Feel good hits of the 22nd November

1. 'Lucette Stranded On The Island' - Julia Holter
The highlight of another spellbinding album bearing Holter's name - and her recent show in Islington. Typically lush arrangements, with the abstraction of the verses balanced out with a chorus that sweeps in and carries you off your feet.

2. 'Never Ending Circles' - Chvrches
Quite a way to announce the arrival of your second album. Easily the match of anything on their debut - even if the jury remains out on Every Open Eye as a whole.

3. 'In The Shade Of The Sun' - Kapitan Korsakov
Belgian rock bands - there aren't many of note. Off the top of my head: Deus. And that's about it. This is very good, though - a sprawling beast that sounds a bit like primitive Mogwai. Thanks to Gareth (and Spotify) for the tip-off.

4. 'Bent (Roi's Song)' - DIIV
I'll admit it: while I enjoyed 2012's Oshin, I'd largely forgotten about this lot. It turns out they've had a rather troubled few years, to say the least. 'Bent (Roi's Song)' is lovely, though - dreamy shoegaze that promises much from forthcoming second album Is The Is Are. Little wonder that the reformed Ride saw them as kindred spirits, inviting them to open up a handful of dates on their recent US tour.

5. 'Duplex Planet' - Deerhunter
Like 'Breather', which precedes it, 'Duplex Planet' has Lockett Pundt's fingerprints all over it. Indeed, that's true of the first half of Fading Frontier - just a shame that they seem to abandon that tack in the second half, and lose their way.

6. 'Thunderstruck' - AC/DC
Just the thing for a sweaty rock club at 2.30 in the morning, at the climax of a messy stag do, believe me.

7. 'Undone (The Sweater Song)' - Beach House
I definitely feel like I owe it to Beach House to buy both Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars now that they've covered one of my favourite Weezer songs. It makes more sense than you might think.

8. 'Longpig' - Perfume Genius
Having won new recruits to the Marissa Nadler fan club the weekend before, I then did it again with Perfume Genius. This track - idiosyncratic handclappy synthpop - seemed to do the trick. 

9. 'Director' - The Antlers
I still find Familiars a bit too one-paced (and that pace being too sedate), but 'Director' does at least have a richly satisfying crescendo.

10. 'Sundowner' - Blanck Mass
From the self-titled debut - the point at which that record's ambient mood collided with the sheer noisiness of Fuck Buttons. If ever footage of the Big Bang needs a soundtrack, this is it.