Day 31: Duologue

I'm convinced that 2011 was just the warm up act and 2012 will be the year when the male power vocal finally gets heard in all its might.

Here's Duologue, Happy New Year.

Day 30: The Haxan Cloak

There is no doubt some blog about the nordic/bavarian/barbarian significance of the name and the music. This is not that blog.

Here's The Haxan Cloak. Enjoy.

Day 29: Jonquil

New album out in the spring. Should be good.

Here's their cover of Magdalen Bridge by Youthmovies.

 Jonquil - Magdalen Bridge by Blessing Force

Day 28: Hurray for the Riff Raff

Well I fucking love this album (self-titled). Not alot more I want to say on the matter.

Though they did gig at SXSW earlier this year and had guest appearance on Treme. So they are clearly gaining traction.

 Hurray for the Riff Raff - Too Much of a Good Thing

Day 27: Fourcolor

This song, Skating Azure, is a nice approximation of the album (As Pleat).

Very modern sounding and well worth a listen. Enjoy.

Day 26: Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat

Taking from the album Everything is Getting Older, songs called Cages, and the video that accompanies it is great. It also brings on paternal urges but that is another story.

Day 25: Delta/Alaska

They have been supporting some pretty big bands this year.

And will be soon be a band with support acts of their own.

The circle of life.

Delta/Alaska - All Our Friends by the Sea

Advent day 24: Grouper

A song which features some fantastic beckoning vocals, taken off a great album (AA:Alien Observer) by a great ambient artiste.

Portland, OR, does it again 

Grouper - Alien Observer

Advent day 23: Barn Owl

Shadowlands from Barn Owl was one of my favourite EP's of the year.

Decided to post something from their equally good album, Lost in the Glare. Enjoy.

Barn Owl - Pale Star

Advent day 22: Get People

A band whose growth in popularity is exponential.

Listen to the synths, then copy and paste on to your social network of choice, with the caption "ones to watch". Enjoy.

Get People - Rain Tears

Advent day 21: Pet Moon

If this is not progress I don't what is. Lovely tune, and only a demo.

Pet Moon - Ganger (demo)
 Ganger (demo) by pet moon

Advent day 20: Ghostpoet

If you can abide the advert and the professional production qualities then have a look at this slightly different take on a Ghostpoet classic. If you have't seen it already that is.

Ghostpoet ft Kano - Cash and Carry Me Home (remix)

Advent day 19: Hard Mix

Repetitive? Nope, absolutely not.

That said the repetitive nature of the beat makes this, of all of Hard Mix's tracks, the one best suited for the morning commute/Enjoy/

Hard Mix- All Again

Advent day 18: Golden Ages

Time for a bit of vocal distortion. So much distortion in fact that you might not be able to tell what this is a cover of for about 30 seconds.

Incidentally, this is one of my favourite album covers of the year. Beautifully simple. Enjoy.

Golden Ages - Africa

Advent day 17: Sepalcure

Taken from Sepalcure's eponymous album this one is an 11th hour mover and shaker on to the calendar, but nonetheless worthy.

Sepalcure - See Me Feel Me
 see me feel me // sepalcure by sexmusic

Advent day 16: To All My Dear Friends

Their sophomore album, Trasparent Voyages, doesn't get the credit it deserves. It's an odd, off-beat effort and well worth a listen.

Here's Japan to Kenya & Back. Enjoy.

Advent Day 15: BvDub

One of my favourite albums of the year might not have been at all. One Last Look at the Sea was made 3 years ago but couldn't find a label. Mr Dub decided to release it for free in the end. Good on him.

I've put a song off his most recent album on here. Enjoy.

BvDub - Gone Tomorrow 

Advent day 14: Waking Aida

I've spent the year urging people to watch Synecdoche, New  York invariably to no avail.

This excellent use of a sample from the film is the next best thing. Enjoy.

Waking Aida - 7.45

Advent Day 13: Good Weather for an Airstrike

Tom Honey making music firstly for himself, the way it used to be.

Good Weather for an Airstrike is a project that has given fans many textured sounds to listen and sleep to over the past year.

Here's one from the Jigsaws EP. Enjoy.

Advent Day 12: Novisad

Out of tragedy can come beauty and inspiration. Radium  is a great example of this.

Made by Novisad it went on a album which raised money for victims of the tsunami. It's a great track on an album full of great songs.

Novisad - Radium

Advent Day 11: Psychologist

Every single bit of output from Psychologist - down to the last quivering note -  has been sublime, and Come in Waves is one of the best songs of the last 12 months.

He doesn't let you down on the video front either.

Psychologist - Come In Waves

Advent Day 10: Goldmund

History and ambient folk. Two of my favourite things in the world.

Anyone looking for a revisionist take on American history should check out the album, All Will Prosper.

Goldmund - The Death of General Wolfe
 Goldmund-The Death of General Wolfe by Keith Kenniff - Helios

Advent day 9: Tangled Hair

I have eulogised before about, Colour, half of whose members have made it in to Tangled Hair.

Their Apples EP came out a while ago and has great tunes and some intriguing lyrics:

'Sing Midas, sing, shout your golden notes cause not a single sound is worthless.'

Tangled Hair - Daylight #2

Advent day 8: Three Trapped Tigers

Three Trapped Tigers made one of my favourite albums of the year and one of my favourite videos as well. Enjoy.

Three Trapped Tigers - Reset

Advent day 7: Mark McGuire

Brought out a double album and a cracking EP (Get Lost) which featured the awesome lyrics : "It must resolve, we try and evolve."

Wonder what 2012 will bring...

Mark McGuire - Another Dead End
 Mark McGuire - Another Dead End by Chico Dub

Advent Day 6: Phanes

Lucky Woman has proved to be a bit of a hit for Phanes.

A quick listen, followed by a click of the repeat button, tells you why.

A vid that analogue hipsters will love as well.

Phanes - Lucky Woman

Advent day 5: Loscil

Carrying on from the Endless Falls album, Loscil continued to push ambient boundaries this year with the Coast/Range/Arc EP.

it's a sparse and haunting offering. Enjoy.

Loscil - Neve
 Loscil - Névé by MoLLy

Advent day 4: Explosions in the Sky

Highlight of the year = seeing this band live.

Amongst the hour and a half set, which bled from one track to the next, was this song.

For me it's the best one off the album.

Explosions in the Sky - Let Me Back In

Advent day 3: Halls and Sun Glitters

Halls, whose EP's make up some of the best music I have heard this year, and Sun Glitters, whose album Everything Could Be Fine is another classic, released a split EP. Bliss.

Here's a Sun Glitter's Remix of a Halls track.

Halls - Chakra Drums (Sun Glitters Remix)

Advent Day 2: Dakota Suite

This song is proof that you can make great music with very little.

It's the first track from the 2011, jazz infused, Hearts of Empty album.

The song, the whole album, is a treat, enjoy.

Dakota Suite - Easy Steps

 Dakota Suite - Easy Steps by Fluid Radio 

Advent day 1: Codes in the Clouds

To start with then a band who produced a solid album this year (As the Spirit Wanes), which has one exceptional track.

For lovers of surf-rock. Enjoy.

Codes in the Clouds - Look Back, Look Up
 Codes In The Clouds – Look Back, Look Up by erasedtapes