Even though the blog entry's header says "Best of", I should imagine that there are still many hidden gems left that I haven't come across yet. So, when I reach 2013 in my chronological series, perhaps the list will be longer. Let's assume that the following list is really only "Best of... so far".
For now, we will have to do with 16 best songs or instrumentals. All have been released during 2013. Following this very short introduction, let's discuss songs #11 - #16 first, and then reveal the contents of Top 10 tomorrow. In total, there will be 13 different artists performing 16 songs: three artists have been deemed distinguished enough to appear twice.
16. RIVERSIDE: Feel Like Falling (from Shrine of New Generation Slaves)
The Polish prog rock group Riverside has produced a steady output of good albums. Their latest is already their fifth. It came out already in mid-January, so by now it is almost a year old. There are several standouts: my favorites among them are We Got Used to Us, the peaceful Coda - and this song right here that displays the group's more rocking side well.
15. NINE INCH NAILS: Find My Way (from Hesitation Marks)
Trent Reznor's new incarnation of Nine Inch Nails didn't let itself be known to even exist until the new album was almost ready to be published. An old favorite, NIN didn't really satisfy me this time around but there are a few good songs in the new collection here and there. The best of them in my opinion is this one: more quiet than NIN usually is, yet full of underlying tension.
14. HAKEN: Somebody (from The Mountain)
Haken is a British group that has introduced fun into the progressive rock genre. The Mountain is their third album and contains many excellent tracks. This isn't even my number one favorite among them: it is in the Top 10... I felt that both deserved to be mentioned. Somebody's strength lies partly in its structure. The beautiful, quiet opening invites you in and immerses you with well made prog that steadily grows into a goosebump-inducing wall of sound.
13. BLACKFIELD: X-Ray (from Blackfield IV)
Blackfield wrote and performed several of the absolute best songs of the last decade. Since those times, Steven Wilson has no longer been able to actively participate and the former duo has gradually become Aviv Geffen's solo effort. Wilson guest stars on this latest release, but it is actually Vincent Cavanagh of Anathema who sings on this particular track. Wilson sings on Jupiter which is also one of the better songs on Blackfield IV.
12. EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY & DAVID WINGO: Alone Time (from Prince Avalanche soundtrack)
Prince Avalanche isn't a particularly interesting movie - I dozed off at 31 minutes and never resumed watching - but its soundtrack is pure gold. The Texan post rock group Explosions in the Sky has worked with composer David Wingo to produce a melodic and atmospheric background to the boring story of two road workers somewhere in rural Texas. Judging from Explosions' earlier works, a move to film music work sounds like an excellent idea.
11. ÓLAFUR ARNALDS: Sudden Throw (from For Now I Am Winter)
The young Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds was one of this year's big finds for me. His latest album For Now I Am Winter was released already in March, so its compositions may actually originate from wintertime. And they really have a certain kind of icy beauty about them. The opening track of the album, Sudden Throw begins very quietly but then grows in volume to an impressive although a strangely abrupt ending.
This is it for now, please visit ProgActive again tomorrow. This year's excellent Top 10 in music will be revealed some time in the early evening, Finnish time.
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