Albums of the year - 27. TINDERSTICKS - THE WAITING ROOM

27. TINDERSTICKS - THE WAITING ROOM 

A special band who produce albums that you can just sink into. And I'm pretty sure that I've said it a few times this year already about other records, but who gives a shizzle when it's just a turn of phrase? "How He Entered" combines poetry with brass and piano; it's sumptuous. "Hey Lucinda" is a beautiful duet concerned with asking someone out; it's alluring. The title-track is devastating. It's all here.

Interestingly the exclamation in the track "We Are Dreamers!" brings the penultimate punch before the downbeat finale of "Like Only Lovers Can"drifts the album away. This album has been perfect in this particular sitting, as with the last entry Purple Pilgrims - it's freezing cold outside and it's time to get warm. I'm such a mad-head to go running in it.

Went running in it, felt great. Last nights wine still lingers on in the pit of the stomach though but booze certainly plays a part in the makeup of The Waiting Room so I wouldn't worry about it. This album may have a soothing aesthetic but the narrative has the full spectrum of emotion and is all the better for it.

Albums of 2016 - 28. PURPLE PILGRIMS - ETERNAL DELIGHT

28. PURPLE PILGRIMS - ETERNAL DELIGHT 

Dream psych pop candle sisters chimes feverish light channels dark channels orange seeping sepia glowing incense not unlucky sounds like death doesn't sound like it's got much life in it a dog is sleeping beside me well and truly it was raining outside like a cold monsoon and luckily inside provides an ethereal quality with Christmas tree glow black coffee gives me momentum.

Coal the fire sin into winter pucker up your big clock and hang up your fears ease your fears slice open the psychedelia this is exactly what I bargained for this is exactly what I bargained for talk to your partner allay their fears, crystalline gold blue green lo-fi why does the first song have issues with volume?

Cleaning out drinking water hanging lamp posting sci-fi books carrying boxes memories disintegrated into all vacuums of possibility don't be nervous don't be nervous take it jittery take it jittery calm down control yourself strap in for albums of the year.

Albums of 2016 - 29. THE AVALANCHES - WILDFLOWER

29. THE AVALANCHES - WILDFLOWER 

They did it. They came back. I'd been waiting 15 years for a follow up to Since I Left You which was such a breath of fresh air in 2001 - a dream album of samples - a vision, a quest and not just a mix-tape or something you just chuck on. It was something to get washed up in, escape on the beach in your head on the metro.

Wildflower doesn't fizz and chime and sway as much as the previous effort. However, it feels like an album full of episodes. And boy do those episodes build up the suspense. There's a sense of kinetic energy throughout the record that's only ruined by the atrocious  "The Noisy Eater" - a highly one-dimensional song about eating everything under the sun - MF Doom sailed that ship a while ago with Mm.. Food in 2004 - a fantastic culinary opus.

And he appears here on Wildflower on "Frankie Sinatra," the third track that absolutely picks up the intrigue, even though Danny Brown takes most of the spoils. Then follows some amazing guest appearances - most notable Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev -  but nothing can prepare us for the last track "Saturday Night Inside Out" which is pure poetry over beautiful wafted-in electronica and brings tears freshly delivered. Nice to have them back.

Albums of 2016 - 30. LAMBCHOP - FLOTUS

30. LAMBCHOP- FLOTUS 

Album #12 for this band, though not really a band. I have been informed, mostly with paramount trust from a man who know longer speaks backtalk, that it's mainly the work of Kurt Wagner, and that suffice to say is enough for me, with sacred faith, tantamount to everlasting friendship in music.

FLOTUS is the sound of an artist sonically reinventing himself with vocoders and even electronic beats here and there. But these devices are peppered in there. Just like when a paramount man seasons his beefy steak, or cuts a pineapple ring to sling with a pork as a medallion. Did he bring the peas?

Lambchop have really delivered an album to sink into. The running time is over an hour, so I'd honestly smoke a pipe, literally and metaphorically, ambitiously and with cowardice. Here layeth a band sans pretence. I've been keen since 2000's Nixon and will remaineth as long as the chances keep
a-coming.

Albums of 2016 - 31. LEONARD COHEN - YOU WANT IT DARKER

31. LEONARD COHEN - YOU WANT IT DARKER

A bad year for deaths. Prince, Muhammad Ali, Terry Wogan, Gene Wilder, David Bowie and now this. Seems that Cohen, in his early 80's, was getting ready to go. The album is very sad and bleak and wintry and full of croon.

