After reading one too many "top100 of 2005" with the same albums in a slightly different order, we decided on a more personal selection for our roundup of 2005 - focusing on some of the more obscure gems that passed under the radar, and also includes singles, plus older music that was uncovered and added to Bleep this year. Rest assured that all these come heavily recommended and will not disappoint.

You can easily listen to all these in full, via the Bleep popup player - click the listen link. When it fades out after 30 seconds, remember to click 'play' again (or anywhere on the waveform) to carry on listening. Clicking the “Buy” link will take you through to Bleep with the product added to the basket. (though not checked out or paid for of course - just click the little red X to remove it if you want)

Finally, we have a new years' gift from all at Bleep to all of you - login to your account on New Years day or after to find some free music waiting for you in your basket. Love Bleep x .
 
 
Guitars, Voices, Beats
 

Tunng : This is Tunng (Static Caravan) Listen Buy

   

Tunng are the duo of singer Sam Genders and producer Mike Lindsay, who have crafted an album filled with elements of The Wicker Man (they play “maypole Song” in their live sets), early Beta Band and a healthy dose of prog mysticism. Combining electronic production touches with acoustic guitar and vocals, Tunng avoid the bland prettiness of most of the dreaded folktronica genre and instead offer up something much more blackhearted and unsettling “thanks largely to Genders' ability to draw on elemental imagery both metaphysical and scientific and Lindsay's knack for disrupting any cosy nostalgic tendencies with sudden interjections of things such as door-intercom buzzers and canned applause. Best of all is "Tale from Black", in which lines such as "She knows when they jail her they'll grind down the key" capture something of the dark, cataclysmic extremity of traditional folk songs.” Andy Gill.
   
  The Books : Lost And Safe (Tomlab) Listen Buy
   
Third album from Massachusetts/NYC based duo of Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong and probably their best to date. Their unique combination of of clattering percussion, medieval-sounding cellos and mandolins, found sound and field recordings are for the first time coupled with vocals (and some well placed Lewis Carroll samples), bringing them a new army of converts - their collaborative mini album with Prefuse73 released on Warp further cemented their reputation. "No matter the context or what you call it, The Books are in relatively uncharted territory with bountiful potential in every direction. Although "Lost and Safe" would be a crowning achievement for any band, The Books show no sign of running out of beautiful musical ideas to convey." Junkmedia 
   
  Jose Gonzalez : Veneer (Peacefrog) Listen Buy
   
Jose Gonzalez is a Swedish singer-songwriter of South American extraction. Using just his own finger-picked classical guitar and voice, and recorded with the minimum of fuss at home on basic equipment, the eleven songs that grace "Veneer", Gonzalez's beguiling debut album, blend sophisticated Latin passion with undeniable echoes of Nick Drake and Tim Buckley. The song "Heartbeats" was used to great effect on the Sony 'bouncing balls' TV advert.    
   
  Animal Collective : Feels (FatCat) Listen Buy
  Charlottefield : How Long Are you Staying (FatCat)
Listen Buy
   


Two albums on FatCat who had a good year in 2005. After last years excellent Sung Tongs, the Collective returned with their seventh and maybe best album that brought them wider and justly deserved recognition. Where Sung Tongs was largely acoustic-based and the product of just two members, Feels is a full group effort - big-sounding, electrified pop with swirling guitars and vocal styles and stomping choruses reminiscent of classic Bowie or Mercury Rev in party mood. Electronic, psychedelic yet also inviting and warming, Feels shows Animal Collective fully on top of their game. Charlottefield on the other hand are a much more confrontational racket-making option and join the elite (Boredoms, Lightning Bolt) of amazing bands centred around shit-hot drummers (in their case Ash Marlowe, who once put out records on Weatherall's Sabres label as Conemelt) “This band are probably the best band in Brighton and therefore probably the best band in Britain. They are twice as good live as the album, easily, so get along to see them when they play.” Dan on the DiS forum
   
  Dangerdoom : The Mouse And The Mask (Lex Records)
Listen Buy
   
This year's clear winner in the fantasy Hip Hop category is also Lex Records' biggest and best yet that bodes well for their new fully independent future. It saw Danger Mouse (who after last year's “Grey Album” had an even bigger year with this and his production of Gorillaz “Demon Days”) and MF DOOM (“Madvillainy”, “MmFood”) team up to create a medium-mashing concept album inspired by and loosely themed around the cult Adult Swim shows on the Cartoon Network. This release comes with FREE Bleep desktop Wallpapers. 
   
