35. Oriol
When Night and Day dropped earlier this year, it was like someone had re-recorded the soundtrack to Miami Vice while off their face on rum and coke. Evoking the beach, the night, the sea, the LP was at once contemporary and sweetly nostalgic. Which is to say, it was top notch - and Oriol someone to watch out for next year.
34. Ital Tek
Alan Myson, the man behind Ital Tek, has been rolling out near-flawless dubstep for two or three years now. And so it was no surprise when he carried on as usual with the excellent Spectrum Falls and Midnight Colour. Now it's just a question of whether he will start getting the same sort of attention other, far less talented dubsteppers have been lapping up for what seems like years.
33. John Roberts
Dull name, but music that is most definitely not dull. In a revival of the sort of warmth and melodic depth that house has been lacking so much in recent years, Roberts demonstrated a deftness of touch and great ear for a tune. One to play on repeat before big nights on the town - although it serves just as well as come-down music after the main event.
32. Mark McGuire
McGuire's work with Emeralds may have gathered far more attention this year, but it was the driven, fretting intensity of his solo album that stood out more for me. With a sound like an unused instrumental from the Joshua Tree, this was music that felt like it was trying desperately to break out - but somehow still held it all together.
31. Avi Buffalo
Some people have described them as Shins-esque, which I don't see as true, but what the hell - these guys just like a good old sing song. Their debut record was never going to move the avant gardists to rhapsody, but sometimes there's nothing wrong with a band who simply set out to make well-crafted music, and do it well.
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