2020 in Review // Albums of Comfort by Steven Hess

Archives – End of the Year

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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.

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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