Best of 2019 - The Selections of Henry Green

The next in our roll call of Best Of selectors is Bristol artist Henry Green whose ‘Shift Remixed’ EP will feature in our upcoming list of 2019 favourites.

ALBUMS:

Oso Leone - Gallery Love

A friend showed me the opening track ‘Virtual U’ and I was instantly hooked. The album is really stunning, it soundtracked my summer. A dreamy combination of electronic, jazz, ambient... reminds of Sade in places.

Bon Iver - i,i

Absolutely love this album, it feels like a really nice progression from ’22, A Million’. Bon Iver’s music always puts me in such a special space, and has inspired me a lot in my own creative process. I love the variety within the record, it never feels limited instrumentally. Each song just goes where it needs to go, yet each arrangement feels like it belongs on the record. A real masterpiece. 

Szymon - Blue Coloured Mountain

‘Tigersapp’ is one of my favourite albums, so I was grateful to see that more of Szymon’s music had been discovered by his family. Szymon’s music is so original, richly arranged and full of intrigue. I find it difficult to comprehend that he’ll never know the impact his music had on people. His music feels timeless, so full of vitality and always helps me understand how powerful sound can be. I’ve been having a weekly boogie to Blue Coloured Mountain since it’s release.

Tourist - Everyday

Tourist released two albums this year which is pretty astonishing (I struggled to make one!). ‘Everyday’ is my pick of the two. Beautifully crafted electronic soundscapes. A really well produced, dynamically exciting musical journey. 

Ry X - Unfurl

Ry X is an artist I admire a lot. Countering intimate, acoustic moments against expansive electronic backdrops is a difficult thing to balance, but Ry seems to do it effortlessly. Unfurl is a beautifully arranged, well written and inspiring record. Been on repeat a lot this year!

SONGS:

Rosie Lowe - Lifeline

The opening track to her album YU. A warm bath of wobbly synths, luscious vocals and silky electronics. Feels like a really beautiful way to start an album. 

Durante - Maia

This is so good, I think I discovered it on Bonobo’s fabric mix and it lead me on to Durante’s other tracks. It’s so well worked, progresses really naturally.. picking up new elements and tethering them to that effortless groove. 

Bon Iver - Hey, Ma

Favourite track from i,i. I remember seeing a video shot on a phone of the video being played out after one of Bon Iver’s festival sets and thinking it was the perfect song, even recorded on a phone. Dare I say, it may have even overtaken ‘Holocene’ as my favourite Bon song of all time.

Weval - The Weight

The bass and the drums sit unbelievably nicely in this track, the mix is really special. Always find myself circling back to this song, its hypnotic. Would love to see them live soon.

Rhye & Ólafur Arnalds - Patience

This collaboration could never sound bad, could it? Two of my favourite artists combine to create a little slice of tranquility. I really like the whole of ‘Spirit’.. Rhye’s vocal seems to work so perfectly with a close mic’d piano.