Top 115 Songs of 2015, #20 - 11

Sarah Blasko, Kendrick Lamar, The Grates + Chvrches!

#115 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60 - 51

#50 - 41

#40 - 31

#30 - 21

#20. ELECTRICAL

by Eves The Behavior

I'm nothing more than skin and bone

With wires that make me tremble.

First up, we’re just gonna refer to her as ETB throughout this review, because I’ve written a bazillion words now and can’t be bothered remembering to stop my computer from correcting the spelling of behavior all the way through, but don’t let that put you off, ‘Electrical’ is a tremendous piece of electro-pop, something that ETB has been perfecting over the past year or so. Don’t let the quiet start fool you, it’s not an indication of where this song ends up, which somewhere right in the middle of powerful indie pop, the military style beats adding to the drama and the soft vocal of ETB’s in beautiful contrast with the crispy synths and chords. This girl has somewhere to go and ‘Electrical’ is an indication of that place being so much bigger than I think even she has imagined. (Jo Michelmore)

#19. DRIVE

by Oh Wonder

And I promised I'd be there but you don't make it easy

Darling, please believe me.

Oh, the video for this one is something special. If you haven't seen it before, watch it now because there be spoilers ahead. No further warnings, let's proceed... When you first figured out that 'man' character is only in 'woman' character's mind, were you not like *boom* mind blown. It's like watching The Sixth Sense all over again, but not like that at all really, but TWIST. At the start I was thinking she was just sad, lonely, missing her great love. But then it turns out she's actually kinda bat-shit cray and robbing old school American diners and wasting milkshakes. Enough about the video though, I'm supposed to be talking about Oh Wonder's song 'Drive', but they've made such a great clip it's hard not to want to talk about it. Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West's voices fit so sweetly together. You could even say they were made for each other. Awww, cute. The whole sweetness thing and perfect harmonies make the all too real sadness in the lyrics hit so much harder. I imagine the live version is even more heartbreaking, Anthony and Josephine stealing glances at each other while singing, "and I promised I'd be there but you don't make it easy, darling please believe me," and everyone in the crowd feels sad about life. Hopefully I'll get to see Oh Wonder live sometime soon. They'll be at the upcoming Falls Festival and have Sydney/Melbourne shows in early January but they don't have a show in Brisbane because whoever booked their tour is a d-bag :) (Matt Bond)    

Oh my I’m so glad Oh Wonder have made it to the list again. I think I sent Matt one of my approval text messages when I this one made our top 25 a few months ago, which usually involves a name and a heart emoji, because what else is there to say about a song so good? They were a refreshing slice of music in a world defined by names and looks and social media accounts; releasing a song a month for a year and hiding their identity for the release of their first few songs, which forced those who cared, to listen to the music alone, which could have been seen as a marketing disaster, but when the music is this strong, when the songs are so honest and the sounds so crisp, well that’s when all that matters is the music. And the music is so, so good. (Jo Michelmore)

#18. I'D BE LOST

by Sarah Blasko

You're not just someone to believe in

You've become a part of me and I know...

So, if I was a fortune teller and you’d given me a crystal ball 18 months ago and asked me to tell you what Sarah Blasko would be doing in 2015, I’d have made up some elaborate story about orchestral arrangements, haircuts, something fabulous and a someone starting with a random letter of the alphabet. That’s about how much I believe in fortune telling and crystal balls, but I would have been right about one thing and that’s the fabulous part, because with the release of her fifth album Eternal Return she hit fabulous right on the mark; an enchanting pop delight, not at all what I would have expected from Ms Blasko, but a masterpiece nonetheless. The new wave type synths and falsetto vocals make ‘I’d Be Lost’ anything but lost, it’s a piece of electro-retro inspired greatness and her album was just as great. I might not be a fortune teller but I can tell you that Blasko keeps getting better and better with every album, so who can even imagine how good her next one is going to be? (Jo Michelmore)


I'm not going to lie. When I heard the whispers about Sarah Blasko's Eternal Return being an upbeat, "happy" album I was quite apprehensive. Would the haunting vocals and devastating, punch in the guts moments full of heartache and longing be gone? Who would I turn to when a hit of melancholia pop was just what the doctor ordered? Would hell freeze over? Would the zombie apocalypse began so I could finally reach my full potential? There were a lot of questions, some would be answered upon the release of the single 'I'd Be Lost' and some of those questions will be addressed at a later date. 'I'd Be Lost' was so different to the sounds of Blasko's fourth album, I Awake. We've gone from string heavy orchestration to an exploration of 80s synth and the results were spectacular. Which shouldn't be a surprise, because at this point in her career Blasko has built up a great deal of trust from her fan base that she will deliver the goods each and every time. 'I'd Be Lost' might be about love and warm, fuzzy feelings, but that doesn't mean there's not a darkness lurking, if only you scratch the surface of it. In my review of Eternal Return I wrote that 'I'd Be Lost' is, "as close to a runaway pop smash as we're likely to ever experience from an artist who might never cross over into the Top 40, this is so different from what we've come to know about Sarah Blasko. Which is possibly why I wasn't enamored with it upon first listen. Like all great pop gems, 'I'd Be Lost' has a way of working its way into your brain and refusing to let go. Crafted expertly with coos in all the right places and finding Blasko falling deeper and deeper in love, this is a stand out moment on Eternal Return and shoots towards the top of a stellar catalogue of music." It might even be at THE top of that stellar catalogue of music. (Matt Bond)

 

#17. FORCES

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Airling

You feel it in your bones but you won't act on it

There's something in your heart but you won't talk, talk, talk about it.

The stunning and layered production of Japanese Wallpaper with the sweet and heartwarming vocal stylings of Airling. What more do you need in your life? Nothing. You need nothing else. JW's Gab Strum creates the most peaceful atmosphere on 'Forces' that becomes perfect for almost every situation. Going for a long drive down the coast? Put on 'Forces'. Having some Sunday afternoon bevvies on the deck with sunshine and friends? Put on 'Forces'. Feel like you're going to punch someone in the face at work? Put on 'Forces'. It's beyond calming and guaranteed to put a smile on your dial and have you seeing the good in the world again. And we could all stand to do that a bit more. Anyway, I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need... and that's to hear Japanese Wallpaper and Airling are working together more in 2016. (Matt Bond)    

So I’ve got this theory about Japanese Wallpaper, which could be considered slightly controversial, but I’m going to go with it. He’s actually 45 years old and has been kept in school, repeating grade 11 for the last twenty(?) years (whatever, maths wasn’t my strong point in high school) because I can’t quite figure out how someone so young can make music so….good? It always blows my mind when I remember that Japanese Wallpaper is a teenager and winning Triple J’s Unearthed High Competition last year was just the beginning of his introduction to the world, but it’s obvious that making music is a talent that is more important than any subject he could have taken in school (just don’t tell any teachers I said that). ‘Forces’ is magnificent, Airling’s vocal floating beautifully over the sweet, sweet sounds of JW’s, that line about “I’ve been dreaming about you, won’t do a thing about this ‘cause I don’t wanna ruin you” one of the most well-hidden but meaningful lyrics I heard all year, which again makes me question how someone so young can be so amazing? But the answer to that is pretty simple. Music isn’t about age, it’s about heart. (Jo Michelmore)

#16. KING KUNTA

by Kendrick Lamar

Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast

From a peasant to a prince to a motherfucking King.

