Top 20 Of 2009

1. The Maccabees No Kind Words
There was never any doubt Brighton’s loveliest superstars could write great pop songs but where did this brooding shock of angst come from? Apparently the difficult band transition between albums wasn’t responsible for lyrics like “Dear friend of mine is/testing his body/tempting disaster“, but this is clearly from deep in Orlando’s soul. Exploding into the most soaring guitar solo of the year it’s enough to have you rip out you heart and offer it to ease the pain. An intense soundscape – almost makes us cry live.

2. Bat For Lashes Daniel
Beautiful and gentle electronic pop, this ode to Natasha’s first love would have stood out as a highlight on Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love album. As it was it was an indication that Bat For Lashes is one of the best singer songwriters and refuses to paint herself into a corner, willing to leave the magic and wolves behind.

3. Pope Joan Centurion
We were blown away when we heard this. Talk about upping your game, this could be the catchiest indie electro stomper of the year. Abrasive bleeps and sharp guitar slashes prop up a sing-along chorus we didn’t expect.

4. Maths Class Peach
Maths Class were damn good, and then they decided to write songs. This has been the only example of their next stage, but a killer chorus welded to their taut dynamics means they can’t go wrong when they emerge with a new set.

5. Half Sisters Our Dancing Skeletons
It’s barely even a scratchy demo, but still sounds amazing and is as catchy as H1N1. A beautiful idea – that when you die your skeleton will be with the bones of your unrequited love – it’s as sweet as the girls themselves.

6. Mirrors Look At Me
They look like Kraftwerk, sound like OMD and have a softer take on the melancholy of Joy Division – is there any doubt that Mirrors will be massive this time next year? Formed out of the ashes of Mumm-Ra, this project should be much bigger.

7. Hereldeuke All I Know
Beautiful melancholic hip hop – and it’s not often we can say that. New mixes popped up on this single release but was all about those plaintive analogue sythns which works so well at the languid pace. Dance ballad of the year.

8. Telegraphs I Don’t Navigate By You
If you wanted to argue that a boy/girl call-and-response tale of longing/hating from two conflicted lovers is a bit of an open goal, well Telegraphs burst the bloody net with this. It’s everything you could ask – heavy, wrenching, impassioned and bitter.

9. The Agitator Get Ready
Drums. Shouting. Foot-stamping…that’s it. But wow, how powerful. The passion of the stunning live performances is transferred onto this demo. We can’t wait until it comes out of [censored] Studio and gets remixed by [censored] and [censored].

10. Freeland Do You
As loose as dance music can get, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee throws his sticks around like a smacked-out John Bonham while the Marine Parade boss remakes Emerge as a dirty 2 step record. His best in years.

11. Gloria Cycles Chancer

12. Lyrebirds Closer

13. Transformer Cinema Car

14. Sons Of Noel & Adrian Rivers

15. The Qemists feat Jenna G On The Run

16. Thirty Pounds Of Bone The Jonah Shanty

17. Surfaces The Broken Black

18. Peggy Sue Lover Gone

19. Esben & The Witch Eumenides

20. Ed Solo Watch Your Eyes