The guy wrote everything, sang, painted and more in his lifetime. Once in a second-hand bookshop, I was looking around and there were loads of dusty old paperbacks for sale, some for less than a pound but I wasn't keen as they were tat / trash / codswallop. Then, I saw a hardback copy Beautiful Losers, his second and final novel from 1966!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so I bought it for nearly 16 quid I think.

I just think that there is a time and a place for everything. I am late on the bandwagon once again like for a lot of things. Whether fourteen albums or two novels or a few decades of poetry, it is apparent that is his epitaph and should be treasured and by God will it be. It will be.

Albums of 2016 - 32. CARLA DEL FORNO - YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE

32. CARLA DEL FORNO - YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE

On Halloween I played this spooky, eerie music while walking by the canal and through a dark bridge and I got reeled in, all hypnotized. It didn't exactly scare the shit out of me, merely intrigued me as I always look for at least a feeling of chill. Not going out to party for Halloween again - not after last year when I had a wallet stolen as I dressed as a tampon.

A really great thing I just read is that this is a debut. I had no idea before just checking Metacritic. As the opener "Italian Cinema" swirls in, soon to follow is the gloriously lo-fi "Fast Moving Cars." It's massively urban even though I just told you I tried to get Haloween-ee-ode in the countryside.

The above two paragraphs were written at midnight after a static night in front of el-lapito, my laptop and I was going brain-dead. Or maybe I was just entranced by this amazing piece of introductory work that will lead on into a love affair with urban witchcraft.

Albums of 2016 - 33. DAMIEN JURADO - VISIONS OF US ON THE LAND

33. DAMIEN JURADO - VISIONS OF US ON THE LAND 

I just read that this is the twelfth album for Jurado. Woweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Like the title would suggest, this sounds like a road-trip kind of album. However, don't let that distract you because it's not that shallow; this is a trip of grandeur and rugged terrain.

Like many of the albums on this choc-a-bloc countdown, I'm giving it a couple of spins to really feel the aesthetic - and here we have dusty, yet refined and raw, yet cinematic.
There are 17 tracks here to feed on, feed on, feed on, feed off. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm.

This guy could certo become one of my favourite singer-songwriters and how lovely to have such a big back catalogue to explore. Things are looking uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppppppppppppp.
There's no filler on this album like there is in this article.

Albums of 2016 - 34. WHITNEY - LIGHT UPON THE LAKE

34. WHITNEY - LIGHT UPON THE LAKE 

A great summer jaunt. This debut recalls The Byrds. I could just leave the review at that but Jimmy Fuller, the bands biggest fan, would probably sue me. Better to say that here are 10 tracks of absolute radiance, brass, singalongs, blues, vintage jams - critics will no doubt say it's perfect for Urban Outfitters - I agree. Great.

When it's as hot as it is in Taipei in the summertime, you need a cold shower and some summer anthems and of course a few albums of this list qualify as said cooler. This one packs it in half an hour though, so it's best played in two sittings. Hahahahahaha. You're really cool and funny.

Overall, Light Upon The Lake is a great start and what remains now is the hope that Whitney can make some classics and not fall victims to pressure and hype. Not that Spaghetti Blogonese  is ever ever ever ever ever ever gonna y'know c'mon.........LOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Albums of 2016 - 35. ELUVIUM - FALSE READINGS ON

35. ELUVIUM - FALSE READINGS ON 

A master in ambient chamber music, Matthew Cooper is a mainstay on this blog. His 2003 debut Lambent Material was one of my favourite records of last decade and since that first effort, Cooper has enveloped his sound to include choirs, organs, claps of thunder, drones and bells and a fully realised sound.

False Readings On is like an entry into a strong back- catalogue that adds more swells, greater sonic trialling -  not Eluvium's best album to fall asleep to -  and  his greatest indication yet that he might be heading towards symphonic proportions.

I've mentioned quite a bit this year the importance of naming, and here Eluvium sounds like an element. As this element becomes more familiar and associated with sleepy-time, it has a placebo effect of dream-waves, especially on flights. The most soothing thing on the list by far this year; it's the sound of the angels calling.