Kendrick Lamar is one of those hip hop guys they’ll talk about years from now, when he’s old and grey they’ll talk about his glory days at the top of the hip hop pile, he’ll be one of the ones people twenty years from now talk about influencing their sound, he’ll be the one they name a music award after and he’ll probably be one of the ones that gets sampled over and over and over. Which now thinking about it, will be kind of funny, because Kendrick samples things so well, if other people sample him is that a sample sample or just a sample? The writing credits on songs are going to be pages and pages long in years to come, aren’t they? Anyway, the point is he’s very good at the rap and at the hip hop and as ‘King Kunta’ says, he’s very good at putting the funk in. Whatever that means. (Jo Michelmore) 


Nobody did rap better in 2015 than Kendrick Lamar. You need only look at his leading nominations for the upcoming Grammy awards to know he's a pretty big wheel down at the cracker factory. Whether he'll take down Queen Swift and... whoever else is nominated (?)... will be decided next year, but Lamar doesn't need the awards to know he's had a good year. 'King Kunta' was released as the third single from Lamar's third LP, To Pimp a Butterfly and was, for my money, the best track on the album. Sorry I'm so mainstream. I can't say I really have any idea what's going on with the whole yams thing (even if he does go out of the way to explain), and there's plenty of analysis articles out there so we can all go learn something about the track later, but I love the flow of Lamar's rhymes and the incorporation of funk-ier backing elements seems fresh among the more industrial/electronic and standard pop leaning rap tracks making the rounds. 'King Kunta' expresses Lamar's views on the stereotypes facing much of the African-American community in America and for the most part, it leaves out the grandstanding and ego-driven verses that have become the new norm. Lamar could be responsible for taking rap back to its roots. I've got no issues with that. (Matt Bond)

 #15. ALL DULLED OUT

by Kira Puru

I hear you're doing well

But it never goes away.

As glamorous the life of a music blogger may seem, I have to admit that there are moments when I'm rushing around non-stop with work (the one that pays the bills), weddings, birthdays and all of those things that dominate your time when you start adulting and I'm thinking... you could just, you know, not blog anymore. I had one of those moments this year where I was for sure done and dusted and then an email found its way into our inbox from a delightful music PR company somewhere down south saying Kira Puru had released her first solo single. I couldn't not listen to it, I mean, it was Kira Puru and everything is better with Kira Puru. Her voice is filled with a fiery passion and she does soul unlike anyone has been able to in this country for far too long. So I start playing this track that was kindly sent through to us. 'All Dulled Out' was the name. Even that's so perfectly Kira Puru. With synths and light electronic touches surrounding her, Puru shares some deep thoughts about someone I'm already convinced is a jerk and her attempts at payback via fun times with friends. Not Puru's friends. His. Nothing works though and there's always that lingering pain that never goes away. I love everything about this song. But I strongly dislike that 'All Dulled Out' didn't receive the attention it so strongly deserved from radio, the internet and however else the kids are hearing about the musics these days. If we can hear the same ten songs ten times a day on commercial radio, I'm pretty sure there's room for an amazing track like this to take up some of those plays. Until that starts happening, I'll keep on writing about talented local artists like Kira Puru. Because if we didn't have the blog going, we wouldn't have an inbox for these emails to come to. And I wouldn't want to miss out on music this good. (Matt Bond)    

If you haven’t been lucky enough to find her yet, I’m going to ask tell you to go and do one thing today. YOU NEED TO GOOGLE KIRA PURU AND LISTEN TO EVERYTHING YOU FIND. I have put that in capitals to emphasise how important this is. There are very few people I have found that have the talent Kira does, the way she can rip my heart out, gently toss it around and then give it back, seemingly unchanged but forever a fan, a talent like hers is rare, is special and is totally life affirming. I have already written so many words about so many songs, but this is one of the selfish ones, really one of the ones I want someone, anyone to find, so that Ms Puru can continue to make the music that has made my last couple of years complete. (Jo Michelmore)

#14. HOLIDAY LOVE

by James Chatburn x Jordan Rakei

We pretend our

We pretend our hearts surrender.

The smooth and soulful James Chatburn absolutely killed it in 2015, releasing the finest jams from both his hometown of Sydney and current place of residence, Berlin. 'Holiday Love' saw Chatburn team with Brisbane's Jordan Rakei for the best slow jam of the year. Let's be honest, who would have thought we'd be saying that about two Aussie lads? The track has racked up 153,000 Soundcloud plays in the past 9 months, a whopping amount for any emerging artist and it goes a long way in showing there is huge interest in the music of both Chatburn and Rakei. I'd say about a thousand of those are me though... #superfan. I've just realised I've written essentially the same thing as I wrote about Chatburn's 'We Drink' at the start of the countdown. So let's talk about 'Holiday Love'. The main groove in the verses has a bounce to it that will draw you in, but the focus stays exactly where it should be; on the ridiculously smooth voices of Chatburn and Rakei. In a perfect world, 'Holiday Love' would be a huge summer anthem. With the music he's come up with in 2015, I don't think it will be too long before Chatburn scores a summer anthem in this current, non-perfect world. (Matt Bond) 

#13. WHAT KIND OF MAN

by Florence + The Machine

How do you do it?

I think I'm through it, then I'm back against the wall.

It’s kind of weird to think this was the first taste of what was only Florence and her Machine’s third album; it feels like she has been around forever, making music since the beginning of time. Now thinking about that, her music kind of has that timeless feel to it, all the drama and all the giant notes and dramatic highs and lows, whether they be celebrating a wonderful moment or wallowing in moments of despair, this is a band that can take all the emotions and make them magnificent. If my life were a made for TV movie, I’d hope Florence appeared in the score somewhere, because wherever she was, good or bad, what a moment it would be. (Jo Michelmore) 


Apparently a running theme with me this year was not giving my favourite artists the benefit of the doubt. My latest piece of evidence in favour of this, was my initial reaction to Florence + The Machine's 'What Kind of Man'. When the music first starts and it's all sparse and electronic-y with distorted Flo vocals, I was like... she's gone off the rails and it's all Kanye's fault because when there's distorted vocals or auto-tune it's always Kanye's fault. But then the opening segment closes with the question, "what kind of man loves like this?" and then comes the guitar, the choral backing and the untouched vocals of Florence Welch in all their glory. There's horns, unbridled fury and an artist who has secured her place at the very top. 'What Kind of Man' was even better than what I could have ever imagined Florence + The Machine's return would be in 2015. (Matt Bond)
  

#12. IT WON'T HURT ANYMORE

by The Grates

Blood and fear, hearts on trees, pig skin knees

It's not gonna hurt anymore, than it was ever going to.

