10. Father Creeper by Spoek MathamboSouth African Spoek Mathambo's second album managed to meet and sometimes exceed my high expectations generated from his first album Mshini Wam. He manages to expand on his unique 'Afro-futurist' sound by diversifying with the instrumentation and production used on the album. Mathambo's music has so many different influences, both musically and in terms of subject-matter. He paints his own perspective of his South African landscape with hip hop sounds, dark electro elements, 'township-tech', traditional guitar work and just an all around eclectic mix of strange yet awesome sounds. His high-speed raps sit perfectly on a blend of electronic tracks as well as live instrumentation. My personal favourite track of the album is Let Them Talk, an awesome Spoek Mathambo-style indie rock type track with elements of Maskandi guitar, his unique rap-style, and a totally kif guitar solo part near the end that rocks hard. Spoek Mathambo remains one to look out for on the South African alternative scene.
Spoek Mathambo - Let Them Talk by Spoek Mathambo
9. Good Kid m.A.A.d City by Kendrick LamarI was at first very sceptical to listen to this album, even after hearing all the internet buzz over it, because quite honestly most new hip hop these days is quite shit. But I am very glad that I gave Mr. Lamar a chance, because he is definitely a prodigy in the rap game. Some critics have labelled this album an instant classic, and I wouldn't disagree with that verdict. The young Kendrick has an old school sound with a new school flow, with some tracks reminding me of old Outkast songs. His rhymes are impeccable, poetic at times, a master storyteller of life in the streets from a different perspective, the struggle of a good kid in a mad city called Compton (home of Dr Dre, who executive produced the album). He has a natural talent that shines through on the album both lyrically and musically on low-tempo sometimes atmospheric beats, and in my opinion is a breath of fresh air for hip hop. My personal favourite track? Without a doubt the irrisistable Money Trees featuring Anna Wise and Jay Rock, a masterpiece of hip hop.
Money Trees - Kendrick Lamar
8. In Our Heads by Hot ChipI had only ever listened to one Hot Chip song before hearing this album, their fifth album, and was extremely disappointed in myself for doing so! Hot Chip are amazing, their synth-pop electronic dancey sound is so fresh and this album is definitely a showcase for that very freshness. Their vocal layering over funky synth beats is playful yet very well executed and their quirky lyrics can be very catchy. The tracks range from upbeat dance grooves to 80's influenced soulful pop songs to intricate electronic instrumental arrangements. Hot Chip has managed to become one fo my favourite groups through this album, which is a testament to just how good it is. If I had to choose a favourite track, it would probably be the extremely funky and seductive Night & Day.
Hot Chip - Night And Day (Radio Edit) by Domino Record Co
7. Living Things by Linkin ParkWhen I heard that Linkin Park, one of my favourite bands, was releasing new material I lost my mind. And then I found it again a few days later, but then when Living Things came out I lost my mind again, and now, well, now I don't really know where my mind is, kind of like that song by the Pixies. Living Things saw LP blend all of their diverse sounds into one album. Many fans of the band complained that they were inconsistent, and hailed Hybrid Theory as the be all and end all of Linkin Park. But I disagree, I really like the diversity and exploration of different sounds and styles in their catalogue, and their latest album is almost like a culmination of all those sounds, that is both new and different but at the same time shows links to the past. One of the best things about it is that one minute you're screaming your lungs out to heavy metal (or 'Nu-Metal' rather), and the next you'll find yourself singing along to emotional rock ballads, and the next you'll be rapping over hard-hitting guitar riffs blending with glitchy computer beats. Linkin Park definitely show that they are a far way away from getting stale, and I think they prove it with this awesome diverse and progressive album. Favourite track? The hard-hitting rock-rap-metal (even dubsteppy) messy masterpiece Lies Greed Misery.
Linkin Park - LIES GREED MISERY
6. The 2nd Law by Muse
Muse's sixth album is definitely one of their most experimental yet, if not the most. Loosely based around the second law of thermodynamics, this album is both dynamic and, um, thermo? Lead singer (and musical genius) Matthew Bellamy described the album as "a christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face-melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia" on his Twitter account, which should give you some idea as to how eclectic and experimental the music is, although his description is not quite apt. Ranging from progressive rock symphonic rock to Queen-influenced ballads to Nero-produced dubstep rock to synth-driven wobbles to beautiful piano-based electronic compositions and even more, The 2nd Law is a menagerie of epic sounds that prove that Bellamy and his two bandmates are truly mad (as the title of the 2nd track suggests). But madness and genius are said to be fundamentally the same thing, and in their case I would definitely agree with that theory. The final track 'The 2nd Law - Isolated System' is one of the most moving and beautiful pieces of instrumental electronic music I have ever listened to and makes my pick for best song of the album.
