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So I decided to reset my charts... again (after about 23,000 scrobbles). Here are my top artists and albums from early January up until late November. It seems I can't go more than 25k scrobbles without resetting... I would probably have over 100,000 scrobbles if I never reset my charts (combined with my scrobbles from my old account).


1. Steve Roach- 504
2. Boards of Canada- 490
3. Agalloch- 377
4. maudlin of the Well- 343
5. Autechre- 324

6. Mayhem- 273
7. Bethlehem- 269
8. The Prodigy- 259
9. Organized Konfusion- 256
9. Tiesto- 256
9. Aphex Twin- 256
12. Stars of the Lid- 233
13. OutKast- 227
14. Enslaved- 202
15. Slowdive- 198
16. Global Communication- 183
17. Stendeck- 181
18. Gorguts- 179
18. Drudkh- 179
20. Sun Kil Moon- 177

21. Bjork- 174
22. Burzum- 168
23. Hypocrisy- 167
24. Emperor- 166
25. Biosphere- 163
26. J-Live- 160
27. Cannibal Ox- 157
28. Harold Budd- 156
29. Warning- 155
30. Have a Nice Life- 152
31. Bathory- 147
31. Isis- 147
33. Robert Rich- 145
34. Deepspace- 143
35. Tool- 142
36. Low-140
37. The Cure- 136
38. Darkthrone- 134
39. Venerean- 127
40. Katatonia- 124
40. Air Liquide- 124
42. Cryptopsy- 122
43. The Future Sound of London- 120
43. The Smashing Pumpkins- 120
45. dälek- 119
46. Wolves in the Throne Room- 117
47. Death- 115
47. Squarepusher- 115
49. diSEMBOWELMENT- 114
50. Red House Painters- 112

51. Thomas Köner-107
52. Jesu- 106
52. Atheist- 106
54. Nine Inch Nails- 105
55. Above & Beyond- 104
56. Ulrich Schnauss- 101
57. Devin Townsend- 100
58. Tenhi- 97
58. CunninLynguists- 97
60. Edge of Sanity- 96
61. Eluvium- 94
61. Jóhann Jóhannsson- 94
61. Tiamat- 94
61. Amorphis- 94
61. Lykathea Aflame- 94
61. The Orb- 94
67. Walknut- 93
68. Opeth- 92
68. DJ Shadow- 92
68. Pestilence- 92
68. Negură Bunget- 92
72. Jeru the Damaja- 91
72. Nas- 91
72. Shining- 91
72. Aesop Rock- 91
76. In the Woods...- 90
77. Harold Budd/Brian Eno- 88
78. Smif-N-Wessun- 86
79. Natural Snow Buildings- 81
80. Arcticology- 80
80. Proem- 80
82. Deep Puddle Dynamics- 79
83. Jedi Mind Tricks- 76
83. Ulver- 76
85. Neurosis- 75
86. Dereleech- 74
86. Lifelover- 74
86. Boris- 74
89. Morbid Angel- 73
90. In Flames- 71
90. Radiohead- 71
92. Antonio Vivaldi- 70
93. M83- 69
93. Carbon Based Lifeforms- 69
95. The Flaming Lips- 68
95. Depeche Mode- 68
95. Satyricon- 68
98. Weakling- 66
98. Wu-Tang Clan- 66
100. The Marcia Blaine School for Girls- 65
101. Genelec & Memphis Reigns- 64
102. Fen- 63
102. Blut aus Nord- 63
104. Dolorian 62
104. Elliot Smith- 62
104. Nadja- 62

Albums
1. Boards of Canada- Geogaddi- 283
2. The Prodigy- Music for the Jilted Generation- 251
3. Bethlehem- Sardonischer Untergang Im Zeichen Irrelioser- 249
4. Agalloch- The Mantle- 246
5. Steve Roach- Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces- 243
6. Organized Konfusion- Stress: The Extinction Agenda- 240
7. maudlin of the Well- Leaving Your Body Map- 227
8. Slowdive- Souvlaki- 192
9. Global Communication- 76:14- 166
10. Stendeck- Faces- 162