As a big fan from way back of all things Grates related, I was super excited to see the Brisbane legends release their album Dream Team at the end of last year. It was this song right here, #12 on our songs of the year countdown that I would love the most. There I was, sitting in my car and feeling particularly down in the dumps (what an awful expression) on that day and 'It Won't Hurt Anymore' started playing. I found myself really paying attention to the words for the first time and, well, it inspired me to not feel so shitty anymore. It was a perfectly timed reminder that things that are sucky were always going to be sucky and at some stage you've got to make a decision for things not to be so goddamn sucky because no one else is going to make that decision for you. If music's that friend you always have when no one else is around, 'It Won't Hurt Anymore' is one of the best friends you can have. So many years into a wonderful career and The Grates continue to astound, amaze and inspire. All I can say is thank you. (Matt Bond) 

These are the moments I look for in music, these are the moments that make me keep listening, make me keep writing, keep me company and keep me wanting more, the moments that make everything ok when everything is sometimes not ok and even better when everything is more than ok. When the notes rest upon your life, talking to you in ways words never can and when the words speak about moments in the ways chords cannot, they are the moments in music that mean the most. When music is more than the composer, than the singer, than the guitarist and the drummer, when music is more than all of those people imagine they could ever be, that’s when music is the most. When I hear it all and hear nothing at all, those are the notes that bring the tears and the smiles, they are the songs that make the soundtrack for life and those are the moments that music is everything to me. (Jo Michelmore) 

 

#11. LEAVE A TRACE

by Chvrches

You think I'll apologise for things I left behind

But you got it wrong

And I'm as sane as I ever was.  

These songs, sometimes I write about which album they were from and who sings them and what the film clips are like. And sometimes these songs mean things I can’t explain and so sometimes I write things like this, because everyone’s had a song they know like this. Remember that jerk that did that thing that made you feel like a teeny tiny piece of nothing, that made you question who you were and where you’d been and why you ended up there? Remember that person who said that thing that stabbed you in the stomach, that took the air from your lungs and almost stopped you breathing for a while because all you had were gasps? Remember the one who took all you had and made it their own, even long after they had left? Remember the face of the person who turned you into someone you hate, someone you never want to visit again and someone you never knew you knew, let alone could be? Remember the empty they left when you finally walked away and remember the terrifying freedom in all that emptiness? “You think I'll apologize for things I left behind, but you got it wrong” Yes Chvrches, all that and yes. Thank you. I am as sane as I ever was. (Jo Michelmore)


There is nothing worse than someone making you feel like you're crazy, when the reality of the situation is you're perfectly fine and they're just a manipulative asshole. Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry knows it. Jo knows it. I know it and you know it. People can be the worst, but it's not all people that are the worst. Because on the other side of that is the you, the one that's been treated like dirt in the past and had to walk away from a really crappy situation. After a while you have these thoughts running through your head of all the awesome things you wish you had said at the time, things about how you had nothing to apologise for, that you weren't the crazy one, that you can see clearly now the rain has gone etc. etc. And you'd look awesome doing it, with a great new haircut and some hot new jeans. So this song comes along from Chvrches this year called 'Leave A Trace' that pretty much puts all of those thoughts into three minutes and fifty-seven seconds and you're just left here saying, "sing it loud, sister!" and high-fiving a million angels in Chvrches honour because you know you're not the only one thinking these thoughts. It's also just a really fun song with 80s vibes that makes you want to dance. There's also that going for it. Woo. Hoo. (Matt Bond)

Well, that wraps up the penultimate edition of our Top 115 Songs of 2015 countdown. Check back tomorrow for the TOP 10 SONGS OF 2015!

   

Top 25 Songs of 2015 (So Far)

Are we really almost halfway through 2015? Yes. Yes, we are. And it's around this time we start looking back on the music we've heard so far this year and deliver unto you our 25 favourite songs of 2015... so far. This year's list was really hard to compile. It seems to get harder and harder every year. So by that logic, this year was the hardest. But the list has been completed and we're very happy to be sharing it with you today. 25 songs that show just how awesome 2015 has already been and make us excited about what's still to come over the next six months. Enjoy!

ARROW

by Stonefox





I'll be there, the light of the sun
Always falling in love. 

DRIVE

by Ainslie Wills





I don't want nobody to stand behind me
I've got to make up my own mind. 

ELECTRICAL

by Eves The Behavior





I'm nothing more than skin and bone,
With wires that make me tremble. 

FORCES

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Airling





'Cause I've been thinking 'bout it, and I've been dreaming 'bout you
Won't do a thing about this, 'cause I don't wanna ruin you. 


GIMME GIMME
by Holly Who 
 




Gimme, gimme, gimme your fire
I want your desire.

HAUNTED

by Grace Pitts





I've lost my way, I've lost almost everything...

HOLD ON TOGETHER

by Jeremy Neale ft. Phoebe Imhoff





And if you want to bring me down, well I don't
I'm cautious 'bout the way I move around town. 


HOLIDAY LOVE
by James Chatburn x Jordan Rakei 
 




We pretend our, 
We pretend our hearts surrender...

I DON'T THINK YOU LIKE ME

by Tired Lion





Now you're left here by yourself
Alone and no one else. 

IS THIS LOVE?

by Karl S. Williams





Do you want me?
Do you want me by your side? 

IT WON'T HURT ANYMORE

by The Grates





Blood and fear, hearts on trees, pig skin knees
It's not gonna hurt anymore
Than it was ever going to. 

JUST A STORY

by Okenyo





Walk down the path and slide down the slope
When this all passes it'll be just a story. 

KING KUNTA
by Kendrick Lamar





When you got the yams (What's the yams?)
The yam is the power that be, you can smell it when I'm walking down the street. 

M.O.B.

by Tkay Maidza





And you I will find
Even if I waste the rest of me. 

MOVES
by ALTA





Falling over me, crawling around to please.

PERFECT PICTURE

by I Know Leopard





Darling, I saw you crying
Never will I know why. 

RIGHT NOW

by Hopium





'Cause maybe I'm a dick
But you're no saint either. 

SET ME ALIGHT

by Passerine





Couldn't feel what I wanted to feel
Could you sense it? 

SHIP TO WRECK

by Florence + The Machine





Did I drink too much?
Am I losing touch?
Did I build this ship to wreck? 


SPIRIT DOWN
by Our Man In Berlin 





I know you'd like to rule the world
I talk in minutes and that's my curse.  

