Peace - In Love: An album that manages to be something completely fresh whilst evoking nostalgic glances towards the likes of Oasis and The Cure to deliver brilliantly indie and even dance floor friendly anthems. One of the most hotly tipped bands of 2013 and the album doesn't disappoint.

Flume - Flume: Electronica isn't all about huge club beats and rave horns - just ask Aussie producer Harley Streten, the 21-year-old producer responsible for the year's first great electronic album. Chilled out beats and laid back production is the order of the day, occasionally exploding into moments of restrained euphoria (the climax of 'Insane') or calling in favours from hotly tipped mates such as Chet Faker for vocal collaborations ('Left Alone').

Phosphorescent - Muchacho: It has taken US singer/songwriter Matthew Houck seven albums to come to international attention, and he did that by making people cry. His single 'Song For Zula' is unquestionably the most heartbreaking track of the year so far, and the rest of the album (while more countrified than the electro-infused single) does not disappoint. Drenched in a sense of all-encompassing sadness but with an overarching sense of hope, Muchacho is one for the heartbroken everywhere.

My Bloody Valentine - m b v: m b v is My Bloody Valentine's follow up to their 1991 album Loveless - that's right, this was 22 years in the making (and you thought waiting two hours for Justin Bieber was bad...). Hazy, droning synth at its finest - yes, that's a good thing - My Bloody Valentine prove that things can definitely be worth the wait. Eviscerating and brutal, m b v gets better with each listen.

Biffy Clyro - Opposites: The Scottish trio achieved their first UK No.1 album with Opposites and it was loved instantly by all at the Gigwise office. Biffy combine some pounding rock n roll with emotional lyrics in a record that builds slowly relying on Simon Neil's vocals before launching into some anthemic guitars and a bit of classic Biffy Clyro.

Dizraeli & The Small Gods - Moving In The Dark: Telling someone there's a 'really good folk-hip hop album about to be released' is usually met with looks of suspicion, or at times plain pity. And admittedly it does sound like an awful venture, but then you play them Moving In The Dark and they're forced to eat your words (or facial expressions, as the case maybe). It's probably one of the most important British albums made in ten years, in no small part simply because of the sheer 'Britishness' of it. British folk traditions are folded in with stunning dexterous and witty lyrics that cut to the bone of our country's social, economic and political issues in a shamelessly witty and bare-faced manner. At times touchingly personal, but consistently entertaining and insightful.

Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams: The Lord Huron boys reveal themselves as sensitive chaps, as they spill their hearts on their debut album, a wonderful collection of country-infused pop-rock, moving effortlessly from the delicate and intimate to chest-pounding moments that would make Mumford & Sons proud. Released before the band had performed a UK show, a packed schedule of gigs over the year should ensure huge word of mouth success before the end of 2013.

Foals - Holy Fire: Holy Fire isn't necessarily Foals' best, but that still means it's better than what most bands have to offer. While 'Inhaler' is a no-holds barred all out assault, the rest of the album just about manages to keep up. Don't get it wrong, though; Holy Fire showcases the band's trick of building up the music and then bursting out with everything they have to the best of their abilities. All style, and quite a lot of substance, too.

Colman Brothers - Colman Brothers Remixed: It's not easy for remix albums to be good. Really good, that is, not just good by virtue of their connection to the original. True, Colman Brothers' self-titled 2012 album was amazing, but 2013's remix of the album takes it to another place. No knowledge of the original is need to appreciate the quality of this remix record. It's a mixed bag of hefty, stomping big beats, glitteringly gentle and euphoric down-tempo numbers and straight up chill out gold, but it still manages to retain a sense of cohesion in the most artful of ways.

The Neighbourhood - I Love You: A new arrival to the Gigwise stereo, The Neighbourhood's debut album is an instantly spectacular record, packed full of dark, macabre beats and spectacular pop hooks. Single-handedly ushering in a new sound of indie-noir, the LA band have worked with the producers of Lana Del Rey's Born To Die album, and it shows. A male-orientated slant on cinematic, Americana pop-rock. Glorious.

