HSD Top Ten Albums 2013...

As is tradition, the year must be rounded off with a ubiquitous best of list. There has been some excellent music released this year and below are my top ten albums of 2013. Some albums which didn't make the final list and others which are 'to be heard' 
are mentioned at the end of my top ten. Have a look, have a listen, see what you think and let me know if you have any recommendations. Have a fantastic end to 2013; and here's to a happy, prosperous and musical 2014.Xx.               
              
HEAD SPACE DAILY TOP TEN ALBUMS 2013…


1 Unknown Mortal Orchestra – 11

This album has rarely been far from my ears throughout 2013. I love it. UMO are my number one discovery of the year. An exceptional blend of psychedelic soul that washes over you, draws you in and gets you hooked. Great live too… (see - HSD Words November 8th)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)

There is not a bad track on this album but Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark) is infectious like a plague of happy bacteria.

              


2 Arctic Monkeys – AM

For me this is their best LP to date. I love the space in this album - there’s enough room to swing a cat. It oozes confidence. Alex Turner’s writing is back on tip top form with instantly quotable lines and even doffs its cap to the Public Enemy track She Watch Channel Zero. He has set himself high standards…

Arctic Monkeys - Arabella

This is Arabella, my youngest son’s favourite track on A.M



                    
3 John Grant – Pale Green Ghosts

An album of raw emotion, with a large slice of wry humour, John G opens his heart and bares his soul. From lambasting a former lover, and confronting his HIV positive status, to childhood gripes, he gets it all off his chest. Not many albums come like this. A compelling listen…

John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

Here is the title track, which also lends itself to a good old-fashioned remix.





                    
4 Thundercat – Apocalypse

Another fantastic discovery of 2013, Thundercat is a future soul, funk, electro, jazz pioneer, known to wear a cracking red Indian style headdress and mates with Flying Lotus. Big things to come…

Thundercat - Oh Sheit, It's X

Future funk, electro business from Thundercat – Liono would be proud!!




                    
5    Disclosure – Settle

Coming at you like a mid 90s pirate radio station,Disclosure’s album brings back memories of arms in the air all nighters or, if you are young enough to currently be attending all nighters, these tunes are probably soundtracking your arms as they raise themselves skywards.

Disclosure feat Sasha Keable - Voices

Music that makes you want to move...



                 
6 Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold

         
I discovered this little nugget late in the year and to say it is catchy beyond belief, is an understatement, coming with all you want from a rock n roll record. Spiky melodies, pounding bass, aloof vocals, obtuse lyrics and tons of attitude abound. The songs are three-minute wonders or less, that leave an instant hit…

Parquet Courts - Borrowed Time

A fine example of spiky melodies and aloof vocals…




                    
7 Lady – Lady

Good old fashioned, beautifully crafted upbeat soul music. This album has largely passed under the radar but it is a hidden gem. Have a listen…

Lady - Tell The Truth

Sing it ladies!!




                    
8 Atoms For Peace – Amok

I was never into Radiohead. They weren’t on my radar at the time and just kind of passed me by. This Thom Yorke fronted album though, really gets the pulse racing. The bass is the place, the production brooding and Yorke’s barely comprehensible drawl works a treat…

Atoms For Peace - Stuck Together Pieces      

Brooding and bassy…




                    
9 Bonobo – The North Borders

There are some wonderful touches on this album and if you are in the right frame of mind, it will knock your socks off…

Bonobo feat Grey Reverend - First Fires

Prepare for your socks to be knocked off… 




                    
10               Lapalux –Nostalchic

Innovative, soulfully twisted electronica, like nothing else I have heard this year and all the better for it.

Lapalux feat Kerry Latham - Without You

Twisted, soulful and electronic…



Honourable Mentions:

Laura Mvula, James Blake, Palma Violets, Kurt Vile, Deerhunter, Melt Yourself Down, Foals.

To Be heard:

Laura Marling, Connan Mockasin, !!!, William Oneyabor, London Grammar, Gramme, Janelle Monae, Stepkids, Charles Bradley.

Head Space Daily Words...

Ho, ho, ho...

Head Space Daily Image...

Proof that Santa came last night…down our chimney, with two reindeer, who ate a carrot each, before the big fella opened and drank a bottle of beer. What a life...

Head Space Daily Tune...

The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

Fairytale of New York is for me the all time greatest Christmas song and what makes it so special is that it is not really about Christmas. Forget your novelty festive fare from Slade and Wizard - no one really wishes it was Christmas everyday. The reason Fairytale is timeless is because it is the story of how a couple struggle through the year. Not everyone spends time in "the drunk tank" or "is an old slut on junk" but it is a story of surviving the trials and tribulations that arise each year - its ups and downs - and at Christmas time, as the year draws to an end, they realise that they have stood by one another, are still together and can't actually be without each other. I believe this is how we all feel, when we look back on the previous twelve months. As the song says, looking forward to the year ahead, "I've got a feeling this year's for me and you." Here's hoping…

Head Space Daily Words...

As is traditional in our household, we went to the cinema today - the Ritzy in Brixton in fact - to see our Christmas Eve film, which this year was It's A Wonderful Life; and wonderful it was too. James Stewart is incredible and it is such amazing, beautiful storytelling. It is the first time I've seen the film and it was a long overdue viewing. You can tell that a movie is fantastic, when two boys, aged eleven and nine are transfixed by a black and white film which was made in 1946. This evening is for mince pies, alcohol, presents around the tree, and santa tracking. Another enjoyable element which you may be interested in checking out if you have kids of your own, is Portable North Pole, where Santa 'sends' your child a message from his snowbound headquarters. Have a great evening and merry Christmas...

