026 - Sufjan Stephens (The Age of Adz)

Sufjan Stevens's oeuvre is extraordinarily diverse. Enjoy Your Rabbit is predominantly bizarre electronica, Michigan and Illinois are close to traditional folk-based singer-songwriter albums, and The BQE is straight-up modern classical music - not to mention the style of the five other albums I haven't included. His latest seems to conflate elements from all of the aforementioned sounds. There's certainly a lot going on: trilling flutes and an array of classical instruments; mechanic and spacey electronic sounds, all alongside Sufjan's vocals. Combined, they create what can only be described as an experiment. That it is complicated makes for uneasy first listenings, yet it gradually makes sense thereafter : )

Sufjan Stephens - All for Myself

Sufjan Stephens - Age of Adz

025 - Bon Iver & Bowerbirds

This is a cover of a song originally by Sarah Siskind, brimming with harmony.

019 - The Tallest Man on Earth (The Wild Hunt)

Certain vocalists' style causes a negative reaction in their audience: The Decemberists, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Phoenix and Bob Dylan are but some examples - Kristian Matsson is another. Although not cause for celebration in itself, unconventional voices often bear the stamp of originality and can add a uniqueness to the total sound. As well as having an interesting voice, Matsson is also a highly talented guitar and banjo player.

The Tallest Man on Earth - Love is All

The Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain

018 - Johnny Flynn (A Larum)

Johnny Flynn is a blessed man, a singer and musician, thespian and a model.  His greatest talent, however,  lies with words. The lyrics to the first song are just so beautiful: a song about actions speaking louder than words. The final verses read:

"I'll soon forget what was never there,

Your words are ash and dust,

All that's left is the song I've sung,

The breath I've taken and the one I must.

If you're born with a love for the wrote and the writ,

People of letters your warning stands clear,

Pay heed to your heart and not to your wit.

Don't say in a letter what you can't in my ear."

Johnny Flynn - The Wrote & the Writ

Johnny Flynn - Brown Trout Blues

015 - Bowerbirds (Hymns for a Dark Horse)

I don't know any other artists that make music that sounds like this. If Folk were a house, Bowerbirds would be the garden: connected, albeit distinctly. Both male and female vocalists have lovely voices that augment one another when in harmony. Overall, the album feels un-rushed and melancholic, but that doesn't preclude it from having lighter moments, as heard on In Our Talons. I like the use of the accordion, the melodica and the violin. The first two tracks are ordered as they come on the album.

Bowerbirds - Hooves

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons

Bowerbirds - Slow Down

007 - The Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs)

This album actually has 69 love songs on it. Some are incredible, others not so - but regardless, the feat itself remains admirable. The first track is my favourite by far, I think the lyrics are superb - listen carefully to them.

The Magnetic Fields - Absolutely Cuckoo