Number 5 2012 - The XX Coexist

Another record from a London based band in my top ten and I guess another release that could be classed as post dub-step or at least post rave.

The XX followed up their beautiful debut with a collection of songs that have refined their hollowed out sound even further. Music for the early hours all 3am shivers and half heard drum beats. Its Sunday morning coming down.

The video below is of The XX performing Reunion and Sunset live on KCRW

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Number 6 2012 - Raime - Quarter Turns Over a Living Line

The London duo of Joe Andrews and Tom Halstead who are Raime have released a number of brilliant, dark, twisted, post dub-step EPs on Blackest Ever Black. They finally dropped their debut LP in late 2012.

The link below is to a soundcloud preview of the LP



The video is for Soils and Coils




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LPs of 2012 - Paul Buchanan Mid Air - Number 7

Number seven in my LP's of 2012 is the muted beauty of Blue Nile lead singer Paul Buchanan and his debut solo LP Mid Air. The record is one of understated grace, 3am revelations all set to fractured piano tunes.

The video is of the haunting debut track



This video is from a session for the Guardian a performance of Buy A Motor Car



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The XX - Last Christmas Wham Cover Video

Somehow I managed to miss this over Christmas! This is a great take on Wham's Last Christmas by The XX. Its really shouldn't work but somehow it does. The tinsel, tack and terrible mullets of the original replaced with something of a darker nature.

It's like Joy Division covering Winter Wonderland ! Enjoy

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PARALLEL_°41 Number 8 LP 2012

The beautiful and beguling Parallel 41 is a record pieced together by Julia Kent (cello), Barbara De Dominicis voice, field recordings and electronics and Davide Lonardi film making, images, artwork

"...PARALLEL_°41 _Over the past months, Julia Kent, Barbara De Dominicis and Davide Lonardi have been making a musical/visual/improvisatory record as Parallel 41 _the imaginary parallel that ties Naples and New York on the same latitude line. The tracks evolved from a series of extemporary and improvised recording sessions made outdoors and held between September 2009 and august 2010. These sessions are now an album and a little story in images..."

The video below showcase the sound and vision of the band in live setting



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Simone Felice - Number Nine 2012

Simone Felice was a real find for me this year thanks to one of the guys that I work with. I fell in love with the story telling, playing and production on the LP.

My favorite track was the amazing - New York Times



There are some cool videos over at the official website - http://www.simonefelice.com/video/

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Top 10 2012 - Number 10 Jens Lekman

Number ten in my LPs of 2012 is the wonderful Jens Lekman and his release I Know What Love Isn't. I have been a big fan of Jen's since back in 2004. The guy has a really strong gift for melody and an arch knowing lyrics. Pop music from the clever and literary end.

The two tracks I really love are the title track

I Know What Love Isn't



The World Moves On




There are also some great free tracks over on his website - http://www.jenslekman.com/presents.htm
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My Top 10 LPs of 2012

Craig Finn (Photo credit: sidmuchrock)

1 Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full Eyes
2 Grasscut – Unearth
3 Ixtab- Spindle and the Bregnut Tree
4 Mark Eitzel – Don’t Be a Stranger 
5 The XX – Coexist 
6 Raime - Quarter Turns Over a Living Line
7 Paul Buchanan – Mid Air
8 Parallel 41 - Parallel 41
9 Simone Felice - Simone Felice
10 Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn't

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Related articles

• Craig Finn lists his top 10 albums of 2012, appearing at 'Soundtrack Series' at LPR (and New Year's Eve in NJ)
• Stream: The xx, "Last Christmas (Wham! Cover)"
• No 8: The xx - Coexist
• Summer Meets Autumn: The Best Albums of 2012 Through July, August, and September