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 | Album: 1 of 12 Artist: Ben Howard Title: Every Kingdom Released: 2011-09-30 Tracks: 10 Duration: 50:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Old Pine (05:28) 2 Diamonds (04:06) 3 The Wolves (05:09) 4 Everything (04:45) 5 Only Love (04:09) 6 The Fear (04:20) 7 Keep Your Head Up (04:24) 8 Black Flies (06:21) 9 Gracious (04:57) 10 Promise (06:26) |
| Every Kingdom : Allmusic album Review : Risking arriving a little too late to the party, Devon-born 23-year-old Ben Howard is yet another young troubadour whose sound appears indebted to the 70s pastoral folk of John Martyn and Nick Drake. His debut album, Every Kingdom, therefore, has its work cut out for it from the offset if its to make itself heard above similar recent efforts by the likes of Marcus Foster and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. But its clear from the opening track, "Old Pine," a slow-burning epic that begins with some hushed choral harmonies before building into a strident slice of nu-folk, that this is a more intriguing affair. Indeed, considering that much of the album features nothing more than Howards intricate fingerpicking guitar skills with the occasional flourishes of cello and percussion, its remarkable that its only toward the closing minimal acoustic balladry of "Gracious" and "Promise" that the evocative autumnal vibes begin to lose their appeal. Thats partly down to Howards versatile and intense vocals, which manage to capture the understatement of José González, the gruffness of Ray LaMontagne, and the soulfulness of James Morrison, without ever sounding like a tribute act, and partly down to the inventiveness displayed throughout its ten tracks, whether its the military beats, sea shanty melodies, and howling wolf calls on "The Wolves," the burst of grandiose post-rock that interrupts the somber breakup song "Black Flies," or the buoyant campfire singalong of "The Fear." Its not clear whether Howards stripped-back approach will cross over to the mainstream, as other than "Keep Your Head Up," a slightly more energetic rebel-rousing slice of folk-pop that found its way onto the Radio 1 playlist, its charms are more slow-burning than immediate. But its an impressively timeless debut that suggests Howard should have no problem standing out from the overpopulated nu-folk crowd. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 12 Artist: alt-J Title: An Awesome Wave Released: 2012-05-28 Tracks: 44 Duration: 2:58:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize *** WINNER *** 2012 | 1 Intro (02:37) 2 ❦ (Ripe & Ruin) (01:12) 3 Tessellate (03:02) 4 Breezeblocks (03:47) 5 ❦ (Guitar) (01:17) 6 Something Good (03:38) 7 Dissolve Me (03:59) 8 Matilda (03:48) 9 Ms (03:58) 10 Fitzpleasure (03:39) 11 ❦ (Piano) (00:53) 12 Bloodflood (04:09) 13 Taro (05:06) 14 Hand-Made (02:37) 15 Breezeblocks (03:07) 16 Breezeblocks (03:59) 17 Breezeblocks (04:41) 18 Breezeblocks (05:07) 19 Breezeblocks (05:18) 20 Fitzpleasure (04:24) 21 Fitzpleasure (03:19) 22 Fitzpleasure (04:20) 23 Fitzpleasure (04:30) 24 Matilda (03:49) 25 Something Good (06:29) 26 Something Good (04:36) 27 Something Good (05:08) 28 Something Good (08:22) 29 Tessellate (Anstam remix) (03:58) 30 Tessellate (Ben de Vries remix) (04:07) 31 Tessellate (05:56) 32 Tessellate (Broadbandits Afro mix) (05:27) 33 Tessellate (Dam Mantle remix) (06:17) 34 Tessellate (Marlais remix) (03:53) 35 Fitzpleasure (04:04) 36 Taro (04:24) 37 Tessellate (04:27) 38 Bloodflood (03:34) 39 Matilda (04:00) 40 Something Good (03:40) 41 Tessellate (03:03) 42 Breezeblocks (03:47) 43 Tessellate (03:01) 44 Something Good (03:39) |
