Features some members of the mighty Swedish psychedelic rock band Dungen, but is a relatively laid back affair. What I always wished Pentangle sounded like.

Beak> - >>

Groovy

DIIV – Oshin

Oceans of reverb

Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes

Three rhythms and three melodies, all the time: the future of music

Lightships – Electric Cables / Fear and Doubt

Features one of the songwriters of Teenage Fanclub. Cruelly, the music describes a world full of lightness, joy, and harmony.

Melody’s Echo Chamber – Melody’s Echo Chamber

Produced by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. Lonerism + Stereolab. This band, along with Tamaryn (see below), Frankie Rose, Jessica Pratt, Angel Olsen, Cat Power, Dum Dum Girls, Grimes, Swearin’ and some Chromatics songs made 2012 the year of the female lead singer for me – not traditionally my strong suit (to my chagrin).

Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light

Joy in repetition

Tamaryn – Tender New Signs

Dreamy

Tame Impala – Lonerism

Amazing guitar tones and great bass. Earns my ELO album of the Year award

Ty Segall / White Fence – Hair

Twins and Slaughterhouse were great, too. It was Ty’s year.

Here's a taste of Tame Impala:

The Next 15

Action Bronson – Blue Chips / Rare Chandeliers (hilarious and heavy)

Ariel Pink – Mature Themes (crazy genius)

Chris Cohen – Overgrown Path (gently psychedelic)

Chromatics – Kill for Love (way better than the movie Drive)

Eternal Tapestry – Prometheus Rising / A World Out of Time (gets way, way out there)

Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid MAAD City (ambitious and very listenable. A concept album worthy of Roger Waters)

Nicolas Jaar – BBC Essential Mix 5.19.12 (a real journey)

Peaking Lights – Lucifer (plus their 5 mix tapes)

Pond – Beard Wives Denim (another band with a Tame Impala connection. The songs sprout strange spaces. Reminds me of early Flaming Lips)

Thee Oh Sees – Putrifiers II (wild)

Vinyl Williams – Lemniscate (Kraut-tastic)

Wet Hair- Spill Into Atmosphere (Joy Division category)

White Fence – Family Perfume Vol. 1 & 2 (referencing Syd Barrett & the Kinks)

Woods – Bend Beyond (Spacey songs)

Yeti Lane – The Echo Show (Wall of sound)