090 // Phildel -

// Zechonia // LI // 2pts

089 // London Grammar -

// Kluminican Republic // LIV // 0pts

088 // Night Drive -

// Vülkyria // LVIII // DNQ

087 // TCTS -

// Utopia // LII // 6pts

086 // Feathers -

// Terra Avium // LII // 0pts

085 // Smith & Thell - Illusion // Hendinia // LVIII // 0pts

084 // The Other Tribe -

// #00274E // LI // 8pts

083 // The Good Natured -

// Hendinia // LI // 4pts

082 // Boris Carloff -

// Varakë // LIV // DNQ

081 // I'm Your Vinyl -

// Palmyra // LIV // DNQ

 

 

Perennially underrated, 'For You' was more underappreciated than the standard Palmyrian entry, and this isn't the last unjust DNQ you'll see from them in this countdown. Elsewhere, I'm still apologetic over my strict deadlines forcing 'Drones' out of the contest - and by the slimmest of margins! - and would like to spare a word for Hendinia, who I never give enough love to, but who really do provide the crème de la crème of the poppier entries.

Hendinia are ALWAYS welcome to get Aeroche props - they definitely do pop much better than anyone. and TCTS!!!!

 

080 // Yadi -

// Allecian // LII // 2pts

079 // Jutty Ranx -

// Batidas // LIII // 7pts

078 // BROODS - Bridges // Botanikka // LX // 4pts

077 // Air France -

// Skall // LII // 8pts

076 // Kate Boy -

// Aeroche // LI // 6pts

075 // MDNGHT - I Will Lead You On (feat. Lana) // Altyr Muunilinst // LV // 7pts

074 // Kelly Sweet - Sirens // D'yermak'er // LIII // 8pts

073 // Goldroom - Embrace // D'yermak'er // LIX // 2pts

072 // Yelle -

// Botanikka // LV // DNQ

071 // Mr Little Jeans -

// B.a.N.G. // LIII // 0pts

 

 

Featured a whole bunch of artists who have released songs this year I like more than these - the year's first winner, Kate Boy, immediately followed this up with a superior one-two punch; MDNGHT's 'Into the Night' was a sublime realisation of the promise in this Altyr entry; if only D'yermak'er could've entered that other Kelly Sweet song, and if only Goldroom's better foray into this contest had been as well received as this. To end, though, we have what's easily the best I've heard from Mr Little Jeans - a gorgeously sweet and ethereal thing. And I'm still mourning Air France. Best Friendly Fires remix ever.

Great to see someone else liking L'amour Parfait! Deserved SO much more

 

Completely agree about Ms. Sweet. 'Ashes of my Paradise' is one of the songs of the YEAR for me so slightly gutted I had to settle for her second best here :(

 

Liking a lot but especially 'I Will Lead You On'. STILL need to check out their other stuff!

 

070 // Jaymes Young - Dark Star (Kiely Rich Remix) (Hitstastic Black Dwarf Radio Edit) // Persephonia // LVII // 0pts

069 // Cazzette -

// Hendinia // LV // 0pts

068 // For BDK - Open One's Eyes // Espen // LX // 6pts

067 // Keep Shelly In Athens -

// Terra Avium // LVIII // DNQ

066 // Jon Hopkins -

(feat. Purity Ring) // Aeroche // LVIII // 4pts

065 // Agnetha Fältskog -

// Numayania // LIV // 1pt

064 // tyDi -

(feat. Kerli) // Bellamia // LVII // 5pts

063 // Lauren Aquilina - Sinners // Bellamia // LVI // 1pt

062 // Minnie-Oh -

// Kopečka // LIV // 7pts

061 // FKA twigs -

// Mdiče // LIV // 0pts

 

 

There's a lot of dance here - I could only find a short version, but the nearly 7-minute 'Beam Me Up' is where the intense beats really feel properly alive - and a sprinkling of sharp Scandipop from some former kings of the contest. But there's still some alternative beauty in another Aeroche entry, and in the first of Mdiče FKA Twigs entries, which I evidently didn't get at the time. Oh, and sorry Bre. You'd probably get 4 points now.