SPRINTER

by Torres





There's freedom to and freedom from
Freedom to run, from everyone. 

WEATHER

by JOY.





I'm sorry that I couldn't change the weather.

WHAT KIND OF MAN

by Florence + The Machine





But I can't beat you
'Cause I'm still with you
Oh mercy I implore. 

WHAT YOU WANT

by Curxes





You'll always get what you want and just what you asked for
Because you asked for nothing more. 

YOU CANNOT CALL FOR LOVE LIKE A DOG

by Holy Holy





What do you want from love?
What do you need?


You can expect to see these tracks making appearance in our end of massive end of year countdown, along with a whole bunch of amazing tunes we haven't even heard yet. If the second half of 2015 is like the first, we've got so much more goodness to come.  



Top 25 - 30 March, 2015

Torres, Ruby Boots, Japanese Wallpaper + Elizabeth Rose!

1. Torres - Sprinter (NEW)





2. Tired Lion - I Don't Think You Like Me





3. Japanese Wallpaper ft. Airling - Forces (NEW)





4. Avaberee - Can't Get You Off My Mind





5. Harrison Storm - Be Yourself (NEW)





6. Ruby Boots - Wrap Me In A Fever (NEW)





7. Big Smoke - Try A Little Love





8. Adria - Falling (NEW)





9. MYAMI - Soldier (NEW)





10. Banff - The Great Unknown





11. Elizabeth Rose - Another Earth (NEW)


 

12. Lupa J - Waiting For Her





13. Okenyo - Just A Story





14. Muse - Psycho





15. Life Is Better Blonde - Mine





16. The Japanese House - Pools To Bathe In (NEW)





17. Bad Pony - White Russian





18. BAD//DREEMS - Cuffed and Collared (NEW)





19. SAFIA - Counting Sheep





20. Florence + The Machine - St. Jude (NEW)





21. The Kite String Tangle - What If





22. Tame Impala - Let It Happen





23. Jamie xx ft. Romy Madley-Croft - Loud Places (NEW)





24. Karl S. Williams - Is This Love?





25. Muse - Dead Inside (NEW)


 

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #90 - 81

The Preatures, MKO, Remi + Jack Colwell!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90. RAMONA

by Velociraptor





And I thought I knew you,
But baby you make me so blue. 

You're always going to have a good time with Velociraptor, because Jeremy Neale and his music friends want you to, "make like a powerful metal guitar solo and key change your life today." I took that from Neale's Facebook page. Go and give it a like and have a read, it will make your day. Velociraptor fly the flag as the franchise players in Brisbane's burgeoning Garage Pop scene and with 'Ramona' they're showing that status isn't changing anytime soon. It's as good, if not better, than what's come before with some banging hooks and a nice surf rock-ish "love" story driving it along. You stay classy, Jeremy Neale and friends. I'd write out everyone's names, but I'm pretty sure the band's got about forty-five members. (Matt Bond)


Like many people, I have a facebook account. I show appreciation for things on that facebook account by pressing the ‘like’ button, that is, the small thumbs up symbol. I follow a lot of pages on my facebook account. I quite enjoy ‘Shit Brick Fences Of Melbourne’ and the ‘Walthamstow (Unofficial) Tourist Board’, as well as one of my more recent favourites ‘The Same Photo Of A Fork Everyday’. I like all of these pages, but I think the page I press ‘like’ on most often is that of Jeremy Neale, singer from the band featuring here at number 90. Jeremy Neale is a beacon of light on a social media tool too often darkened with an addiction to boredom and I feel like I need to pay his band and their song ‘Ramona’ the ultimate compliment, which I give to Jeremy Neale’s facebook page every couple of days so here it is…..like. (Jo Michelmore) 

#89. BUT I SAY

by Tulane





If silence is golden,
Then you certainly are king. 

Sydney's Tulane is a duo made up of vocalist Nikki Malvar and guitarist Nikk Retalic. They work really well together as a pair. All the proof you need of this is in their 2014 release, 'But I Say'. It shows you don't need all the bells and whistles to make a connection with the listener. Sometimes all you need is a relatable story, an emotive performance and a memorable melody. Try not to feel just a little bit heartbroken while you're listening to Malvar's performance. Tulane as a duo are hopefully just getting started. I want to hear a lot more from them in 2015. (Matt Bond)


Well, I certainly do wish I was better at this writing thing. I wish I had the words to describe the sadness and the desperation and the heartbreak and loneliness in Tulane’s ‘But I Say’, but I don’t. I’ve written thousands of words on this here blog and I’ve learnt that it’s mostly easier to let the artists speak for themselves, because they have the emotional capacity to face their own sounds, which are sometimes so beautiful I can’t. So I’m gonna leave this one in the words of half of Tulane, Nikki Malvar, because besides telling you to press play, I just can’t describe the beauty of heartache as well as she does; “Despite the fact that your head might know better, unremarkable people can make remarkable impressions on your heart sometimes. ‘But I Say’ is one of those unfortunate stories.” Yep. It is. (Jo Michelmore)

#88. CUT

by Hopium





Everyone here is just a bad version of you...

It could be because I’m a bit of a creep, but I really love and appreciate this song. I mean, I have all kinds of crazy thoughts that run around this brain of mine that are confined to a diary and a therapist. Okay, both of those things are lies, but I really do need an outlet. I digress. The point I was going to make is that I feel like this song is such a collection of random, private ramblings. I mean, “I'll cut off my legs so I could never leave you”? It’s brilliant. (Katie Langley)

There are some grand declarations of love and all that stuff in music. But if you can come up with anything that compare to, "I'll cut off my legs so I won't ever desert you, I'll cut out my tongue so nothing I say can hurt you, I'll cut out my eyes so they won't ever wander, I'll cut off my hands so there's no chance I'll ever touch another," please let me know. I don't know much about Hopium, because they're doing the whole 'mysterious' thing and not giving much away about themselves, but they've got some world class music to their name and 'Cut' is one of the best things to come out of 2014, so they can be as mysterious as they want. Brooding and industrial dark electronic pop with killer vocals and unforgettable lyrics. What's not to like? (Matt Bond)


Ah see, here we go. This is the kind of thing I get. I don’t often admit it, because no one really wants to know about the darkness, but this is the kind of thing I revel in. You hear those beats? Do you hear how painstakingly placed they are? Do you hear the tiny cracks inside every one that pound against that little paranoid part of my head? Can you hear the synths? Can you hear the shadows creeping in over every sense of light? Do you hear those words? Don’t pretend you don’t. We’ve all been there. Some of them you’ll hear more than others. But those lines; “Maybe I wanna see what burns, maybe I wanna see what breaks, maybe I need to learn from my own mistakes” well, they’re ones that hit a little closer to home than I care to admit. Except I just did. (Jo Michelmore)

#87. TYSON

by Remi





And I'm Tyson, circa 88, 
Yeah right, son. 

