records of 2011: 1. Kode9 & The Spaceape - Black Sun

1. KODE9 & THE SPACEAPE- BLACK SUN
This album fuses spoken-word poetry with dub music. The spoken-word voice of The Spaceape carries reggae, ragga and so much utter conviction, that one can't help but pout their lips in approval.

This is the ultimate collaborative album. Steve Goodman is the man behind the project, - he's Kode9 - and the illustrious Hyperdub record label that includes Burial. And he's Scottish. This music however reminds me of London so much that it's no wonder he relocated there. There's no bagpipes on this one.

This takes the crown this year, because from top to bottom this album remains edgy, energising and thematic. Radiation is the theme here. So put on your suncream, top up your tan and happy new year!

records of 2011 - 2. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

2. BON IVER - BON IVER

The craft that went into this thing is amazing. Justin Vernon expanded on his solo, stuck-on-a-log-cabin of his debut "For Emma, Forever Ago" by using a full band and collaborating with so many musicians, it was a delight to behold.

We get saxophones, we get made up words, sentences that don't make sense, that make sense, fake places, real places, everything. It's a textural album. Not just a folk album. Folk is a dirty word.

His voice is perhaps the most beautiful in modern music. If the hairs on the back of your neck don't stand up when you listen to this, then go and grab some sandpaper and scrub down your neck. Actually don't; you might bleed.

I feel that this could be one of the best albums released ever. The jury is still out for me on "Beth / Rest," the 80's closer that absolutely jars with everything else on offer here. But time will tell. Props to the boy for taking risks though.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KrmxavLIRM

records of 2011- 3. Delicate Steve - Wondervisions

3. DELICATE STEVE - WONDERVISIONS

Never before has anything sounded so fun! Goofball! This New Jersey collective believe in instrumentals and all out arpeggios that apply so much bend on the guitar-work, it's pretty staggering.

Noone really knows about this album, I'm really surprised it hasn't got more exposure. Maybe it doesn't have that much emotional depth, but still it has bags of personality. I discovered this at the top of the year and I'm still just as gleeful when I listen to it.

A real sense of occasion, an out-and-out jam, an exercise in technicolour, a treat. A vision, like the name suggests. That's it - just go and get it. Don't forget to blow those bubbles now!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNIajNpsAA

records of 2011 - 4. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

4. BILL CALLAHAN - APOCALYSPE

Beautiful baritone voice
Images that are bleak, apocalyptic
Long, explorative tracks that often question the integrity of America
Luscious guitar work, especially in the track "America"

Carefully delivers his lyrics in a singing style that's almost spoken word, tender.
A singer-songwriter with a huge history, his previous project Smog dates back to 1990
Long sentences here, better make some a bit shorter
Longing for that feeling; see "Riding For The Feeling," it will all be ok
A fascinating gig I went to in 2009 in a church is one of my favourite ever shows
Human, unlike say, Daft Punk
A sparse album. Just 7 songs. His spare style really holds up ever so well.
Never heard anything so timeless.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMQ0CeXYd54

records of 2011. 5. Cut Copy. Zonoscope

5. CUT COPY - ZONOSCOPE
This is the biggest grower of 2011. The first time I heard it, I was a little underwhelmed at first. One of those trendy music websites called this a sprawling landscape compared to the champagne immediacy of 2008's "In Ghost Colours" - thank god Australians spell that word with a "u" - and they got it bang on correct.

Sure, opener "Need you Now" is pretty instantaneous but many of the tracks take a while to show their hooks; this album is pretty refrained. Here, we're not square on with the waterfall; we're looking at it from some distance. Again, yeah there are some explosive moments of beauty but as The Onion AV Club journalist said, here "Cut Copy often lets the arrangements ride." Bang on.

And so finally, it grew on me and now it just sounds huge like a skyscraper. It's retro-future. Ouch. Apologies. It's champagne-popping. What a howler of a description. Luckily, this album ain't a howler, definitely not, as it gets me howling in the shower.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=tb1o42RdVzA

records of 2011 - 6. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

6. RADIOHEAD - THE KING OF LIMBS
As ever, this was a real occasion. It just seemed to fall from the sky at the last minute, released to great surprise. Refreshing and inspiring.

As for the music, of course it's a return to the electronics of yesteryear and it feels better every time I listen to it. It's so compact at just 8 tracks and that's nice. You can't beat a tight album.

I believe that a movie should be made in honor of this one, as it feels so much like a soundtrack, it's just nuts. I also think it could be perhaps the best sequenced Radiohead album ever. Also it's the biggest grower.

Like I said back in April (sometimes I don't like to write in the conventional style by the way)

"There are stuttering beats but it's nice. I like it. The voice of Thom Yorke didn't quite grab right hold of me at first earshot listen."

Takes time. Give it time. A certainty to stand the test of time.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3oRhwOcQ3w

top records of 2011: 7. Clams Casino - Instrumentals

7. CLAMS CASINO - INSTRUMENTALS
Absolutely makes me wanna smelter. This instrumental hip-hop album is where it's at. It's innovative, doesn't only draw from hip-hop, is diverse, makes me nod my head like no other album this year, demonstrates great potential, kicks an otherwise stagnant genre right up the you-know-what, delights at every corner and is a real late-charger for me this year, zooming up my list right towards the end.

The hazy aesthetic on most of this recalls Burial and the lazer-beam production of "Brainwash By London" recalls the production of Switch. Bjork is sampled on "Illest Alive" and there's plenty more surprises on this killer banger stunner of an LP from this New Jersey producer. Unquestionably, where it's at.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7uVpv2ltS8