11. Stars of the Lid- The Tired Sounds of...- 159
12. Sun Kil Moon- April- 157
12. Cannibal Ox- The Cold Vein- 157
14. Warning- Watching From a Distance- 149
15. Bjork- Vespertine- 139
16. Mayhem- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas- 136
17. OutKast- ATLiens- 120
18. Gorguts- The Erosion of Sanity- 118
19. diSEMBOWELMENT- Transcendence Into the Peripheral- 111
19. Mayhem- Wolf's Lair Abyss- 111
19. Autechre- Amber- 111
22. The Future Sound of London- Lifeforms Disk 1- 109
23. Steve Roach- Dreamtime Return- 107
24. Biosphere- Substrata- 103
25. Harold Budd- The White Arcades- 101

26. Red House Painters- Red House Painters [Rollercoaster]- 100
27. J-Live- The Best Part- 97
27. Tool- Lateralus- 97
29. Air Liquide- The Increased Difficulty of Concentration- 96
30. Ulrich Schnauss- Far Away Trains Passing By- 95
30. Low- I Could Live in Hope- 95
32. Lykathea Aflame- Elvenefris- 94
32. Eluvium- Copia- 94
34. Walknut- Graveforests And Their Shadows- 93
34. dälek- Absence- 93
36. Tiamat- Wildhoney- 92
36. DJ Shadow- Endtroducing...- 92
38. Hypocrisy- The Final Chapter- 91
38. Boards of Canada- Music Has the Right to Children- 91
40. Emperor- Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk- 89
40. Jeru the Damaja- The Sun Rises in the East- 89
42. Enslaved- Below the Lights- 88
42. Nas- Illmatic- 88
44. Tiesto- Magik, Vol. 7: Live in Los Angeles- 87
45. Bathory- Under the Sign of the Black Mark- 84
46. maudlin of the Well- Bath- 83
47. Negură Bunget- Om- 82
48. In the Woods...- HEart of the Ages- 81
49. Deep Puddle Dynamics- The Taste of Rain... Why Kneel- 79
49. Aphex Twin- Drukqs Disk 1- 79

51. Atheist- Unquestionable Presence- 77
51. Deepspace- World Ocean Atlas- 77
51. Smif-N-Wessun- Dah Shinin'- 77
54. Jedi Mind Tricks- Violent By Design- 76
55. Tenhi- Kauan- 75
56. Johann Johannsson- Fordlandia- 74
57. Have a Nice Life- Deathconsciousness- 73
57. Agalloch- Ashes Against the Grain- 73
59. CunninLynguists- Strange Journey Volume One- 70
60. Death- Human- 68
60. Natural Snow Buildings- The Dance of the Moon and the Sun- 68
62. Pestilence- Testimony of the Ancients- 67
63. Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)- 66
63. Weakling- Dead as Dreams- 66
65. Amorphis- Tales From the Thousand Lakes- 65
65. Thomas Koner- Nuuk- 65
65. M83- Saturdays=Youth- 65
65. Drudkh- Autumn Aurora- 64
69. Genelec & Memphis Reigns – Scorpion Circles- 64
69. Devin Townsend- Ocean Machine- 64
71. Fen- The Malediction Fields- 63
71. The Orb- The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld Disk 1- 63
73. Have a Nice Life- Voids- 62
74. Burzum- Filosofem- 61
75. Drudkh- Forgotten Legends- 60
75. Arcticology- Eternal Now- 60
75. J-Live- All Of The Above- 60
79. Cryptopsy- Blasphemy Made Flesh- 59
79. The Marcia Blaine School for Girls – Halfway Into The Woods- 59
81. Sodom- Persecution Mania- 58
82. GZA/Genius- Liquid Swords- 57
82. The Higher Intelligence Agency & Biosphere- Polar Sequences- 57
82. Isis- Wavering Radiant- 57
82. Lifelover- Konkurs- 57
86. Stars of the Lid- Avec Laudenum- 56
87. Proem- Socially Inept- 55
87. Burzum- Det Som Engang Var- 55
87. OutKast- Aquemini- 55
87. Edge of Sanity- Purgatory Afterglow- 55
87. Elliot Smith- Either/Or- 55
93. Isis- Oceanic- 54
93. Jesu- Jesu- 54
95. The Cure- Pornography- 53
95. ColdWorld- Melancholie- 53
95. Terrorizer- World Downfall- 53
98. Enslaved- Blodhemn- 52
98. Massive Attack- Mezzanine- 52
98. Aphex Twin- 52
101. October Tide- Rain Without End- 51
101. Carbon Based Lifeforms- Hydroponic Garden- 51
103. Depeche Mode- Black Celebration- 51
103. Wolves in the Throne Room- 51
103. Robert Rich- Calling Down the Sky- 51
103. Darkthrone- A Blaze in the Northern Sky- 51

