David's songs of the year 2011 by Lightspeed Future Lullaby
1. Burial - Street Halo - Street Halo EP - UK
Burial has a "trademark sound", but like Boards of Canada before him, it is seminal, unique, much mimicked and never equalled. SONG OF THE YEAR.
2. Beirut - The Rip Tide - The Rip Tide - US
A welcome return for one of the truly great bands to emerge in the last decade. Hard to choose one track from the album, but this mournful title track edges it just. ALBUM OF THE YEAR.
3. Deerhoof - Super Duper Rescue Heads! - Deerhoof vs Evil - US
My daughter sings this - to my delight. Deerhoof continue to make skewed left-field pop with addictive hooks.
4. The Advisory Circle - As the Crow Flies - As the Crow Flies - UK
The prolific Jon Brooks in his AC guise on the ever-wonderful Ghost Box label (almost album of the year).
5. Zomby - Natalia's Song - Dedication - UK
Haunting standout from his first album on 4AD, featuring Zomby hallmarks like the wild time signature shifts but distilled down into a melodic tour de force.
6. Twin Sister - Kimmi in a Rice Field - In Heaven - US
Amongst the very very best of the recent crop of US bands filtering 80s influences into modern synthpop.
7. Connan Mockasin - Faking Jazz Together - Please Turn Me Into the Snat - NZ
Often called whimsical, this lovely fella from NZ via Elephant and Castle is just plain unique.
8. Balam Acab - See Birds (Moon) - See Birds - US
Spacious electronica with a dubby feel, from US sample wunderkind.
9. Metronomy - The Look - The English Riviera -UK
Perfect synth-pop originating from the unlikely environs of Totnes Devon.
10. Jon Brooks - Wandur Weltzeit - Music for Deiter Rams - UK
A musical tribute to Deiter Rams, designer of the Braun AB-30 alarm clock, from which all the sounds on this track are drawn.
11. The Field - It's up there - Looping State of Mind - DE
I think the album title says it all. A perfect example of the art of repetition.
12. Panda Bear - Surfers Hymn - Tomboy - US
The solo spinoffs from Animal Collective continue to thrill.
13. Rustie - Globes - Glass Swords - UK
It's prog Jim but not as we know it. An album from a dubstep hero that has divided opinion.
14. Tennis - Marathon - Cape Dory - US
A song that makes me want to be in the song. Very evocative.
15. Walls - Heat Haze - Coracle - UK
Label-mates and soul-mates of The Field. More repetitive bliss.
16. The Mummers - Call Me a Rainbow - Mink Hollow Road - UK
Lavishly orchestrated but still plaintively-beautiful song-craft.
17. PJ Harvey - On Battleship Hill - Let England Shake - UK
I think...my favourite ever PJ Harvey song!
18. Washed Out - A Dedication - Within and Without - US
An artist fast out-growing the "chill-wave" (hypnagogic was such a better name for it) micro-genre which has informed a lot of US indie since 2008. Reckon he'll last.