Before this year, I wasn't the biggest fan of Australian hip hop or rap. If that's your thing, that's great, but you don't really need to tell me about why I'm crazy for not declaring a 360 song as my, "jam". My attitude has been turned around quite a bit though in 2014, with releases from the likes of Tkay Maidza, Citizen Kay and this guy right here, Remi Kolawole. 'Tyson' has a great beat, shows that Remi can rap with the best of them and doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face in a display of pain transference. It might not seem like it, but that's a huge compliment to a really excellent song. (Matt Bond)


Fun fact: 'Tyson' runs for four minutes 20 seconds. Yes, 4:20. (Katie Langley)


2014 did something completely unexpected to me. Well, maybe it wasn’t 2014 itself, but artists like Remi, who kinda called out my name, made me sit up straight and demanded I listen. I’ll admit it to you Remi, I’ve always had this minor awkward relationship with Australian hip hop, it’s always made me cringe a little. Ok, more than a little. You Remi and your song ‘Tyson’? No cringing. Because it doesn’t sound like you have anything to prove, you’re just doing your thing and you don’t care whether I like you or not; but not in an ‘arrogant-wannabe-something-you’re-not-rapper’ kind of way, just in a ‘hey-I’m-just-doing-my-thing-you-do-yours-whatever’ kind of way. Maybe it’s that whole liking the boy who doesn’t like you thing I’ve always had, but whatever, that’s my psychological makeup I have to deal with. This is just a song countdown. I like you Remi. I like you a lot. (Jo Michelmore) 

#86. SEEK THE WILDE

by Jack Colwell and The Owls





A frightened child thrown into the wild...

You'll probably get sick of me repeating the same sort of lines throughout this countdown, but here's another one of our favourite people from 2014, Jack Colwell! His unique musical style made us big fans and 'Seek The Wilde' was just one of his tracks from the year we've been loving. Colwell set out to deliver a "baroque pop romp" on 'Seek The Wilde' and he more than delivered. In a sea of overproduced electronic music that all sounds a bit same-same, Jack Colwell stands out by composing an actual song with these things called instruments. And they're instruments that aren't just like a guitar or a triangle. There's a harpsichord. And what sounds like a flute and an oboe. And it's still really good pop music. It's only a matter of time before the right person pays Colwell the attention he deserves and his music gets celebrated the same. (Matt Bond) 


If you’d told me at the end of last year that we’d be featuring a song with a harpsichord in this year’s countdown, I may have been a little surprised. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been incredibly happy, but I would have been surprised, it’s not an instrument you hear every day and I would probably have demanded that you tell me how you know this you gypsy fortune telling freak and then I would have wanted you to play the song for me immediately. Ok, maybe I wouldn’t have said gypsy, but I would have wanted to hear the song. If you’d played me the song, I would have demanded to know the artist, because this is one song I LOVED from the very first note the very first time I heard it. It is so joyous, so bouncy, so full, so melodic and fairy tale and whimsical and goddamn I just want to get inside its soft feathery sounds and roll around. Is that weird? Shut up you gypsy fortune telling freak. (Jo Michelmore)

#85. BETWEEN FRIENDS

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Jesse Davidson





If you wanna be my friend,
Stop trying to be my lover. 

I find myself using the word mesmerising a lot, but when I say it about this song, I actually, genuinely mean it. ‘Between Friends’ is just beautiful with its serene tones, the synths crashing around the sounds of twinkling bells and that chorus lyric whirling around and around my mind, over and over again. All of this from someone barely out of high school; way to make the rest of us who just write a couple of words on a blog every now and then feel inadequate. It’s ok, I’m prepared to feel inadequate when the music sounds this delicious. It’s simply stunning and only the very start of what I expect we will hear from Japanese Wallpaper in the future. (Jo Michelmore)

Japanese Wallpaper, for real-real name Gab Strum must be very happy with his 2014. He took out the triple J Unearthed High competition in July, joining the likes of Asta and Snakadaktal (R.I.P) as winners. 'Between Friends' alone is enough to say, "I'm a big winner, just give me the title!" Beautifully put together by Japanese Wallpaper and completely chilled out, the track scores bonus points for Jesse Davidson's restrained vocal work and the somber tone of the story against the ethereal music production. (Matt Bond)


This is one of those amazingly powerful songs that, depending on your mood, has the ability to reduce you to tears or make you smile. Isn’t that the best kind of music though? Music that makes you feel so strongly that you’re overcome with emotion. The answer is yes. (Katie Langley)

#84. PUDDLES

by MKO





And I know I'm just one fish in the sea,
But you're gonna get to know me. 

After seeing them live and declaring myself a fan of MKO last year, the release of ‘Puddles' was a perfect piece to put in the giant puzzle of MKO. I say puzzle, because sometimes I’m not sure whether to refer to just Hannah Macklin as MKO or whether to consider MKO a trio or a band or a sound or a feeling. The thing is, MKO is probably all of these things and when she and they are creating these sounds and I am swaying along to them, I don’t even care who they are, I’m just lost in the stylishly smooth beats and Hannah’s effortlessly sweet vocals singing of messes and guesses and puzzles and puddles. (Jo Michelmore)

After a stellar 2013, we weren't sure if MKO would be gracing us with their musical presence in 2014. Luckily for us, these Brisbane babes aren't ones to rest on their laurels and we got treated to a couple of new numbers including this one, 'Puddles'. It's dreamy. Isn't it just the dreamiest? Hannah Macklin can do no wrong, her voice is a thing of wonder and I'm convinced this is her best performance to date. It might even be my favourite MKO song so far too. If their trend of one-upping themselves continues, I'm already fascinated about what comes next. (Matt Bond) 

#83. JUST ONE NIGHT

by Julia Why?





Just give me,
One night where I can't think. 

Julia, why have I only just now heard this song? Badoom-tish! Clearly I’m behind the times, but it’s better late than never, right? I love me some rock, I love me some grunge, and this new found love affair is definitely not going to be just a one night kind of thing. (Katie Langley)  


Bands like Julia Why? are the ones who make me wonder why I never went through with that high school fantasy of picking up my guitar, finding myself a denim clad band member or two and started playing gigs in venues I was too young to actually be allowed into. Why didn’t I do that Julia, why? I actually have a friend named Julia, so that isn't neccassarily just a ridiculous play on words or a rhetoric question. The clip for ‘Just One Night’ is all sorts of high school fun and the song is full of “na-na-na-na’s” so I can’t find anything not to love and well, this is our top 114 so I shouldn’t be finding things not to love, right? Julia Why? and your perfect pop punk. I demand more than one night, please and thank you. (Jo Michelmore)

#82. BUCK UP AND PAY THE REAPER

by Dear Plastic





I've been picking the pockets of strangers,
Using what I found, to guess their names. 

