Ok, so following on from last year’s favourite records, here is, in descending order, my favourite records of 2010…

10. Four Tet – There Is Love In You – Domino Records

Four Tet first came to my attention via the single Sing which features an epic 14-minute remix by Floating Points. The album is a lovely example of someone using merely a sampler and a whole array of expertly-selected samples to piece together something which sounds almost like acoustic music but using technology to achieve it. There Is Love In You is without doubt, a really pretty-sounding record.

http://www.fourtet.net/ – Official Website
http://www.juno.co.uk/ – Search for Four Tet records on Juno
Listen to Four Tet Music on Spotify – This link will launch Spotify
http://www.play.com – Buy Four Tet music @ Play.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Four Tet music @ Amazon
http://www.dominorecordco.com/ – Domino Records Official Website

9. Circa – Ida – Med School

This track was featured on the Med School compilation New Blood, and represents the more creative end of drum & bass. Compared to 99% of the drum & bass output of 2010, it really was a breath of fresh air; it’s experimental, fresh, clever and highly original, with it’s reverbed live drumming and soulful vocals. The mid-point of the track, where the drums are replaced with gentle percussion and reverbed finger clicks, is just superb.

http://www.facebook.com/JackCirca – Circa Facebook Page
http://www.juno.co.uk/ – Search for Circa records on Juno
http://www.play.com/ – Buy Circa Music @ Play.com
http://www.medschoolmusic.com/ = Medschool Official Website

8. Presence Feat Shara Nelson – Sense Of Danger (MCDE Remixes) – Juno

I developed a bit of a hunger for deep house earlier in the year, which resulted in me buying a ton of completely random 12″s from Juno. Out of these impulsive purchases, the best by far was the Motorcity Drum Ensemble Remix of Sense Of Danger, a broody, deep & soulful tech-house masterpiece with the legendary Shara Nelson on vocal duties. This is an absolutely superb record which, I suspect, in time, will become one of my all time favourite house records.

http://motorcitydrumensemble.com/ – MCDE Official Website
http://www.juno.co.uk/labels/MCDE+US/ – Buy MCDE Music @ Juno
http://www.play.com/ – Buy MCDE Music @ Play.com

7. PFM – Equilibrium – Telluric Recordings

There was a golden era, back in the mid-to-late 90s, when the atmospheric drum & bass movement, driven by LTJ Bukem, was an immensely popular period in drum & bass’ history. Unlike a lot of drum & bass, this material has stood the test of time. PFM was a key component of that scene, so for a new PFM record to emerge, after years of absence, was a real treat. Equilibrium doesn’t dissapoint, it’s got a vibe that perfectly represents that era of drum & bass, and was a real surprise, and a delight ! It’s tracks like this that remind me that, musically, drum & bass really does have some of the best talent!

http://www.discogs.com/artist/PFM – PFM Discography
http://www.juno.co.uk/ – Buy PFM Records @ Juno
http://www.discogs.com/sell/list?artist=PFM&ev=ab – Buy PFM Records via Discogs Marketplace
http://www.telluricrecs.com/ – Telluric Recordings Official Website

6. Bonobo – Black Sands – Ninja Tune

Black Sands is the third album from Bonobo; In truth, it’s the first Bonobo album I’ve bought, but I really like the variation in sound from track to track, one minute it’s drenched in electronic drums & screaming lead synth lines, the next minute it’s more like a full on band. It’s an album that keeps you guessing from track to track, and very enjoyable.

http://www.bonobomusic.com/ – Official Website
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Bonobo – Bonobo Discography
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Bonobo/ – Buy Bonobo Records @ Juno
http://www.play.com/ – Buy Bonobo music @ Play.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Bonobo Music at Amazon
http://ninjatune.net – Ninja Tune Official Website

5. Lenzman Feat. Riya – Open Page – Metalheadz

Metalheadz release one of their most pop tracks yet, the lovely “Open page” featuring the vocal talents of Riya, who has gone on to work with the likes of Total Science and D-Bridge, and has some of her own solo material on the way.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lenzman/7593032428 – Lenzman Facebook Page
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Lenzman – Lenzman Discography
http://www.juno.co.uk/ – Buy Lenzman music @ Juno
http://www.play.com/ – Buy Lenzman Music @ Play.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Lenzman Music @ Amazon
http://www.metalheadz.co.uk/ – Metalheadz Official Website

4. Caribou – Sun – City Slang

I first heard Sun during the Floating Points / Kyle Hall Rinse FM Session back in July; It’s a real off-the-wall, chirpy, cheerful house track with jazzy drums, funky synths and a lovely repeating vocal – it’s so simple, yet unquestionably infectious. It’s the sort of track that you know, as soon as you hear the opening few bars, that you need in your collection !

http://www.caribou.fm/ – Official Site
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Caribou – Full Discography
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Caribou/ – Buy Caribou Music @ Juno
ttp://www.play.com/ – Buy Caribou Music @ Play.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Caribou Music @ Amazon
http://www.cityslang.com/ City Slang Official Website

3. Bonobo – Eyes Down (Floating Points Remix) – Ninja Tune

It’s been another very strong year for Floating Points, who was at the top of my favourite records of 2009 with the excellent “Love Me Like This”.  His remix for Bonobo blends the excellent vocals of Andreya Triana with his own unique dubstep sound.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Floating+Points – Floating Points Discography
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Floating+Points/ = Buy Floating Points @ Juno
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Floating Points music @ Amazon
http://www.eglorecords.com/e_g_l_o.html – Eglo Records Official Website

2. Instra:Mental – Let’s Talk – [NAKEDLUNCH]

“Let’s Talk” was the long awaited follow up to their “Futurist” single on the excellent Naked Lunch label. “Let’s Talk” is such a mysterious record, I really didn’t know what to make of it on the first listen. My first thought was simply that it was too slow. Is this a deep house record? I really have no idea, but I don’t really care because the whole mood of the track is so wonky, dark, & fresh that the end result is a track that I’ve been coming back to again & again all year, and it just seems to get better every time I hear it. A truly fresh record.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Instra:mental – Full Discography
http://www.myspace.com/instramentaluk – Instra:Mental official MySpace Page
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Instra+Mental/ – Buy Instra:Mental music @ Juno Records
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Instra:Mental music @ Amazon
http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?1147 – NonPlus+ Feature @ Resident Advisor

1. Foals – Total Life Forever – Warner UK

This was such a late entry; I really struggled this year to find whole albums that I found enjoyable. Lots of album were so patchy this year, a few tracks here and there, but lots of duff fillers inbetween. “Total Life Forever”, on the other hand, was an absolute pleasure to listen to, right from the first listen. It’s interesting (to me anyway) that, for the second year running, my favourite album has been discovered via Spotify.

Like so many albums I buy, I’ve no idea how I came to check this out, maybe via the Mercury Music Prize, but I’m so glad I took the time to do so. Total Life Forever is incredibly melodic, varied, slick, powerful and exciting to listen to.

My favourite track is without doubt Black Gold, which continually builds up over six minutes into a blissfully loud, monumental crescendo ! It’s an absolute masterpiece.

http://www.foals.co.uk/ – Official Website
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Foals – Foals Discography
http://twitter.com/#!/foalsfoalsfoals – Foals On Twitter
http://www.play.com/ – Buy Foals Music @ Play.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ – Buy Foals Music @ Amazon