NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS 2015

1.       Make peace with my sister

2.       Spend more time with my family

3.       Finish editing my novel and get it sent off to agents

4.       Don’t watch any more bad films

5.       Less online time-wasting and more productive and political social media

6.       Attend more cultural things, but be discerning

7.       Work hard

8.       Try and get out of debt, whatever it takes

9.       Stop biting my nails, but really stop this time

10.    Banish anxiety:  to be aided by next two resolutions:

11.    Drink less

12.    Learn more yoga (and keep up my physio)

13.    Read only quality fiction

14.    Destroy capitalism

2013 in music

I'm FAR too busy for my usual pathologically-detailed run-down this year, you'll have to make do with some of the other 837 end-of-year lists (some of which are alarming, annoying and brilliant). I know all too well there are umpteen albums I haven't touched yet (too busy in the 1970s as usual...) so instead here is a thirty-song snapshot of songs that I properly loved this year. The last track on this list is easily my most-played thing of the year btw.

The Phoenix Foundation – Corale
Still Corners – Berlin Lovers
Bonobo – Cirrus
John Grant – Glacier
Daft Punk – Doin' it Right
Mikal Cronin – Shout It Out
Youth Lagoon – Mute
Laura Mvula – Father, Father
David Bowie – Where Are We Now?
Ciara – Overdose
Daniel Avery – Free Floating
M.I.A. – Bring The Noize - Extended Version
Nancy Elizabeth – Indelible Day
Disclosure – Latch
When Saints Go Machine – Iodine
Janelle Monae – Q.U.E.E.N. [feat. Erykah Badu]
Haim – The Wire
V V Brown – The Apple
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Lizzo – Batches & Cookies
Queens Of The Stone Age – If I Had A Tail
Warpaint – Love Is to Die
Suede – Barriers
Kanye West – Black Skinhead
Rhye – Open
Mutya Keisha Siobhan – Flatline
Blood Orange – You're Not Good Enough
Classixx – Rhythm Santa Clara
Todd Terje – Strandbar (disko)
CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share - We Were Promised Jetpacks Remix

Spotify playlist is here. And below is a non-Spotify gem you really need to hear... Happy new year!

Jai Paul  Track 2  Str8 Outta Mumbai by le-pere-de-colombe

2011 In Pictures