Dear Plastic's debut album, The Thieves Are Babes, was one of the best releases of the year and 'Buck Up and Pay the Reaper' was one of its greatest tracks. I was completely sold on it when the chorus hits and vocalist Scarlette Baccini starts howling lines about looking out for number one, smiling like a dreamer and bucking up to pay the reaper. It's grungey-vibes galore and I'm loving the quiet, atmospheric moments in the verses and the fuller sound as the band lets loose in the chorus. As for the video, the performances from the band members are great. And then it's kinda gross, but the song... the song is a delight. And it's not even our favourite Dear Plastic song of the year. #foreshadowing (Matt Bond)


Oh this one caused some controversy in the IMKOS office (don't be fooled, we actually don’t have an office, it's mostly just Matt and I sitting in track pants in front of laptops which are in front of TVs). Back in May, Nayt and I battled it out over whether we loved the clip or hated it (Nayt a little on the hate, me a little on the love, neither of us really committing to either emotion) but we both came to the conclusion that regardless of what we thought of the clip, it had made us realise we liked the band and I guess that’s the job of a clip anyway, is it? I don’t even know any more in this crazy minefield of a music industry I keep observing. I do know that ‘Buck Up And Pay The Reaper’ is a glorious piece of dark indie pop rock that deserves to be heard by a lot more people than just Nayt and I arguing over what to love and what to hate about milking potatoes. (Jo Michelmore)

#81. SOMEBODY'S TALKING

by The Preatures





Now don't make me reason, don't pretend,
Reel me in so our love can begin again. 

There’s a reason why 'Somebody’s Talking' has become one of my favourite pre-work bus anthems – there’s a feel good vibe that provides the perfect amount of hope and zest. It’s not an I’ve-had-4-coffee’s-and-I’m-so-amped kind of rah rah song. It has a quiet confidence that gives you a reassuring pat on the back to let you know, “you got this.” (Katie Langley)

As infectious as last year's breakthrough single, 'Is This How You Feel?', this year's hit from The Preatures, 'Somebody's Talking' makes me want to dance like I'm on one of those 60s TV shows where the band's playing and all the teens are on stage with the band and just dancing around them. That's exactly how it makes me feel. But then I'd probably just be standing around like a creeper, staring at Isabella Manfredi because she's just the perfect front for a band and her voice is magical. Yep. (Matt Bond)

  

Top 25 - 7 September, 2014

Tkay Maidza + Tkay Maidza + Tkay Maidza... Welcome to this week's top Tkay Maidza.

1. Tkay Maidza - Finish Them (NEW)





2. Tkay Maidza - U-Huh





3. Our Man In Berlin - Cirrhosis





4. Bertie Blackman - War Of One





5. Seinabo Sey - Pistols At Dawn (NEW)





6. Japanese Wallpaper ft. Jesse Davidson - Between Friends (NEW)





7. Lanks - Brave Man (NEW)





8. Airling - Wasted Pilots





9. Megan Washington - My Heart Is A Wheel





10. The Preatures - Somebody's Talking (NEW)





11. Swick and Lewis Cancut ft. Tkay Maidza Wishes (NEW)





12. De̊ǰa - Sirens





13. Tempura Nights - R.I.P CHIX





14. Jack Colwell and The Owls - Seek The Wilde





15. TV On The Radio - Happy Idiot (NEW)





16. Lauren Glezer - This Living (NEW)





17. Holy Holy - History





18. Curxes - Valkyrie





19. David Craft - Smokey Lungs and Dirty Puns (NEW)





20. Tulane - But I Say


 

21. Cathedrals - OOO AAA





22. Rainy Day Women - Mrs. Jones





23. Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders ft. Sharon Van Etten - Come On Back This Way (NEW)





24. Jessie Ware - Say You Love Me





25. Avec Sans - All Of Time

Top 25 - 11 May, 2014

Kimbra, Jack White, Lykke Li + Seinabo Sey!

1. Kimbra - 90s Music (NEW)





2. Our Man In Berlin - Flight





3. Ruby Boots - Oh Lover





4. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX - Fancy





5. Jack White - Lazaretto (NEW)





6. Lykke Li - Just Like A Dream (NEW)





7. Torres - New Skin





8. Montaigne - I'm A Fantastic Wreck





9. Al Parkinson - Like This





10. Little Earthquake - Brightside (NEW)





11. Howling Bells - Slowburn





12. Tired Lion - Are You Listening... Listener?





13. Lancelot ft. Ngaiire - Ain't Nothin' Going on But the Rent





14. Gold Spectacles - What We Might Have Been





15. Japanese Wallpaper ft. Pepa Knight - Waves (NEW)





16. Remi - Tyson





17. Garbage ft. Brody Dalle - Girls Talk (NEW)





18. Ed Sheeran - All Of The Stars (NEW)





19. Northeast Party House - The Haunted





20. Lana Rel Rey - West Coast





21. The Hics - All We'll Know (NEW)





22. Royksopp and Robyn - Do It Again





23. Lily Allen - L8 CMMR (NEW)





24. Seinabo Sey - Hard Time (NEW)





25. Holly Who - Get A Little More

Top 113 Songs of 2013, #60 - 51

#113 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60. Temaze

by Our Man In Berlin

So don't you stay awake,

No don't you stay awake

Oh this song is just too, too divine. Being a big fan of Bon Iver, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this song that has such an echo of his styling’s. Not to say that Our Man in Berlin are a direct copy in any way. This Perth Band have a distinct mark of their own magic going on with ethereal arrangements and heart stopping soaring male vocals. This is one of my favourite tracks of 2013 and has me firmly by the jugular with its emotion and other worldliness. I hope an album will follow in 2014. (Lou Endicott)

Temaze is commonly used to treat insomnia, but ‘Temaze’ doesn’t make you want to sleep at all. You just want to hear this striking and deeply moving song over and over again. Haydn Mansell is easily my favourite new male singer we’ve encountered in 2013. When you’re listening to his voice and the music of Our Man In Berlin you’re almost wishing for a bout of insomnia. ‘Temaze’ makes you feel like you’re dreaming already. (Matt Bond)

Look here, I’ve told you before but I’ll tell you again. Anything connected to Germany gets my seal of approval. But that’s not the only reason I love Our Man in Berlin and ‘Temaze’. This song is gentle, but gets me right in the heart. It feels like the perfect soundtrack for star crossed lovers holding hands and having picnics. (Katie Langley)

Another stripped back, ethereally stunning number from the boys of our Man In Berlin. The influence of Sigur Ros is evident in the development of “soundscapes” in Temaze with its pulses, twitches, drips, clicks and echoes. Vocally it is soft and vulnerable with Bronski Beat-esque flourishes lingering and then fading into the powerful musical atmosphere. (Nayt Housman)

