GIVEPOPACHANCE'S TOP 20 SONGS OF 2012.

20

"Play The Game Boy"

A*M*E

The perfect pop song of 2012. Earworm hooks laced with sugar-sweet electropop.

19

"Anything Could Happen"

Ellie Goulding

Amoungst all the butterfly vocal licks and thunderclap beats lies the fragile heart of Ellie Goulding, never before exposed like this.

18

"Boring Bitches"

Etta Bond/Raf Riley feat. Lady Leshurr

More a rant than a song, but totally redeems itself with a drop so insane it will shudder the bones of every boring bitch from the "east to the fucking south".

17

"Esta Noche"

Azealia Banks

Shame about the spat between producer Munchi and Banks, because Esta Noche would've been the perfect breakthrough for Moombahton into the mainstream, and another genre calling card for the ever flexible Banks.

16

"You Know You Like It"

AlunaGeorge

A song the band have yet to match on any level; the cheeky bassline, silky vocals and jittering beats make for the sexiest song of 2012.

15

"Tidal Wave"

Sub Focus feat. Alpines

If for nothing but those glorious final 30 seconds, Sub Focus managed to make Drum& Bass truly ethereal.

14

"Ride"

Lana Del Rey

If Born To Die was a record where Lana hinted at a fragile core underneath her 'gangster Nancy Sinatra' persona, "Ride" is the full on emotional revelation; it sounds like her most personal song to date.

13

"Latch"

Disclosure feat. Sam Smith

Paid no attention to the rules of the underground, and did everything that was uncool. Campy, falsetto vocals (from the brilliant Sam Smith) and an exuberant, bouncy rhythm, it ended up being the biggest breakthrough for the band so far.

12 

"Everything Is Embarrassing"

Sky Ferreira

A total reinvention for the previously robotic pop-doll, "Everything is Embarrassing" sounds lush from Blood Orange's production, but also wry and pessimistic in its lyrical content. "Maybe if you tried then I would not bother"; it's a truly tragic teenage anthem.

11

"Thinkin' Bout You"

Frank Ocean

Despite many epic and brave sounds on Channel Orange, the record's highlight comes from it's subtle, understated opening number proper. Ocean's lyrics are vague but poignant, the song rarely peaking in mood, the song is a daydream on a lazy day. It's a perfect introduction to Frank.

10

"Walk With Me"

Memoryhouse

The definitive indie love song of 2012, full of clumsy and sweet lyrics: "this life could be graced with symmetry" / "I rest my head on your shoulder". Melodically wonderful, the husky voice of singer Denise Nouvion is what really carries the song straight to your heart.

9 

"In The Dark"

Nite Jewel

Understated, confusing and mysterious, "In The Dark" is the warm heart of One Second of Love.

8

"Running"

Jessie Ware

Sade's "No Ordinary Love" reinvented for the 21st century, and I do not make that comparison lightly.

7

"Genesis"

Grimes

Weird, unfriendly, yet totally haunting, "Genesis" was Grimes' breakthrough track, and one that did nothing commercial to achieve this, merely brought to the table everything she was about, and we were hooked.

6

"Wildest Moments"

Jessie Ware

This year's "Someone Like You" in my eyes, a love song so universal it can apply to any sort of relationship, and a timeless melody.

5

"Angels"

The xx

Although not completely de-sexed, "Angels" is the most honest, fragile love song that the seductive and suggestive xx have written to date, and you can hear it in Romy's trembling voice.

4

"These Streets Will Never Look The Same"

Chromatics

Desolate and despairing as its subject matter, "These Streets..." is a near 8 minute dirge, one that wallows in its own regret and loneliness. But amidst its hypnotic synths and icy piano chords, this heartbreaking track could easily go on for double its running time, and indeed it feels as if it does, in the best way possible.

3

"Myth"

Beach House

If "Norway" was the nearest thing to epic that Beach House had managed thus far, "Myth"'s soaring guitars and euphoric vocals push the band to an entirely new emotional peak.