  Arab Strap : The Last Romance (Chemikal Underground)
Listen Buy
   
More tales of everyday trials from the Scottish duo of Malcom Middleton and Aidan Moffat who continue to craft dark beauty from the bleakest of subject matter. “Raw, tender, emotional, charming, filthy... Arab Strap manage to be all of these, usually within the space of a single song. And, it's wonderful to report, The Last Romance is no different. Outside of great 90s writer Gordon Legge and the Irn Bru-producing Barr family, Arab Strap are perhaps the most significant thing to come out of Falkirk.. they've been charting the dark and dirty side of life and love for the last decade or so. 4 Stars.” (Iain Hepburn, Manchester Online).
   
 

Future Pilot AKA : Eyes Of Love (Creeping Bent) Listen Buy

   

New single from Domino and Creeping bent artist Future Pilot AKA, available exclusively through Bleep and featuring vocals by Stuart and Sarah from Belle & Sebastian.
 
 
 
 

Electronic, Soundtracks, Minimalische

   
  Various : Check The Water (Leaf) Listen Buy
   
Double-album compilation (29 tracks for only £7.99) celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Leaf Label. Launched by ex-4AD press officer Tony Morley in 1995, Leaf explores the places where electronica, jazz, classical, rock and folk meet, offering up some of the most interesting music from across the planet in the process. The label was recently honoured as one of the 25 Best Independent Labels in the world.
   
  The Chap : Ham (Lo Recordings) Listen Buy
   
New album from North London's finest. Funny, danceable electro rock type music (sorry for vagueness) quite different to anything else around. Very english, a bit silly but super-good. The Chap can do kraut-style psyche buildups with the best of them (listen to track 12 'clissold park') and incorporate different instruments to great effect.
   
  Bjork : Drawing Restraint 9 (One Little Indian) Listen Buy
  Various : Screaming Masterpiece OST (One Little Indian)
Listen Buy
   


Bjork's soundtrack to Matthew Barney's head-meltingly visual and intense film. On a quick preview it sounds pretty strange, with none of the big songs of “Medulla” (let alone earlier albums) but stick with it for this is a totally absorbing and wondrous album. Incorporating traditional Japanese instruments and the throat singing of Tagaq (who featured on Medulla) with electronic input from Mark Bell and Leila, it effortlessy conjures up the mystery and otherworldliness of Japan, the film itself, and Bjork's unique take on the world and music. “Screaming Masterpiece” is also a soundtrack, this time to an Icelandic film celebrating the diversity and breadth of musical virtuosity that has flowed from the country since the Sugarcubes and Bjork led the way in the 80's. It features Sigur Ros, Mum, Mugison, Gus Gus and more.
   
  Harmonic 33 : Music For Film, Television and Radio Vol 1 (Warp Records) Listen Buy
   
Warp's best release of 2005, just eclipsing the twin titans of Jamie Lidell and Jackson, was this low-key album from Mark Pritchard that needs to be owned, played and loved by everyone. If this had a film to go with it, it would be up there with the very best OST's ever alongside Roy Budd, Schifrin and Morricone. Mark Pritchard and Dave Brinkworth lovingly recreate the golden era of library music with all-original instrumentation and no samples. The result is wide-eyed 1960's Sci Fi electronica with a widescreen cinematic vision.
 
   
  Global Communication : 76:14 (Sanctuary) Listen Buy
   
Produced by Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton, and reissued this year on its 10 year anniversary, this is a landmark in the evolution of electronic music, up there with Eno and Aphex in the canon of the best ambient music. Reissued as a super-sized double album with a set of tracks from Global Communications later EPs that followed.
   