There are five members of this incredible band from Perth, which means that there are five people I need to thank for giving me one of my favourite songs of the year. Its ethereal feel, its gentle sounds swimming around my heart and mind made their way subtly into my year. Now, like visits from a friend, when I revisit and press play on 'Temaze', everything feels somehow in its right place. Named after a brand of sleeping tablet is kind of funny though, because the sleeping tablet Temaze (or temazepam) is often prescribed because it effects are usually shorter acting than many other sleeping medications. Guess people who need to take it haven't heard of Our Man In Berlin though, because if Haydn Mansell keeps giving me goosebumps with those amazing falsetto notes of his, I don't plan on my love of them or this song being short acting at all. (Jo Michelmore)

#59. She Will

by Savages

She will forget her pain
She will come back again

Whenever I hear someone decry the death of the female rocker, I want to punch them in the face. So you don’t hear them on Nova or B105 or even that much on triple J. It doesn’t mean there isn’t a huge wealth of women banging drums, smashing guitars and screaming their lungs out for our enjoyment. 2013 has been a great year for fans of female driven rock and for fans of all-girl rock outfits. Warpaint are back, Go Violets and Foxsmith have emerged and then there’s Savages. With tracks like ‘She Will’ in their repertoire, these ladies have spent the year kicking butt and taking names on the stage. You want your rock? Here’s your rock. (Matt Bond)


Rock, punk, fast, loud, aggressive, awesome, perfect. Like in the 80s, for every Madonna there was a Siousxie And The Banshees. Right now, for every Miley Cyrus, there is a Savages, even if the mainstream media doesn't know or care and really "you've got to get used to it, give your heart a little kick" and this track, taken from their awesome album Silence Yourself  says all you need to know about women in the music industry, whether you like it and whether you agree or not. (Jo Michelmore)


Intense guitar rock with catchy hooks, loads of attitude and hints of PJ Harvey and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I could get used to this. (Nayt Housman)

#58. Further Still

by Curxes

Sleep through the changes
Bypass all stages
Yes, I really could

I fell for the magic of Curxes on the magical internets sometime in the middle of last year. 'Spectre' was a track I adored and then they released 'Haunted Gold' and I couldn't quite believe what I'd stumbled across. When I heard 'Further Still' this year, something happened. Mind. Blown. The light and dark, the incredible moods Macaulay Hopwood creates are almost scary at times, in only the best way possible and Roberta Fidora's voice is divine, floating and dreamy until she let's us all know what she's really feeling mid way through the track. So good. When I heard one of my other fave emerging UK artists, Avec Sans had remixed 'Further Still', all my happy music worlds collided and dark and broody became dark, broody AND danceable. What a fabulous combination.


I had the honour and pleasure of seeing a Curxes gig mid way through this year in an awesome little venue in Brighton in the UK and my love of this duo was only intensified that night. 'Further Still' was one of the highlights and with the release of another track this month, I'm so, so glad I'll be hearing more from them through 2014. (Jo Michelmore)


‘Further Still’ was such an intriguing change of pace for Curxes. After the sonic assaults of ‘Haunted Gold’ and ‘Spectre’, ‘Further Still’ showed just how diverse the British duo could be. We get to see just how beautiful Roberta Fidora’s voice really is. She’s been totally amazing when belting it out before, but this right here is a captivating performance. When Fidora really gets into those repeated chorus lines, “you hurt me further still,” in the latter half, I never want it to stop because she’s selling it so well. Macaulay Hopwood works wonders crafting the electronic surrounds that circle Fidora. Curxes are just too good! And luckily for us, I spy they’ve just released a new track ‘Avant-Guarded’, so good times with Curxes will continue into the new year. (Matt Bond)


Kate? Kate Bush? Is that you? OH WAIT it’s CURXES! Seemingly wearing their 80s influences on their sleeve, Curxes ‘Further Still’ is dramatic and achingly tormented. Haunting beauty resonates, along with the visuals, it gives a strong sense of some kind of lonely haunted house experience (I always wished I had a ghost friend as a child) without the cheap scares of a C grade movie, but instead a willing possession by the spirits that seek to torment. It’s got owls, taxidermy, implied surgical procedures, creepy makeup application and xylophone. All wins in my book of tricks. (Nayt Housman)


I know that Jo is a lover of all things Curxes, but I must admit I’ve been a little slack in checking out their music until now. There’s something a little bit dark and sinister about ‘Further Still’. It reminds me a bit of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (Katie Langley)

#57. Skin To Bone

by The Jungle Giants

Don't ever let me go
Don't let me get away

The Jungle Giants have become one of my most listened to bands of 2013. I love their mix of surfy guitar, fast drums and oh-so-fun-I-cant-stop-smiling vocal licks. This song really showcases the joy that The Jungle Giants create in their music. This song invited me with its energy and upbeat beginning. It had me at the “Oh oh!” and “Whee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo-ooo”. Like a call out for fun and for dancing I answered the call by putting this on high rotation in my collection of 2013. (Lou Endicott)

A fun catchy pop/rock number that makes me want to dance like a 60s gogo girl. *Twirls* (Nayt Housman)

#56. My God Is The Sun

by Queens of the Stone Age

So good the empty space

Mental erase

This isn’t usually my kind of rock but Josh Homme is a ridiculously talented man (and the rest of the band of course) and was introduced to me when he recorded Desert Sessions with PJ Harvey. As expected My God Is The Sun is a hard-hitting rock number that showcases Homme’s natural musical sensibilities and his knack of making some ludicrously catchy hooks and melodies. And is it just me or is Mr Homme strangely alluring? (Nayt Housman)


Drums. Lots of drums. Guitars. Lots of guitars. Bass. Lots of bass. A rock voice, sometimes screaming, sometimes singing, hitting some 80s high notes and hitting some 90s low notes...and lots of them. I've just described every Queens Of The Stone Age song, haven't I? Well, I like most of them, so this one is no exception. And if we're to look at the Nayt-o-meter of music, even Nayt says he likes this one and Nayt's not known for his rock taste, so it's got to be good. Doesn't it? (Jo Michelmore)


It’s been a long time between songs for Queens of the Stone Age, but ‘My God Is the Sun’ proves they’ve still got it! This is Queens of the Stone Age doing what they do best – heavy riffs with Josh Homme’s trademark vocal delivery. (Katie Langley)

#55. Hurricane

by MS MR

Didn't know getting lost in the blue
It meant I wound up losing you

I really enjoy the sound that this New York duo creates. I can’t put my finger on it exactly by Lizzy Plapinger’s voice reminds me of something that is at once both terrifyingly power and soft as butter. Mixed with the production values brought by Max Hershenow this track has a live quality that is emotionally stirring but yet has the ability to chill me right out. The strings and the industrial rhythmic sounds are a beautiful contrast to the vocal styling that Lizzy creates here. I love the lyrics “Welcome to the inner workings of my mind”. For me, there’s nothing quite like a lyric to spur on my visual imagination. And this song does it well. (Lou Endicott)