Albums of 2016. 36. FRANKIE COSMOS - NEXT THING

36. FRANKIE COSMOS - NEXT THING  

It's one big fucking pleasure to follow this artists momentum. Her previous releases were very teenagey and now it's as if this biographical-esque narrative is becoming more realised than the old EP's

"When you're young, you're too young
When you're old, you're too old"

Those are lyrics from "What If" and I hope that Frankie can not let touring and the industry get on top of her and that her graceful two minute numbers don't sound too chug-a-lug. If the guitars do start chugging, then I prey she can still pack her tunes with personal lyrics aplomb. If this is a character that Cosmos is writing, then she's a genius. If not, then it's an amazing personal development.

Frankie Cosmos for me recalls The Moldy Peaches without the crass bits and I'm so glad to be on her bandwagon. I'm her biggest fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 p="">

Albums of 2016 - 37. THE HOTELIER - GOODNESS

37. THE HOTELIER - GOODNESS 

A band releasing their third album and I'd heard their name dropped about a few times before on the radio and such. And then, when application recommendations like Spotify and Last FM come around, of course its not going to be long before quality comes knocking on your door and I'm glad The Hotelier did.

Some of my other favourite rock bands for example The Cloud Nothings batter on the door, full of angst and snot and it's impossible to not get glued to them straight away. But here, we have a nice poem at the beginning and a steady apex into the anthems. And no, it's not emo.

It's a privilege when bands are picking up steam, mid-career and you happen to drop in and listen back and wanna listen forward. As another late discovery comes a'knocking, I'm glad this chance hasn't gone a'begging. Plenty of room at the inn for....(snip - enough - accommodations editor)

Albums of 2016 - 38. HIEROGLYPHIC BEING - THE DISCO'S OF IMHOTEP

38.HIEROGLYPHIC BEING - THE DISCO'S OF IMHOTEP

After a head-wreck of a few days, it's nice to revisit this album of stunning psychedelic beats and jingles and escape, whilst concentrating on getting the job done. As it the name wasn't enough to draw one in, this concoction, and I'm thinking a 105 BPM can get you swaying and working in a partying way - totally different way of working from say mininal techno.

I look on Metacritic and they Chicago house and that makes sense with all the monologues and shrieks as per track "Nubian Energy" which has that nice thudding bassy undercurrent. It's this very range that makes this debut LP such a work of promise. He's planted his flag.

Gonna keep writing a little bit longer with a few more entries and this album has been spinning twice over and it's helped me more than anything else today, including salami, tea, coffee, chats and evading taking a shower.

Albums of 2016 - 39. CHAIRLIFT - MOTH

39. CHAIRLIFT - MOTH

Chairlift have just announced that they're splitting up in the new year. But no worries, as this American synthpop band have had a trio of glorious albums. This one is their best in that they splatter  even more production on the canvas and it still sounds succinct.

Maybe I've said too many times this year about pre-gaming but I mean it. If I say it, will you listen to it? Moth is a very sardonic name for this album and that makes me love it more. The way Caroline Polachek's vocals double up against the bass for example in "Romeo" are utterly irresistible.

There are not too many pure pop albums on this list but growing up as a kid, with Rick Astley and The Spice Girls every which way - I've got those leanings at times. But as this came out at the beginning of January, it was nice to hit the ground running.

Albums of 2016 - 40. BIBIO - A MINERAL LOVE

40. BIBIO - A MINERAL LOVE 

A light and breezy record that defined summer for me as Bibio sounded more focused than ever before. Could pitch this as the best lo-fi release of the year or something but it's more important to just let it blow in the wind. However, the good thing is it stands up instead of blowing over. Shit, have I just committed journalistic suicide?

I haven't been feeling as keen I was on his output since 2009's Ambivalence Avenue which was so twee and sickly that I was full of glee. A Mineral Love is a return to form in which Bibio most certainly keeps things soft but soulful and in the shade. But not so much in the shade that you can't feel the sunshine. Shit, have I just committed journalistic suicide?

Albums of the Year - 41. MICHAEL KIWANUKA - LOVE & HATE

41. MICHAEL KIWANUKA - LOVE & HATE  

The name Michael is an issue due to its spelling. The vowels are wrong in how it should be. "Kiwanuka" is easier to spell.

This is a soul classic. Micheal is only 29 and he's really sorted this out here in terms of not putting any flashes in the pan in terms of bonkers production in anything, and that comes gratefully to the forever great Dangermouse who Paste magazine named the best producer of last decade.