My TOP 30 albums. No further explainations needed. Comments in German.

gedankenhaufen's top albums (overall)
1.
Aphex Twin - Drukqs (111)

Seit ein paar Monaten höre ich Aphex Twin nicht mehr, was eigentlich eher nichtssagende Gründe hat: Ich kenne jedes seiner Lieder auswendig etc.
2.
The Conet Project - The Conet Project (106)

Nummernsender und Shortwave Oddities auf vier CDs. Keine Musik, aber auch kein Krach. Eher seltsame Klänge, die man findet und die man liebt.
3.
Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album (66)

4.
Aphex Twin - I Care Because You Do (44)

5.
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works II (31)

Das ist immer noch das Meisterwerk des Ambient. 1994 als Doppel-CD mit 24 unbenannten Liedern veröffentlicht, hat es mir nachts schon so viele Alpträume bereitet, dass ich es nie mehr missen will. Schade, dass die besten Tracks des Albums (Stone in Focus und Hankie) nur auf Vinyl veröffentlicht wurden.
6.
Broadcast and The Focus Group - Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age (29)

Großartige Collage aus Avantgarde-Rock, Elektro und zig milliarden Samples. Und darüber eine schwebende Stimme, die über seltsame Dinge singt. Toll.
7.
Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder (28)

Set Fire To Flames, haben in ihrer Geschichte zwei Alben veröffentlicht. Dieses Debütalbum, 2001, hat es in sich. Straßenklänge, vorbeifahrende Krankenwagen, Drones und Krach und dazwischen herzerweichender Post-Rock. Himmlisch, seltsam, manchmal unheimlich. Auf jeden Fall nicht greifbar.
8.
Die Goldenen Zitronen - Die Entstehung Der Nacht (28)

Wer sagt, dass deutsche Musik schlecht sein soll? Die Zitronen aus Hamburg liefern seit ca. 1992 großartige Musik mit feinen, politisch-abstrakten Texten und Beobachtungen. Kann man nur lieben eigentlich.
9.
Einstürzende Neubauten - Ende Neu (25)

Auch deutsch, auch großartig. Die Neubauten haben's 1996 mal wieder voll drauf ankommen lassen. Mit krachendem, lautem Gebrüll ("Was ist ist") und leisen, wunderschönen Liedern ("Stella Maris", "The Garden"). Bilinguale Platten können funktionieren.
10.
PeterLicht - Lieder vom Ende des Kapitalismus (24)

Na, dann werden wa eben siegen! PeterLicht singt vom getöteten Kapitalismus, von Wettkämpfen im Entspannen und sonstigen Seltsamheiten. Wer sich schneller entspannt, ist besser als jemand, der sich nicht so schnell entspannt, welcher aber immer noch besser ist, als jemand, der überhaupt nicht entspannt ist und -verdientermaßen, verdientermaßen- unentspannt ist.
11.
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (24)

Nachts im Radio bei 1live Fiehe gehört, und zwar einen Tag, bevor es ins Ferienlager in Italien ging. Dabei immer dieses Album rauf und runter. Alternative Folk geht sehr gut mit Sommer, Sonne und Strand zusammen. Eid ma clak shaw.
12.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven! (22)

Die Offenbarung. Die Liebe meines Lebens. Nur nicht auf Platz 1, weil das Album nur aus vier Titeln besteht, welche aber allesamt länger als 20 Minuten sind. Samples, Drones und Klänge, und durchgängig der beste Post-Rock, der je geschrieben wurde und wohl je geschrieben wird. Es kommt keine Band an Godspeed ran. Keine.
13.
The Books - Lost and Safe (20)

