Just before we get stuck into the Albums of the Year list, I always find it particularly important to highlight the plethora of stand-out EPs that we receive each year. I feel like I've listened to almost as many EPs in 2018 as I have LPs, and so it's been pretty difficult to narrow down my most memorable. Even then, to now narrow them down further was a serious challenge but just as with 2017, I've curated a playlist of the longlist, before shouting out the particularly golden nuggets.

RAY BLK - Empress
This glorious body of work walks the tightrope of full length album and EP both in run-time and in quality. Ray BLK has one of the most distinctive vocals coming from the UK at the moment and her positive and empowering lyricism works to set her apart from the pack for all of the right reasons. No doubts that I will have this spinning consistently until next year's list.



SIPPRELL - I Could Be Loved
Since the release of her debut EP Letter D in 2015, Sipprell's musicianship has truly gone from strength to strength. "Journey" was the first song to capture me and so to have it on an EP where each and every song rivals it, and for different reasons - talk about spoilt. This EP will lift your spirits and meld with your emotions in even the murkiest of times.



MOSES SUMNEY - Black In Deep Red, 2014
Just three tracks in less than 10 minutes and we have one of the most original EPs of the Year. I wish that I wrote every single one of the songs on this. It took me a while to even realise that "Call-To-Arms" had no lyrics in it. The instrumentation and production on this album is special and something entirely unique to Moses.




AUSTEL - Unfold 
After discovering Austel earlier this year I've caught a couple of their live performances since and with each one I was just more and more excited for their debut EP to come out. Unfold is a well thought out yet experimental body of work. Their ability to manipulate rare sounds to tell as much of a story as the vocals do is admirable to say the least.


MAYPINE - Bend/Break
MAYPINE have come a long way from last year's EP In The Back Of My Mind - moving in the direction of a moodier, more mature sound. "Kodokushi" was a clear stand-out for me on first listen, drawing me back to the music I'd mostly associate with labels like No Sleep Records (and we all know how much I love them). MAYPINE are continuously growing and shaping their sound and I don't foresee this changing come 2019.


YAZMIN LACEY - When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees
One of my favourite new vocal discoveries from 2018 and this EP is a large testament to that. Yazmin's silky, soulful tones will stick in your mind long after the tracks come to an upsettingly swift end. She's had an amazing year selling out shows around the country and after her collaborations and work with names like Brownswood Recordings and Skinny Pelembe, I know I'll be hearing her jazzy croon again soon.


AMBER MARK - Conexão
The title track opens up with a spacious, sexy instrumental; which then leads to one of my favourite singles of the year "Love Me Right". This song has potentially the best execution of a key change that I've heard this year. Amber's voice has been the strong carrying force in her work for a long time now and I can hear the instrumentals and lyrics now rising up to match that.


ROBERT GLASPER X KAYTRANADA - The ArtScience Remixes
The collaboration I didn't know that I needed until I saw it in writing. Two of my favourite producers have finally come together to create jazzy, R&B gold. I sincerely hope that this isn't the last time we'll see these two names on a piece of work together. I only wish that this was an entire album.



RAYVN LENAE - Crush 
One of the most recognisable female vocals to come out of the US in the past two years. Ravyn's touch on a track - be it her own, or another artist's - is always memorable and original. Her work with Steve Lacy (of The Internet) both this year and last has pushed her towards the limelight and her unique soprano and steady tone has keep her firmly in it.


BOYGENIUS - boygenius  
Another fantastic collaboration that I didn't realise I was desperate for until it was shown to me. Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Pheobe Bridgers together make up boygenius. Rarely have three separate artists, each with quite distinctive voices been able to unite and compliment each other so well. Their harmonies flow like they've been singing as one for years and their melancholic lyrics leave a lasting taste in your mouth after every listen.




Check out the Spotify playlist including songs from these EPs and more memorable gems here.

This was a little bit of a late discovery for me this year, but better late than never because this is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard all year. Swimming in at number 17 in the list is Moses Sumney with Aromanticism.

The first thing that I heard about Moses actually wasn't really to do with his music. A friend of mine told me about him after bumping into him at an event and being caught up by his presence, understandably. After a bit of googling and youtubing I stumbled on this video of Moses performing at Sofar a couple of years ago, and I've been keeping track ever since. 

