So what makes a great album? Well, let me put it this way: Every record featured in our list displays a passion for music, distinction, intelligence and often communicates the most heartfelt messages. Through strong melody, performances and production they also provide full accessibility to anyone who cares to listen. These are records that can be played very many times and will stand the test of time. I’m reminded of the absolute dedication and passion to produce the best by the young chefs which appear on Masterchef - compare this with the motives (and talents) of X-Factor contestants, their mentors and most of the acts that dominate the airwaves.

When the BBC revealed its latest annual financials, which I went through with a fine-tooth comb, I was staggered to see that in a year when budgets were being cut throughout Britain that BBC radio’s spending increased substantially from already very high levels. I will be reporting in full what I found shortly but it seems to be that BBC radio is immune to the most senior management scrutiny and continues (wrongly) to be the most significant influence on what radio listeners hear and buy; to generally dumb down the quality of music that is broadcast while favouring the financially-healthy few.

The Radio 1 playlist is densely populated with the same names, week-in, week-out, for 52 weeks of the year. It very rarely manages to find something new of quality which is not backed by huge marketing budgets, live-lounge favours and ‘exclusives’. It’s criminal. As a result of this ongoing undue influence and ignorence of the best the charts - single and album - have been dominated by the most mediocre music I’ve heard in many years. It’s as if the very worst and most patronising of Top Of The Pops years has comeback to haunt us - with a vengeance.

I admit I was feeling quite depressed over what is happening to music here in the UK underlined when I recieved a few wonderful albums which were ‘rewarded’ with little of no media coverage or airplay. Shakenstir is not beholden to anyone - it takes no money and is not influenced by hype or coolness or the Pied Piper. We only feature the best and, unlike the BBC, do not descriminate between signed and unsigned. There is only one criteria and it’s so simple: great music from wherever it comes.

Generally, it’s not been as good an album release year as 2009 and 2010 but there have been some real gems that have stood out in the crowd. Have we heard them all? No, and more’s the pity because if it’s great it will always appear on Shake online and radio. Sadly, many great acts and much music still remains undiscovered, deeply buried musical wonders, while so much shit floats. All the more reason to check out our pages for the very best… Starting with the #1 album of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, fanfare please!

David J Roch SKIN + BONES (DRAM Music)

Genre Americana, Melodramatic, Singer-Songwriter
Members David J. Roch but also from time to time joined by
Chris Basford - Drums
Duncan Vaughan - Brass
Andrew Malcolm - Guitar
Reuben Marshall - Bass
Gina Walters - Vocals
Hometown Sheffield
Record label Dram and Sony ATV

Biography:  Well for every story there must be a beginning except in David J. Roch’s case the beginning took shape and was formed from the end of another story. Dealing with subject matters ranging from loss, love, religion, death and relationships he holds more in common with poets from a bygone era than that of today’s singer-songwriters. Upon first listen this can prove to be quite a dark moody beguiling affair it comes then as no surprise then that David works as an undertaker and deals with both death and loss on a daily basis. .

The task of controlling and channelling these tunes, ideas and music was given to Grinderman & Bad Seeds drummer, Jim Sclavunos, a gentleman who himself is not afraid to push limits and boundaries. Working with David he helped to forge a sound which firmly placed his vocal at the forefront, utilizing David’s ethereal falsetto whilst also letting it grapple with deep baritone undercurrents. Whether playing solo or with his full band David’s vocal will swoop, soar and intertwine itself around everything in it’s path.

“A remarkable new singer/songwriter from Sheffield possessing an almost supernatural vocal range, David J Roch releases his debut album Skin and Bones through Dram Records on the 4th April. Produced by Jim Sclavunos (of Grinderman and Nick Cave + The Bad Seeds), David J Roch’s debut album offers a collection of darkly romantic compositions of epic sweep. Whether set against a backdrop of lush orchestration, stark electronic ambience or thrumming crescendos, Roch’s voice compels and mesmerizes as it leaps from sonorous baritone to soaring falsetto. David’s stirring vocal style resonates with echoes of both Tim and Jeff Buckley or Nick Drake, also bringing to mind singers well outside the folk milieu such as Matt Berninger (The National) or Antony Hegarty. But it is jazz chanteuses Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday that David cites as his personal inspirations, while lyrically he feels a kinship with poets as timeless as William Blake or as contemporary as Simon Armitage.”

http://www.myspace.com/davidjroch
http://www.twitter.com/davidjroch

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