Yo La Tengo - Fade: Yo La Tengo are about to hit their 30th anniversary, and yet the quality of their music manages to remain undiminished. For a band as prolific as them, it's quite the achievement - and Fade definitely doesn't let the side down. Solid and consistent - but that doesn't mean it's unexciting - Fade has emotional depth and just enough glowing fuzz pop to make for easy, and enjoyable, listening.

C2C - Tetra: French turntablists, C2C put their multi-award winning DJ skills together to produce one of the best electronic records of 2013. Urban, jazz, pop and R'n'B tracks are all scratched and reworked into a punchy turntable collection. Tetra brings back a beautiful taste of classic 90s turntablism with a modern edge of creativity and energy.

Iceage - You're Nothing: Iceage are surrounded by controversy, but don't allow that to detract from the music. Iceage do pop-punk like it should be done - with a bit of pop, and a whole lot of punk. While there are nods to their hardcore origins, most of You're Nothing is noisy and defiant, without sacrificing catchy hooks and powerful energy in order to do so. The simmering anger that underlies all the songs creates an excellent tension and You're Nothing sees Iceage taking their 70s punk heritage - and improving on it.

Beacon - The Ways We Separate: It's always the quiet ones. An album blissfully without any in-your-face moments, this US production duo's debut album is a fragile collection of r&b infused dance which keeps the mood mellow and the lyrics intimate. Standout moment 'Feeling's Gone' turns the act of sex with an ex into a sumptuous sounding experience with carefully crafted beats blending with relatable lyrics. These guys are set to find a following similar to fellow mellow stars Four Tet and Burial.

Frightened Rabbit – Pedestrian Verse: Their fourth studio album sees Frightened Rabbit produce a fantastically distinctive and infectious body of work. The melancholy piano riffs and energetic guitars mixed with a heartbreaking Scottish vocal preserves the Frightened Rabbit sound whilst delivering some of the most upbeat music the band has ever produced.

Last Night In Paris - Roses: Last Night In Paris have been described elsewhere as the English Odd Future, but that does a massive disservice to the London collective. Essentially all they have in common with Tyler's bunch is that their music prowess far exceed their age. What LNIP make isn't angry, confrontational sometimes-funny-always-offensive rap music, it's careful, considered R&B music, with swaggering rap and stunningly soulful vocal offerings from the likes of Rainy Milo. "You are now listening to the most heavy crew/Damn, we're beasting now, imagine when we're 22" they rap. Exactly.

A$AP Rocky - Long.Live.A$AP: Hip Hop fans spent most of 2012 waiting for A$AP Rocky to finally release his debut full-length (it was delayed twice). Often in such circumstances the dilly-dallying musician has doomed themselves to failure, building hype to a point way beyond what's actually achievable. But A$AP manage to produce a record that did, in fact, prove to be worth the wait. Featuring an all star cast that includes Kendrick Lamar, Santigold, Danny Brown and even Florence Welch, Long.Live.A$AP demonstrates why the rapper is being talked about in far loftier terms than his contemporaries. It's not just his music, it's the way he goes about his business.

Foxygen - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic: Hot young things Foxygen can't seem to stick to just one genre, so instead they experience with them all. Sharp lyrics combine with music that sounds like stumbling half-drunk through a house party to create something that isn't quite indie-rock, and not quite psychedelia either - although there's a nod to both. Foxygen bring the party - and if it sounds like this, then we hope it never stops.

Bastille - Bad Blood: What more can be said about this album? One of the best-selling records in our list having achieved the No.1 slot in the UK albums charts and deservedly so. Bad Blood is wonderfully unique and manages to blur the lines between mainstream and alternative music. Piano, strings and an appealing vocal make for one of the best albums of the year.

Retro Stefson - Retro Stefson: It's hard to know how to define Retro Stefson new self-titled album. No genre lends itself to their music in any truly appropriate way. Rather it's easier to describe the impression the tracks leave themselves. They're playful, but not to the extent that it compromises the incredibly stylish way the Icelandic band go about their business. They're up beat and have an undeniably dance-y element to them, but they're not club tracks. It's music that would sound great on a night out, but would be equally suitable for a boozy evening around a kitchen table.