Although not raising it’s ugly head for a considerable length of time, Spotted Dick has been dormant, not dead. Now it’s back in fully fledged action, attempting to warm the cockles of your heart which November has already began to erode. Spotted Dick November 2010

Enjoy.

1. Teebs- ‘You’ve Changed’.

The words, ‘you’ve changed’ have such a negative connotation that it’s hard not to think of them without picturing some brutally betrayed, perpetually miserable poor sap talking to his ex-best pal in the rain. However, if anyone I knew changed into anything akin to this song by Tweebs, I’d probably propose marriage, buy a house and settle down for a life of dreamy, beautifully whacked out synth pop.

2. Gold Panda- ‘India Lately’

In a year- or a good couple of years actually- in which IDM artists have seduced the entire blogosphere and music press into smitten fan boys and girls, it’s great to see Gold Panda surpass all the high expectations we had of him and create what could very easily be the album of the year.

3, Caribou- ‘Sun’ (Patten remix)

Oop, talking of intelligent dance music (I’m a fan of continuity), Caribou has a new remixed version of his brilliant album ‘Swim’ out. Although as an entire album it’s hard not to be a bit sceptical, this remix by the excellent Patten is exactly the kind of loose, zonked out experimentation which Caribou’s more concise synth-pop lends itself so well to.

4. Gauntlet Hair- ‘Out, Don’t’

Denver is, for some reason, proving to be something of a hotbed for really interesting variations on scuzzy noise bands at the moment and, sounding a bit like Battles with a real human soul- not just binary code- inside them, Gauntlet Hair are leading the pack.

5. Spectrals- ‘Peppermint’

Leeds’ Spectrals has a new e.p out now (imaginatively entitled ‘A Spectrals Extended Play’) and, ignoring the vague apparition of The Libertines which is slightly too easily conjured, this is a rather charming little song.

6. Bathcrones- ‘Damselfly’

Bathcrones is absolutely incredible; transcending freely between otherworldly sounds of the deep sea and the outer space, this is music of a truly autonomous and inspiring nature. The album, ‘Psychorama’, is out now. Check it out for more electronica Enya style audio meanderings.

7. Jay-Z – ‘December 4th’

As 4OD (other internet video on demand technologies are available) keeps telling me, Jay-Z has a best of coming out soon. Let us ignore this lame attempt by a record company to milk their most productive cash cow dry and celebrate the fact that Jay-Z is, if you remember, a great rapper and pop star.

8. DJ Nate- ‘Make ‘Em Run’

Possibly the most tacky thing I’ve heard all year. There’s just some undistinguishable, intangible feel to this overly brash and classless song which makes it an absolutely bassy, stuttery club banger.

9. Lil Wayne- ‘A Milli’

He’s free! Now take 3 and a half minutes out of your time to allow Weezy to explain exactly why he’s so ill. Motherfucker.

10. Aphex Twin- ‘Analogue Bubblebath’

Well apparently, after lying dormant for several years, Aphex Twin is set to erupt soon with lots of new material. Volcano metaphors….Anyway, the man has claimed he has six albums worth of stuff written and recorded, so the sooner this sees daylight, the sooner the world becomes a slightly better place.

11. Deerhunter- ‘Coronado’

The way Deerhunter so nimbly navigate the tightrope separating full on pop and the way off centre avant-garde is nothing short of spectacular and beautiful. This song, off what could well turn out to be the band’s best album, is as uplifting and playful as anything you could imagine. It’s so audaciously vivacious that it becomes hard not to smile like a moron when listening to this song. A fucking saxophone. Not just popping up at the end for a quick tooty solo, but weaving it’s way through the whole song structure with aplomb and raw, tender optimism.

Spotted Dick November 2010