We've reached that sweet, sweet middle ground - and bringing us in at number 15 is the summery In The Comfort Of from the illustrious beat-maker Sango.

Most people know about Sango through his work with Soulection, however I think my first encounter with Sango actually came from a Spotify recommendation this year. It wasn't until I delved deeper that I found out I'd already heard his material via Soulection. Regardless, the more that I learn about Sango the more I like his ethos, not only as an artist but also as a human being. He makes music with the belief in mind that he's encouraging other musicians that it's a good idea, and that it's important to be inspired by your peers. That earnestness shines through in many of the softer pockets over the course of the record.

This album was the soundtrack to my summer months. There is a song for every mood on this record and I can attach at least one memory from the last 6 months to every single song on here. My favourites at the moment are "Mateo 2.19 (feat. Romaro Franceswa & Dave B.)", "Chemistry (feat. JMSN)" "Sweet Holy Honey (feat. Xavier Omär)" and "Comfortable (feat. Ryan Ashley)" - and that's heavily narrowed down. There are so many stand-out moments dotted around In The Comfort Of, like the last minute of the instrumental on "Dance For Blessings", the smooth R&B vocals on "Twogether (feat. Jesse Boykins III)", or the ebb-and-flow of beat in the last minute of "On Me (feat. Jon Bap)".

Held together by samples of conversations and broadcasts in Portuguese, Sango manages to meld the things that mean the most to him in his life (his home comforts so to speak) like his family and relationships, together with an open-for-interpretation message about what comforts you, the listener, most in life. This is one to sit with as the sun sets and you're sat in the places or with the people that make you feel most comfortable. Do this, and see if you're able to finish Sango's sentence, - in the comfort of...

Here's what brought us into number 15 last year.

An album that in some people's eyes succumbed to the sophomore slump. However, I believe that in more ways than one it brought a musicality to the table that debut album Telefone wasn't quite able to achieve. This has received a mixed bag of critique from fans and critics alike and I myself have gone back and forth in my mind about how I feel. All of that aside, in at number 19 is Room 25 from the amazing, Noname.

Since her debut album Telefone in my love for Noname has continued to grow, so much so that I recently decided that I may have been wrong in not giving it a Top 10 spot in my Albums of the Year list in 2016. The nostalgia and upbeat, melancholic reflection on that album was literally like lightning caught in a bottle. The more that I listened to it, the more I just wanted to hear more. When Noname announced that she'd be releasing Room 25 I was over the moon. Partly because I couldn't wait to hear some more witty and interesting lyrics, but mainly because I wanted an album to get me through the winter months and to open my eyes to things about myself that even I hadn't yet realised. In hindsight this was an incredibly unreasonable expectation for any album to reach. As you can imagine, after first listen I was disappointed.

I had a few stand-out tracks to begin with that I returned to often, however as a whole I knew that I wanted something different. It took me a couple of months to let this go and listen back to the album in full again. Listening to it with more of an open mind also opened my ears to the key things that I'd missed initially. The musicality first and foremost on this album is fantastic. Noname opting for a slightly more jazz-heavy, instrument based album here rather than her previous lo-fi beat flex has come at the perfect time where mainstream jazz is re-inventing itself in a beautiful way.

My favourites at the moment are "Self", "Blaxploitation", "Montego Bae (feat. Ravyn Lenae)", "Ace (feat. Smino & Saba)" and "Part Of Me (feat. Phoelix & Benjamin Earl Turner)". Most of these are the singles that I revisited initially however "Part Of Me" only really struck a chord with me on the second listen. Lyrically this album is just as sensational and entertaining as Telefone and I have to applaud Noname on taking a step in a different direction and doing so confidently and without remorse. This album was very intentional and directed, and I can happily say now that I love every minute of it.   

Here's a look at the album that took the number 19 slot in 2017.

Penultimate month of the year and in the build up to all of the definitive "Album of the Year" lists that will be dropping in the not too distant future, we have a few last minute entries into the running. It has been one of the most busy years for music that I've seen in a decade. I have a few standouts in my head already but there is an enormous amount of talent to choose from - including the following...


VINCE STAPLES - FM!
I'd not listened to an entire Vince Staples record before this year but after seeing him on stage with Gorillaz last year and catching his performance at Primavera Sound Festival this summer - I've vowed to do some more research. This album couldn't have come out at a more perfect time. Out officially today I will be listening in full and making up for lost time.

JACOB BANKS - VILLAGE
Jacob Banks has been one of my favourite UK male vocalists for a very long time now and the more I hear from him, the more excited I am about him. Even from his opening track on the album "Chainsmoking" the power in both his voice and his songwriting shine through clearly. The album dropped today and I'm only halfway through but I'm loving every minute. Well worth a listen.

SMINO - NOIR
His latest single "L.M.F" out last week reminded me a lot of his collaborative work on Sango's album earlier this year - In The Comfort Of. Smino has a very distinctive flow and I've only ever really heard it featured on other people's tracks. From Tobi Lou to Noname - Smino's input is distinctive. I didn't get to listen to the whole of blkswn so it'll be nice to listen to how he's developed when Noir comes out on the 8th of November.

ARCHITECTS - HOLY HELL
After the devastating loss of their guitarist - Tom Searle - last year I wasn't 100% that we'd be hearing any new music from Architects. I definitely wasn't expecting anything out so soon. That said, every single that they have released since has been fantastic and in keeping with the tone that Tom's set on their previous records. Out on the 9th of November - they will be touring, and this will sound phenomenal live. A late entry but judging by what I've heard so far, this may very well slip into my Albums of the Year list.

IMAGINE DRAGONS - ORIGINS
I think I became too accustomed to hearing Imagine Dragons played on adverts and TV shows which meant that I got a little bit lazy when it came to checking in on their new material. So much so that I didn't even get round to listening to their previous album Evolve. Better late than never though and it'll be nice for me to hear how much/whether or not their sound has changed since "Radioactive" days. The album drops on the 9th of November.

ANDERSON .PAAK - OXNARD
Following up on Malibu Anderson .Paak is back with another album in the shape of Oxnard. His previous singles at the beginning of this year ("Til It's Over" and "Bubblin'") were both quite different from one another but each energetic and more than anything, memorable. The latest single "TINTS (feat. Kendrick Lamar)" similarly is an undeniable banger. I'm not sure whether either of the earlier singles will be on Oxnard but whether they make the cut or not, one thing's for sure is that this album is going to be one to remember. Keep your eyes peeled on the 16th of November.

ALESSIA CARA - THE PAINS OF GROWING
It was a little bit quieter in Alessia's camp after she smashed through the Pop charts with "Here" 3 years ago. She's popped up here and there over the years but nothing she's done has sat on my mind until now. When I saw that Alessia was releasing a new album it wasn't until I caught the title The Pains of Growing, that something just resonated with me. I'll be interested to hear if there's a more mature sound in her material out on the 30th of November.

THE 1975 - A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS
I must admit, I was very resistant to The 1975 - I placed them alongside Bastille in my column of artists and bands who've gotten way too much hype for the quality of music that they're producing. However, recently a few close friends have been trying to convince me of the error in my judgement so I've promised to go back and see whether or not to believe the hype. I suppose I'll know for sure on the 30th of November.


More music out this month to take into account also from the likes of Brainfeeder X, Mumford & Sons, Eric Lau, Mikky Ekko, cupcaKKe, Jacques Greene, and Little Mix, to name a few. The countdown to the end of the year is on. After this month I'll be starting my AOTY list - Top 30 again this year, maybe a few of these will make an appearance?