But the voice is the main thing. He's hurting. He's throaty. He rarely hits those raw boom-bellows, but when Kiwanuka does it's never in a spate; it's sparingly. Kiwanuka has on album #2 here and it's safe to say that if you want to traject a safe future, this here is a safe bet that safe isn't a bad thing.

Albums of 2016 - 42. THE INVISIBLE - PATIENCE

42. THE INVISIBLE - PATIENCE

There used to be a footballer for Chelsea Football Club named Didier Drogba who had so much gusto when he put the ball in the back of the net. When I hear this neo-soul, I think it's the gusto in songs like "Best Of Me" that draws the comparison. I love running to this music. It's good when it's about to go dark. Alternatively just take it into the bedroom, if you know what I mean Jonny.

It really is soul music for indie fans. That sounds like a cheesy blurb especially after a glass of Chardonnay and a sugary sweet pear cider. If this writing gets too sickly then go and read another end of year list. If you're glued to it, then unfortunately I guess you're stuck with it

The aforementioned "Best Of Me " is without a shadow a doubt one of the songs of the year; it's phenomenal. The way the bass intertwines with the vocals, it's a pick-me-up that the rest of the album suitably follows suit with in suit suitably.

Albums of 2016 - 43. PYE CORNER AUDIO - STASIS

43. PYE CORNER AUDIO - STASIS 

A nice sinister electronic edgy throwback to previous decades that has shades of science-fiction; this is a real producers record that works when feeling a bit sinister or when you want something to sink into.

I love the name of the project and it seems to be a name to watch as Martin Jenkins has only been carrying this for since 2010 so it'll be cool if he could build up a bit of a cult or legacy.

It's amazing that this album seemed to slip through the radar in most review publications. I wonder why that is. Oh well, if somebody wants to invest in Spaghetti Blogonese, I can send him to the stars and back where be belongs.

Albums of 2016 - 44. BEAK> - COUPLE IN A HOLE (OST)

44. BEAK> - COUPLE IN A HOLE (OST)

A British film soundtrack. Think sparse synths. Motorik drums. Krautrock. Autobanhs. Music to both shake off and bring on hedonism. It's kinetic. It's gut. It's vital. I'm in a murky, neutral mood tonight and this soundtrack  perfectly accompanies that.

As mentioned before in a previous years post, it's not as if the 44st entry on a list is better than the 45th, I do listen to the album in question as I write; that being with a rough idea of what kind of positioning in will have. The top 10 however require much more careful scrutiny.

Beak> are ones to watch, with an ex-member of Portishead thrown in there, their discography is only a few albums deep and I look forward to hearing how this band go about developing their sound. Sometimes murky and neutral is just fine.

https://soundcloud.com/invadauk/beak-timeshare

Albums of 2016 - 45. TELEMAN - BRILLIANT SANITY

45. TELEMAN - BRILLIANT SANITY

An aptly named album, Teleman are a great little indie band from London who have supported Suede and Franz Ferdinand when playing on tour. Brilliant Sanity, their second album is a straight-up, eleven track delight, packed with very well thought out thrust.

Brilliant Sanity quite often bundles in feelings of binary opposition, for example the title track discusses the metaphor of losing everything in a house fire. The character discusses feeling bulletproof, while the the eerie production and driving guitar conversely reassures the listener.

Standout track Superglue similarly builds up momentum, this time with a staccato verses and then a smoothed-out chorus. There's something bang-on fantastic about Cockney indie with  bristle, vigour and insight.

Albums of 2016 - 46. APHEX TWIN - CHEETAH (EP)

46. APHEX TWIN - CHEETAH  

He's been on a bit of a roll of late. 2014 saw a great comeback. One of his best. Syro had the mix of all the noodlings, warblings and the sequencing in terms of track dynamics in of itself, and in the song-order were comfortably un-numb.

Then came 2015's Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP, which despite the title fucking with you as there was no pt1 - well, not yet - was seemingly raw and less bassy, though I cede I am no expert on this genre whatsoever.

2016 brought this Cheetah EP, and as discussing with my friend Rossy McRoss, it sounded more summery, could have been because of its release time, but nonetheless as he put it so eloquently about Cheetah; "it's good." Oh Aphex Twin, how hard it is to write and chat accurately about your music. But dear Aphex, at lasteth we dunnae have to ask "Where art thee?"

