musicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2009

With only so many notes in the chromatic scale, the triumphs of countless artists preceding them and only one major release under their belts, such a momentous work of splendid art as Kendal indie eccentrics Wild Beasts have produced in Two Dancers was not a foregone conclusion.

Let's be honest, the early signs were not good. Recording in the Mojave desert, talk of a 'heavier, rockier direction', early publicity photos sporting long hair and moustaches... were Arctic Monkeys turning into The Killers circa the Sam's Town era?

Things have not been straightforward for Norway's electropop starlet Annie since the release of her debut album, Anniemal, over four years ago. Press copies of follow-up Don't Stop were already doing the rounds 12 months ago when Annie 'parted ways' with Island Records. The album was caught up in major label bureaucracy and though a number of the tracks existed in the murky depths of the filesharing fraternity, it seemed the album as a whole was lost.