Super Band, super Album. Leider lässt sich ihre Musik kaum beschreiben. Folktronica? Sampled Music? Aleatoric? Keine Ahnung.
14.
Broadcast - Broadcast and the Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age (19)

15.
A Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky (19)

Sideproject von Gy!BE, mindestens genauso schön und zeigt, dass Efrim Menuck auch singen kann. Zynische, politische Lieder. Zum Weinen schöne Kanons. Glockenspiel, oh, Glockenspiel, how I missed thee.
16.
Terre Thaemlitz - Soil (18)

1996 war es, als Terre Thaemlitz, Gender-Aktivist und Glitch-Hedonist, mit diesem Album den politischen Ambient erschuf. Unheimliche Klangstrukturen wölben sich ins Gedächtnis, mit subtil verwobenen Aufnahmen über häusliche Gewalt, Globalisierung und Medialisierung des eigentlich Banalen. Große Kunst, große Freude. Thaemlitz verlegte später auf Mille Plateux, dem "Lieblingslabel aller damaligen, strukturalistischen, Glitch-Hedonisten" (spex).
17.
Fennesz - Hotel Paral.lel (18)

So viel Krach, so viel Wiederholung, so viel obskure Schönheit. Wenn das Computer-Geknarze anfängt, setze ich mich mit Popcorn vor den Bildschirm und beobachte die Winamp-Visualisierungen, die angesichts dieser Klänge verständlicherweise kapitulieren müssen. Auch, wenn Lieder wie "aus" wunderschön sind.
18.
PeterLicht - Vierzehn Lieder (18)

Die Schwerkraft ist überbewertet, man braucht sie doch gar nicht, wie man ja wohl im Weltraum sieht. Und die Sonne kocht auch nur mit Wasser. Die soll sich nicht so aufspielen, die gelbe Sau! Und der Himalaya, der alte Arsch, da kann ich mich auch drüber aufregen. Oder der Kölner Dom, da kann ich mich auch drüber aufregen. So'n Hals habe ich über den! So'n Hals!
19.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Lie Down In The Light (17)

Ein gruselig aussehender Mann schnappt sich seine Gitarre, sein Notizbuch und macht ein wunderschönes Folk-Album mit wenig Abwechslung. Die würde der Musik aber auch nicht gut tun.
20.
Aphex Twin - On Ep (16)

21.
Mouse on Mars - Idiology (16)

Orchester, Krach, Elektronisches. Mouse On Mars verbindet Klassik-Elektro und Experimentelles zu einer seltsamen Melange. Informatikbefehle und Erdbeereis.
22.
Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (16)

Anschalten, träumen, fürchten, Ehrfurcht. BoC bleiben die Altmeister. Das ist ok so.
23.
Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Vrioon (15)

Skizzen für skelettiertes Klavier. Mit heißer Nadel zersetzt Alva Noto die wunderschönen Piano-Sequenzen, fügt und klittet sie neu zusammen. Alles klingt neutral, sachlich, leer und wunderschön künstlich. Ein Album für die Nacht.
24.
Mouse on Mars - Niun Niggung (14)

25.
Daniel Johnston - Hi, How Are You (13)

1983 schnappt sich der bei McDonalds arbeitende Daniel Johnston ein schlechtes Aufnahmegerät, seine verstimmte Gitarre und macht in seiner Kellerwohnung unglaublich authentische Lieder, die ohne jedes Mastering vom 4-Band-Rekorder auf Tape gebrannt werden. Johnston verbreitet sie, indem er die Tapes in die Mc-Donalds-Bestellungen hinzutut. 1992 trägt Kurt Cobain ein Daniel-Johnston-T-Shirt mit dem Hi,how are you-Cover bei den VMA's und Johnston, welcher psychisch labil und manisch-depressiv ist, wird weltberühmt. Johnston lebt immer noch bei seinen Eltern und wird bei jedem seiner seltenen Konzerte von seinem Bruder dazu motiviert, wirklich auf die Bühne zu gehen. Kurze, intime Lieder voller rauer Schönheit, aufgenommen mit einem kaputten Kassettenrekorder.
26.
Die Goldenen Zitronen - Lenin (13)