| An Awesome Wave : Allmusic album Review : Named after the Mac command also used as a mathematical equation to show change, formed while studying fine art at university, and prone to throwing in the odd geometric reference within their lyrics, there are signs that Cambridge-based quartet Alt-J might be a little bit too clever for their own good. Produced by Charlie Andrew (the Laurel Collective), their debut album, An Awesome Wave, is occasionally guilty of pretentiousness, particularly the irritating a cappella vocal warmup of the interlude "(The Ripe & Ruin)." But for the most part, its 13 tracks do for nu-folk what Everything Everythings equally ambitious debut did for indie rock, breathing new life into the genre with an intriguing but accessible series of art rock twists and turns. Indeed, other than frontman Joe Newmans impassioned -- if occasionally bordering on parody -- vocal style, theres little here in common with the tweeness of Mumford & Sons. "Tessellate" combines the glitchy electronica of Thom Yorkes solo career with the wistful wintry harmonies of Fleet Foxes; "Fitzpleasure" fizzes along with its dubstep-lite beats and acidic basslines before its interrupted, first by a burst of jangly post-rock and second by the kind of shimmering guitar twangs youd expect from a Tarantino soundtrack; while "Taro" somehow melds together the unlikely bedfellows of Americana and bhangra to produce a fittingly oddball but enthralling finale. Its to Andrews credit that these eclectic arrays of sound are woven together in a manner so effortlessly that the results never feel forced or contrived. There are a few more straightforward moments such as "Matilda," a gentle acoustic folk ode to Natalie Portmans troubled character in Léon, and the sparse, haunting "Ms." But Alt-Js wave is far more awesome when its at its most schizophrenic. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 12 Artist: Jessie Ware Title: Devotion Released: 2012-08-16 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:02:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Devotion (03:21) 2 Wildest Moments (03:42) 3 Running (04:26) 4 Still Love Me (03:55) 5 No to Love (03:34) 6 Night Light (04:14) 7 Swan Song (03:45) 8 Sweet Talk (03:38) 9 110% (03:27) 10 Taking in Water (04:21) 11 Something Inside (03:36) 12 Running (Disclosure remix) (05:17) 13 Strangest Feeling (03:41) 14 What You Wont Do for Love (04:04) 15 Wildest Moments (acoustic version) (03:37) 16 Running (acoustic version) (03:56) |
| Devotion : Allmusic album Review : A handful of collaborations released during 2010 and 2011 hinted at Jessie Wares range and potential. The singer outclassed her fellow vocalists on SBTRKTs SBTRKT and Jokers The Vision; she displayed exquisite restraint on the formers "Right Thing to Do," while she had her way with the latters lancing title track. Along with the two low-key 2011 singles, "Valentine" and "Strangest Feeling," there were indications that Ware was capable of making something like Devotion -- an album of uncommon depth, a sophisticated but stimulating hybrid of pop, soul, and adult contemporary. Ware works extensively with Dave Okumu, Julio Bashmore, and Kid Harpoon, but its Okumu -- a member of the Invisible, as well as an affiliate of Bugz in the Attic and Matthew Herbert -- who is most responsible for helping Ware prance across the tightrope that comes with making subtle, sophisticated music. Wares voice is an instant draw. Her whispers are as powerful as her wails. Whenever the lyrics read like theyre aiming for the profound but appear hollow, she rescues them with elegance and power impressive enough to astound any of the elders to whom she has been compared -- Alison Moyet, Annie Lennox, Sade Adu, and Lisa Stansfield included. Take the weakest link, "No to Love"; the repeated exasperation "Who says no to love?" seems utterly ridiculous, but the delivery fits into the all-consuming heartache that is alternately concealed and exposed throughout the sets duration. If this isnt the album of the year, its at least the art-pop album of the year, or the neo-sophisti-pop album of the year, or -- beside Frank Oceans Channel Orange -- the alternative R&B album of the year. As far as "proper music" from the U.K. is considered, it belongs in a class with Roxy Musics Avalon, Sades Diamond Life, the Blue Niles Hats, and Caron Wheelers UK Blak. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 12 Artist: Django Django Title: Django Django Released: 2012-01-30 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:07:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Introduction (02:12) 2 Hail Bop (04:03) 3 Default (03:05) 4 Firewater (04:49) 5 Waveforms (04:26) 6 Zumm Zumm (05:19) 7 Hand of Man (02:36) 8 Loves Dart (03:49) 9 Wor (04:31) 10 Storm (03:14) 11 Lifes a Beach (03:05) 12 Skies Over Cairo (03:32) 13 Silver Rays (03:50) 14 Drumforms (06:23) 15 Bail Hop (05:10) 16 Skies Over Cairo (Adrian Sherwood On U Sound dub) (03:33) 17 Default (Tom Furse remix) (03:26) |