What does this song remind me of? Who does this song remind me of? I can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s something pleasantly familiar about the sound – but perhaps MS MR can’t easily be classified? Maybe there’s nothing out there quite like ‘Hurricane’? I’ve heard them described as goth pop synth. That sounds cool, I’ll stick with that. (Katie Langley)


I’m a big fan of this darker brand of ‘dream pop’ that’s emerging and especially a big fan of the New York-based duo, MS MR. But especially how Lizzy Plapinger is done up like a naughty Smurfette in the clip. But especially the shivers her voice sends down my spine. But especially ‘Hurricane’. I’ve interpreted the song as Plapinger ruining her own relationships by waiting for something bad to happen, never immersing herself in the moment. Like a hurricane she is destructive. But she can’t help it… it’s in her nature. (Matt Bond)


A great percussive pop track that cruises along at a trotting pace and tries to induce a pop culture epileptic fit with the video. I love the buttery smooth vocals plus it uses Autoharp as one of the instruments. I love butter and the Autoharp! (Nayt Housman)

#54. Wave

by Crystal Fighters

Time flies by 
Just be alive

Come on, you know this makes you happy. It makes you happy enough to dance, no matter where you are. On a plane? You’re dancing. At the beach? You’re dancing. We’re not going to play this game all day, but wherever you are, listen to ‘Wave’ and dance like nobody’s watching. “In the galaxy of truth, your stars are the eyes, your heart is the sun, in the depths of my mind.” Crazy electro hippies spreading their cheer across the world. I’ve got a lot of time for Crystal Fighters. (Matt Bond)

Crystal Fighters are such a strange little group of humans. Don't get me wrong, fabulously strange, but strange nonetheless. Are they hippies or are they dance music geniuses? 'Wave' suggests dance music geniuses but the lyrics "we're flying on a wave, babe, we're on the same wave" suggest they should be sitting around a fire and playing acoustic guitars and...drinking cups of tea, or something. Hippies who like dance music? 'Waves' is just like three and a half minutes of being at Splendour In The Grass, without all the annoying bits. It's awesome. (Jo Michelmore)

#53. Breathe In

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Wafia

Heart beats slowly

Leeching off your memories

It was a year of 16 year old music makers showing their established colleagues how it’s done. One of those young champions was Melbourne’s programmer extraordinaire, Japanese Wallpaper, with the stunning song ‘Breathe In’. He brought in Brisbane’s Wafia for vocals and it makes you want these two to work together forever. Wafia sings in such a serene manner, taking you over heart, body and soul. Gab Strum aka Japanese Wallpaper manages to create a warm atmosphere while using sparse production in such an amazing way that you shouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself lost in a bit of a daze. There may be droolage going on too. I want to be hearing a lot about Japanese Wallpaper in 2014 and I’m not talking about listening to my ageing friends considering bold new home decorating options. (Matt Bond)


I can’t believe the creator of this beautiful music is only sixteen years of age. ‘Breathe In’ has passion and maturity beyond sixteen years. It’s soft, it’s subtle, but it makes me feel alive. (Katie Langley)


Damn. This is just divine. Get yourself a dictionary and look up the word dreamy. Then look up chilled. Then look up ethereal. Then look up tranquillity. Then look up that first word I used, divine. All of those words and a whole lot more will describe this track. They won't describe the wave of serenity that rests gently upon your shoulders when the music starts, but only hearing the delicate sounds will give you that feeling and it's much better to feel it than describe it anyway. This is a truly beautiful track from a bunch I hope to hear lots more of. (Jo Michelmore)


Super duper chilled out like a lil bubba’s lullaby. If you love a tune that will put you in a deep state of relaxation then add this one to your meditation playlist. (Nayt Housman)

#52. Ready To Begin

by Passerine

Tomorrow watches you

I'll see you there my friend

“Sounds from a disco, somewhere between New York and Jamaica.” Wherever Passerine will go, I know I’ll follow, especially because that description would suggest the disco is in the Bahamas! ‘Ready To Begin’ takes me back to the sounds of early 2000s dance. Think Spiller’s ‘Groovejet’, but even better with some Moloko influences lurking in the shadows. In my mind I’m ready to begin an amazing holiday on a Caribbean party cruise each time the track starts to play. The BATCHEDIT clip is a whole lot of fun too. (Matt Bond)


This makes me want to take out my hair and twirl around the dance floor. (Katie Langley)


I have a friend who has a love of disco music. He likes all sorts of music, but disco is one of his true loves. I love this about him, because, well, each to their own. Who doesn't love a bit of disco? He seems to know all the words to a whole bunch of songs that I've barely heard of, but for some reason those songs make me want to dance strangely whenever he plays any of them anyway. What is it about certain beats that make you move your shoulders in a certain way? I don't know, but if I hadn't started already, there's some beats about three and a half minutes into 'Ready To Begin' that make my shoulders move, that pass the K-Tizz nod test with flying colours and that make me like this disco-esque song, lots. (Jo Michelmore)


A cool classic house track that would make Tina Cousins super jelly. (Nayt Housman)

#51. Oh Sailor

by Mr Little Jeans

When you feel like you're out there on your own
Know there is someone watching over you

Well, isn’t this just a funky, abstract little number. When it starts it has a sultry feel, but then switches into an upbeat gear with some happy keys. Yes, that’s the technical term. It makes me happy. I like it. (Katie Langley)


When I first heard ‘Oh Sailor’ I thought it was nice. Just nice. Worth a listen, but I didn’t find myself yearning to hear it over and over again. So it sat there on my iPod and admittedly, whenever it came up on shuffle I’d skip over it. A couple of months later, I’m on a stinky bus to Melbourne, it’s 3am and ‘Oh Sailor’ pops up on the phone and I don’t skip it. Best decision ever. Mr Little Jeans (Monica Birkenes) must have earned herself about fifty repeats the rest of the bus ride. It’s a sweet electronic lullaby for young and old. Enchanting in every way with this tiny, tiny hint of sadness lying just below the surface, I can’t help but love it more with each listen. Every time the children’s choir comes in for the chorus with the lines, “when you feel like you’re out there on your own, know there is someone watching over you,” I smile, quickly feel sad and then smile again. This is a beautiful song. And it made me forget how much that bus stank. (Matt Bond)


Ah the old “children singing the chorus” trick. You think you got me pegged Mr Little Jeans? You think you can lure me with your cool synthy beats, sweet whispery vocals and “chiffon-ography”? DAMN YOU! You got me pegged… (Nayt Housman)

See you tomorrow for ten more incredible tracks from 2013!