung together with strange vocals.

7. 007. Blockhead - Insomniac Olympics

   check the Blockhead album
   

   Blockhead excels in nice and instrumental hip-hop, interwoven with voice samples. Warm, cosey and chill music, tailored to liven up those rainy autumn days.

8. 008. Techno Animal ft Sonic Sum - DC-10

   check the Techno Animal album
   

   Still downtempo but a lot rawer, Techno Animal brings noise to the hip-hop table to create a darker, grungier sound. Together with Dälek they fill a very small niche.

9. 009. Dälek - Speak Volumes

   check the Dälek album
   

   Dälek is my favorite hip-hop project hands down. A perfect mix between hip-hop and melodic noise they provide dark but empowering music and some solid raps.

10. 010. Durrty Goodz - Axiom

    check the Durrty Goodz album
    

    Goodz bridges from noisy hip-hop to swift grime. Awesome flow, great basses and lightning fast raps, Goodz belongs to the best of the grime scene.