Why Ten? Because I’m a conformist to pre-established listing norms.

Why 2008? Because it’s the year that’s ending. However as with previous Top Tens these albums were not all released in 2008 – they were just released to my eardrums in this year.

1. Joanna Newsom – Ys. Without a doubt my favourite album all year. I became obsessed with it in India and one of my favourite memories of the trip was listening to “Monkey and Bear” on a magical bus journey which seemed ever-lasting, through dense forested mountain sides and villages lit up with fairy lights, our driver reaching occasionally out of the cab window to take a glass of water from pinkly glowing temples on the road-side……I also saw the lady herself playing at Somerset House on a chilly summer’s evening, mist rising from her harp as she plucked and sang and I fell in love with her music.

2. Murcof – Martres. This is a really old one. 2002. Ancient. My favourite of the Murcofs so far – holding the magnificent Mir.

3. Autechre – Amber. This was the year I really listened to Autechre. Released in 1994, this is 14 years old now. Just shows you that however much music you have, there is always more to blow your mind.

4. Cobblestone Jazz – 23 seconds. Canadian techno genius.

5. Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair – Antony singing, proper NY disco – perfection.

6. Paolo Conte – Best of. I love this guy. He just makes me happy with the jaunty Italian way he sings.

7. Philip Glass – String quartets performed by the Kronos Quartet. Miserable, haunting and addictive.

8. Flying Lotus – Los Angeles. After not really liking this the first few times I listened it’s grown on me strongly and I now think it’s possibly brilliant.

9. Digitonal – Save your Light for Darker Days.

10. Jehst – Underworld Epics – a bit of UK hip-hop sneaking in there.