27.
The Books - Thought for Food (12)

28.
Aphex Twin - Classics (12)

29.
A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms... (47:06) (12)

Wer bei "13 Angels standing Guard 'round your bed" nicht fast weinen muss, hat kein Herz. Kammermusik für Post-Rocker. Tribut-Album für Efrim Menuck's Hund Wanda, der 2000 bei einer Gy!BE-Tour an Krebs starb.
30.
Set Fire to Flames - Telegraphs In Negative/Mouths Trapped In Static [cd1] (12)

drum and bass / funky / bassline / rave / hardcore

1 Watching You Instra:mental
2 Original Sin feat. Teure Sabre
3 Organiser Spectrasoul
4 Clear Skyz (Break Remix) Die
5 Long Long Time Marcus Visionary
6 Chemical Imbalance (DJ Die Mix) Karime Kendra
7 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix) 4 Hero Feat Imani Uzuri
8 Make It Tonight High Contrast
9 Proof Positive Calibre
10 Whale Dance Electrosoul System
11 A Thousand Beautiful Things (Blu Mar Ten Remix) Annie Lennox
12 Can't Get Over You Calibre
13 Wonder Where d bridge
14 Hyph Mngo Joy Orbison
15 Just For You (Roska Remix) Untold
16 Glitch Dub Emvee
17 Pull It (Ill Blu Funky Mix) Shystie
18 Pon de floor' feat. Vybz Kartel Major Lazer
19 Bad (Mowgli is Bad Remix) Michael Jackson
20 Hot City Bass Hot City
21 The Change Up Rob Threezy
22 Jump Bounce Wayne P
23 Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selectah) Artful Dodger feat. Craig David
24 Renegade Master '98 (Fatboy Slim Remix) Wildchild
25 Just Be Mowgli
26 Burnin Daft Punk
27 Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand's Drum & Bass Remix) CJ Bolland
28 Color Correction (Jimmy Edgar LTNT Remix) X-District
29 Growls Garden Clark
30 Freaky Bitches Andrea Parker feat. DJ Assault
31 Mega (Dub Version) The Count And Sinden
32 Moombah (Afrojack mix) Silvio Ecomo / Chuckie
33 Hey ! (Foamo Remix) Diplo &Laidback Luke
34 War (Blatta & Inesha Go To Luanda Remix) Rampage
35 Keep On Dancin' (Let's Go) Perpetual Motion
36 Yeke Yeke (Hardfloor Mix) Mory Kante
37 Higher State Of Consciousness Wink
38 Another Wedged Chicken (Martyn's 131mix) Shed
39 Aztec Spor
40 Hubble Raiden
41 Hotness Dynamite MC feat. Origin Unknonwn
42 Pacman [RAM Trilogy Remix] Ed Rush & Optical
43 Go Away Audio & Mackie
44 Smack My Bitch Up (Sub Focus Rmx) Prodigy
45 Crime Side Black Sun Empire, Concord Dawn
46 Bang Bang Unknown
47 Pulp Fiction Jade
48 Dub Dread Serum
49 RM Bleeps Raiden, Current Value
50 I Am A Star! Chrissy Murderbot
51 Silke Ilsa Gold
52 Religion Members of Mayday
53 Madness Revisited Search & Destroy
54 Madonna Bio Phobith Feat. Search & Destroy
55 Drunken Piece Of Shit 6-pack
56 Hard Attack [Original] D&F
57 4 x Funk (Bass in ya face) Evil Maniax
58 Pump This Party DJ Paul Elstak
59 Riot In N.Y. Rob Gee & Repete-Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo
60 First Rebirth Jones & Stephenson
61 Rave City Yves Deruyter
62 Y.R.S Stomp TechnoTrance
63 In My Electric House feat. Yves Deruyter Cherrymoon Trax
64 Somewhere Over the Rainbow Marusha
65 Weather Experience The Prodigy
66 In The Groove Enzyme, Malice
67 In for the Kill [Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix] La Roux
68 Has it Come to This (Starkey rmx) The Streets
69 Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix) The Streets
70 Rain Breakage
71 Kid For Today Boards of Canada
72 Donnie Darko Soundtrack - Mad World
73 hurt Johnny Cash

Moderat is the two gents behind Modeselektor (Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) plus the guy behind Apparat (Sascha Ring). These three fellows all produce electronic music in Berlin, so either collaborations or dis tracks are pretty much mandatory.

