Here is our final monthly Best Of mix of songs from 2011 – despite all the Christmas fayre on offer, there were still a whole plethora of cracking new tracks to enjoy, and as always we’ve gathered the best of our December posts into one lovely mix for you with a couple of new tracks to sample too. Don’t forget to check out all our previous monthly mixes in the sidebar on the left.

And off we go…

Download Horse’s Mouth – As I Climb mp3 (from Horse’s Mouth)

Opens with a plaintive vocal and soon develops into a classically harmonious folk-song with its gentle, repeated “Out of time” refrain and orchestrally tinged instrumentation.

Download Dan Mangan – Row Of Houses mp3 (from Oh Fortune)

A story told from the perspective of a character from folksinger Mangan’s favourite films, namely Gordie Lachance from Stand By Me.

Download Pop. 1280 – Bodies In The Dunes mp3 (from The Horror)

As raw and visceral as ever with their raw, junkyard freak-punk sound.

Download The Uncles – The Ballad Of Lehigh Valley mp3 (from M4W)

Taster from forthcoming sophomore album from expanded folk four-piece.

Download Sad Baby Wolf – Survival Guide mp3 (from 8th Level / Survival Guide)

Psychedelic, drone-rock inspired indie.

Download Palomino Drive – When We Were Only Friends mp3 (from Home EP)

Promising and softly strummed lo-fi folk.

Download Drunken Prayer – Always Sad mp3 (from Into The Missionfield)

Heavy on percussion, gut-bucket guitars are bluesy and psychedelic; the horn arrangements are loose and buoyant and best of all, the lyrics are as sweet as they are damning.

Download Ohioan – Sometimes mp3 (from Balls Deep In Babylon)

Mournful harmonica driven, down-at-heel traditional folk.

Download Terry Malts – Tumble Down mp3 (from Killing Time)

First taste of post-punk noiseniks new album Killing Time.

Download Cloud Nothings – Stay Useless mp3 (from Attack On Memory)

Just under three minutes of spiky garage-pop that is as catchy as anything they’ve ever done.

Download Dolfish – Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out mp3 (from Your Love Is Bummin’ Me Out 7″)

Sad, bitter, humorous country song banged out in balls to the wall garage-rock fashion.

Download Waters – Stay Away mp3 (Nirvana Cover)

Helter-skelter cover of Nirvana’s Stay Away where the ramshackle intensity and angst of the original is joyously matched.

Download The Lower 48 – Into The Woods mp3 (from Where All Maps End)

Warm, organic folk with a good-natured acoustic strum.

Download Scott H. Biram – I Want My Mojo Back mp3 (from Bad Ingredients)

Classic one-man band blues and stomp holler.

Download Phantom Family Halo – White Hot Gun mp3 (from When I Fall Out)

Perfect mix of pummelling krautrock with raw, glam overtones.

Download Redanda – This Bed Is A Rock (via Soundcloud)

Bursting with a brashness and sneered vocals that has more attitude crammed into its two minutes and a few seconds of whiplash drumming and guitar that many bands manage in a career.

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Download Simone Felice – New York Times (via Soundcloud)

Spellbinding new single from forthcoming solo album.

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Download Damon Moon & The Whispering Drifters – Seasonal Suite No. 62 (via Soundcloud)

A real treat for all those who for all those who love the gritty, raw, unconventional and downright bitter and bruised side of country music.

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And the new…we have The XX with their demo of new track Open Eyes, the second single of sunburnt lo-fi pop from Inspired And The Sleep, a brand new slice of antiphonal guitar-gymnastics called Mortise And Tenon from London based math-punk trio Mayors Of Miyazaki and first on the list is another taste from Real Estate’s excellent album Days. Enjoy them all!

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Download The XX – Open Eyes mp3 (Demo)

Download Inspired And The Sleep – Running mp3 (from Teenager)

Download Mayors Of Miyazaki – Mortise And Tenon mp3 (from Mortise And Tenon)