Skiddle Sound of 2014

Image: Wickerman

As 2014 nears its end, we've taken time to reflect on what has been another momentous year for music by curating a playlist of songs that for us have helped shape the year as a whole. 

From Ibiza fixations to snippets from albums that have shone, we've amassed 50 of this year's essential tracks that have besieged the Skiddle office and more importantly provided some of your very own finest moments.

Music from the biggest breakthrough artists pepper the upper echelons of our playlist, Banks, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Hozier are a handful that fit that mould. Jamie T and Johnny Marr showed us what we've been missing out on since their last material and Damon Albarn, who delivered his first ever solo album Everyday Robots, is also in the midst of it.

We've recognised Kasabian for their mind blowing Glastonbury headline performance and album 49:13. Chic provided one of our favourite performances of 2014 at Wickerman, a firm fixture year on year for ourselves, and the triumphant return of Kate Bush is also mentioned with her breakthrough track 'Wuthering Heights'. 

There's a smattering of the finest electronic blessings of the year, delivered in the form of Caribou's Our Love (read our thoughts on that here) making the grade twice (including Tale Of Us and Mano Le Tough's faultless rework of 'Cant Do Without You), with Flying Lotus and SBTRKT also in the mix after their sublime long players. Bonobo again gave us a much needed fix of his ethereal workings via his Flashlight EP.

Alt J shunned any mention of 'second album syndrome' with This Is All Yours whilst the likes of The War On Drugs, St Vincent and Royal Blood gave us equally as impressive albums to enhance our listening contentment. 

If 2014 is anything to go by then next year's got some considerably hefty sized boots to fill, however it's already shaping up nicely if the quality of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' 'In The Heat Of The Moment' is replicated by the album, due in March.