Head Space Daily Image...

This is a Christmas picture from my youngest son. Have a great day tomorrow, or if it is already Christmas Day where you are, enjoy it...

Head Space Daily Tune...

James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto

Who else can put the soul into Christmas Eve than Mr. James Brown himself…

Head Space Daily Words...

Today's weather has been the kind of weather that makes you want to stay in and hibernate. So, that is what we have done, accompanied by the delights of an old movie called Harvey on Channel 5, Toy Story on BBC1, Nativity which had been recorded by my boys and Gavin and Stacey on BBC3, with an episode of Homeland to come, all rounded off with Caitlin Moran's Raised By Wolves on Channel 4. Gavin and Smithy have just been singing Feed The World by Band Aid and you just have to join in, don't you? The original purpose of the television set returns at Christmas time, with families sitting in front of it to be entertained and we've just cracked open a nice bottle of red. Happy times...

Head Space Daily Image...

Our blazing open fire. Nice...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

Christmas wouldn't be the same without the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, composesd by Vince Gauraldi. A wonderful, laid back, jazzy Christmas vibe…

Head Space Daily Words...

Woke up this morning. Groggy head. Lie in. Got up slightly grumpy. Food, coffee, shower. Out. We headed over to Shoreditch, where there was a nice Christmas vibe. Not too rammed, beigel bakery, Columbia Road, giant biscuits from Albion and home. Then, next door, for friends, chat, booze and home. Lets do it again tomorrow...

Head Space Daily Image…

A market trader with a stall on Sclater Street off Brick Lane was attempting to sell these Psy Gangnam style dolls that dance and repeat the phrase 'wappa gangnam style.' Forget Gangnam style - proper Del Boy style more like...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Donny Hathaway - This Christmas

From one of the most incredible and underrated soul voices, take it away Donny…

Head Space Daily Words...

And so it begins. Christmas is upon us. The kids have broken up from school and day by day their excitement levels will increase, until they reach fever pitch. The Christmas season is without doubt a fantastic time of year and one of those rare moments in the year when people are enthusiastic, polite and decent towards each other, without exception. We have the rare chance to spend valuable quality time with our families, as life slows down for a few days and the focus revolves around eating plenty of good food, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and visiting friends and family. It is a proper good time to catch up and put the year that is about to end into perspective, talking through experiences and sharing anecdotes from the past twelve months. Various foods will make an appearance that we only see at this time of year. Pates and cheeses will take centre stage, not to mention the obvious turkey and brussel sprouts. Chocolate (that isn’t a generic Cadbury’s bar,) and nuts will be in plentiful supply. Matchmakers are essential, as are Noisette Whirls and of course, without a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, it just wouldn’t be the same. Then there is the drink. We will drink a whole lot more over the next two weeks – because we can. Of course some peoples work commitments will mean they won’t have the same opportunity but for those of us who can go straight through the festive period, we will go to town, with the ability to lie in in the mornings being key. Sleep it off and go again. Football dominates throughout Christmas and for my boys, and me, we will be off to Villa Park a week today to watch Villa take on Swansea. My hopes for a Villa win are slim to say the least but I won’t bore you with the details. Another vital element to Christmas is the Radio Times and it makes good reading this year. There are some excellent films on terrestrial television and the freeview box, which started today with The Great Escape. Music is also a key ingredient of Christmas and our two Christmas essential albums will be getting an airing. They are A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (check out Head Space daily Tune,) which is from 1963, with an up-tempo, soulful, Motownesque feel and is fantastic, whilst our other default Christmas album is A Charlie Brown Christmas, from 1965, which is the soundtrack to the animation of the same name and is wonderfully, beautiful music. So, with a combination of great food, family, football, T.V and music, whatever you’re up to this Christmas, have a good one…

Head Space Daily Image...

The Christmas star that is lighting up our dining room...

Head Space Daily Tune...

The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride

This track by The Ronettes sums up what A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector is all about. Great, festive soul…

Head Space Daily Words...

I received a letter from the taxman yesterday and it wasn’t to wish me a happy Christmas. Why do they do it at this time of year? Why not in June when nothing happens, summer is starting and more optimism is in the air? Makes sense. Anyway, I went to the Market Porter pub at Borough Market to meet an old friend for a drink or three and a catch up in the evening. He is a successful businessman. We were talking about an old friend of ours who is a hotshot lawyer. I know many other friends who are equally as successful, then there is me, who still gets a kick out of listening to and buying vinyl records. Have I missed something in life? Should there have been a certain point where everything jut clicked and I said to myself, ‘right I am a grown up now, from this moment forth I will do what is expected of me and become an upstanding citizen.’ I don’t know, but I do think at the age of 40 it is all down hill from here. Where do I go? The first thing I have done since I got home was grab a copy of Hamlet - my default book when in need of inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, I listened to The Beatles Revolver album on the tube home. My god, what writing and musicianship. Incredible. What inspiration to listen to it. Check out HSD Tune Of The Day. In fact does anyone actually listen to the HSD tune of the day, or even read this blog? Who knows?