Best of 2020
Glitch, Post-Rock, IDM - if it wasn't for at least two other society re-setting moments, 2020 might have been remembered for the vengeful return of the late 20th century. That revival continues apace, and possibly reaches its apotheosis, with the two LP set reissue of Pub's 2001 odd techno opus. A Richard D. James type figure, Pub is a shadowy but arch Glaswegian who's been making and releasing music from his early teens, while also heading up Ampoule, through whom he issued this ridiculously titled debut. The titles are sort of where the comparisons to Aphex make sense, a little bit of pisstaking to undercut what are pretty serious slabs of forward-thinking electronic music. Not so much IDM (though a bit!) as a kind of glitchy dubwise, ambient techno, all bucolic synth bubbles and countryside atmosphere. Don't let the names fool you - this is heavy listening of a beautiful kind. I'm gonna file alongide Oval and Vladislav Delay, and make eyes at the West Mineral fans. Glasgow has rarely sounded so sweetly cerebral.
