Review of Colin Burrill's top ten of 2006 Album by

 

01. Shearwater - Palo Santo (9.5)
A change in dictatorship saw a good band turn into a great one. Exceptional songwriting, stunning textures, and earth shattering vocal deliveries from Jonathan Meiburg saw Palo Santo become a truly haunting folk-rock classic.

02. Joanna Newsom - Ys (9.5)
What can be said about this masterpiece that already hasn't? Magical, majestic, and just downright stunning, Newsom's vocals take on a mind of their own among sparse orchestrated arrangements. A number one for many in 2006.

03. Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope (9)
The Russian/American delivered an astonishing album with heart-rending vocal melodies with clever, witty (and occasionally random) lyrics among moments of orchestration/piano. Not even the question marks over the production were enough to put a dampener on this one. Seriously addictive.

04. Simple Kid - 2 (9)
Heavily layered, rip roaring indie folk with touches of blues, the Irish man returned with a fun, hugely consistent and massively overlooked record that should have rightfully put Beck into the shadows. Just sublime.

05. Tunng - Comments Of The Inner Chorus (9)
Tunng’s warming picked guitar arrangements sit hand in hand with acute digital edits. Second album Comments Of The Inner Chorus pushed the London based collective to the very top of the folk-tronica tree. Spellbinding.

06. Guillemots - Through The Windowpane (9)
An awesome debut album from the mixed nationality band, Guillemots lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield's charming vocal melodies were matched by the varied & wistful instrumentation. An instant classic.

07. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar (9)
A delightfully romantic gypsy folk record, Gulag Orkestar is bursting with Eastern European charm. The 19-year-old Zach Condon delivered an album way beyond his years. Mesmirising.

08. Adem - Love And Other Planets (8.5)
This concept record is based on tales of compassion with galactic references; Adem’s soothing vocals embed themselves within the folk experimentation. Love And Other Planets made me wonder why Adem Ilhan was content to dwindle in the background of Kieran Hebden's Fridge project for so long. Beautiful.

09. TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (8.5)
Arguably TV On The Radio’s best work to date, Return to Cookie Mountain is Eerie, atmospheric, and just plain odd. A big mix up of styles that on paper you just wouldn’t think could work. Fascinating.

10. Working For A Nuclear Free City - Working For A Nuclear Free City (8.5)
A cracking debut from this little known Manchester based outfit. Imagine the Stone Roses caught up with Radiohead & Massive attack for a recording session...Working For A Nuclear Free City is the outcome. An exciting prospect.
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