 | Album: 5 of 12 Artist: The Maccabees Title: Given to the Wild Released: 2012-01-09 Tracks: 13 Duration: 52:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Given to the Wild (intro) (02:11) 2 Child (04:31) 3 Feel to Follow (03:29) 4 Ayla (03:47) 5 Glimmer (04:03) 6 Forever Ive Known (05:21) 7 Heave (04:27) 8 Pelican (03:44) 9 Went Away (03:39) 10 Go (04:12) 11 Unknow (05:09) 12 Slowly One (04:17) 13 Grew Up at Midnight (04:00) |
 | Album: 6 of 12 Artist: Sam Lee Title: Ground of Its Own Released: 2012-07-02 Tracks: 8 Duration: 43:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 The Ballad of George Collins (03:59) 2 On Yonder Hill (06:19) 3 Wild Wood Amber (06:14) 4 Goodbye My Darling (04:32) 5 The Jews Garden (04:09) 6 The Tan Yard Side (05:32) 7 Northlands (06:29) 8 My Ausheen My Old Shoes (05:42) |
 | Album: 7 of 12 Artist: Michael Kiwanuka Title: Home Again Released: 2012-03-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Tell Me a Tale (04:12) 2 I’m Getting Ready (02:25) 3 I’ll Get Along (03:31) 4 Rest (03:52) 5 Home Again (03:30) 6 Bones (03:52) 7 Always Waiting (04:31) 8 I Won’t Lie (04:06) 9 Any Day Will Do Fine (03:40) 10 Worry Walks Beside Me (05:02) 11 Lasan (04:38) |
 | Album: 8 of 12 Artist: Lianne La Havas Title: Is Your Love Big Enough? Released: 2012-07-06 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:02:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Dont Wake Me Up (03:44) 2 Is Your Love Big Enough? (03:21) 3 Lost & Found (04:27) 4 Au Cinéma (04:18) 5 No Room for Doubt (04:05) 6 Forget (03:51) 7 Age (02:43) 8 Elusive (03:55) 9 Everything Everything (03:49) 10 Gone (04:25) 11 Tease Me (03:37) 12 They Could Be Wrong (03:21) 13 Hey, Thats No Way to Say Goodbye (In Paris) (03:03) 14 Arms of Danger (Solo in Paris) (03:27) 15 Empty (In Paris) (03:13) 16 He Loves Me (Solo in Paris) (03:30) 17 Forget (Solo in Paris) (04:01) |
 | Album: 9 of 12 Artist: Field Music Title: Plumb Released: 2012-02-13 Tracks: 15 Duration: 35:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Start the Day Right (02:18) 2 Its Okay to Change (00:58) 3 Sorry Again, Mate (02:08) 4 A New Town (03:58) 5 Choosing Sides (03:12) 6 A Prelude to Pilgrim Street (01:48) 7 Guillotine (03:12) 8 Wholl Pay the Bills? (02:20) 9 So Long Then (02:06) 10 Is This the Picture? (02:41) 11 From Hide and Seek to Heartache (02:49) 12 How Many More Times? (00:40) 13 Ce soir (01:13) 14 Just Like Everyone Else (03:00) 15 (I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing (03:16) |
 | Album: 10 of 12 Artist: Roller Trio Title: Roller Trio Released: 2012-08-06 Tracks: 9 Duration: 57:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 Deep Heat (06:40) 2 Roller Toaster (08:07) 3 Howdy Saudi (04:29) 4 R-O-R (07:03) 5 The Nail That Stands Up (05:04) 6 The Zone (11:15) 7 A Dark Place to Think (05:29) 8 The Interrupters (03:46) 9 Wheres My Whip (06:00) |
 | Album: 11 of 12 Artist: Richard Hawley Title: Standing at the Sky’s Edge Released: 2012-05-07 Tracks: 9 Duration: 50:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 She Brings the Sunlight (07:23) 2 Standing at the Sky’s Edge (06:39) 3 Time Will Bring You Winter (05:26) 4 Down in the Woods (05:23) 5 Seek It (05:11) 6 Don’t Stare at the Sun (05:46) 7 The Wood Colliers Grave (03:07) 8 Leave Your Body Behind You (05:19) 9 Before (06:13) |
 | Album: 12 of 12 Artist: Plan B Title: ill Manors Released: 2012-03-23 Tracks: 5 Duration: 20:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2012 | 1 ill Manors (03:46) 2 ill Manors (The Prodigy remix) (03:55) 3 ill Manors (Funtcase remix) (05:33) 4 ill Manors (a cappella) (03:34) 5 ill Manors (instrumental) (03:46) |