2

"110%"

Jessie Ware

2012 was undoubtedly Brixton sweetheart Jessie Ware's year, and 110% was the track that really made the UK sit up and listen. Over a skittering, unfamiliarly speedy beat and ethereal, heavenly pads, Jessie whispered sweet nothings in our ear before letting her voice float away into the clouds. Mysterious, quirky and beautiful.

1

"Paradise"

Wild Nothing

Sparsely filled and structured, the few elements that make up "Paradise" combine to make it magical. Like Bon Iver's "Calgary" that topped my list last year, "Paradise" is a song that makes a journey. In this case, it is one that starts off with a short couple of verses before dipping into a lengthy break that takes up most of the song, building and building, before returning for a glorious climax, at exactly the right exhilarating moment. The track's finest flourishes however, come in the form of its funky guitar lick and charming flute hook, that dance a celebratory dance over the simmering pads.

GIVEPOPACHANCE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2012.

- 10 -

"There's No Leaving Now"

The Tallest Man on Earth

An emotional revelation. The man of unrivalled height, in a similar manner to Bon Iver last year, delivers an entirely more open, more beautiful sophomore record. Whilst Tallest Man's debut was all lonely guitars and bluesy tunes, There's No... is awash with tinkling guitars, soaring vocal melodies, sombre pianos, and the whole thing has a glorious optimism to it. The Man's voice aches with hope, seasoned with coming to peace with past regret. An escapist record, for sitting by lakes in summer.

- 9 -

"Nocturne"

Wild Nothing

Another more melodic sophomore effort, after the distant indiepop of Wild Nothing's debut, their second takes influence from more balearic peers such as Delorean and Friendly Fires. Marimbas pop up on "Counting Days", guitars soar like U2 on "Nocturne" and the magnificent "Paradise" lights up with its fuzzy coat of warm pads. A much poppier record song-wise too, turns out The Nothing have a knack for gorgeous 90s indie hooks.

- 8 -

"The Slideshow Effect"

Memoryhouse

Blissfully melancholic, Memoryhouse's Slideshow... makes it a hat trick of great second records this year. Singer Denise Nouvion's deep, warm voice finds a comfortable space amongst the shoegazer guitars and lullaby melodies. Every song is a daydream, and every lyric an ideal, the record is simple and perfectly formed. "This life could be graced with symmetry..." Nouvion ponders on "Walk With Me", and that's exactly what has graced this album. Everything fits.

- 7 -

"Born To Die"

Lana Del Rey

Actually improved upon by the later Paradise EP, Lana Del Rey's debut is still, although an acquired taste for some/many, a perfect introduction to a new pop persona. The combination of classic 60s and 70s glamour, sombre balladry with hip hop undertones. The beats are always slow and heavy, the strings always mournful, and Lana's voice, though far from incredible technically, cracks with hollywood tragedy one moment, and is delirious and suggestive the next. It's a slog for people who are on the fence about her, but for those that have become addicted, it's impossible to not be drawn in from start to finish.

- 6 -

"Trouble"

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

In an era for dance music where producers live single to single, a full length album packed with potentials is masterful. TEED's 80s electro is quirky, creative and more-ish, "Household Goods" shudders under the weight of its tidal wave synth, the "feet don't fail me now" sample on "Tapes and Money" is the most epic call to the dancefloor this year, and "Your Love" is unadulterated diva house joy . And those are just the existing singles, but TEED could happily milk the album dry for the next year without his nerd-rave house getting old.

- 5 -

"Bloom"

Beach House

There's no suggesting that Bloom is anything spectacularly different to Beach House's last record, the wonderful Teen Dream, but the feat of matching that record in quality alone gets the band's fourth record to number 5 on this list. It's not an identical record by any means however. Whilst only the euphoric "Norway" really lifted your feet off the ground on Teen Dream, the rest of the album content to take gorgeous strolls in the park, the opening three tracks on Bloom all suggest that slowly but surely, Beach House are becoming confident in their ability to write songs that fill larger spaces then their own subconscious. Listen to the opening arpeggios of "Wild", for example, a track so glorious that the only fair place for it to be heard is a stadium.