Albums of 2016 - 47. SHEARWATER - JETPLANE AND OXBOW

47. SHEARWATER - JETPLANE AND OXBOW

A band that had an "island trilogy" between 2006 and 2010, Shearwater had always sat with me as their name suggests, uncontaminated and concerned with sanctity. Not anymore, what we have here is a quasi-electronic throwback to late 70's that smacks of Fleetwood Mac and is politically righteous at times in all the best possible ways.

"Quiet Americans" is the prime example of this. A synthy-anthem of gargantuan irony. On the side it's making me want to go out tonight. It is pre-game dynamite and is fuelled by the chorus:

"Where are the Americans?.........The only sound... The only light........only only!"

The above is only a snippet. The first four lines also have that chilling, penultimate doom that has been absent in a lot of the bands recent work.

"I can't help it if all the world is ending.
All the life is gone while you're calling out this name.
Where are the Americans?"

And ultimately the best thing the band have ever written is on this LP, "Backchannels" is the natural side to Shearwater and gives the album the refrain that gives the album all the proportions of balance and glory that come when you care.

Albums of 2016 - 48. HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER - HEART LIKE A LEVEE

48. HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER - HEART LIKE A LEVEE

There's a time and place, maybe even an era for every album and this sixth effort for this special little band sounds like it's shooting for all that and more. For example the title track:

Sing me a river
Go easy on me, I'm not doing too well
Do you hate me, honey
As much as I hate myself?...

...Standing in the wake with the sky still changing
What's it going to take to keep you missing the rambling rake with a heart of obsidian?
Standing in the wake with the sky still changing

These lyrics add up to a time of change and a sinking feeling happening in ones heart. I'm experiencing it myself as I'm about to move abroad yet again elsewhere. But what's exquisite is the roaring euphoria when M.C. Taylor sings the title lyric to the title track on the title album and everything comes together in the middle of the vena cava.

Albums of 2016 - 49. HOLY FUCK - CONGRATS

49. HOLY FUCK - CONGRATS

Canadian band that mess around menacingly with machines, often encompassing relentless assaults. That last sentence sounds alright the way I wrote it don't it? This act don't let you down in terms of sonic layers of energy and an album not to necessarily lose yourself in, but lose control of yourself in.

2016 may have been a shitty year for elections, referendums and deaths, but in terms of music releases, this may well be the best time in decades to reflect on and audio material like this would probably have made the Top 10 of this list in any other year.

I'm currently on sabbatical leave and the track "Sabbatics" is helping me groove through with Pinot Grigio. I'm supposed to be reading the last 50 pages of Murakami's epic 1Q84  but my gut told me it wants to be a bit wrenched after putting it through a 30 minute jog to go and buy said wine. Oh world, what have you done? 

When the world's going mad and your social media feed is full of friends called Todde going and getting tanked on a Friday night, you can't go wrong with a bit of Holy Fuck to help you plough through life.

Albums of 2016 - 50. TORTOISE - THE CATASTROPHIST

50. TORTOISE - THE CATASTROPHIST 

Back in the day I used to review the albums of the year over a glass of wine and a couple of paragraphs. Now it's back. It's back. It's back from the past; you'll be glad.

Tortoise made the first great album of 2016 back in January. Tortoise are a post rock band from Chicago. Tortoise are in their third decade now. Tortoise have probably got another 30 years left in them; the life-span of a real Tortoise.

This one is "progressive" sounding but in the current climate, it blends right in. In the context of the year it seemed to kick it off, but with retrospect - it's a fine piece of work from a band back from the past that you'll be glad to have now it's back.

Records of 2015

RECORDS OF 2015  

2015 was a year of new discovery and a year where established acts made classics. Wolf Alice and Natalie Prass made smashing freshman material but seniors Jeff Bridges and Bjork came up trumps, though Bridges is mainly an actor ;)

Should spare a blue note for jazz this year as well, as Kamasi Washington, Alan Lee and Kyoto Jazz Sextet sexed it up.

But the main mention goes to Sufjan Stevens who after so much enriching material over the last few years went all autobiographical and blue/sepia. Hashtag plaudits.

1. SUFJAN STEVENS - CARRIE AND LOWELL

Brilliant transcendental stripped-down honest folk from Sufjan; writing from the heart. A little bit of artistic license in the supernatural.  Could be album of the decade.

2. KURT VILE - B'LIEVE I'M GOIN DOWN

The lyrics are self-deprecating. The drawl is irresistible. The picking is right-on. The momentum keeps growing.

