Vowels

With no more further ado - albums of the year. Discounting reissues and compilations, these are the best ten I heard that were released in 2014.

1. Millie & Andrea - Drop The Vowels
2. The Soundcarriers - Entropicalia
3. Negra Branca - NB
4. Grouper - Ruins
5. Otto A Totland - Pino
6. Ninos Du Brasil - Novos Misterios
7. Scott Walker & Sunn O))) - Soused
8. Deadbeat & Paul St Hilaire - Infinity Dub Sessions
9. Wrangler - LA Spark
10. Keel Her - Keel Her

Close but not quite, honourable mentions, bubbling under, joint 11th if you like - albums from The Advisory Circle, A Winged Victory For The Sullen, Dirty Beaches, Perc, Perfume Genius, Klara Lewis, Sleaford Mods, Kiasmos, Function + Vatican Shadow, Andy Stott, Mica Levi, Aphex Twin and Shinichi Atobe.

Nothing sounded like that no.1 choice of mine this year. It sounded big, it sounded meaty, it sounded like some mangled old jungle given a good going-over with some mightily ruff production from Miles Whittaker and Andy Stott (the 'Millie' and 'Andrea' who created this beast). If you listen to the link, just after the cavernous drop at 02:24....it gets me every time. I was looking at some other people's best of lists recently and I came across those created by the staff at the various Rough Trade shops. I think Chris from Rough Trade West really hit the nail on the head with his summing-up, namely the following words - ""The drums are so tough on this record it's insane. This shit is raw."