Its been a great year for music and it has been hard to choose our favourite 10 albums........... so in no particular order:
YACHT - 'SEE MYSTERY LIGHTS' (DFA)
Appropriately poppy, catchy tunes with all their elegant lyricism intact, about summer parties that would actually want to play at a summer party. Fuck the Christmas dinner and get out the barbecue....
ST. VINCENT - 'ACTOR' (4AD)
The most lovely voice on any record this year. The sweet yet sinister record is like a collection of short stories which Annie Clark narrates leaving the listener overwhelmed.
FRYARS - 'DARK YOUNG HEARTS' (Bandstocks)
Moody intelligent lyrics, beautiful melodies and crystal clear synths. It's the best bit of Depeche Mode and The Velvet Underground, without all the smack.
DIRTY PROJECTORS - 'BITE ORCA' (Domino)
A big rock / wonky pop album that is artful and playful. An album full of textures from 3D choral vibes, minimal bleeps and electronics to African style disco and strings.
CURSIVE - 'MAMA I'M SWOLEN' (Saddle Creek)
A heroes return from everybodies second favourite band. Just doing, basically what Cursive do best. Writing clever emotional power pop music.
THE XX - 'XX' (Young Turks / XL)
Everyone knows how much we love The XX. We were there from the start listening to their early demos and we put them on earlier this year. Seriously check this record out for some lazy, laid back, chilled out action.
THE HORRORS - 'PRIMARY COLOURS' (XL)
Just a banger innit really. You've all heard it and if you haven't, go and fucking buy it, NOW.
GRIZZLY BEAR - 'VECKATIMEST' (Warp)
An absolute masterpiece from the Brooklyn based quartet. Listen to it you will be rewarded.
WILD BEASTS - 'TWO DANCERS' (Domino)
A beautiful, sweet and original recording. Full of ideas, intelligent lyrics, gorgeous melodies combined with two of the most distinctive voices in music today.
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - 'MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILLION' (Domino)
The 9th long player from Animal Collective is upbeat and fun. A celebration of life that reminds us of a fucked up carnival with its amazing rhythms, synth sounds, drums and noise. Joy!
