Top ten 2008 - a slightly different take. (No particular order) - INVERTED AUDIO

1. Pangaea - You and I/Router (Hessle Audio)

Dropping in October, this was Pangaea's only 12" of the year and, my God, is it stunning. Two beautiful tunes laden with post-garage/2-step beats mixed with deep housey chords and eerie downtuned vocals. The Hessle Audio crew have done it again. Lets hope 2009 brings big things for Pangaea.

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2. Scuba - The Upside (Martyn's Down Remix)/Twitch (Jamie Vex'd Remix) (Hotflush Recordings)

Part of the remix series of Scuba's "A Mutual Anitpathy" album, this 12" contains two very different tunes. Martyn's take on The Upside brings dreamy dub-techno chord sequences and clicking percussion together nicely through an emotional 7 minute journey. The real treat, though, is on the flip with Jamie Vex'd's bass weight destruction of the understated and minimal original. With its lurching, uneasy bass, chopped up vocals samples and pumping beats be prepared to enter a very wonky world. Fans of Fly Lo should take note. Essential stuff.

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3. Flying Lotus - L.A EP 1x3 (Warp Records)

Hot on the heels of the producer of the year's debut album for Warp (Los Angeles) came the first in a series of E.P's. Taking a couple of tunes from the album and a bunch of new material, this 6 track E.P is sublime. With his unqiue sonic palette and an ear for constructing beats so organic you feel like you can buy them from Whole Foods, Flying Lotus has earned his position at the forefront of the leftfield hip hop and dubstep scenes. Stand out track is the shuffling powerhouse that is "Rickshaw". Equally recommended is the second installment which features remixes by Martyn, Samiyam (Fly Lo's long time collaborater) and Soundmurderer.

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4. Ricardo Villalobos - Vasco EP Part 1 (Perlon)

I've chosen Part 1 of the EP rather than the CD version mainly due to the fact that, here, Shackelton has returned the favour on Villalobos and has remixed "Minimoonstar". With its muted chord progressions and complex percussion arrangments, this 10 minute reworking is as beautiful as it is haunting. This E.P is Villalobos at his best, keeping up the unbelievabely strong form that he has had recently with his Fabric CD and his remix of Shackelton's "Blood on My Hands". You know what to expect: Watery, clicky half-melodies drenched over masterful rhythmic workouts. Amazing!

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5. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (4AD)

Recorded in his father's log cabin after the split of his band, Justin Vernon, or Bon Iver, has released a debut album who's beauty surpasses almost anything I have ever heard before. I'm finding it hard to describe this album but I feel all you need to know is that this is an example of songwriting at its most accomplished. I couldn't reccommend this album more. I feel that I can't sell this album with my words... just trust me. If you haven't heard it, go and buy it and let the music speak for itself.

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6. Four Tet - Ringer EP (Domino)

2008 saw the release of the first new Four Tet material in a few years and, once again, Kieran Hebden hasn't dissappointed. The remarkable thing about Four Tet is that, although, all his albums have completely different styles (The glitchy Rounds to the percussive Everything Ecstatic) they could only be Four Tet albums. I like to see this as Kieran Hebden's take on 4/4 techno and, rhythmically, this is probably his most straightforward record but, by no means, his least interesting. Standout track "Ribbons" is a tune that slowly builds into a crescendo of chimes and soaring synth lines kept under control by that 4/4 kick. With news of an impending new album, 2009 looks big for Mr. Hebden.

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7. Ramadanman - Blimey/Drowning (Version)/Tak (Hessle Audio)

Yet another absolutely killer 12" from the Hessle Audio crew who are slowly, but surely, becoming known worldwide as one of the best imprints within the dubstep scene. This release from label co-owner Ramadanman is one of the best examples of the dubstep/techno crossover that we've been seeing more of this year. Combining complex rhythm's with massive sub bass, these three stripped back, highly minimal tracks are serious business. On top of that, Villalobos has been know to open his sets with "Blimey". Skankin' business.

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8. Mogwai - Hawk Is Howling (Wall of Sound/Matador)

Sometimes I feel that too many people hate on Mogwai and not to name any names (Pitchfork cough cough) it seems to me to be completely unjustified. This is the 6th studio album from these Scottish instrumental post-rockers and they still sound as fresh as ever, though, with the excpetion of the towering, crushing "Bat Cat" they do seem to have calmed down a little. Opener "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead" is a beautifully melancholic piano led tune that is as good as "Mr Beast" highlight "Friend of the Night" and things only get better from there. A wonderful experience for those dark nights.

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9. Zomby - Where Were U' In '92? (Werk)

A somewhat unexpected debut album from mysterious dubstep producer, Zomby, but none the less fantastic. For people expecting an album full of tunes like his brilliantly uneasy "Spliff Dub" and "Liquid Dancehall", this will come as a bit of shock because this is Zomby's homage to hardcore, early jungle and rave music of the 90's. However, this isn't just some nostaligic indulgence, there's enough innovation within this album to satisfying the cynical critic. For example, the wonderful rework of Daft Punk's "Technologoic" or the brief dubstep shuffle that creeps in but disappears almost as soon as you notice it during the massive rave tune "Euphoria". As he proclaims with opening track, "FUCK MIXING, LETS DANCE". Don't forget your whistles.

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10. Geeneus - Volumes: One (Rinse)

I'm not going to lie when I say that I was slightly cynical of 'funky' or 'uk house' or 'insert genre here' when I first heard of it. An offshoot of UK garage and grime blended with soca beats and tribal rhythms sounded bizzare and it wasn't until I heard Kode 9 drop Geeneus' "Yellowtail" that I got it. This, the first full-length release in this genre, is fantastic and, hopefully, a sign of the good things to come. Sure it has slightly cheesy vocal tunes, but that's the point of it and girls love it. Standout's have to be the hypnotic, aforementioned "Yellowtail" and Geeneus' absolutely outstanding remix of Benga and Coki's smasher "Night". It's a refreshing take on a song that was beginning to get slightly grating. Get involved.

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