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