The first four tracks lull you into a false security that the whole album will feature glitchy Burial-like beats, but this is not so.

The first track, A New Error, starts off with a simple loop of a broken major chord that reminds me of Aphex Twin then the dub kicks in and gives this track a unique kick. It's a rather bold blending of different styles, that somehow works very well and sets the bar pretty high for the rest of the album.

The next track, Rusty Nails, sounds very typical of a Modeselektor track (or Burial, practically the same sound nowadays). This track features the Thom Yorke/Chris Martin-esk vocal stylings of Mr. Apparat himself. This track typifies everything I love in a Modeselektor remix, that delicate blend of upbeat and melancholy. It's like a rainy Saturday morning, there's some sort of comfort in the dreariness.

Seamonkey reminds me of Amon Tobin.

Slow Match features lightening fast vocals of Caribbean rapper Paul St. Hilaire, which works surprisingly well with the glibeant (ambitch?) beat.

The next two tracks, 3 Minutes Of and Nasty Silence, slow things down with low-key ambiance that reminds me of Tim Hecker with a bit of techno thrown in.

I love Sick With It for some inexplicable reason, but it does not sound like it belongs on this album at all. Being placed in the middle of the album makes it stand out even more. I don't know why I like this song so much. I usually detest Reggae-rap style of singing, and the beat is rather clunky, like an old car sputtering along. I'll be damned if I don't nod my head to it though.

The next two tracks, Porc#1 and Porc#2, are bouncy post-rock mixes that blend nicely into each other, except for the tail-end of Porc#2 which turns into some dub-like creature.

Les Grandes Marches is probably the weakest track on the album. It sounds like the instrumental version of a T.A.T.U song. It could be worse, of course. The freshness of the other tracks make this song seem worse than it actually is. Maybe it will grow on me with time.

Berlin is a nice little palate cleanser.

Nr. 22 is another song that uses a simple beat, I believe it's a remix of Days Go By. Yet, I'd say it's the second weakest track. Again, it just seems lackluster compared to some of the other tracks on the album.

Out Of Sight is very similar to Rusty Nails. It features the familiar skipping/glitch beat and vocals by Apparat. Between the two, I can't decide which track I like more.

The album comes to a close with BeatsWaySick. The beat really makes this track, and it's a good thing because I find the rapping to be pretty awful here. It's similar to sick with it, but less clunky and more duby. I do love the Boards of Canada-esk sample in the chorus.

I love this album so very much, but the tracks do not flow very well. Half the tracks are smooth ambient with a glitch chaser. The other half are either dub or ambient with light techno.
Delicate ambient tracks are sandwiched between remixes that probably should have been b-sides. I suppose that this might have been the sound that the artists were going for. Yet, it seems as though this album is a collection of singles instead of parts of whole. However, I suppose that the crime of having a boring, cohesive album is a greater offense than having a dynamic, disjointed album.

Here's a Pitchfork review of Moderat.

Well, it had to be done, and it's a handy excuse to go back and listen to all of these again. Limiting myself to one release per artist and with apologies to
Lawrence English, Sylvain Chauveau, Black Dice, Jan Jelinek, Jasper TX, The Wrens, The Unicorns and all the others I either forgot or didn't have room for, here's one way of looking at my favourite records of the decade:


1. Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds Of... (2001)
I can't think of another album in my adult life that has influenced the music I listen to more than this one, and it's fitting that it was released at the beginning of a decade that for me personally was a discovery of ambient music. Together with its successor, ...And Their Refinement Of The Decline, this is where I go when I get paralysed by the agony of choice. Like a Rothko painting, it appears from a distance to be simplistic, but when you stand and stare for a long while, it turns out to be as detailed as your own imagination. A soundtrack to thought.


Stars of the Lid - Requiem For Dying Mothers, Part 1


2. William Basinski - The Disintegration Loops I-IV (2003)
From bohemian New York rooftops to drab and wintry Southwick chimney pots, but the spellbinding melancholic beauty of these records transcends circumstances and back stories. Condensation on windows, graffiti furtively scratched into plastic, long necklines and grids of railings. Just some of all possible worlds that exist in these loops.


