2012 has been another great year for music, having to choose a top ten was always going to be difficult. While people continue to be brainwashed by X Factor, looking back we can see that there is still real originality and imagination out there and not creating whatever it takes to be number one and infamous. With honourable mentions to Spectrasoul, Passion Pit, Commix and Little Comets who have just missed out, below we list our much deliberated top ten albums of the year..
10. S.P.Y - What The Future Holds
What The Future Holds represents Brazilian S.P.Y's debut album on Hospital Records. Upon signing for Hospital, a lot of drum & bass fans were worried that this would change his sound to a more commercial sound, however they shouldn't have been disappointed when this was released in October. Featuring great tracks such as Love Hurts, Future Tense and Hammer In My Heart, this album really put Hospital back on the map and cemented S.P.Y's place at the top of the drum & bass game.
9. Justin Martin - Ghettos & Gardens
Released at the end of May, Ghettos & Gardens is the first album by Justin Martin. With 13 tracks that span across all types of house music and beyond. Perfectly put together, this is an album that can be listened from start to finish without a track sounding out of place. With so many great tracks on the album our gully tips are modern funk track The Gurner, his hard-hitting remix of Goldie's classic Kemistry and our favourite Don't Go which has a great vocal and deep house vibe. This may be the coolest album of 2012.
8. Enei - Machines
The debut album Machines, from Enei released on Critical Music had been long awaited ever since the confirmation that the Russian had been signed for the label. Critical have been enjoying arguably their best ever year, putting out more quality music than ever and this is the pick of the bunch. After witnessing Enei's set at Outlook festival and being in awe for a full hour whilst not even knowing many of the tracks played was a clear indication of the strength of the album, the majority consisting of brand new tracks without a low point in sight. The Moment, featuring DRS, Running, featuring Georgia Yates and Centrifuge are prime examples of why this is one of the best albums of the year.
7. The XX - Coexist
It was always going to be difficult following the near perfect self-titled album but The XX have outdone themselves. Coexist is the second album from the outfit and while not drastically different from the first album, why would it need to be? Once again The XX have put out a fantastic album with tracks like Angels, Chained and Sunset reminding you of why we love them so.
6. Submotion Orchestra - Fragments
Fragments is nothing short of a masterpiece, the seven-piece band Submotion Orchestra follow up Finest Hour with this second LP showing off their signature sound fusing together elements of jazz and funk with an electronic twist. The perfect album to kick back with late at night, the album captivates the listener straight from the Intro to highlights such as Thinking and Snow, this is the best album possible to spend your winter with.
5. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Trouble
Trouble is the debut album from Orlando Higginbottom, bringing forward his peerless style of electronic music. Featuring production and vocals from the man himself, this album was the soundtrack to our summer. Stand out tracks such as Household Goods, Garden, which you may recognise from a certain Nokia advert, and Tapes & Money make this album keeping you dancing in to 2013.
4. DRS - I Don't Usually Like MCs But...
MC DRS needs no introduction to anyone who listens to drum & bass or has been to a live drum & bass event. Having been in the game for years and featuring on many tracks and singles, 2012 definitely seemed the perfect time for him to team up with many of the best producers and other vocalists to put out one of the best albums of the year. The first single off the album Count To Ten, featuring Enei, was one of the summer's anthems murdering dancefloors worldwide and alongside other stunning tracks such as Bun Ya with the whole estate recordings crew and Autonomic solidified Del's place as the best MC in the business.
3. Alt -J - An Awesome Wave
This year's Mercury Prize winners Alt-J released their debut album An Awesome Wave in September and have gained worldwide plaudits that have been well deserved. An Awesome Wave takes you on a journey with truly unique tracks such as Tessellate and the every so catchy Breezeblocks all the way to the haunting Bloodflood, this our favourite band album of the year.
2. Skittles - Poor With £100 Trainers
Coming straight out of Manchester, Liam Kelly (or Skittles to you and I) released Poor With £100 Trainers back in March This is the best album you will have heard from the UK Hip Hop scene in a very long time, not being any old mixtape given out for free or by using threatening tactics to sell on the street. This album sells itself, with most of the tracks produced by Skittles himself, this album allows you to have fun while you listen with witty and funny lyrics delivered with perfect execution, discussing daily antics in the north while also having some deep reflective tracks aswell. With hilarious skits such as Zeeko's Tune and Peggy Mitchell along to the Arctic Monkeys sampled Boys in Blue and stand out tracks Dot to Dot and Tip-I-Cal-Ly you need to grab this album immediately.
1. Calyx & Teebee - All Or Nothing
As reviewed earlier this year on Gully Tips, All or Nothing shows off Calyx & Teebee's finest work to date, between them releasing the best drum & bass album of the year and of the decade so far. Meticulously produced to perfection and with each track brimming with class, it leaves it near impossible to pick a favourite. With such tracks as the anthemic Elevate This Sound and the latest single Pure Gold, the duo now have exemplary new material for their live 6-deck DJ experience which will leave you wanting even more.
