1. Gary Numan - Dead Son Rising (2011)

It has taken 5 years since the release of ‘Jagged’ for the latest album to emerge. Born out of unused material from the previous 3 albums, this has developed way beyond what was originally expected into a cracking full release which is amongst his best ever. Retaining the dark themes, deep synth basslines and intricate details of ‘Jagged’ this release is more varied with two instrumentals in ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Into Battle’ and includes an amazing arabic styled ‘We Are The Lost’ which manages to stand out from a host of other great songs. This album is immersive, clever and ranges from catchy chorus melodies to intricate musical pieces which build up and flow around you. An amazing album for those that like dark synth.

2. Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow (2011)

A new concept album from Kate Bush some 6 years after ‘Aerial’ and well worth the wait. This is an album that is musical genius with a stripped down nature featuring predominantly Kate and her piano as lead instrument and an ambiant swirling rhymical backdrop, splashed occasionally with orchestral strings. The 7 songs are completely immersive and superbly put together with less emphasis on standard song structures here and much more about musical journeys and storytelling. The opening 3 songs are just amazing and take you through over 30 minutes of pure enjoyment from the lost and lonely ‘Snowflake’ to the ghostly ‘Lake Tahoe’ and the passionate ‘Misty’. This is a cracking piece of music.

3. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (2011)

PJ Harvey is undoubtedly talented. You also can never quite know what her next album will sound like as she likes to change styles, from the rock driven ‘Stories From The City’ to the bleak acoustic ‘White Chalk’. I find her albums a mix of the glorious and the experimental. Somehow though it all comes together in ‘Let England Shake’ which blends folk and rock and uses a range of instruments. This is written around war torn England, and completely captures the haunting experience. It is lyrically strong and beautifully melodic with acoustic guitars that drive songs along rhythmically. A unique taste perhaps but also a classic.  

4. The Lucinda Belle Orchestra - My Voice & 45 Strings (2010)

The Lucinda Belle Orchestra is the sum of one harp, a harmonium, the melodica, some strings, horns, an upright bass, drums, the ukulele, a clarinet, guitar and an extraordinary songwriter and front-woman. She is Lucinda Belle, and this is her excellent debut album. All the aforementional instruments play their part here, the clarinet and harp in particular peek through superbly at times. All these songs are strong, with strings a key element, and Lucinda’s vocals as good as they come. Generally this is so tunefull and foot-tapping, the storyline style of ‘Rose Marie and Bobby McGee’ is just great.

5. Lissie Maurus - Catching A Tiger (2010)

A stunning debut album from the blonde American Lissie Maurus which brilliantly blends blues, folk, pop and rock into 12 excellent tracks. Vocally she delivers with ease, but her songwriting skills shine here with tuneful energy and some great guitar work. Often using a pre-chorus in her songs, these are catchy and melodic and perfect for summer listening. Outstanding tracks include ‘When I’m Alone’, ‘In Sleep’ which has a superb guitar ending, the rocky ‘Loosen The Knot’, and the folk sound of ‘Everywhere I Go’. This is a real find and could easily end up as the best album of the year.

6. The Pierces - You & I (2011)

Catherine and Alison Pierce are sisters from Alabama who have released their 3rd album ‘You & I’. Their music is best described as hamony filled folk rock. This is a superb collection of beautiful songs with lovely melodies and harmonies that sound amazing against a backdrop of lush arrangements including strings and has a Californian style. The opener is the single release ‘Youll Be Mine’ which is one of the strongest pop style songs and sets the tone, but this isnt a one stream album, there is deeper bassline led ‘Love You More’ and a more acoustic ‘The Good Samaritan’. This is a quality album that harps back to Fleetwood Mac and The Mamas & The Papas.

7. Joss Stone - LP1 (2011)

After a great debut with ‘The Soul Sessions’, Joss Stone is critically by music press considered to have failed to meet such a high standard set since. However, LP1 is for me Joss Stone’s 5th and best album to date. This album is produced and co-written by Dave Stewart and his influence has helped create an album with more raw power and grit than her previous albums , with a blend of rock with touches of soul, it works well. It is generally pacey, slowing down towards the end with stand out tracks include ‘Karma’, ‘Dont Start Lying To Me Now’, ‘Landlord’ and ‘Boat Yard’, but its all great. Soul purists wont take to this as much i am sure but it definately suits me better.

8. Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way (2010)

An Australian brother and sister duo, this is the follow up release to ‘A Book Like This’ and is an extremely musical release. A blend of folk with tinges of rock, with an acoustic guitar and piano leading a number of tracks here, but there is no shortage of supporting instruments from drums, bass, electric guitar, chello and strings. The duo alternative on the lead vocals, Julia’s being somewhat unique with a more angelic and fragile edge which works really well on these compositions. The whole 13 tracks here are excellent with stand out ones from the chello’s of ‘Hold On’, the rockier 7 minute plus epic ‘Yellow Brick Road and ‘Draw Your Sword’.

9. Kate Bush - Directors Cut (2011)

Kate Bush returns to and reinterprets two of her older albums, ‘The Sensual World’ and ‘The Red Shoes by stripping back and rebuilding the music and re-recording the vocals. You end up with a superb album with most of her best tracks from both albums which remain musically excellent and work well together. Compared directly to the originals some have greater differences than others but the stand out changes come from ‘Deeper Understanding’ and ‘Rubberband Girl’ which both feature an extended musical section with harmonica. ‘Lily’ is raw and stripped down and ‘Moments Of Pleasure’ is taken back to a simple but beautiful piano version.

10. Duffy - Endlessly (2010)

It was always going to be tough to reach the heights of her debut album ‘Rockferry’ and this album makes a great effort to do so. This time she teams up with Albert Hammond and has remained true to the 60’s sound from her first album which is very pleasing. This is a mix of faster paced numbers which peak with ‘Keeping My Baby’ and ‘Lovestruck’ and the slower ballads which sparkle with ‘Too Hurt To Dance’, ‘Breath Away’ and ‘Hard For The Heart’. Once again this album is bathed in strings and crooning vocals that showcase some great songs and keep her as one of my favourite current artists.

11. Orchestral Manoevers In The Dark - History Of Modern (2010)

It remains somewhat reassuring that groups i grew up on such as Depeche Mode and OMD still release new albums. ‘History of Modern’ marks a return of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys together. Side 1 contains  highlights in the title tracks part 1 & 2 and the Architecture & Morality styled ‘New Holy Ground’. Side 2 is better though, from the Trans Europe Express train theme of ‘The Future, The Past, And Forever After’, the Enola Gay inspired ‘Sister Mary Says’, and the lovely melody of ‘Green’. The album concludes with the angelic ‘Bondage Of Fate’ and a Kraftwerk inspired ‘The Right Side?’. A great return to top form.

12. Goldfrapp - Head First (2010)

After the much more interesting ‘Seventh Tree’, Goldfrapp return to their more synth driven electronic pop music style for their album ‘Head First’. This turns out to be no bad thing, as this is a better album overall than both ‘Supernature’ and ‘Black Cherry’ and contains a host of great tracks including ‘Believer’, ‘Head First’ and ‘Shiny & Warm’. The most intruiging song is the finale ‘Voicething’. Whilst this may not stay the course as a long term classic it is an all out pop extravaganza and if you like your 80’s music and a mix of the catchiness of Abba with the electronics of Depeche Mode and some beautiful vocals then this will work for you.