Best Ever Albums

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

baystateoftheart — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 19:59:43 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/25/2019 23:59

Sounds Almighty defeats Insula 9-4 and advances to the sweet sixteen.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

baystateoftheart — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 14:27:59 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/18/2019 18:27

Why does this match have so few votes? Summon your memories of the ancient times that were the play-in round, people!

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Skinny — Sun, 4 Aug 2019 08:06:58 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 08/04/2019 12:06

Other DJs get vexed 'round 'ere.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

craola — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:37:06 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 07/30/2019 17:37

Skinny wrote:

craola wrote:

i too found both highly enjoyable, but i beg to differ on proc's being the more difficult feat. it'd be one thing if he was creating his own genre, but he's not. the sheer musicianship and mastery of instrument is on a whole different level, and in the area of training and expertise, it's a landslide for birchall. like each for their own merits, but i can't get behind the idea fiskal worked harder than birchall to produce his work.

that said, i enjoyed both of these thoroughly and will be pleased with whichever moves up to round 2.

I generally meant in terms of the actual thought process behind it, and "brave" would have been a more suitable word than "difficult", so yeah point taken.

ah, gotcha. fiskal's is the braver album - that i agree with.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Skinny — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:06:04 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 07/30/2019 17:06

craola wrote:

I generally meant in terms of the actual thought process behind it, and "brave" would have been a more suitable word than "difficult", so yeah point taken.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

craola — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:52:01 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 07/30/2019 16:52

Skinny wrote:

Both are highly enjoyable, but it's far harder to do what Proc Fiskal did than Nat Birchall.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Repo — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:38:48 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 07/30/2019 16:38

Skinny wrote:

Both are British attempts at reviving genres that their creators missed the respective boats on, but where one is a faithful retread of familiar sounds, the other is a genuinely inventive effort that breathes new life into its subject. One sounds like 1974 (excepting for a moment the clarity of the recording), and the other sounds like 2024. Both are highly enjoyable, but it's far harder to do what Proc Fiskal did than Nat Birchall. When we have a shameless retrofetishist pop, rock, or soul act, we feel comfortable calling them out for adding nothing new to their genre, but seem less keen to do so for those working in more niche genres, despite the principle - and lack of courage - being identical. It's a lovingly recreated rootsy dub record with some jazzy flourishes, but it belongs in a museum. Proc Fiskal uses found sounds, bubblegum melodies, clutter, and chaotic BPMs to take grime in entirely new directions, paying perfect homage to genre by recognising its initial desire to carve out something distinct from its forebears, and subsequently refusing to just tastefully regurgitate already existing styles. Nobody else in grime has yet caught up to what Proc is doing; people set the blueprint for what Birchall, Gordon and Breadwinner are doing decades ago. Both of these records are enjoyable, sure, but only one is truly interesting. How much that matters to you depends on what you want from music, but I'd like to think that most people would agree that evolution trumps recreation.

Ultimately, though, I just prefer listening to Proc Fiskal.

Nice argument. I'm convinced. Love listening to both but completely agree Proc Fiskal is far more novel creating something that's pretty damn exciting.

Proc Fiskal.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Skinny — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 06:38:00 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 07/30/2019 10:38

Both are British attempts at reviving genres that their creators missed the respective boats on, but where one is a faithful retread of familiar sounds, the other is a genuinely inventive effort that breathes new life into its subject. One sounds like 1974 (excepting for a moment the clarity of the recording), and the other sounds like 2024. Both are highly enjoyable, but it's far harder to do what Proc Fiskal did than Nat Birchall. When we have a shameless retrofetishist pop, rock, or soul act, we feel comfortable calling them out for adding nothing new to their genre, but seem less keen to do so for those working in more niche genres, despite the principle - and lack of courage - being identical. It's a lovingly recreated rootsy dub record with some jazzy flourishes, but it belongs in a museum. Proc Fiskal uses found sounds, bubblegum melodies, clutter, and chaotic BPMs to take grime in entirely new directions, paying perfect homage to genre by recognising its initial desire to carve out something distinct from its forebears, and subsequently refusing to just tastefully regurgitate already existing styles. Nobody else in grime has yet caught up to what Proc is doing; people set the blueprint for what Birchall, Gordon and Breadwinner are doing decades ago. Both of these records are enjoyable, sure, but only one is truly interesting. How much that matters to you depends on what you want from music, but I'd like to think that most people would agree that evolution trumps recreation.

Ultimately, though, I just prefer listening to Proc Fiskal.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

dihansse — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:50:28 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 07/29/2019 04:50

Sounds Almighty is my winner

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Repo — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:54:01 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 07/29/2019 03:54

Nice! My two favorite albums from the play-in round.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Luigii — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:23:51 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 07/29/2019 01:23

Hmm... Do I go for the reggae album or the electronic album?

I got to think about this. At least I have 4 weeks for this.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

baystateoftheart — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:17:56 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 07/29/2019 01:17

Proc Fiskal has my vote again in round one, although both are worthy.

Re: Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

Fischman — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:51:00 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 07/29/2019 00:51

Easy choice here for Birchall after getting familiar with both these during the play in round.

Round 1: Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner v. Proc Fiskal

baystateoftheart — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:44:57 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 07/29/2019 00:44

Seed #30:

Sounds Almighty by Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner

Nominated by: Jimmy Dread
Genres [RYM]: Reggae, Roots Reggae

Seed #31:

Insula by Proc Fiskal

Nominated by: Skinny
Genres [RYM]: Grime

Instructions:

If you have not already, please listen to both albums in full before voting. Share your thoughts and/or your vote in this thread. This poll will be tallied in no fewer than twenty-eight days. See Tournament Spreadsheet for the full bracket.