5. Tall Ships - Chemistry
Tall Ships' debut EP fused spaced out post-rock with melancholic harmonies. I liked that. On their second, they kept the soothing vocals, but instead opted for an accompaniment of hook-laden blasts of math-rock, reminiscent of Minus the Bear. I liked that even more.
On lead tune, 'Chemistry', they opened with a jolting, riffed disintegration, and the song subsequently evolved into a creeping, Foals-esque euphoria of soaring guitars and pop hooks.
Since its release, I have not been been able to get that line, 'There is Nothing But Chemistry Here', out of my head. Rather spookily, this line is the name of the EP as well.
They make an commendable amount of noise for a trio, and the music they make is rather 'ace' - watch out 2011, Tall Ships are gonna make wavvvvvvvvvvvvvvves (and sell records).
4. The Arcade Fire - Spawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
This year, the most prolific and all-enveloping act of our times, The Arcade Fire, were elevated to 'musical genius' status, in a year which has seen them headline Reading and release a marvellous follow-up to a follow-up (always a hard record that, the third one) which encompassed a gazillion different genres. The most beguiling song came in the sublime 'Sprawl II...', sang by Regine, who also provided the vocals for the highlight on their seminal 'Funeral' album, in 'Haiti'. What makes the song so enticing and indeed, so fantastic, are the synths. 'What?', I hear you say... Yes, that's right, this is an AF song with synths. It's amazing. It thumps and clatters, swerves and rolls, develops and complicates. They sound like a futuristic Blondie, echo-stricken, recorded in a church, and rock n roll-ed. This confirmed their place as the most innovative and perplexing band on earth.
3. James Blake - Limit to Your Love
Last week, when James Blake's 'Limit to Your Love' reached the unassailable realms of godawful sh*t, also known as 'the charts', music fans up and down the country rejoiced in celebration.....
With this soul-infused, post-dubstep concoction, the inventive minimalist was making pop music interesting again. Showcasing an astounding voice, soulful like Antony Hegarty's, set against a backdrop of a trip hop beat and off-kilter keys, it was overlayed with spine-tingling pop hooks.
Blake was once a member of Mount Kimbie, purveyors of post-dubstep minimalism of a very different kind. Although his voice did sit perfectly amidst their pounding clicks and intricate electronics, his departure from the group seems right.
This week also saw him shortlisted for the BBC sound of 2011 poll and Brit Awards 'Critic's Choice' Award. Forget Auto-tune, forget Lady Gaga, forget frickin' Jessie J, 2011 is James Blake's.
2. Hot Chip - I feel Better
If there's one British electronic act who you can always rely on to produce fabulous pop tunes, it's Hot Chip. Although they've never made that instant classic of a record, they can never faulter in the singles field. 'I Feel Better' was their best tune to date, and was accompanied by the funniest promo I have ever seen (thanks to comedian/director Peter Serafinowicz). It features a bunch of JLS-lookalikes singing the song, only to be zapped and overpowered by a bald, Christ-like freak who joins in for the first chorus.
1. Gold Panda - Snow & Taxis
This is hypnagogic, intriguing and stunning. This is my favourite song released this year.
It needs no further explanation. Sit back and listen.
Complete list:
[60-56] 60. New Young Pony Club - Chaos
59. 2.54 - Creeping
58. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
57. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go
56. Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Alex Metric Re-Edit)
[55-51] 55. Pantha du Prince - Satellite Snyper
54. Archie Bronson Outfit - Hoola
53. Big Boi - Shutterbugg
52. Beach House - Norway
51. James Blake - CMYK
[50-46] 50. Kisses - Bermuda
49. Janelle Monae - Cold War
48. Small Black - Photojournalist
47. Crystal Castles - Baptism
46. Sky Larkin - Still Windmill
[45-41] 45. Balam Acab - Regret Making Mistakes
44. LCD Soundsystem - You Wanted a Hit (Soulwax Remix)
43. Male Bonding - Franklin
42. Gorillaz - Stylo (feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)
41. Disclosure - Offline Dexterity
[40-36] 40. Wild Nothing - Golden Haze
39. Mount Kimbie - Mayor
38. Kanye West - Power
37. Familjen - Det Var Jag
36. Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
[35-31] 35. Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town
34. Grinderman - Worm Tamer
33. She & Him - In the Sun
32. Cults - Go Outside
31. T33TH - See Spaces
[30-26] 30. Lindstrom & Christabelle - Lovesick
29. Lali Puna - Remember
28. The Babies - Meet Me in the City
27. Lykke Li - Get Some
26. Yuck - Georgia
[25-21] 25. Smoke Fairies - Hotel Room
24. The Hundred in the Hands - Commotion
23. John Grant - Chicken Bones
22. Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off
21. Sarah Jaffe - Clementine
[20-16] 20. Teengirl Fantasy - Cheaters
19. Gold Panda - You
18. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
17. Caribou - Odessa
16. Twin Sister - Lady Daydream
[15-11] 15. Tame Impala - Solitude is Bliss
14. Mix Chopin - Bliss
13. Perfume Genius - Mr Peterson
12. Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid
11. Fair Ohs - Hey Lizzy
[10-6] 10. Agnes Obel - Riverside
9. Liars - Scissor
8. Warpaint - Undertow
7. Pantha du Prince - Lay in a Shimmer
6. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
5. Tall Ships - Chemistry
4. The Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
3. James Blake - Limit To Your Love
2. Hot Chip - I Feel Better
1. Gold Panda - Snow & Taxis