  Keith Fullerton Whitman : Multiples (Kranky) Listen Buy
   
Our favourite release from Kranky this year (really saying something as they put out a seemingly unstoppable flow of excellent records), was this masterpiece recorded at the Harvard University electronic accoustic studio where Whitman was lucky enough to have a residency. Seemingly concieved and executed as an academic exercise following the lead of the original electronic pioneers of the GRM, the album uses similar hardware and the same prosaic approach to track naming that references the specific equipment used. However, the end result is a series of captivating recordings which erupt with musicality, human warmth and a songwriter's ear for structure that reveal Whitman to be one of the most important composers around. 
   
  Alva Noto : Insen (Raster Noton) Listen Buy
   
Alva Noto is the operating alias of Carsten Nicolai, and with Insen he continues the collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto that started with Vrioon - voted record of the year in 04 by The Wire. Nicolai's gossamer-like electronic processes combine with Sakamoto's ethereal classic piano to create a tension filled conversation. At times barely there, in other places the minimal elements combine and lock in to each other in a powerful and moving way, like Reich at his best. Best listened to as the soundtrack to a contemplative journey, or a lost hour in an art gallery. 
   
  Kelley Polar : Lovesongs of the Hanging gardens (Environ) Listen Buy
   
Croatian-born Kelley Polar is best known for arranging strings for modern disco masters Metro Area - this majestic album is co-produced by MA's Morgan Geist and released on his Environ label. "The Rooms in My House" piles strings next to a nefarious rave rumble, and "Matter Into Energy" conjures the atmosphere of a 17th-century discotheque, if such a thing can be imagined. As unique as the cascading lights of a mirrorball." John Burgess in The Guardian.
   
  Glen Velez & Various Artists : External Combustion (Schematic) Listen Buy
  Otto Von Schirach & Various Artists : Armpit Buffet (Schematic) Listen Buy
   


Two new projects on the Schematic Label released exclusively through Bleep that are not available in any other format. The albums feature remixes/reinterpretations from a host of luminaries of the electronic music world including Jamie Lidell, Chris Clark, Venetian Snares, Soft Pink Truth (Drew from Matmos), Murcof, Pita, Jan Jelinek, Keith Fullerton Whitman and many more.
   
 
 
 
Electro, Acid, Classics
 

Jackson : Smash Up Megamix (Warp) Listen Buy

   

Jackson's megamix chop-up of all the tracks from his all-conquering “Smash” album, with some re-edits and other tracks chucked in for good measure. This was a promo-only affair, and now only available on Bleep! 
   
  Gescom : The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used (Gescom) Listen Buy
   
The all-time classic Gescom EP originally released on the Clear label in 1995. “Puzl” is possibly one of the best Ae/Gescom tracks ever, taking cues from Cybotron and Man Parrish to produce a modern electro masterpiece. “Go Sumo/Go Sheep” are similarly subliminal bits of work. Buy. 
   
  Michael Fakesch : Demon 1 (Musik Aus Strom) Listen Buy
   
Also uncovered from the vaults especially for Bleep, this EP by Funkstorung's Michael Fakesch includes the Boards of Canada “Trade Winds” remix - one of their earliest, best and most hard to find mixes. 
   
  Various : Spectral Sounds Vol. 1 (Spectral) Listen Buy
   


Roundup sampler/compilation from one of the best labels around, it includes classics from Osborne, Matthew Dear and current holder of the acid crown James T Cotton, whose other 2005 releases as TNT (with Osborne) and as 2 AM/FM (with D'Marc Cantu) have to be heard at all costs. Buying this whole release gets you the 57 spectral megamix (mixed by Ryan Elliott) that is an album in itself! 
   
  AM/PM : Also (Dreck) Listen Buy
   
“The sun-drenched streets of Barcelona as depicted on the cover art betray the contents within. As clocks shift back, degree's drop and light reduces. The arrival of winter now has an appropriate soundtrack. Rhythms reduced down to efficient arctic blips and melodies encased in frosted matter. Compositions that create tint and temperature. Reference: Pantone Colour 249M” (Failme.net) 
   
  Unique 3 : Original Soundyard Dubplates Listen Buy
   
The original masters of Yorkshire Bleep (read all about it on Wiki Here returned in 2005 to make their back catalogue available once more. This release has rare versions of their most well known tracks, The Theme and Weight For The Bass
   
 
 
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