One of my biggest praise points and my smallest criticisms of this debut is the conscious choice to go it alone. Moses has a lot of big musical connections that he could have had feature on these tracks (e.g. Solange, Kelela, Kindness, Dev Hynes, etc...). I would have really loved to hear Lianne La Havas somewhere on this record; I could've even seen Thom Yorke lending his hand on a couple of tracks on here. One of my favourite things about music is how collaborative it can be. However, Moses forgoes all of this on the debut and in doing so, gives us the rawest version of his musical sound. One of the bravest things to do as an artist is to put out work that holds a piece of you, and Moses has done so big time, with nothing to hide behind and it's come out beautifully.

My favourites on the album so far are "Don't Bother Calling", "Quarrel", and "Lonely World". It wasn't until second or third listen that I realised that quite a lot of this album is instrumental. As cheesy as it'll sound, the music speaks so loud, the whole album could've been instrumental and it still would have made me feel how I do listening to it now. All I want for 2018 is to see this performed live.

Happy October folks! It's been an incredibly busy summer and now that we've made it to October I can comfortably say that we're finally edging into autumn weather. Along with a new season and a new month; comes new music. I've had a scout through the interwebs and found some gems I'd like to start the month with...


QUIÑ - Sticky Situation (feat. SYD)
Not the newest track itself but a newbie for me - a new song and a new artist. After finding the new EP Dreamgirl on Spotify, I think that "Sticky Situation" is the track that will most likely get the most repeats this month. Also, of course, Syd's voice is also always a sure fire way to elevate a song.

BANKS - Underdog
Now I've heard a lot of mixed things about Banks over the past few years and if I'm honest, the bad ones did carry a little more weight than they should've and I haven't paid too much attention to her album progress but this song is a banger. "Underdog" was a pleasant surprise for me and I'd like to take this month to build a fresh opinion on Banks - starting with this song.

CAN'T SWIM - God Awful 
Another very pleasant surprise - after their great debut album earlier this year, I wasn't expecting any more music from them before 2018, but here we are. A new single from Can't Swim that could've easily been a strong addition to the debut but works just as well as a standalone track. I'm hoping to see more big things from this band, October and beyond, because "God Awful" is anything but.
 
THE YOUNG HEARTS - Bloom
The Young Hearts are another new discovery for me recommended to me via email. After opening up the EP Honestly, I'm Just Thinking in Spotify and listening to the first 30 seconds of "Bloom" I could hear the potential, and after the last 30 seconds I was looking up their gigging schedule.
 
WOLF ALICE - Heavenward 
An amazing live band but since their debut I've not been the most excited to hear any new studio recordings. I may have built up my expectations for the debut a bit too much after seeing them live in 2013; so now returning with a fresh pair of ears, I think I can appreciate this new one better."Heavenward" is a great stepping stone for me because not only is it a solid song, it gives me the best of what I saw in them live.


MOSES SUMNEY - Don't Bother Calling 
I slightly new discovery this year for me but it seems that I haven't missed too much as this awesome track "Don't Bother Calling", comes from his debut album Aromanticism. I reckon the more I listen to this album, the more I'll enjoy it. For now, this song definitely stood out to me and the concepts surrounding it catch my attention even more.

ZAK ABEL - The River
I feel like I've been waiting for this album to drop for an age now! I need Zak's voice for a minimum of 10-12 tracks asap. "The River" came just in time for me to hold out for one more week. I'm hoping this will be one of my standout albums of the next 30 days, with some silky guitars and soulful vocals.

JORDAN RAKEI - Goodbyes
The basslines on this album are to die for. Although this is my favourite song from the album, it's not an easy choice at all. Even the first track "Eye To Eye" rips the blanket right from underneath you with its silky transitions. I think the opening strings on "Goodbyes" just win the song for me. Already on the verge of overplaying this one but I can't stop.

IBEYI - Deathless (feat. Kamasi Washington) 
Two artists that I've really been appreciating over the year, together in one special track. Ibeyi's new album Ash is just as layered and thought provoking as imagined with so many intricate little details that open it up to new discoveries with each listen. "Deathless" displays that perfectly. Keep your eyes on this one for this year's "top 50 ___" lists.


That's just a few of the tracks I have on my recently played for this week and for the month going forward. Keep an eye out for a Spotify playlist with these tracks and more, to be announced via my Instagram. And for your information...