December is a time of lists. Everyone is at it, from Pitchfork to Santa Claus (he’s checking his twice, you better have been nice). Last year at CultureDeluxe, we attempted to make some kind of communal top 10, combining together all of our votes to select an overall top 10. In the end there was quite a plethora of selections, with nothing clearly leading the way, so we all chose an album or two that we loved from the previous year, and scribbled some words about said album/albums.
However, now Horses Playing Harps exists (I can hear your cheers from here), so I can have my say on the best 10 albums I have had the pleasure of hearing in the last 12 months. Hopefully you all wildly disagree, otherwise something has gone terribly wrong with the world. Here goes:
1. SBTRKT – SBTRKT // Came out of nowhere with a thrilling and engrossing post-dubstep sound.
2. Ghoestpoet – Peanut Butter Jam and Melancholy Blues // Brilliantly British rapper with great production and great lyrics.
3. Little Comets – In Search of Elusive Little Comets // Anyone who can write a song about a former chancellor of the exchequer and make it sound good deserves a spot in the top 3.
4. Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix // Another album of new ideas, new sounds and same old greatness.
5. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar // Lion-hearted post-Britpop with addictive hooks and a great frontwoman
6. Bon Iver – Bon Iver // Insanely beautiful record, complete and fulfilling.
7. Rustie – Glass Swords // Like the party-animal version of SBTRKT, never a dull moment.
8. Drake – Take Care // What he does best: introspective rap, well produced, with some great guestspots and a dash of the late Gil-Scott-Heron.
9. I Break Horses – Hearts // Briiliant warm and fuzzy indie noise.
10. Hyro Da Hero – Birth, School, Work, Death // Breathing fresh life into the rap-rock genre, with ex- Mars Volta/ Sparta members making some great noise.
Horses Playing Harps 