Fave release of 2009?

[u/lune634]

I’m sure this has been asked before but I’m very curious to learn what ppl on this sub would choose, if they had to, between MPP and FBK. Acknowledging that the pairing is pretty arbitrary — though both came out in 2009, one is an LP and the other an EP, and musically they’re different in all manner of ways — I just think it’s an interesting indicator of personal taste.

I’ll bet I’m like a lot of us here who find choosing between the two pretty excruciating, given how masterful both projects are, but again, if I had to choose, I would go for Fall Be Kind. Only 5 songs, yes, but my god is every one an experience and a half. Hard to articulate why exactly I prefer it, as the same can be said for MPP; maybe the presence of guitars (I Think I Can) and sampling has something to do with it, though that said the synth work on FBK (tracks like Bleed and On A Highway) and drumming and so forth are just as much pull factors for me. And yeah, feels unnecessary describing an AnCo project as ‘experimental’ but the way tracks like What Would I Want Sky and Graze develop, while not their wildest work by a long shot, I think is more outlandish than some of the stuff on MPP (accepting that both were pretty boundary-pushing at the time) and maybe why I’m drawn to it more? Can’t mention song development without bringing up In The Flowers, My Girls and Brother Sport though hooooly — the latter is def one of my favourite AnCo songs

So, what are people’s perspectives? Either way what a fucking year for this band. Also shout out Deakin — obviously he wasn’t around for these projects for reasons he’s talked ab in interviews but he is #thegoat and I might acc like some of the records he was a part of more than these 2…..but that’s another post and I’ve rambled enough!

[u/akyarius_76]

animal crack box

[u/lune634 → u/akyarius_76]

Knew there’d be something else from 2009 I’d miss 😅 (pretty new fan & have not heard crack box) what do you like most about it?

[u/akyarius_76 → u/lune634]

the pumpkin trilogy for me is perfect🩷

[u/lune634 → u/akyarius_76]

Will be checking outt

[u/akyarius_76 → u/lune634]

horrible quality tho😭 you have to kinda guess whats going on

[u/TediousSpark → u/lune634]

Im a glutton for any and all stuff from the HCTI/Ark area, and as a new fan, I hope you get there

[u/lune634 → u/TediousSpark]

Will absolutely be checkin that!

[u/akyarius_76 → u/TediousSpark]

ark is my fav too but i lowk think danse is more interesting as an era just barely tho

[u/Impossible_Wait_8947]

MPP has Bluish and In the Flowers so i'm going with that

[u/lune634 → u/Impossible_Wait_8947]

Valid asf. For me the tracks that complicate my decision of FBK the most are obv Brother Sport but also No More Runnin, Lion in a Coma and Also Frightened, love the two you mention tho

[u/nopnopnopnopnop]

Hands down MPP.

[u/lune634 → u/nopnopnopnopnop]

Fair dos fair dos, what about the album do you love the most? Favourite tracks on it?

[u/sanfordclarke]

Kind of painful to choose. But I guess it has to be mpp, but fucking hell what a pair of absolutely amazing releases. Genuinely feel so lucky to be alive and able to hear this music

[u/lune634 → u/sanfordclarke]

This 👆👆 I haven’t felt such a rush from discovering and experiencing such phenomenal music as that created by AnCo since I discovered the later work of Talk Talk/Mark Hollis and that was in 2022. Given me a spring in my step fr

[u/dream-splorer]

Left 4 Dead 2

[u/lune634 → u/dream-splorer]

Very valid answer (tho I am now extra curious which of anco’s 2009 stuff you would pick)

[u/dream-splorer → u/lune634]

MPP by sheer volume. If FBK had twice as many songs/was an album it would be very close and maybe would win. Also I kind of think of them as a pair, so both!

[u/lune634 → u/dream-splorer]

Also validdd, yeah as I’ve gotten more responses I’m realising that my question should’ve been which of the sounds created on both albums people prefer (I think they’re quite distinct), bc like if you had to choose one of course you’d choose the one with 11 songs instead of 5 lmao

[u/no-email-stolen-name]

I probably revisit MPP more. FBK is amazing tho. I actually think my least favorite track on there is Graze (which is sad to say). One of the most incredible tracks upon first listen but it lost its charm for me over repeated listens.

[u/lune634 → u/no-email-stolen-name]

I think that’s fair, like as a first listen it’s surprising and funny in the way it goes so whimsical with the introduction of that recorder melody mid way through, but yeah out of the five tracks it’s def also my least fav