- 4 -

"Visions"

Grimes

Not Grimes' debut, but her breakthrough record Visions, so fresh, unusual and intriguing in its fusion of electropop and industrial ambience, feels very much like a debut. Grimes' twisted-singsong vocals and harsh, raw beats bring to mind Crystal Castles, but unlike said band, her music is endearing and beautiful, as opposed to nihilistic and icy. Both brilliant acts working in a deeply uncommercial, rarely touched sound space, but Grimes' record is less like a nightmare and more like a daydream, one that the listener joins her on for the duration.

- 3 -

"Kill For Love"

Chromatics

After their work on the excellent, retro Drive soundtrack, Kill For Love maintains that combination of silky indie, new wave and electropop with dark undertones. Yet what is most beautiful about Kill For Love is the overwhelming sense of sadness and regret that overshadows every track. From lengthy electroacoustic odes to loneliness like "Running From The Sun" and "These Streets..." to the synth-drenched new wave of the gorgeous title track, the record spans many sounds and moods, but there is never a moment when it fails to leave the bittersweet aftertaste of melancholy.

- 2 -

"Devotion"

Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware's debut album marks the ascendancy of the feature singer to full blown artist. The sweetheart of Brixton has a voice that is as authentically soul as it is credibly pop, and the music is also an incredibly effective crossover. Devotion has it's more electronic moments, "110%" and "Sweet Talk", it's more traditionally balladic moments, "Wildest Moments" and "Taking In Water", and flecks of old school hip hop also creep in, "Still Love Me" and "No To Love". But any song that Jessie sings, she makes her own. In an industry of singers defined by the music behind them, Jessie Ware can only be defined as the best voice of 2012.

- 1 -

"One Second of Love"

Nite Jewel

Relatively underground Canadian singer Nite Jewel's debut was destined to take her nowhere. A difficult, unfriendly album of shoegaze synthpop, with vocals so distorted and distant that a melody was lucky to be picked out of the fuzzy mess. And I'm sure this was her intention. However One Second of Love shows, and in magnificent style, her true potential. 

Still a synthpop artist in many ways, it is crude to use this term to describe the pallet of sounds on display here. The Robyn-on-a-downer electropop of the title track, the gorgeous new age sweep of "In The Dark", the aching melancholica-electronica of "No I Don't" right to the peaceful, soothing ambience of "Clive", each song shows a different facet of her persona. 

I would compare it, bizarrely enough, to Radiohead's Kid A. It is a succinct record, but one that picks it's ideas very carefully. And it's flaws (maybe the metaphor of "Autograph" is a tad clumsy, or the introductory drop into "This Story" is a tad abrupt) all add to the character and shape of OSoL. It's an odd record, a subtle one, and for me, a genius one, one that did more for me than any other this year.

TOP 10 OF AUGUST (Includes Mixtape)

A distinct lack of real summer anthems this month, and in true spirit of the non-summer which seems to have passed us by, the most impressive music this month seemed keener to advance into the colder, darker months.

Listen to my monthly mix below, and then scroll down to read what I have to say about my favourite tracks of the month.



10. Bebe Black - Deathwish
(Taken from 'The Black Lion Sessions' EP)

You may know her as the voice of Benga's 'Icon', but on "Deathwish", Bebe Black reveals a new side to herself as an artist. Unlike her assured swagger on 'Icon', Black's tone is more emotional and desperate here, her higher range recalling the distinct soft-opera of La Roux. She sings hopelessly, with chorus hook "loving you is turning to a deathwish, and there is no way out but this" flirting tragically with self-destruction and low self-esteem. An organic, Flo&TheMo-lite backing track, driven by an addictive, dancy synth piano hook leaves plenty of space for her fragile voice to breathe.