An excerpt from William Basinski - D|P 1.1


3. Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)
With courageously poetic and challengingly inventive lyrics set to the subtlest and most absorbing arrangements, Ys took a good few listens before you could stand back far enough to see the whole picture. I love the way her voice seems to have a different sound for almost every word on some stretches of this album, and I still find myself smiling at the wonderful rhymes, assonance and alliteration of the lyrics:

But walk a little faster
And don't look backwards
Your feast is to the East which lies a little past the pasture
When the blackbirds hear tea whistling, they rise and clap
And their applause caws the kettle black
And we can't have none of that!
Move along, Bear; there, there; that's that.
Monkey & Bear


4. Machinefabriek - Marijn (2006)
This spot could have gone to one of about a dozen or so of his releases (including the fantastic Ranonkel, Dauw, Box Music with Stephen Vitiello and Drawn with Soccer Committee , such has been the prolific and consistently brilliant nature of Rutger Zuyderfeldt's output over the last 6 or 7 years, but, after over 1600 plays according to my lastfm stats, I might as well give it to the one which started it all off for me, Marijn. The most interesting experimental musician working today.


Machinefabriek - Dauw (from the album Dauw)


5. Deaf Center - Pale Ravine (2005)
Although this wasn't itself on the Miasmah label, it was made by its founder, Erik Skodvin (a.k.a Svarte Greiner) and seemed to me to be the father of a succession of fantastic albums (for example, from Elegi, Rafael Anton Irisarri, Jacaszek and Gultskra Artikler) that bore the label's trademark mixture of elegaic beauty and sinister sonic debris.


Deaf Center - White Lake


6. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat (2004)
One of the most ambitious, entertaining and defiantly individual bands of the decade's finest achievement, Blueberry Boat is an out-of-control splatter-gun attack of ideas, characters and melodies.


7. Ricardo Villalobos - Fabric 36 (2007)
Clicks, pops, sparks, beats, bangs, twangs, loops, hoots, snaps, whirls, claps, crackles, hisses, rips, taps, ticks, thumps, whacks, jumps, darts, dunks, barks, blinks, zips, bumps, rumbles and ripples. Earphone heaven from a Chilean genius.




8. Burial - Untrue (2007)
Darkly beautiful, like the glint of a knife.


9. Jacaszek - Treny (2008)
Electronics, samples. live strings and haunting soprano voices curl around one another in this heartbreaking album from last year.


Jacaszek - Zal


10. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
This seems to be a divisive choice, but from where I am, a million miles away from the source and the chatter and the associations that surround the band, this completed a trio of flawless art-pop albums. It's kind of cool to hear a band who are into ideas like synthesis, harmony and family as well, a kind of.


Animal Collective - My Girls


11. David Thomas Broughton - David Thomas Broughton Vs. 7 Hertz (2007)


12. Tim Hecker - Harmony In Ultraviolet (2006)


13. Junior Boys - Last Exit (2004)


14. Keith Fullerton Whitman - Playthroughs (2002)


15. Autechre - Confield (2001)


16. Broadcast - Tender Buttons (2005)


17. Claro Intelecto - Neurofibro (2004)


18. Boards of Canada - Geogaddi (2002)


19. Chihei Hatakeyama - Minima Moralia (2006)


20. Library Tapes - Feelings For Something Lost (2006)


21. Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Vrioon (2002)


22. Goldmund - Corduroy Road (2005)


23. Half Man Half Biscuit - CSI:Ambleside (2008)


24. Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks (2004)


25. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)


