It’s the second part of our look back at the last twelve months. A year that saw vinyl sales sky rocket thanks to one of the most successful record store days to date, a year that gave us a new David Bowie album and also the year that brought us a Twerking pandemic. If you haven’t already checked out our run down of our favourite singles from 2013 here. and check back later for our run down of who we think will be making waves in 2014. 

10. Is Tropical – I’m Leaving
The return of the Kitsune three piece was not what a lot of people had expected. Gone were the wailing guitars, and racing percussion and in their place was a new pop driven sound which bounced between dance inspired beats and a flowery sixties pop sound. A bold new direction all wrapped up in a ten track album.

9. Ditt Inre – Vard mer an guld
A bit of a an off centre choice, but ‘Vard mer an guld’ is a throughly well constructed electro record. From the beautiful opening of ‘Introduktion’ to the refrained and haunting ‘Paradiset’ there isn’t a track that we dislike. It’s both haunting, beautiful and seems to reach right into you releasing a multitude of emotions as the record progresses.

8. Keep Shelly in Athens – At Home
Athens based duo Keep Shelly in Athens takes the eighth spot in our top albums of the year. Taking the darkier edgier sound which first drew us to Keep Shelly, and blending it with warm belaric inspired beats and melodies. ‘At Home’ is an album that has an over-riding sense of longing and distant shores.

7. Jagwar Ma – Howlin
After seeing the Aussie three piece live in Bristol a few months ago it would be impossible not to include them in this list. Taking the 90’s Madchester sound as a base of influence, and blending it all with dubstep beats and electro wizardry from Jono Ma. With the antipodes set to make big waves in 2014 (see Lorde, Chela) this is a bold, confident opening salvo.

6. London Grammar – If You Wait
Every now and then there comes along an artist that develops something of a hype bubble around them. London Grammar are such a group. Beginning the year as relatively unheard of and finishing it was a top selling debut album, oddles of radio airplay, and sold out shows. ‘If You Wait’ is a beautiful album which almost seems to envelop you, thanks to Hannah Reid’s haunting, and strong vocal.

5. Washed Out – Paracosm
Follow up to the American Psychedelic electro pop artist’s 2011 release ‘Within and Without’. ‘Paracosm’ leads us deeper into the distorted, chilled out synth laden world of Ernest Greene. Taking a more melody lead approach than previous incarnations. ‘Paracosm’ was long over due but worth the wait.

4. AlunaGeorge – Body Music
We’ve been banging on about AlunaGeorge for about two years now, and in that time we’ve been rewarded with a steady trinkle of new material and plenty of live shows. It was possibly due to this prolonged exposure and extended anticpation that meant that when ‘Body Music’ the south London duo’s debut album finally landed it did in places fall abit flat. Lacking any real structure, pace or depth. All that said, as a pop record it hits the spot in so many places.

3. Lorde – Pure Heroine
Taking the lead in what is being dubbed an Antiopdean invasion of the musical landscape for the coming year. Lorde’s album is packed with attitude, lush melodies and amazing lyrics. As a debut album ‘Pure Heroine’ is a compentent and strong first release which sets up the New Zealander for a good coming year.

Joint 1st. MS MR – Secondhand Rapture / Churches – Bones of what you believe
It was hard to pick between the top two album, both from artist that have appeared from nowhere in the last year, and both we’ve become massive fans of. So in the interest of fairness and to make it easier, we’ve awarded MS MR and Chvrches joint first. Both albums ‘Secondhand Rapture’ and ‘Bones of what you believe’ are amazing debut releases. Featuring so many tracks that work on their own while also at the same time working as a LP. It’s also not surprising that our fave collaboration/reworking of the year was Chvrches reworking of MS MR ‘Hurricane’ so the joint award seems all the more fitting. Lets hope that 2014 is just as, good a year as 2013 for both acts.