2015 has been a hell of a year
here at LWM towers - hospital visits, office moves and, above all, a shed load
of music. This has been the biggest year for the blog with the most readers
ever and more artists than ever sending in music to be reviewed - Listen With
Monger has become something of a global phenomenon. But any success is only
down to the quality of the music that is sent in so I thought it was a good
time to reflect and give you my LWM awards for the year (just to clarify, much
like the BBC, there are no actual awards....just kudos).
Best Band: Allusondrugs
 |
| Allusondrugs - post-Chemical toilet mishap |
The big one to kick off with but
these guys have had an outstanding year and have gone from strength to strength
in 2015. The Clue Records signings from Leeds have worked their grungy little
socks off all year but that hasn't stopped them churning out some top tunes and
putting some gigs that have left audiences stunned, euphoric, suffering from tinnitus
and possibly pregnant.
Honourable mentions go to Narcs
and The Franklys
 |
| Cosmo Sheldrake - horny |
Best Solo Artist (Male): Cosmo
Sheldrake
A true English eccentric and
songwriting genius who is almost nailed on to break through in 2016 and appear
all over the place in a range of dandy hats, playing gigs in improbable
locations. If you haven't experienced Cosmo's mind yet then you are seriously
missing out.
Honourable mentions go to Ali
Ingle and Jake Morley
Best Solo Artist (Female): Malka
 |
| Malka - painted lady |
Technically, Malka performs with
a backing band but all the music comes out of her head and that is worth
celebrating when someone releases of the quality of her debut offering. A
summer of festival appearances in 2016 surely beckons as well as heaps and
heaps of airplay - plus hopefully some new songs.
Honourable mentions go to Seaker and Dua Lipa
 |
| Azu Yeche - unusual suspect |
Best Single: Azu Yeche
'Lagos'
Hardest category to pick by a
long chalk with a whole range of talent on display this year and singles
hitting from every angle like one of those posh shower things. There was rock,
there was indie, there was acoustic folk and a whole lot of love. But a decision
must be made and my decision was to go with Azu Yeche's 'Lagos' as something
truly original, spell binding and with a message behind from a relative unknown.
Honourble mentions go to Moriaty
'Bones' / The Lottery Winners 'I Know' / Cosmo Sheldrake 'Rich' / Many Things
'Holy Fire' / The Graveltones 'Big Money' / Jake Morley 'Allegorical House' / Antimatador
'Find Your Way'
Best EP: Alex Gregory
'Critical Perfection EP'
 |
| Alex Gregory - Strumming |
This stunning collection from
Exeter based singer songwriter Alex Gregory showed off her superb vocal
abilities but also her abilities to write a heart touchingly beautiful song
with a pop hook. A huge star in the making if the right people give this some
ear time but regardless of any commercial success this EP has found a place in
my heart and my CD collection for good.
Honourable mentions go to Failure
Machine 'Ain't Shit EP' and Sound Of The
Sirens 'All We Have Is Time EP'
 |
| Lost Dawn - just popping out. |
Best Album: Malka / Lost Dawn
I haven't listened to as many
albums as I would have liked this year but the ones I have heard have been almost
universally superb so this was a tough category to decide on and I'm sitting on
the fence between two very different albums. On the one hand, Falmouth's Lost Dawn, blew our socks off and our
minds out of our ears with their debut offering this year. On the other hand, Malka soothed, amazed and generally
enchanted with her offering in 2015. Lucky buggers aren't we?
Best Video: Husky 'I'm Not
Coming Back'
 |
| Husky - road trip |
Gorgeous song with a stunning
animated video that will have you laughing, falling in love and hiding behind
the sofa all at once. Videos can be so predictable these days as though all the
ideas are already used up so it's wonderfully refreshing and life affirming
when something new pops up in your eye sockets.
 |
| Get Inuit - innit |
Best Band Name: Get Inuit / Rangleklods
Regular readers will know that I
love a good band name and there have been plenty to choose from this year but
I'm going to share the award this year between Eskimo obsessed Kent indie
rockers Get Inuit and Danish nutcases Rangleklod. Just enjoy those for a
moment......and now move on.
