55. Pantha du Prince - Satellite Snyper
Another fabulously off-kilter electro tune from Germany's PdP , once again combining his trademark bells, clicks and a gradually complexing beat, culminating it all in a rather mainstream-esque, dancey euphoria of synths. Taken from his best entire work to date, and indeed one of the best album releases of the year, 'Black Noise', the beguiling minimalist hypnotises us in this musical mosaic.
54. Archie Bronson Outfit - Hoola
Everyone loves a bit of dirty rock n roll now and then, don't they?
Indeed, Domino-signed rawkers Archie Bronson Outfit purvey all things musically raw and sordid. This hippie-tinged concoction of jangling guitars and vocal rambunctiousness is taken from their superb third effort 'Coconut'. On its release, it went criminally unnoticed by the press - and was yet another fantastic album the guys at the Mercury prize inadvertedly missed off their list.
53. Big Boi - Shutterbugg
2010 was the year the newly found solo artist broke free from the creative limitations of his or her dayjob, and instead, this time conquered the music world alone. We had Cee-lo Green (ok... not so new, but he at last had found the popularity he had been waiting for!), and there was er... Nadine Coyle.. and we also had Big Boi - you know, the one from Outkast, but not the one in the Hey Ya video? No? Well he's the cool one in the duo, and judging from this, 'Shutterbugg', the first single from his '....Luscious Foot' album, he's a very talented songwriter too. The same can't be said for one Ms Coyle, however.
52. Beach House - Norway
This is an ethereal haze of melodious utterings, flanged guitars and gruff, yet girly vocals from leader Victoria Legrand. Its chorus of 'Norwaa-aa-aa-aay-ayy' is pretty catchy too, it strangely making my brain think of Norwegians things like fjords and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
51. James Blake - CMYK
At the moment, the name of one artist, and one artist alone, is on the tips of every journo's lips. The name concerned belongs to the rising, soul-inspired DJ/singer-songwriter, James Blake. This, his Kelis-sampling breakthrough chant is a wonderful medium by which we can see into his world - his inspirations are vivid and his astounding skill seems effortless. A former Mount Kimbie touring member, now an artist in his own right, the man looks set to own 2011 - what's more, on the recent EP 'Klavierwerke', he showcased his own unique, soul-infused melodies for the first time, proving that he isn't just a man behind a laptop, who can loop a bloody good sample.