Great to see someone else liking L'amour Parfait! Deserved SO much more

 

It's such a BIG song, I mourn. Though I did consider it myself a few contests before it was entered, so I was secretly pleased I avoided a failure.

 

Completely agree about Ms. Sweet. 'Ashes of my Paradise' is one of the songs of the YEAR for me so slightly gutted I had to settle for her second best here :(

 

Liking a lot but especially 'I Will Lead You On'. STILL need to check out their other stuff!

 

'Ashes...' will certainly be high on my EOY countdown too!

 

You MUST hear 'Into the Night'. Just so so gorgeous - as is the singer. You will like. :heart:

yes for breathe this air & hows that especially :wub:

 

060 // Sísý Ey -

// #00274E // LIV // 10pts

059 // Bibio -

// Utopia // LV // 8pts

058 // Little Nikki - Little Nikki Says // Ashton, Federal Republic of // LVII // 3pts

057 // Carice Van Houten -

// N-Lazone // LIII // 6pts

056 // iamamiwhoami -

// Elëdan // LIV // 4pts

055 // Carli - Look Up // #00274E // LIII // 0pts

054 // Marcel Woods -

(feat. Vanbot) // Caerfyrddia // LV // 5pts

053 // Until The Ribbon Breaks -

// D'yermak'er // LVI // 7pts

052 // Active Child -

// Elëdan // LIX // 6pts

051 // Anise K - Walking On Air (feat. Snoop Dogg & Bella Blue) // Batidas // LVI // 8pts

 

 

It says something that Elëdan can enter one of the weakest songs by an artist twice and they both still slot into my top sixty. Probably how much I adore the artists (both of whom, one for better and one for worse, I associate with Pav after this year for reasons beyond this contest). We've also got two of the year's most intense winners here, both of which grew on me exponentially after their contests. And I'm forever grateful to Nick for the discovery that actress Carice van Houten also makes fascinating pop music.

It says something that Elëdan can enter one of the weakest songs by an artist twice and they both still slot into my top sixty. Probably how much I adore the artists (both of whom, one for better and one for worse, I associate with Pav after this year for reasons beyond this contest).

 

oops.

 

liking ALL of those inclusions! but 't' one of the weakest :o one of the BEST

 

050 // NO CEREMONY/// -

// Terra Avium // LVI // 4pts

049 // Lulu James - Closer // Palmyra // LII // DNQ

048 // Samantha Jade -

// Daehun // LI // 5pts

047 // Cut Copy - Meet Me In A House Of Love // Elëdan // LX // 12pts

046 // MØ -

// Usfland // LV // 0pts

045 // Korallreven -

// N DNTN // LVI // 10pts

044 // Kissy Sell Out - Gimme Sin (feat. Saint Saviour) // Terra Avium // LIV // 5pts

043 // Ghost Loft -

// Trifoski // LVI // 12pts

042 // NONONO -

// Ingermanlandia // LIII // 12pts

041 // Kat Krazy -

(feat. elkka) // Danaelanda // LVII // 8pts

 

 

Your last lot for tonight, but we're really getting into the good stuff now - as you can see from three of my twelve-pointers ending up outside the top forty! What happened, guys. We've also got a couple of songs I considered myself - NO CEREMONY/// and MØ, whose Christmassy opening here is just too good to resist (I must have been angry at the time of voting) - and two of the most infectious dance songs of the year from two ever-underrated countries. I still play 'Siren' regularly, and I think 'Gimme Sin' has a direct line to my toes. Oh, and when Daehun get it right, they get it very right. They've got another still to come.

oops.

 

liking ALL of those inclusions! but 't' one of the weakest :o one of the BEST

 

It's good, but it takes too long to get to the best bit for me, so I never loved it like some. :(

Quadruple Terra Avium - thank you very much! *.*

 

It is particularly nice to see Kissy Sell Out in someone else's list - possibly the riskiest thing I've ever sent before, but it seemed to have its fans from both niches so I was glad it was a sporadic success as such.