DOWNLOAD 'THE BLACK LION SESSIONS' EP FOR FREE HERE.

9. Teengirl Fantasy - Efx (feat. Kelela)
(Taken from 'Tracer')

Quirky bass/synth/whateverpop act Teengirl Fantasy, thus far known for icy synth house tracks such as "Motif", have taken a slight detour via the new wave of US dark'n'B ala Drake and The Weeknd, and it's a delightfully weird middle ground between the bajan pop vibes of old Rihanna and difficult but gorgeous swedish pop like The Knife and Niki & The Dove.

8. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
(Single)

After guesting on Calvin Harris' functional but unambitious "Let's Go" not so long ago, it's predictable that Ne-Yo would continue with this direction in his solo material. However, when a big dance production is paired with the saccharine emotional piano led chord sequence and overwrought melodies that Ne-Yo so often brings to the table in his solo work, "Let Me Love You" ends up being a surprising pop triumph. Melodramatic yes, cheesy yes, but oh so, OH SO catchy and unfairly uplifting. Makes one grin like a buffoon.

7. Noisettes - Winner
(Taken from 'Contact')

After providing two stomping indie dance anthems on their last record, in "Never Forget You" and "Don't Upset The Rhythm", it's good to see them hit right back with a fist-pumping comeback single. Menacing guitars pace the room, the beat stomps aggressively and singer Shingai Shoniwa yells triumphantly "I feel like a winner!", and its an infectious feeling. Effortlessly feel-good and sassy, the Noisettes remind us why there's still a place for them.

6. The 1975 - The City
(Taken from 'Facedown' EP)

When The Big Pink failed to deliver another "Dominos" on their close-but-no-cigar sophomore, it's good to hear the best pop rock anthem that band never wrote, with a gritty heart and emotive delivery. A massive britpop beat meets a truly anthemic wall of distorted bass and waves of guitar, as the singer announces triumphantly in the chorus "if you wanna find out you know where the city is". An uplifting move-to-the-city anthem with an aftertaste of rebellion.

5. Benga - Pour Your Love (feat. Marlene)
(Taken from 'Chapter 2', release date 29/10)

If anyone misses the 2009/10 days of dubstep's real breakthrough to the mainstream, "Pour Your Love" reminds us just how big a role Benga's work with Magnetic Man and Katy B played. In the same vein as a track like "Katy On A Mission", but twice as big, the pulsating basslines and soaring lead melodies courtesy of superlative featured singer Marlene are truly thrilling in a way that no amount of cliched Skrillex bleeps and bloops could achieve, and is a perfect reminder of how melody in dubstep can be crucial to its longevity and commercial stance. In other words, WHAT a tune.


4. Passion Pit - Constant Conversations (St. Lucia Remix)
(Unofficial Remix)

On Gossamer, the original "Constant Conversations" is earthy and gritty, and sad in a mopy way, despite the beauty of its melancholic, self-reflective subject matter. But New York producer St Lucia had bigger ideas for the track. It's new wavey synth chords and vast reverb catapault the track into the stratosphere, and inject the previously depressive track with a heart-leaping sense of hope, especially once the track finally bursts free at 1:50. The vocal sample sounds epic as opposed to quirky, and that 70s keyboard lead is simply perfectly placed.

DOWNLOAD THE TRACK FOR FREE HERE.

3. Aaliyah - Enough Said (feat. Drake)
(Single)
Not quite a hologram, but hearing Aaliyah's silky and insanely sexy voice matched with Drake's producer 40's thick, ambient, bass heavy production in 2012 is something undeniably quite wonderful. It's almost a shame when Drake turns up, Aaliyah's voice is that show stopping, from the irresistible string of "yeah"s that make up the songs focal hook to her heavenly, fragile ad libs. Nevertheless, Drake is full on 'Take Care'-reflective here in his verse, and although he's upstaged by the late diva, they make a strangely apt pairing, the song playing like a hazy dream, in which Aaliyah is still alive and producing beautiful music, and Drake wakes in the morning, rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to recall what he just dreamt.

2. Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments

(Taken from 'Devotion')

On first listen, with its gently distorted heavy handed drum beat, it would be easy to dismiss "Wildest Moments" as a power ballad, but it's much simpler and more elegant than that. There is no musical climax, not much range for Ware to enjoy, but it her effortless, unaffected and beautiful delivery that really allow the words of this understated, yet incredible ballad to resonate and emotionally connect with her listener. She sings calmly of the bittersweet turmoil in her relationship, and despite this calm, her voice shimmers as she sings "we could be the greatest... we could be the worst of all", and what is left unsaid, is said here without words.  When Jessie Ware demonstrates such a powerhouse voice on other tracks, a song like this being a highlight on her incredible debut is nothing short of remarkable.

1. Wild Nothing - Paradise
(Taken from 'Nocturne')

After the shoegazery new wave of their debut Gemini, Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is certainly the stronger, more confident record, and "Paradise" is its restless, romantic heartbeat. Five and a half minutes pass without much changing, but each melody that introduces itself is a beautiful revelation. A jangly lead guitar and feathery flute melody provide enough musical joy between them than was heard on the entire of (the still quite enjoyable) Gemini, and the brief vocal refrain is subtle but effortlessly grand. It is however the two and a half minute breakdown, carried on three gorgeous chords, that truly makes the track, giving it its warm, welcoming heart. When the whole band kicks back in for the final minute, it is one of the most joyous moments in pop music this year.

- Joe Copplestone, 30/08/12

Popdar: Best New Music - 06/08

Another moderate quality music drought this week, thank you very much Olympics (!), but there are, as always, some proper finds if you look hard for them.

AALIYAH - ENOUGH SAID (FEAT. DRAKE)

Not quite a hologram, but hearing Aaliyah's silky and insanely sexy voice matched with Drake's producer 40's thick, ambient, bass heavy production in 2012 is something undeniably quite wonderful. It's almost a shame when Drake turns up, Aaliyah's voice is that show stopping, from the irresistible string of "yeah"s that make up the songs focal hook to her heavenly, fragile ad libs. Nevertheless, Drake is full on 'Take Care'-reflective here in his verse, and although he's upstaged by the late diva, they make a strangely apt pairing, the song playing like a hazy dream, in which Aaliyah is still alive and producing beautiful music, and Drake wakes in the morning, rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to recall what he just dreamt.

For fans of: The Weeknd, everyone involved with the track.

 Aaliyah - "Enough Said" (feat. Drake) by FUTURESOUND / BGR

AYLEN & D!RTY AUDIO - DIFFERENT CITIES (FEAT. JITTA ON THE TRACK)
FREE DOWNLOAD ON SOUNDCLOUD

Thanks to @poundpoundpound's INSANE moombahton mix last week on www.moombaplus.com radio, I came across this filthy, untamable monster of a track. A thunderous kick beats sparsely, as a string of rapid deadmau5 chords build to a crescendo before dropping into beautiful chaos, the rabid lead flailing and foaming at the mouth.

For fans of: Knife Party, Diplo, DIRTY Moombahton.

 D!RTY AUD!O x Aylen feat. Jitta On The Track - Different Cities (Original Mix) by D!RTY AUD!O

BEAT CONNECTION - THE PALACE GARDEN
ALBUM OUT NOW

After last year's blissfully euphoric slice of balearica that was Beat Connection's debut EP Surf Noir, the chillwavers are back with their first full length record. Whilst nothing here quite matches the sheer sunkissed splendour of "In The Water" or "Theme From Yours Truly", the band have found a comfortable niche between Friendly Fires and Washed Out, with tracks like "Palace Garden, 4am" and "Further Out" oozing chilled poolside party charm with their deep, funky basslines and some delicious steel pans flourishes. "Think Feel" stands out however, with the subtly steamy vocals of Chelsey Scheffe perfectly complimenting the track's dark xx-tinged synthpop.

