Well it’s certainly been a while since I last blogged. I feel that the pandemic has really affected my creativity. Sometimes I have a vague idea for a blogpost but then the idea quickly floats away on the breeze. So in the spirit of New Year Resolutions here I am making an effort to work through my creative block. I realise I failed to blog my top album list for 2020 oops! Anyway here is my list for 2021. I don’t like to rank them in order but I must just highlight a few in particular.

Little Simz must surely take the award for most heavily played record in our house this year. Epic and soaring – this album stopped my in my tracks from the 1st listen and repeated plays brings new discovery each time. No surprise it appeared in many year-end lists.

By contrast the Lou Hayter album seems to have slipped under the radar but it almost single-handedly got me through the summer. I listened to this daily whilst out in the garden tending to my veggies and creating my flower borders. This is pure 80s vibe feelgood pop and it gave me such joy in a year of continued pandemic-fuelled anxiety.

Field Music are firm favourites in our house and their latest album Flat White Moon is so fabulous I bought it twice! No seriously I have 2 copies – I mean who can resist a picture disc?! It always amazes me how the Brewis brothers manage to be so prolific yet also so creative and inventive with each new album. Flat White Moon is a real gem, full of quirky rhythms and catchy lyrics that worm their way into your brain.

Here’s the list in full:

1. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
2. Private Sunshine by Lou Hayter
3. Flat White Moon by Field Music
4. Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks
5. Flock by Jane Weaver
6. New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning
7. As The Love Continues by Mogwai
8. Already, Always by Bess Atwell
9. Home Video by Lucy Dacus
10. Former Things by Lonelady
11. Late Night Tales presents Version Excursion (selected by Don Letts) by Various
12. Sketchy by Tune-Yards
13. On All Fours by Goat Girl