2013 has been a really good year. I completed two internships, got a fulltime position, started a Masters degree in design, and was awarded a bursary for that. I’ve learnt a lot about what I’m good at and worked on some inspiring projects for Dansk Industri, Lundbeck and many more. You can already read about some of them on e-Types new website, which was launched a week ago. It’s been an important year for e-Types too, not only because they’ve got a new virtual home. Two employees have left to set up a new agency together with ex-Kontrapunkt folk, called AM, we wish them the best of luck! Sister agency India have now changed name to e-Types Daily, and together with Playtype are now all under the same roof at e-types.com. Currently it’s only featuring news items, with the full cases being added in come January. Before then you won’t be able to check out the brilliant arrow key navigation. But if you head over there now you will however be able to read some copy I have written, including the headline on the main page. This is the splash screen, that will change over time.
Musically it’s been as good as any year. I’ve tried launching a new club night called Shadows & Reflections together with my friend Lauren, and although we haven’t found a permanent home yet, I think it’s been successful. My highlight of the year was definintely going to the Double Sight weekender in Glasgow, and also doing a half-hour set there. I’ve got some of my top wants this year, here are my favourite purchases:
Früt of the Loom – One Hand In the Darkness Loom
The Other Four – Once and For All Girl P.L.A.Y.
Chapter II – East of My Place Philips
Lydia Marcelle – The Girl He Needs Manhattan
The Avengers – Crying All Alone Mr Genius
The Rogues – And You Let Her Pass By Decca
The Sparklings – Now It’s Your Turn to Cry 7 Up
George Cash – The Phantom of My Past Philips
Tony’s Defenders – Waiting For a Call From You Columbia
Charlotte & Emily – Love Not Have I New Voice
Something Young – Oh Don’t Come Crying Back to Me Fontana
The Girls – My Baby Capitol
Cinquetti – Πάντα Κοντά Μου Pan-Vox
The best gigs I have seen in 2013 have by far been Night Beats, Bad Sports and Cosmonauts in Sweden, Jacco Gardner and Dead Ghosts in Denmark. Something that I’ve left out of my Top 15s of albums and singles are reissues. There have been a few this year that deserve a mention:
Clothilde – French Swinging Mademoiselle 1967 Born Bad LP
Los Brincos – Contrabando él CD
Neo Boys – Sooner Or Later K Records 2LP
Adrian Lloyd – Lorna Sundazed RSD 45
Denise & Co. – Boy What’ll You Do Then Big Beat 45
Beachwoods Sparks – Desert Skies Alive LP
The Human Expression – Love at Psychedelic Velocity Mississippi/Change LP
Anonymous – Inside the Shadow Machu Picchu LP
Quarteto Nova Era – Apolo EP Groovie 45
Tandyn Almer – Along Comes Tandyn Sundazed LP
On last.fm I’ve gone past my 200,000th played track, and above are my top artists for the year. Below are some more statistics.
15 top played albums (plays in brackets)
Los Destellos – Los Destellos 125
Amor de Días – The House at Sea 72
Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities 70
Sandy Coast – Singles A’s & B’s 68
Sam Lunsford – Sam Lunsford 63
Six Feet Under – In Retrospect 1969-70 61
Heavy Times – Fix It Alone 58
The Go – Fiesta 56
Paul Messis – Case Closed 55
The Frowning Clouds – Gospel Sound From The Church Of Scientology 53
Dana Gillespie – Box Of Surprises 51
Maxine Brown – All In My Mind 51
Dead Ghosts – Can’t Get No 51
Ill Wind – Flashes 50
The Easybeats – Volume 3 50
15 top played tracks (plays in brackets)
Max Frost & the Troopers – Shape of Things to Come 25
Quarteto Nova Era – Viagem No Tempo 16
Clay Hammond – Dance Little Girl 16
The Jujus – You Treat Me Bad 16
Las Cuatro Monedas y Gregory – Trauma 16
Tony’s Defenders – Waiting For A Call From You 16
John & Paul – People Say 14
The Satin Bells – Come C’mon 13
The Denims – I’m Your Man 12
Sandy Coast – Subject Of My Thoughts 12
Chapter II – East of my place 12
Young Blood – Green Light 12
Los Destellos – El renegon 12
Los Destellos – Guajira sicodelica 12
Tony’s Defenders – Yes I Do 11
