OOOOH we’re getting close, aren’t we?

#10: Small Black – Kings of Animals (Despicable Dogs 7″)

Pretty standout track from one of the better artists that I guess gets lumped under ‘chillwave’ this year. This one doesn’t sound much like Memory Tapes or anything though – I mean sure, there’s some drum machine action, but the guitar is closer to Blank Dogs than anything else in my mind, and the HOOKS. Man. It’s possibly too catchy. There’s a Small Black EP floating around somewhere which would probably take you closer to the main oeuvre of their work, but  seriously, fuck that. This song is wistful, stays in your head, and begs to be sung louder than you’d dare to.

#9: Neon Indian – Should Have Taken Acid With You

There’s something in the Psychic Chasms EP that somewhat irks me – something about the playskool vibes and squelch of tracks like Deadbeat Summer that doesn’t quite fit together like I thought it would. Anyway, on Should Have Taken Acid With You, all those core elements of Neon Indian (starry effects, vocals floating on clouds, rooted in sticky, sticky synth sounds in the background) come together perfectly. There’s some kind of shooting star explosion when the beat lifts skywards into the main rising keyboard melody, there’s something in the singing, looking back over yr shoulder. There’s lots in here, actually. It’s regretful, obviously, but there’s hope of many more awesome acid trips to come. He’ll be there. You probably should too.

#8: Beach House – Walk In The Park (Teen Dream)

Okay so technically a 2010 release but it’s been around long enough for me to fall in love with Victoria Legrand all over again. This song has probably the best hook she’s ever written. Seriously. As a friend put it, Beach House have a knack for being, well, unexpected, in a weird way. The first time I listened to this track I thought it was going to cover the same territory as Devotion, but NAH. The chorus here takes right off – not saying that Alex Scally’s guitar parts were holding her back or anything, but the absence of guitar in the choruses here seem to have given Legrand a licence to soar. And I really mean, soar. Seriously. Look up. She’s flying.

#7: Wilberforces – Sirens (Haunted)

Sure, it borrows that riff from Point That Thing Somewhere Else (I’m pretty sure), but Wilberforces totally own all over this track. Between the violent tradeoff vocals, nonchalant ‘la la la la la’ lines, and the way it only seems to gather pace as it goes on, there’s pretty much nothing to moan about here. I’ve said this in conversation way too much, but I think my favourite thing about Wilberforces is how much fucking swagger they have. It’s aggressive, catchy, arrogant, tramples all over you, and doesn’t really look back. BAD ASS.

#6: Animal Collective – My Girls (Merriweather Post Pavilion)

My parents like this song. My workmates, whose ‘recently played’ playlists fluctuate between Fat Freddys Drop and The Mars Volta, love this song. And why shouldn’t they?? You’ve heard it enough times this year to know why. No other track summed up glee as much as My Girls did this year.

BUT it just so happens that at this moment, there are five tracks I prefer over it in terms of music this year. WHAT COULD THEY BE??

You’ll find out tomorrow!!!