40. Gingerlys - s/t
Another one to cut through 2017's static, Gingerlys tick all the Brooklyn Dream Pop boxes early on here but there's strength in depth to these tunes that give them a nice little edge over the competition. As ever it's all about feeling with this sort of music and they pitch it clear, concise and with just enough fluff to air out the room without choking you on fairy dust. There's shades of Asobi Seksu, early Wild Nothing and all the wide eyed late 80s indie stalwarts in abundance. Take this as a companion piece to the Alvvays album from earlier in this list and you've got the year's perkiest playlist.
39. Perturbator - New Model
Another infectious dose of Parisian Cyberpunk from James Kent to follow last year's impressive 'The Uncanny Valley' LP, this time spreading the retro synthwave menace across six longer segments that shift between moods like you're weaving your way through different rooms in the same UV-flecked underground nightclub. This is more suited to headphones than the dancefloor but there's hidden dimensions waiting there to be discovered if you're willing to dim the lights and clear your schedule.
Norway's Enslaved have earned the right to experiment over upwards of twenty years in the biz and this new platter sees them spread their wings to fly through a range of stylistic stormclouds without ever losing sight of land. If you need an introduction then rack up 2003's 'Below The Lights' before working your way through the ensuing decade to experience Black Metal's answer to Pink Floyd's 1970s learning curve, although if you're pressed for time then this is as good a starting point as anything they've released.
Last year's 'Stranger' album saw these Paris scene stalwarts bang out some of the year's most loveable lo-fi garage rock in the Fugs/Sonics vein but they've moved from '66 to '67 with this new EP and gone full on flower power. The move suits them well with singer Nick Wheeldon's vocals given more room and the channels clearer for their sweet psychedelic rush to hit home with added precision. They've always been able to pen a catchy tune but there's an attention to detail here that hints at a learning curve tipping sharply skywards.
Austerity means doing more with less and Paris-based Riot Grrl trio Gomme lock into formation here with simple tools before sinking through multiple sublevels of warped sonic perversion. Babes in Toyland loom large as an influence but they never let venom steer the boat and there are flickers of early Sonic Youth as the record progresses and they start to hit their stride. Line these gals up with fellow Parisiennes Mary Bell and Lyon's equally relentless LITIGE and you've got a promising frontline to lead the French Riot Grrl Rampage into 2018.
These Californian nutters turned up the nasty on their full length debut to stunning effect here with an infectious blend of the sinister and the savage. The boys know how to build tension before giving you both barrels and Anaal Nathrakh's Mick Kenney steps in on production duties to trim away the flab and blast the whole thing into orbit. Couple that with an intriguing blade fixation and some of the most morbidly fascinating cover art I've seen in ages and you have possibly the year's most potent cocktail of Black Metal menace.
I was travelling back from Britanny in a car share earlier in 2017 and asked the driver whether Brest merited a visit. He told me that it was a bit of a shithole but if that's the case it's proven decent enough inspiration for a cracking punk scene and local lads Le Mamooth are the ideal introduction. 'Brest Baywatch' is a frantic froth of blood, booze and cathartic pleasure with a notable touch of good old fashioned fun. FIDLAR are an obvious influence with their 'Cocaine' getting the cover treatment with a local twist here and everything on this stonking debut fizzes with energy and imagination.
I know we don't pay out pensions these days but keeping these guys on the treadmill well into their sixties has thrown out some of the best material of their career. Jumping straight to the fact that their debut 'Pink Flag' just turned 40 overlooks just how solid a creative streak they've been on over the last decade and 'Silver/Lead' is their fourth killer album in five years. Their legacy has long since been preserved for eternity but don't get too wrapped up in the past or you'll miss out on what might be their golden years happening right now.
In today's overcrowded Techno scene you've gotta hook 'em in quickly and show off your tools to keep them interested which London's Karen Gwyer does to admirable effect with this nifty little set. The eight tracks on 'Rembo' are titled in intriguing Question/Answer format which hints that there's some overarching concept at work here - if so I'm way too stupid to figure out what it is but the soundtrack is worth the detour nonetheless. Her calculated construction reminds me of oft overlooked 90's wizard Dave Clark with even a touch of Aphex Twin glacial melancholy. Dazzling stuff.
Paris keeps throwing up new and intriguing twists on the synthwave palette and Fragrance added their name to the honours list in January with this splendid little EP. Icicle-cool pop hooks pull things skyward but there's a deep, warm lower end to anchor everything on the dancefloor and you've got five potential singles to choose from here. It's been good to see the local bands embrace shorter formats recently with single track video releases filling out a burgeoning seam of creative talent in the Paris underground and these kids deserve to spearhead the scene into the new year.
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