3. WOLF ALICE - MY LOVE IS COOL

Very turbulent in its style-shift. A very rich and assured debut of guitars and searing vocals that's so hard to genre-ize. Packs a wallop.

4. RIVAL CONSOLES - HOWL
Electronic knack that sputnukmusic called "monadic" - I disagree - it flows like a masterpiece

5. JEFF BRIDGES - SLEEPING TAPES
Against all the odds from one of my favourite actors. Spoken-word over ambient brilliance, with the concept of being in the land of nod

6. NATALIE PRASS - NATALIE PRASS
Her debut? No way! Timeless baroque-pop classic with the voice of an angel. One of the best first-efforts in years that's a capsule in time already.

7. JAZMINE SULLIVAN - REALITY SHOW

90's style R&B done better than anything I'd previously heard from that decade

8. TAME IMPALA - CURRENTS

They switched from the lo-fi of their last album to cystalline joyeux on this third effort. From jogging, to pre-gaming to cycling around and goofing around, this album was best enjoyed on headphones.

9. NILS FRAHM - SOLO

Piano glazed with electronics from the spaghettiblogonese unofficial hero of 2015. This and the official Victoria soundtrack (film of the year!) 

10. FOUR TET - MORNING / EVENING

One of my favourite slow burners for DJ'ing. The first side is Indian playback and the latter is a crescendo of great elecdrumica.

11. PRINS THOMAS - PARADISE GOULASH

Hours and hours of mixtape. Highly recommend this for a a playlist that never stops giving - rarities spazzing all around. 

12. JIM O'ROURKE - SIMPLE SONGS

Dense instrumentation, stunning studio production and a whole boatload of narrative. Like if Pink Floyd mated with Cat Stevens.

13. MASAYOSHI FUJITA - APOLOGUES

Beautiful Japanese vibraphonist delivers his best work yet

14. JULIA HOLTER - HAVE YOU IN MY WILDERNESS

Gorgeous.

15. ROOTS MANUVA - BLEEDS

Album number six for Rodney. This was the best album of its ilk in a bleak year for hip-hop. Not feeling Kanye or Kendrick? Hit up some British as we do it better this time around.

16.MBONGWANA STAR - FROM KINSHASHA

Congolese funk,dub & post-punk . everything raised up high in the production. Dancefloor dynamite. Bends and shakes every which way but loose

17. KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET - MISSION

Japan are Japan; making great whiskey and jazz. If this was a flop, I'd say they should stick to their blow-up dolls and green tea chocolate but as it goes it is stellar nu-jazz.

18. FLOATING POINTS - ELAENIA

Electronica of the highest order. Lengthy tracks that creep into so many corners of style and puncture our comprehension. Rewarding.

19. PREFUSE 73 - RIVINGTON NAO RIO

The wonk-tron master of hip-hop is back. Elastic spaghetti that melts into your brain and melds with your memories

20. KHRUANGBIN - THE UNIVERSE SMILES UPON YOU
Thai funk, surf rock and bossa nova recorded in a barn in Texas. It's snowing outside but this makes me wanna use a beach-ball. Super-chill.

21. JAMIE XX - IN COLOUR

Party. Old school? Party. New school? Textures. Great feeling. Show-boater. Producer. XX who? Psyching me up before an interview.

22. ALAN LEE JAZZ QUARTET - AN AUSTRALIAN JAZZ ANTHOLOGY
Okay, it's cheating - not really a studio album but this was so full-on brilliant that it has to make it on here. Seven absolute collectors items from 1973 and 1974 played with such vivacity and range that it's utterly incomprehensible how beautiful this is. Nuggets

23. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING - GET TO HEAVEN
One of the best bands going; sheer creativity;sheer penmanship ;sheer production and a colossal,poppy core with jagged and rocky edges.

24. NILS FRAHM - VICTORIA (Official soundtrack)

This official soundtrack to my favourite movie experience of 2015 blended soothing piano with sinister minimal techno. The hand camera shot the whole German movie in one take and it was so disorientating I came out of the cinema completely and utter anxious in the afternoon before going to work, but it had absolutely worked.

25. VIET CONG - VIET CONG

If there had to be something forceful to dent the Top 25 on this list, then this would be it. Forcible, forceful post-punk. Direct and poetic. "If we're lucky we'll get old and die" <3 span=""> Lays it on thick

26 YOUNG FATHERS - WHITE MEN ARE BLACK MEN TOO

After winning the Mercury Music Prize in 2014, these TV On The Radio copycats followed up their debut brilliantly. A total storm of all the best styles in the sky.

