2020 in Review // Albums of Comfort by Steven Hess

Archives – End of the Year

Our association with Chicago musician Steven Hess goes way back to the late 2000s. Back then we were immersing ourselves in the bleak soundscapes of Locrian (whom we also had a chance to interview).

Fast forward to now and Locrian is still going and Steve’s resume grew even more impressive (Pan-American and Fennesz being just a few names on the list). So upon seeing a recent tweet about albums that helped him to get through 2020, we couldn’t help but ask for a list – the one we invite you to share and spread around for good luck/awesomest year ahead.

And once you’re done with the list, don’t forget to check out some of Steve’s own work from last year. There’s self-titled tape by Apiary (Tapeworm) and The Key by Cleared (Touch), his duo with Michael Vallera.

Autechre – SIGN (Warp)

Autechre – PLUS (Warp)

Charles Curtis – Performances & Recordings 1998-2018 (Saltern)

Simon Scott – Apart (12K)

Michael Grigoni + Stephen Vitiello – Slow Machines (12k) – see also – Guest Mix by M. Grig

Zombi – 2020 (Relapse Records)

Tashi Dorji + Tyler Damon – To Catch a Bird In a Net of Wind (Trost)

v/a – Harry Smith B-Sides Box Set (Smithsonian Folkways)

KMRU – Peel (Editions Mego) – see also – review via Soulscorch / Genetic Effects

Neil Young – Homegrown (Reprise)

Makaya McCraven – Universal Beings E&F Sides (International Anthem) – see also – From Jazz 2 Punk / Mix by by Soulscorch

From Overseas – Home (Past Inside the Present) – see also – Bandcamp picks by Patricia Wolf

v/a – Excavated Shellac (Dust-to-Digital)

Jesu – Terminus (Avalanche Recordings) – see also – review via Serpentine Skies

Alva Noto – Xerrox Vol 4 (NOTON) – see also – Unexpected Songs / Guest mix by Holy Circle

Clarice Jensen – The experience of repetition as death (130701/Fat Cat) – see also – Valiska’s favorite albums of 2018