26. Charalambides - A Vintage Burden (2006)


27. Panda Bear - Person Pitch (2007)


28. Gonzales - Solo Piano (2004)


29. The Books - Thought for Food (2002)


30. Natural Snow Buildings - Dance Of The Sun And The Moon (2006)


31. Fennesz - Endless Summer (2001)


32. Gas - Pop (2000)


33. Rameses III - Basilica (2008)


34. Lucien-N-Luciano - Blind Behaviour (2004)


35. Colleen - The Golden Morning Breaks (2005)


36. Akron/Family - Akron/Family (2005)


37. Menomena - Friend & Foe (2008)


38. Voices And Organs - Orphanage (2006)


39. Christopher Willits & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ocean Fire (2008)


40. Robyn Hitchcock - Spooked (2004)


41. Pan American - Quiet City (2004)


42. Oren Ambarchi - Grapes From The Estate (2004)


43. Lichens - Omns (2007)


44. Rolan Vega - Documentary (2007)


45. Four Tet - Rounds (2003)


46. Gultskra Artikler - Kasha Iz Topora (2007)


47. Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill (2008)


48. Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun (2000)


49. Emeralds - What Happened (2009)


50. The Notwist - Neon Golden (2002)

glitch / electronica / idm / dubstep

1 Xerrox Phaser Acat 1 Alva Noto
2 Blown Glass Typewriter Mountains
3 Black Sea Fennesz
4 Sketch Of Sounds ... Liik Viktorija Cop Viky
5 Black Light BJ Nilsen
6 Lightworks Astrobotnia
7 paralel Suns Autechre
8 Forgive Burial
9 All Is Full Of Love Bjork
10 We Share Our Mothers' Health The Knife
11 Lose You Peaches
12 when i grow up Fever Ray
13 My Girls Animal Collective
14 Agoraphobia Deerhunter
15 Bunker DJG
16 Kemancheh Moving Ninja
17 Hamas Rule Shackleton
18 Under The Dancing Feet Clouds
19 The Time Is Now (Bambino Casino Remix) Moloko
20 Suddenly is Sooner than You Think Dntel
21 Sweet Love For Planet Earth Fuck Buttons
22 In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country Boards of Canada
23 Analyse (Acoustic xfm) Thom Yorke
24 Time to find me Seefeel
25 Point and Gaze Thriller
26 Fever Eliot Lipp
27 Hubble Thriller
28 Swarm Thriller
29 Freak For You Thriller
30 Birds Of Prey (Kelpe remix) Architeq
31 Machine Gun Portishead
32 Smartbanging Fulgeance
33 Murder Us feat. Jahcoozi King Cannibal
34 Mmm Skyscraper I Love You Underworld
35 Autobahn Kraftwerk
36 J.W. On A Good Night Martyn
37 Rain Breakage
38 Dominion Benga
39 Rise Up (DJ Pinch Remix) Henry & Louis featuring Steve Harper
40 In for the Kill [Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix] La Roux
41 DVNO (robot koch Remix) Justice
42 Police feat. Mikey Murka (Disrupt Remix) Mahanee
43 Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix) The Streets
44 Soles Sweat (feat 215TFK & Stray - Reso remix) DeBruit
45 My Own World Synkro
46 Kontrol 2562
47 Saints 'N' Sinners DJ Distance
48 Attack Of The Giant Robot Spiders Pinch
49 Hide and Seek (Enigma Remix) Imogen Heap
50 Debbitx Marcus Intalex
51 Watch We (Pinch Mix) Ashley Beedle & Horace Andy
52 You & I Pangaea
53 I'm Not A Sound (Akufen Rmx) Sieg uber die Sonne
54 Again The Addiction Actress
55 Piano dust Vector Lovers
56 Drone 1 The Rollercoaster Project

40. David Bowie – Heathen (2002)



39. Ruby Throat– The Ventriloquist (2007)



38. !!! – Louden Up Now (2004)



37. Tricky – Blowback (2001)



36. The Damage Manual – The Damage Manual (2000)



35. The Notwist – Neon Golden (2002)



34. Boards of Canada – Geogaddi (2002)



33. Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth (2005)



32. IAMX – The Alternative (2006)



31. Moloko – Things to Make and Do (2000)



30. The Tuss – Rushup Edge (2007)



29. Michael Jackson –Invincible (2001)



28. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – B.R.M.C. (2001)



27. Radiohead – Kid A(2000)



26. Kate Bush – Aerial (2005)



25. Riton – Homies And Homos (2004)



24. The White Stripes – De Stijl – (2000)



23. Hafdis Huld – Dirty Paper Cup (2006)



22. Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain (2002)



21. Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R (2000)