The best of May

Late as usual, but here goes with my picks for May…

Album of the Month

It just has to be, despite the very strong competition this month. I’ve been waiting for a long time. It seems the mp3s have been going around for even longer. But now it’s physically here! It’s the new Hot Chip album of course. In full effect! It’s an absolute beauty, and a clear runner for album of the year. Here’s one of its lesser-celebrated tunes. [buy The Warning]

Download: Hot Chip – Look After Me

Songs of the month

Again, in no particular order, here are five tunes that impressed and stayed with me in May.

Roddy Frame – Western Skies
Gorgeous return of the Scottish singer-songwriter and former Aztec Camera mainman. More on him tomorrow. [buy Western Skies]

Boards of Canada – Dayvan Cowboy
Boards are back with a new EP, featuring this amazing track off their Campfire Headphase album. Fuzzy electronics, guitars, and a beautiful melody throughout. This is the kind of stuff that makes them great. [buy Trans Canada Highway]

Celebration – Diamonds
Like I said, a dark beautiful funeral waltz, that has lingered long, hauntingly in my mind. [buy Celebration]

M. Craft – You are the Music
Fine funky folk from the UK-based Aussie Martin Craft. I have been on about him before, y’know. [buy Silver and Fire]

Tilly and the Wall – Lost Girls
I just had to have something from their wonderful new album. But what to choose? It could have been any of them really, but this’ll do. [buy Bottoms of Barrels]