Cometh sublime folk, cometh Adem: a pastoral, prodigal delectation whose acoustic trickery and laptop psalms are dramatic and fragile in equal measure. His 2003 inaugural offering, Homesongs, (Domino), proved one of the decade's finest debuts - and asserted Adem as one of the UK's most precious (and precocious) stars. His forthcoming follow-up, Love and Other Planets, is set to further seduce ears and hearts.
Adem, please disclose your favourite things...
Battles
"Best live band I've seen / heard in a very long time. An astonishing four-piece filled with energy and inspiration. This is New Music and it's brilliant. These guys are all prodigiously talented and musical and still push themselves as far as they can. Angular, pretty, serial, heavy yet always melodic: all at the same time. EPC/BEP (Warp), their latest release, is inspirational, filled with great ideas. They also have the highest cymbal set-up I've ever seen.
Everyone should have Battles in their life. Music that I wish I had made."
Pierre Bastien
"This composer / mechanic caught my imagination ever since I saw him perform squashed in the corner of the Rough Trade shop many years ago. Pierre Bastien makes automated music - instruments played by very simple robots made of Meccano and turntable motors. He has constructed orchestras of weird and wonderful instruments played by ingenious rotating arms, plucking pins, mechanically pumped bellows and a plethora of other wild and subtle methods.
"A joy to watch, hypnotic and filled with wonderment; but most importantly, the music made is beautiful. Far more human and emotional than one would ever expect."
Hot Chip
"These guys have been making great music for some time now, but with The Warning they have upped their game: their electro pop dance hybrid stands head and shoulders above all who might compete. The attention to detail in the production and the endless vein of brilliant ideas will let this record be played and played. Expect to see a lot of these guys over the next year, and to have them with you in your head all the time."
Earl Shilton
"I've had the privilege of having a sneak peek at the new, second album. When it comes out, there's a treat for everyone. Split into two distinct sides, the 'A' being the devastatingly heavy drum lead melodic metal you'd expect from an Earl Shilton release, the 'B' is a mad ambient / industrial experimental investigation. Layers and layers of detail: I love it."
Adrian Crowley
"Irish singer / songwriter making music that is a heady mix of the drawn out, slow psychedelia of the Velvet Underground and the beauty and lyrical depth of Smog, with a a twist of inspiration and delivery which sets him apart."
Elysian Quartet
"One of the best string quartets out there. Their understanding of modern music, coupled with their musical brilliance and group understanding, give them something that many contemporary quartets lack. They seem somehow more relevant in their interpretations and performance. They are a wonderfully talented string quartet and have the added skill of being inclusive - I feel I can watch and enjoy them in the same way as I would a band."
Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) and Steve Reid
"These two have unbelievable credits to their name. Together they are unstoppable. Steve Reid has played the drums for legends and has become a legend in his own right, from his early stint at Tamla through Quincy Jones, James Brown, Miles Davis, Dionne Warwick, SUN RA and now this collaboration with Kieran (aka Four Tet), who I think is one of the most exciting voices in modern music.
"Four Tet's music has always been rhythm-led with a particular bent toward free jazz: the joining of the two seems almost destined. The project is an improvisational one. It's hard to believe that there are only two people in the room and the level of detail and communication between the two makes all the music sound complete and rounded.
"They've just gone into the studio to record some more. I can't wait."
The Ladies
"Zach Hill from Hella (one of the most exciting drummers in the world at the moment) collaborating with Amercan indie-pop savant writer / guitarist Rob Crow from Pinback - and the lesser-known doom rock outfit Goblin Cock. Sounds better than you could possibly imagine: Zach's hard, stuttering, outlandish / otherworldly drumming is the perfect counterpoint for Rob's catchy gentle melodies and songs."
Amina
"The string section from Sigur Ros doing their own thing, which is: four girls playing a mad assortment of instruments - found, classical and hand-made. The music they make is entrancing, rich and gorgeous: soundscapes and tunes blending fluently. Their lovely melodic ideas and strange creations are a pleasure to hear / watch."
Animal Collective.
"This (up to) four-piece are awesome. They constantly push the boundaries of pop music and consistently amaze me. Live they are unstoppable - incredible energy with the most genuinely unaffected wig-outs and random moments mixed with their wonderful songs and tunes. I feel like they'd perform exactly the same in the rehearsal garage. This honesty and openness translates really well onto their records, which is a rare and precious thing.
Above all, their music is brilliant: catchy songs mix easily with extreme experimentation - hummable and challenging at the same time - without a peep of pretentiousness."