2021 Best of | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Irish songs | Podcast episodes | Guest selections
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100.
PrettyHappy
Salami
99.
Kʒːlu
Luciferin
98.
Stella
You Are Here
97.
Cosha
Run The Trrack
96.
Rejjie Snow, Cam O’Bi, grouptherapy
Relax
95.
Bicep, Clara La San
X
94.
A92 Collective
A92 Freestyle
The Pakistan-born, New York musician Arooj Aftab’s album Vulture Prince is one of the year’s finest and this is a brittle and beautiful folk traditional song.
Vulture Prince takes inspiration in Arabic poetry known as ghazals, which often express love in the face of grief or pain.
Aftab’s younger brother had passed away prior to the album, prompting the reach for ancient texts, and the album wraps those sentiments up in free-forming folk and jazz textures with harp, viola, cello, double bass, synth and minimal percussion lending the album an expansive air and a deep spiritual resonance beyond the tactile act of plucking strings.