 

 

Ooh, and that's the first time I've seen the video for Pumpin' Blood - It's rather random isn't it? Doesn't suit the song at all :lol: Cute bunny though.

<3

 

040 // Aphex Twin -

// Aeroche // LX // 8pts

039 // Cat and the Menagerie -

// Ingermanlandia // LVIII // 12pts

038 // The Kite String Tangle -

// Trifoski // LIX // 10pts

037 // Eli & Fur - Tonight // B.a.N.G. // LII // 3pts

036 // Ebru Polat - Inanamiyorum // Umiiruka // LI // DNQ

 

 

I remain truly baffled that the jangly darkness of 'Better' and the swirling intensity of 'Inanamiyorum' weren't more adored by most of the Buzzjack populace - the latter in particular sounds as if she's drawing you in with a teasing figure, even if the reality of her is too Euro-basic for comfort. It's not hard to see why the whirring, soulful 'Given the Chance' came away with the highest points total of the year, or why an Aphex Twin classic - which sounds like it could have been recorded last week, not last century - smashed expectations in the year's final contest. And if there's not enough B.a.N.G. in this countdown, blame the man behind the country - his impeccable taste is aired far too infrequently.

 

035 // Valentina -

// Fljótavík // LIII // 0pts

034 // Cyril Hahn -

(feat. Shy Girls) // Hendinia // LVII // 4pts

033 // Marnie -

// Caerfyrddia // LVII // 10pts

032 // Elliphant -

// Skall // LI // 7pts

031 // FKA twigs -

// Mdiče // LVII // 6pts

 

 

Dandy* said at the time that he'd expected me to go for 'Wolves', and indeed, I do - sadly, too late for him to benefit. This is an impeccably alternative section here, from the airy beauty of Hendinia's finest 2013 entry, through the icy soundscapes of 'The Hunter', past the cocky swagger of Elliphant and finally to the peculiar majesty of the second FKA Twigs entry from the brilliant Mdiče, who are by no means finished yet.

 

030 // The Hics -

// Persephonia // LIX // DNQ

029 // Slava - Girl Like Me // Aeroche // LVI // 3pts

028 // Rachel Zeffira -

// Caerfyrddia // LI // DNQ

027 // Namie Amuro - Alive // Daehun // LVI // 2pts

026 // Jai Paul - Str8 Outta Mumbai // N DNTN // LIV // DNQ

 

 

Three outrageous DNQs gather outside the top twenty-five - many have bemoaned the Eastern rhythms of Jai Paul's infectious and effortlessly unique track, and the sumptuous sophistication of 'The Deserters', but what about the haunting desolation of 'Tangle', Persephonia's finest effort of the year, and more evidence that when I really like their entries, they fail? Daehun and Aeroche also see their highest entries here: the former with the throbbing intensity of the only J-pop act I've ever gotten along with, and the latter with a Ciara-sample worked into a whirring piece of magic.

Oh there I was assuming Jaymes was my highest entry on here (despite being one of the only ones you didn't vote for? :lol:) Was def not expecting to see 'Tangle' so high on here. :wub:

 

025 // Nikki Williams -

// Aquafina // LIV // 3pts

024 // Gang Gang Dance - Princes (feat. Tinchy Stryder) // Skall // LV // 6pts

023 // Music for Sleeping Children -

// Mdice // LI // 10pts

022 // Chinawoman -

// Isconia // LVII // 12pts

021 // Django Django -

// Trifoski // LV // DNQ

 

 

Oh shit! Gang Gang! Some epic tribal rhythms in this section, with the infectious, crazy beats of outrageous DNQ 'WOR' and the frenzy of 'Princes', Skall's second highest entry this year. Things get weirder in 'Georgia', one of the year's most divisive entries but also one of the catchiest. No wonder it was so popular and pretty. In Chinawoman, we have one of the most haunting entries this year, and in 'Glowing', probably the finest pure pop entry of the year from a country that rarely captures my interest. This, though, took an initial intrigue and ran with it to this day - it hasn't left my playlist and will be riding high come my EOY chart proper.