Mathangi Arulpragasam’s debut album was one of the most important albums of this year. Strangely, none of the tracks became a ‘track of the day’. Arular is not an album you listen to when working. It demands your attention and the music is simply unclassifiable. But it is undeniably brilliant.

My best new find of this year, Emm Gryner writes and lives music exactly the way all genuine musicians should. Emm’s possibly the only person who should be allowed to do cover versions, because she’s the only artist I know who can reinvent them effectively, and make The Corrs listenable. This version of Ash’s Shining Light turns it head over heels from a straight-on rock song to a perceptive, emotional piano-led masterpiece.

The line "ride the pain into the pleasure" can mean so many things. It means something specific to me which I’ll probably blog about early next year. In my mind a curious twin to Simple Mind’s Somebody Up There Likes You. And just as important.

I recently praised this in my review of all the Cinerama albums, so I felt I had to consider it.

The music is classy in a completely non-classy way. The lyrics and delivery are hilarious in a very serious way. And "Biggest midget in the game, can’t get rid of me" always makes me smile.

Retro chic. In an ideal world, Miss Kittin’s tracks would probably be the only soundtrack to Fashion TV. Which would at least make it watchable. “This is what our music is about: you and us.”

From the moment that walking piano line comes in you know it’s going to be huge. Then everything goes classical. Then it doesn’t.