Best Year: Sound Of The
Sirens
 |
| Sound Of The Sirens - shocked and stunned |
A special award this as I am privileged
to receive so many pieces of music from new or emerging artists that I wanted
to recognise the work of those without any major backing, doing it all under
their own steam. Exeter duo Sound Of The Sirens are clear winners in this
category as they started the year playing as many gigs as possible in pubs and
clubs around the Westcountry only to finish 2015 being handpicked by Chris
Evans to appear live on the first show of the new TFI Friday and going on a
national tour. Evidence if ever it were needed that great songs and a good work
ethic can get you where you want to be.
 |
| Vaness Forero - taller than she looks |
Best Debut: Vanessa Forero
'Heaven Knows'
I was genuinely blown away
Yorkshire/Columbia product Vanessa Forero and her debut single 'Heaven Knows'.
If you haven't checked it out yet then you need to but this is also a great
example to anyone out there to create music that is true to your own convictions
and passions. Beautiful music.
Best PR: Hannah Gould Music
PR
A one woman show, Gouldzilla PR
is one of the most reliable and consistent pushers of top quality artists
including the likes of Lost Dawn, Rangleklods, Jinnwoo, Memory Maze, Elvis
Perkins, Josefin Ohrn & The Liberation, The Black Tambourines and Weyes
Blood. Hannah Gould is also a delight to deal with gets extra points for her
work in championing some of the excellent artists emerging from the burgeoning
Falmouth scene.
Honourable mention goes to Blue
Soap Music
 |
| Clue Records - faceless bastards |
Best Label: Clue Records
Leeds based independent label
Clue Records are home to Narcs, Allusondrugs, Forever Cult and Trash - all of
whom have had excellent releases and too many gigs to even count. It's a small
but perfectly formed label that is picking it's artists carefully and nurturing
them all until they blossom and bear fruit. Sure, some of their acts might get
picked off by bigger boys one day but it's a model that worked for Domino and
works for tonnes of football feeder clubs so all power to them. Hell, I like
them so much I even bought one of their T-shirts!
Honourable mention goes to Xtra
Mile Recordings
Best Southwest Artist: Lost Dawn / Sound Of The Sirens
It's been an immense year for musicians
from my native South West so it's been difficult to pick out a stand out act so
I've had to split this award between three gents from Falmouth and two ladies
from Exeter. Lost Dawn have been at
the forefront of the revolution coming out of Falmouth and their album was a
supreme example of psych-rock with a wry sense of humour. Meanwhile, duo Sound Of The Sirens have been on a
whirlwind year fuelled by their impassioned and pitch perfect harmonised
folk-pop.
Honourable mentions go to Cave
Mouth and Alex Gregory
 |
| Failure Machine - big faces |
Best non-UK Artist: Failure
Machine
Reno boys Failure Machine have
maintained a consistent level of excellence throughout the year with their own
brand of soul infused rock'n'roll and it's a crying shame that their music
isn't being heard by more ears the world over.
Honourable mentions go to The
Dirty Nil and SHEL
 |
| Tankus The Henge - jumping for joy |
Best Live Performance: Tankus The Henge
This much travelled collective's
performance on the main stage at Looe Festival in September 2015 was nothing
short of elemental. As the sun set and the summer came to a close we had one
more chance to let our collective hair down and Tankus The Henge were good
enough to provide the soundtrack. For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of
experiencing these guys well a) you should and b) 2016 is going to be the year
to do it - these guys are going to be everywhere.
Honourable mention goes to Sound
Of The Sirens @ Looe Festival
Most Viewed Review of 2015: Torre Florim 'Firestarter' (688 views)
A nominal award of sorts but, in a year of increased visitors to the blog, this cover of the Prodigy classic seemed to capture your attention. 688 times, to be precise.