Best Albums of 2013 - Number 1: Forest Swords – 'Engravings'

The Neo-pychedelia of Matthew Barnes’ Forest Swords brought an emotional, dreamlike haze with this ambient dub record. Spinning the similar dark atmosphere of previous records, this maintained Barnes’ ethereal beauty but with a starker experimental edge. Hard to call with so many great releases (James Holden, The Haxan Cloak, Dean Blunt, Julia Holter) but this was my album of the year.

Best Albums of 2013 - Number 2: James Holden – 'The Inheritors'

IDM pumped full to bursting with Krautrock, Holden’s brilliant release is both knowingly retro and strikingly contemporary. Probably the coolest record of the year. 

Best Albums of 2013 - Number 3: The Haxan Cloak – 'Excavation'

Dub Dark ambient that is a concept record about what happens after we die. What we get is a compelling, immersive decent into a dark, gloomy afterlife drenched in deafening fear.

Best Albums of 2013 - Number 4: Dean Blunt – 'The Redeemer'

The experimental dub of Dean Blunt is both intimate and immediate whilst being barren and removed. This is sensual pop/electro with outstanding production and a hugely distinctive vibe.

Best Albums of 2013 - Number 5: Spektr – 'Cypher'

French Black metal has always tried to push boundaries, and Spektr’s ‘Cypher’ is no exception. This is certainly a long way from traditional black metal; no vocals, clear electro influences and hypnotic structures. Spektr offer up an eclectic, industrial tinged atmospheric journey not to be missed. With excellent releases from Altar of Plagues and the ever consistent Oranssi Pazuzu, it is not lightly I call this the metal album of the year.