1.
Errors – Have Some Faith in Magic
It’s hard to pin down an album as the
best of the year but the easiest way is just to think about the one you keep
going back to, the one you don’t get bored of and that album which constantly
surprises you. Errors blew away the competition this year and this album can be
summed up with one word – essential.
2.
Godspeed! You Black Emperor – 'Allejujah! Don’t Bend, Ascend!
Hey, it’s fucking Godspeed! They’re
back! Wooo! Yes! And it sounds amazing! Mladic is awesome! Then there’s some
drone goodies! Then more awesome! God I love this band.
3.
RM Hubbert – Thirteen Lost and Found
It’s been a big year for RM Hubbert. Not
content with releasing a unique and powerful album showcasing his sheer
virtuosity and songwriting skill, he’s been all over the country touring with
Emma Pollock and supporting Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells. This album cemented
his reputation as a serious talent in Scottish music, one which will be
thrilling us for many years to come.
4.
Rachel Sermanni – Under Mountains
It feels like Rachel’s been around for
ages, so it’s worth remembering that the Carrbridge girl is still in her very
early 20s. Under Mountains is the
sound of someone wise well beyond their years though. It’s heartbreakingly
beautiful, full of inventive melody and a serious set of lungs; a thoroughly
accomplished debut album.
Katerwaul have been carving out some
serious post-rock chops for a few years now but this, their second album, shows
a more developed sound. Almost a year in the making, it was well worth the
wait. They should be huge, and if you all go out and buy this album, they just
might get there.
6.
Meursault – Something for the Weakened
Something
for the Weakened is Meursault’s third album and
see’s Neil Pennycook refining the sound and rejigging the line-up a bit. There’s
less electronics but still plenty of his soaring vocals, not to mention some
cracking songs.
7.
Drexciya – Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller: Vol 1+ 2
This one was a surprise for me; I don’t
even know how I came across it, but it re-introduced me to electronica and is
about as fine a way to do that as you can find. Drexciya have spent the year re-releasing their material in 3 compilations and it’s well worth discovering them
for yourself.
8.
VCMG – SSSS
What happens when two elder
synth-statesmen come together? Why, they make some mighty fine techno that’s
what. Vince Clark of Erasure and Martin Gore from Depeche Mode surprised many
by pulling this monster out of the bag, but it’s found its way on many an end
of year list and deservedly so.
9.
Adrian Crowley – I See Three Birds Flying
Dubliner Adrian has been about for a
bit, but I only started listening to him recently. His latest album on Chemikal
Underground is a lesson in heartache: the soundtrack to late nights and too
much liquor.
Aberdeen shouters Carson Wells smashed
it this year with Wonderkid: an album
full of enthusiasm and emo righteousness. They’re blistering live and managed
to harness that into a beast of vinyl.
DO
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