For fans of: Friendly Fires, Washed Out, The xx.

 Think/Feel by Beat Connection

KISSES - FUNNY HEARTBEAT
SINGLE OUT NOW

More summer fun in Kisses's new single. Whilst not quite topping their stunning debut single "Bermuda" or its beautiful follow up "People Can Do The Most Amazing of Things", the summery indiepoppers gain points for the sheer effortlessness in which the laid back optimism gleams from this track, in which two lovely chords loop round and round beneath a driving beat and shooting star synths. Twee in the extreme, and unashamedly so.

For fans of: Fun, The Cure, The Smiths.

 Funny Heartbeat by Kisses

NE-YO - LET ME LOVE YOU (UNTIL YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF)
SINGLE OUT NOW

After guesting on Calvin Harris' functional but unambitious "Let's Go" not so long ago, it's predictable that Ne-Yo would continue with this direction in his solo material. However, when a big dance production is paired with the saccharine emotional piano led chord sequence and overwrought melodies that Ne-Yo so often brings to the table in his solo work, "Let Me Love You" ends up being a surprising pop triumph. Melodramatic yes, cheesy yes, but oh so, OH SO catchy and unfairly uplifting. Makes one grin like a buffoon.

For fans of: This kind of chart pop shit.

 "Let Me Love You" - NE-YO by Neyo Red

REDLIGHT - LOST IN YOUR LOVE
SINGLE OUT NOW

Continuing in the 90s dance mould of Redlight's last smash "Get Out My Head", "Lost In Your Love" is more commercial with its piano house intentions, with flecks of decade old funky house combined with a very current ravepop sound.

For fans of: Calvin Harris, Funky House.

 REDLIGHT ‘LOST IN YOUR LOVE’ – ANNIE MAC SPECIAL DELIVERY, RADIO 1 by Redlight UK

TEENGIRL FANTASY - EFX (FEAT. KELELA)
SINGLE OUT NOW

Quirky bass/synth/whateverpop act Teengirl Fantasy, thus far known for icy synth house tracks such as "Motif", have taken a slight detour via the new wave of US dark'n'B ala Drake and The Weeknd, and it's a delightfully weird middle ground between the bajan pop vibes of old Rihanna and difficult but gorgeous swedish pop like The Knife and Niki & The Dove.

For fans of: Rihanna, The Knife, Niki & The Dove.

 EFX ft. Kelela by Teengirl Fantasy

WILD NOTHING - PARADISE
ALBUM "NOCTURNE" OUT 27/08

After the shoegazery new wave of their debut "Gemini", Wild Nothing's sophomore full length Nocturne is looking to be a tad more anthemic, if second preview track "Paradise" is anything to go by. First single "Shadow" was earthier and lovelier than anything off "Gemini", with its Fleetwood Mac 70s rock demeanor and a majestic lead melody, but "Paradise" is an even further step into the epicsphere. Five and a half minutes pass without much happening, but each melody that introduces itself is a beautiful revelation. A jangly lead guitar and feathery flute melody provide enough musical joy between them than was heard on the entire of (the still quite enjoyable) "Gemini", and the brief vocal refrain is subtle but effortlessly grand. It is however the two and a half minute breakdown, carried on three gorgeous chords, that truly makes the track, giving it its warm, welcoming heart. When the whole band kicks back in for the final minute, it is one of the most joyous moments in pop music this year.

For fans of: The Radio Dept, The Cure, JJ.

 Wild Nothing // "Paradise" by capturedtracks

THE 1975 - THE CITY
"FACEDOWN" EP OUT NOW

To finish, a grand pop rock anthem, with a gritty heart that The Script et al could never hope to touch. A massive britpop beat meets a truly anthemic wall of distorted bass and waves of guitar, as the singer announces triumphantly in the chorus "if you wanna find out you know where the city is". An uplifting move-to-the-city anthem with an aftertaste of rebellion.

For fans of: The Big Pink, Bloc Party, White Lies.

 The City by the1975