• Kane Strang: Winded
The first full band track from outsider folk songwriter Kane Strang, Winded has everything. Once it hits its breakdown, with Strang singing ''tipsy gypsy'' over a bass line the Pixies' Kim Deal would love to claim, it really transitions into song of the year territory. Strang's voice is inviting and beautiful, and the song's production, lo-fi woozy and mildly reminiscent of the Elephant Six Collective, only adds to its individuality and wonder. Incredible.
Listen:http://kanestrang.bandcamp.com/album/winded-single
• Death and the Maiden: Dear...
Unfolding slowly over seven minutes is Death and the Maiden's lush Dear .... Based upon hypnotic gliding synth loops, Lucinda King's sweetened vocals lull the listener while Hope Robertson's Focus Group-styled guitar leads keep things on edge. It is a chic, sensual, and melodic electro track that's propulsive enough to dance to, but works for nocturnal bedtime listening too.
Listen:http://deathandthemaiden1.bandcamp.com/track/dear
• LeonNeon: Human Being
Buoyant and swirling, part chiptune and part Chris Knox style lo-fi is LeonNeon's Human Being. Based upon a simple guitar pattern and deep monotone singing about the ''girl who made [him] feel'', it's Leon's production that adds the idiosyncratic charm. Filled with melodic lines, blips and noise, which interweave the guitar and vocals, it's happy and modern sounding while still bursting with personality.
Listen:http://charismacollective.bandcamp.com/track/human-being
• Strange Harvest: Amnesia
The pair of Justin Walshaw and Amber Skye started playing music together after they saw American experimental band Gang Gang Dance in London at a show with ''kids going mental'', simple beats, and a blown-up keyboard. Performing as Strange Harvest, the two work the same formula. Amnesia opens with a beat and an arpeggiating bass line. Skye's sweetened vocals hold your attention while Walshaw delivers sheets of jagged guitar texture. A perfect late night track.
Listen:http://strangeharvest.bandcamp.com/track/amnesia
• Alizarin Lizard: Forty
Forty is all about the chorus. With restrained and straightforward verses surprisingly simple for an Alizarin Lizard song, everything changes when a gentle and chiming guitar chord cuts through the bouncy bass and Paul Cathro croons, ''I'm 40 and I want you''. It's an earworm that will grab you for days.
Listen:http://alizarinlizard.bandcamp.com/track/forty
• Face Dancer: Treats
While only uploaded as a ''demo single'', the sheer amount I listened to Face Dancer's epic, brooding Treats warrants its inclusion here. Covering similar territory to a bunch of talented Auckland beat makers such as Totems and the KCB Collective, Treats is a dark lo-fi banger. With screaming synth and a tambourine/sleigh bells beat being disrupted by bass that sounds like a bomb repeatedly going off, it's a complete killer, and hopefully there is much more to come.
Listen:http://fcedncer.bandcamp.com/
• Mavis Gary: Dim the Droog
Centred on a single guitar loop and vocal line of ''honey don't cry, I've been unkind'', Mavis Gary's Dim the Droog is supremely sinister pop music. Adrian Ng's guitar playing is idiosyncratic and punk, while his vocal delivery both in hook and lyrics (painting an extremely vivid picture of a sad, lonely, and ''sick'' individual) are always on point.
Listen:http://mavisgary.bandcamp.com/album/dim-the-droog-single
• Astro Children: Jamie Knows
I've written about Astro Children at length this year and this song in particular. With a haunting Vaselines-esque guitar melody, and Millie Lovelock's voice soaring angelically atop it all, it's the most beautiful moment from a band who can also do noise and aggression so well.
Listen:http://astrochildrenmusic.bandcamp.com/track/jamie-knows
• Mountaineater: Lord of Sumo
Backed by redlining, snare in your face production, Mountaineater's Lord of Sumo is huge, aggressive and formidable. Built on an excellent two-note riff, and Dingeman's powerful vocal belting ''each body is an atom bomb'', when the guitar kicks up a gear it's pure enveloping sonic destruction.
Listen:https://mountaineater.bandcamp.com/track/lord-of-sumo
