British producer plays weird with his inspirations on a seductive debut.
An ambitious “symphony” with its roots in techno, recalling classical minimalists.
Electro trio travels further from the dancefloor, picking up new tricks as they go.
Rapper’s fourth LP exhibits a general disregard for genre boundaries.
The work of an intriguing young artist still shaping a distinctive voice.
A man doing what he does best, enjoying his very own silver age.
For all its impressive fireworks, this is a fairly hollow affair from the Canadian.
NME’s Album of the Year for 1992 reissued with a wealth of worthwhile extras.
The Queens MC avoids cliché or close comparison on this Stones Throw six-tracker.
An exceptional collaboration - like manna from heaven for leftfield soul fans.
A spirited debut full of big choruses, but lacking in singular ingenuity.
Easily as good as any punk release you’ll hear in 2011.
A new strand to his unique, ineffable vision.
German electro artists head to Africa for a remarkable collaborative album.
Likely to tempt fair-weather fans back to the Malkmus name.
The Osaka Ramones have still got it.
The producer’s debut for 4AD explores his more melodic side.
Hip hop on Sub Pop? Frankly, it's hard to know why they didn't think of it before.
Marseille-based outfit is multiculturalism in action.
A collaboration that makes sense, with excellent results.
Rising rapper’s cold charisma is channelled through 17 club-friendly tracks.
Super Furry Animals frontman’s third solo LP captures his creative wanderlust.
“The greatest” hip hop producer’s work translated for a 60-piece orchestra.
A fuller, friskier record than anything Beam has captured before.
Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin’s pre-Broken Social Scene EPs receive a UK release.
Blow Your Head proves dubstep’s commercial and underground tribes can still intermingle.
The underground grime crew have turned into a potent pop force.
Konono No.1 meets Steve Reich for a sweaty techno all-nighter.
An audacious stunt that only one with his towering ego would dare attempt.
A fine return from a genre great with a few new tricks up his sleeve.
Traoré’s vocal boasts some impressive range over 10 sparse songs.
A majestic return and, let us hope, a harbinger of more to come.
An experimental third LP, but still full of hooky, modern soul.
The consummate entertainer shows he can still bring the funnies.
An essential glimpse into obscure and vintage African music.
A band not so much rediscovering their past as recycling it.
M.I.A.-feted Brooklyn duo unveils a noisily addictive debut album.
While XXX smoothes some of Edgar’s edges, it’s a smoothness that suits.
Consistently inventive mix from the Hyperdub head honcho.
Shows how SA producers have responded to international attention.
The band is still morphing and innovating, led by a spirit of discovery.
The oddest purveyors of freak-folk deliver a patchy fourth album.
Beats or no beats, this boy has something going on.
Deploys quiet-loud dynamics like a fistful of tossed firecrackers.
It seems almost inconceivable she could produce anything unremarkable.
Talented musicians reworking the rulebook with hearts and minds at play.
If Miranda is blowing up, she’s destined to do it in a quiet way.
A success on their own, aggressively populist terms.
It’s not out to please you, but Hidden is well worthy of investigation.
Cave and Ellis balance light and shade with some skill.