Muse - The 2nd Law Isolated System
5. Trouble by Totally Enourmous Extinct DinosaursThe debut album by the frivolously-named English producer introduced me to a totally (enourmous) new kind of electronic music. TEED makes a combination of electronic dance, house, atmospheric arrangements, funky bassline synths, deep house, breakbeats, soulful samples and all-around fun computer beats. His smooth soft vocals are soothing and emotional, and never overpower his well-constructed beats. He combines vocal and electronic elements beautifully and has a distinct sound different from other UK producers, it's the kind of music that you close your eyes to when you dance to it. My favourite track from this great debut album is the very tasty Household Goods, which contains bouncy blips and bleeps, progressive house elements, and touching vocals about an ex-lover.
Household Goods by T-E-E-D
4. Four by Bloc PartyAnd the number four spot for 2012 appropriately goes to the not-so-creatively titled fourth album by British band Bloc Party, Four. Bloc Party are just one of those bands that I love so much that I would love pretty much anything they released even if it was utter garbage. Luckily however, this is not the case with Four. Their latest release is classic Bloc Party, wonderfully chaotic instrumentality and Kele Okereke's unique vocal style. For this album the band returned to a more guitar-focused sound as opposed to their previous album which had more of an electronic vibe similar to Kele's solo projects. There are tracks that rock really hard on this album, some of their heaviest yet, and then there are also tracks with more low-tempo, emotional melancholic vocals that speak to the soul as only Okereke can. Essentially, you cannot ask for more from a Bloc Party album, and Four marked a triumphant return for the band in 2012. The number one song of course would have to be the manic Coliseum, which starts off as a slow grumpy blues arrangement, and suddenly transforms into hard rocking moshpit inducing mayhem. Unfortunately I couldn't find the song on Soundcloud, so I put my next favourite track in the player below, Kettling.
3. Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumours by Big BoiBig Boi, one half of the mighty Outkast, one whole Big Boi, released his second solo album in December last year, and it had big shoes to fill, his first solo album was an instant rap classic, and Big Boi showed that he is a formidable force on his own even without Mr 3000. The second time around he has managed to create another speakerbox-booming rap opus. Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumours takes a complete different direction to his previous effort, but it's definitely going the right way. Boi Boi has managed to blend elements of indie pop and hip hop by collaborating with indie artists such as Little Dragon and Phantogram, and the results are a fresh alternative hip hop style, with Big Boi's well-known unconventional flow weaving in and out of funky, soulful, sometimes mesmerising beats. Big Boi has always been very clever with who he collaborates with, and this album has a perfect selection of guests in production and vocals. With an album I enjoyed this much, it's difficult to choose a favourite track. I'd have to say Shoes For Running featuring B.O.B and Wavves.
2. Channel ORANGE by Frank OceanFrank Ocean's debut album has been praised by critics as one of the best of the year and I have to agree with them. Mr Ocean has single-handedly revived the genre of R&B and neo-soul for me, the former having become a rather laughable parody of itself in a sense; cheesy, shallow, overtly sexual and repetitive would have been how I would have classified today's R&B/soul music. But Channel ORANGE takes such a radically different approach thanks to its unconventional musical style drawing from many different influences. The other thing that makes it stand out is Ocean's songwriting, he is as much a lyricist as he is a beautiful singer. Raw, honest, and extremely creative, he paints the traditional love song with far more surreal imagery, wit and metaphorical devices than your average R Kelly types could ever dream of. Frank's experiences with heartbreak, unrequited love and hardship combined with the diverse musical instrumentation and smooth jazzy soulful laidback beats can only be described as avant-garde for it's time. The top pick for Channel ORANGE would have to be the 9 minute epic Pyramids, that takes us on a journey from a Cleopatran love affair in ancient Egypt to a strip club in the modern day, and questions love, sex and morals in two different centuries.
1. Cells by Fake BloodMy favourite producer of electronic music, Fake Blood form the UK, released his first ever full length album last year, and it was everything I could have ever dreamed of. Cells' #1 ranking in this list is purely owed to how much I love Fake Blood's music. The crunchiest, dirtiest, most bizarre and insane electronic music around, Fake Blood's tunes often draw influence from old horror films, and every track on this album had me terrified (in a good way, like that guilty pleasure you got when watching scary movies way above your age rating as a child). Fake Blood's arrangements, drops, vocal samples, filthy disgusting basslines and the grimiest synths in the world make Fake Blood my guilty pleasure. Also nice to note in the album are some more light-hearted songs similar to his side project The Black Ghosts, an electronic pop duo, with tracks like All In The Blink (my feel-good tune of the year). The number one track however is classic Fake Blood, a monstrous little number called Let It Go. This song will quite literally melt your brain.
Fake Blood - Let It Go by differentrecordings
Shayne
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