27. APHEX TWIN - COMPUTER CONTROLLED ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS PT2

Technically an EP, this follow-up to 2014's "Syro" was an uncharacteristically focused effort from Richard D. James but still has plenty of wonk and warble and spaz and sputter.

28. BJORK - VULNICURA

Gorgeous depth to this break-up album by Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Album number nine; can't wait for her tenth.

29. RICHARD HAWLEY - HOLLOW MEADOWS
Crooning of the highest order from Sheffield. Makes me wanna stroke my beard and polish my boots; light up a fire and munch on some puddings. Not Christmas yet. 

30. LOW - ONES AND SIXES
Joyous and sinister as one, this eleventh album for the Minnesota rock experimentalists packs another punch like they've been doing their whole career.

31. KAMASI WASHINGTON - THE EPIC
Three hour jazz album that blows down the door of convention and adds a new dimension to the genre. Gotta be done

32. DESTROYER - POISON SEASON
The New Pornographers collaborator hits top form on this great album full of storytelling grandeur. Spellbinding.

33. PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING -  THE RACE FOR SPACE
This is rock, electronica and instrumentals complete with samples from the space race between America and the Soviet Union from 1957-1972, taken from the British Film Institute. As great as it sounds!

34. OUGHT - SUN COMING DOWN
Snotty post-punk that I loved jogging to, whether the sun was belting down or drizzle was wetting my glasses.

35. LOWER DENS - ESCAPE FROM EVIL
There's something about a Baltimore sound. Beach House, Wye Oak and now Lower Dens. Shimmering production, elegant vocals and a full-bodied sound poised for a semblance of this decades in memories to come.

36. DAM-FUNK - INVITE THE LIGHT
More funk in a row here. An amazing electro-funk opus. This list is hotting up.

37. NEON INDIAN - VEGA INTL. NIGHT SCHOOL
The gig of the year in Taipei I missed. I should have just got the night off and paid-up as this was a great glitzy record that would have great to be have danced to in the flesh.

38. SUN KIL MOON - UNIVERSAL THEMES
A free-flowing, liberated and varied follow-up to the previous years tragic "Benji" and I could put them together as a double-disc contrast, though it's not my right to do that.

39. ROISIN MURPHY - HAIRLESS TOYS
Wonky, spazzy return from ex-Moloko front-lady after 8 years out of the game. Sinister lounge.

40. JESSICA PRATT - ON YOUR OWN LOVE AGAIN
Recorded on a four track, this lo-fi folk is amazing. It sounds like a simplified Joanna Newsom.

41. ELYSIA CRAMPTON - AMERICAN DRIFT
Can't put it better than wiki:"Elysia Crampton is an American experimental electronic musician. Her work is known for taking heavy detail in exploring Latinx culture, queer identity and its historic roots, subversion of macho cultural tropes, South American spirituality, naturalist themes, and frequent utilization of samples from varied sources.^[1]"

42. DUNGEN - ALLAS SAK
One of the most prolific rock bands in the game deliver another forward-thinking, Marcus-loving 'tastic.

43. LIGHTNING BOLT - FANTASY EMPIRE
Pummelling, cascading noise of rock of rise. Rise!

44. RILEY WALKER - PRIMROSE GREEN
Loose 60's tinged folk from Chicago with ludicrously beautiful picking.

45. JOHN GRANT - GREY TICKLES, BLACK PRESSURE
Knotty songwriting, packed with grit. Came off a great recommendation from a friend while we were pre-gaming one night.

46. JULIO BASHMORE - KNOCKIN' BOOTS

Great soulful house with bass. Championed big by Gilles Peterson.

47. GHOST CULTURE - GHOST CULTURE

Debut indie electronica for brilliant newbie from London. Have it for James Greenwood.

48. BLUR - THE MAGIC WHIP

Mass discussion covered this uber-heavyweight return. Inspired by a trip to Hong Kong, these rock brilliances nailed a superb comeback.

49. JOHN TEJADA - SIGNS UNDER TEST

Electronic crunch with momentum for the Kompakt extraordinaire.

50. FRED THOMAS - ALL ARE SAVED
Loved this singer-song writer of 'Saturday Looks Good To Me' fame and his latest effort. Style shifts like spaghetti.