The Avalances - Since I Left You

This is one of a trilogy I’d include in my desert island albums. I remember this being the first full length record that I became truly enamoured with as a 14 year old, little bits of vocal samples or trickles of piano would play on repeat in my head at the Year 10 swimming carnival. While I always loved music from a young age, this was the first time I ever experienced the extent of how it could make me feel; not even in a deep or alty way, but the first time I realised how deeply I could connect to the wonder and happiness of music.

To me this is the pinnacle of the plunderphonics genre - a kailedescopic journey through mismatched memories and histories. This is a loose concept album based on being seperated from the rest of your ship crew and exploring unknown lands, cultures and experiences, sometimes daunting and overwhelming but ultimately rewarding and life-affirming.

Since I Left You is so deeply rooted in hiphop but transcends the genre beyond anything before or since. The transitions between not only each track but between each section of each track is truly something to behold, with each group member clearly bringing their own flavour and spin on the groove of the piece, with each texture helping it grow so organically and originally - sometimes with a flare of beauty, aggression or humour.

Since I Left You is simultaneously the greatest album in the plunderphonics genre, and the best album to ever come out of Australia. A truly magical listen!

KEY TRACK: Live at Dominoes - as the years have gone on I’ve come to appreciate this song more and more for just how multi-phased it is, while all sounding like a bit of a love letter to Daft Punk. The Fifth Dimension vocal sample that loops in the front end is truly one of my favourite musical moments.