That’s right, it’s the end of the year and we just couldn’t resist. Beginning our look back over 2013, here we have our favorite tracks of the last 12 months. Writing about music, film and art can be tricky you see, such is our obligation to be as objective and unbiased as possible at all times. It can be difficult to express sometimes just how much we like things, so get your headphones, turn your speakers up and enjoy what we deem to be the best songs from 2013.
Raffertie – Rain
One of the most criminally overlooked records this year, Raffertie’s debut album Sleep of Reason is a brilliant collection of understated electronic gems that have real heart and shine with dazzling quality. ‘Rain’ is a beautifully melancholic piece that fits in sublimely with the current trend of introspective R&B music with intelligence to match its heart.
Vondelpark – California Analog Dream
First appearing on their debut EP, Sauna, in a much different and less polished form (see here), this track is one of those that fully encapsulates everything about a band’s sound. The guitar part is absolutely irresistible, as is the light and airy percussion that still packs a punch low down in the mix. The breezy vocals are effortlessly enticing, giving the track the finishing touch that makes it perfect for a hungover morning or a lazy summer night. Listening to the two different versions also offers a great insight into how this still young band has grown in recent years.
Moderat – Bad Kingdom
Moderat can’t seem to do much wrong. The combination of Modeselektor and Apparat released their second album this year and it was expectedly brilliant. Standout track and lead single ‘Bad Kingdom’ is a belter. Sci-fi synths pulse high up in the mix, with Sascha Ring’s ethereal vocals telling listeners “this is not what you wanted, not what you had in mind”. Pessimistic the lyrics may be, this track falls neatly between headphone music and club music. The fact that it can fall into either of those categories is tribute to Moderat’s superb understanding of and ability to create forward thinking electronica of the highest calibre. Also, the video is well worth a watch.
Kanye West – Bound 2
The closing track of West’s polarising Yeezus, ‘Bound 2′ is Kanye at his vintage best. West’s ‘long ass’ verses are structured around a soulful sample and bright synths. This live version illustrates how special each individual component of the song are, especially Charlie Wilson’s enormous backing vocal. Like most of the material on Yeezus, it’s not to everyone’s taste but there’s no denying how necessary it is for such music to be made. The necessity of this video, however, remains questionable.
Daft Punk – Giorgio By Moroder
9 minutes long? A ‘biography’ song about another musician? ‘What a load of pretentious toss’, you might think. Daft Punk’s long-awaited return was much-hyped and built up to stratospheric proportions. Some of Random Access Memories really hit the spot, some of it didn’t. ‘Giorgio By Moroder’ falls into the former spot hitting category. Synth pioneer and all round electronic legend Giorgio Moroder tells the tale of his life over some utterly fascinating sounds from Daft Punk. Starting out as a gentle funk meander, the track breaks down as Moroder mentions putting a click on a 24 track, which is where things just get absolutely barmy. The hook comes in and from then on it just builds and builds into something really quite extraordinary. Concentration and patience are very, very well rewarded here.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good At Being In Trouble
After earning critical acclaim with their debut album, Unknown Mortal Orchestra returned this year with an album that was altogether more assured and grown up than their first effort. ‘So Good At Being In Trouble’ is a smooth, melancholic affair that sees UMO bely their usual instinct to create bright funk-led pop. For those in need of an even smoother rendition, check out the acoustic version here, a Sunday morning tune if ever I’ve heard one.
Pusha T – Numbers On The Boards
It’s been a strong year for Hip-Hop releases and Pusha T’s My Name is My Name stands as one of the finest. The album is brimming with pop culture reference points from The Wire’s Marlo Stanfield to wrestler Ric Flair and a the guiding hand of Kanye behind the levels. There’s hardly a dud moment on the album, but ’Number On The Boards’ is definitely a stand out. The combination of a pushing bass and the off-time xylophone clunks create an unconventional beat that King Push’s delivery makes special.
Atoms For Peace – Default
If Thom Yorke had a big bumper book of his life where he wrote down an annual short summary of what he’s been up to, the entry for the past year would read something along the lines of ’2013: I turned on Spotify and spoke out for the little guy. Despite there being serious qualms raised by Mr. In Rainbows kicking off about music royalties, the Atoms For Peace album was probably a finer moment. The video above shows Thom performing the beautifully scatty ‘Default’ in a trendy New York bar and it doesn’t fail to keep up to his live performance standard.
Ghostpoet – Cold Win
Dark, moody and magnificent, Ghostpoet seems to go from strength to strength with every new release. ‘Cold Win’ stands a particular favorite from this year’s Some Say I So I Say Light with it’s brass flair and slurry vocal delivery, three minutes suited perfectly to late nights walking through a busy city.
Deptford Goth – Particles
A song of two landscapes – one pensive, one hopeful. It begins brooding and intense, a simple bass line clicks into gear before being swirled by feedback and other ungodly sounds. Then, with exactly 1 minute and 5 seconds gone, it all changes. What was gloomy is now ethereal, soulful and full of light. Off Deptford Goth’s incredible debut Life After Defo, ‘Particles’ is the track that somehow stands out from an undeniably complete set of songs on an undeniably complete debut album.
Warpaint – Love Is To Die
Theresa Wayman can’t seem to figure out what love is, is it to die or is it to not die? Don’t ask us, all we know is that our love for this band can’t be overstated. It’s been far too long since we’ve had new Warpaint material, frustratingly long. Alas, in late October, they finally delivered. The questions – will it stack up to their perfect EP and album, The Fool? Has near-constant touring affected the band? Yes and no, thankfully. Once again it’s bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg and drummer Stella Mozgawa who are well and truly in the driving seat, allowing Emily Kokal and Theresa to intricately weave in and out of soundscapes with abandon. They’re back, and their second album, due out in January, is one of the most anticipated releases of 2014. Turns out that love is to dance, by the way. Who knew?
Foals – Inhaler
Inhaler starts off in a very typical Foals fashion, all staccato guitar and groovy bass lines. Yannis’ inimitable voice oozes elegantly over the music. One minute in and things start to kick off in a serious way. “So can you not go away? Just for one day?” roars a desperate Yannis before the band explode into a swampy Rage Against The Machine riff, thrusting off any lingering sand that might have been remaining from Spanish Sahara.
Mount Kimbie – Home Recording
Halfway through you start to wonder why on earth it’s taken until their second album for the duo to actually feature their own voices on their own music. Taken from Mount Kimbie’s fantastic second album, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth, ‘Home Recording’ proves there’s far more to their repertoire than glitchy, washed out beats.