20. Beck - "Where It's At" (Odelay)
I liked Loser a lot but this was next-level and addictive AF. The brilliant video was on heavy MTV rotation too
19. The Divine Comedy - "Becoming More Like Alfie" (Casanova)
This is the song that got me into The Divine Comedy, with Neil Hannon's lyrical wit and ear for a ridiculously catchy melody both on full display.
18. Morcheeba - "Trigger Hippie" (Who Can You Trust?)
The beats, the trippy sound, the guitars and of course Skye Edwards' velvety voice make this totally irresistible. Probably the first CD-single I ever bought.
17. Goya Dress - "Glorious" (Rooms)
When John Cale wants to produce your album after hearing this song, you know it's a damn fine song. The Scottish trio didn't last long but still gave us this slice of melodic indie that takes me right back.
16. Urusei Yatsura - "Kewpies Like Watermelon" (We Are Urusei Yatsura)
A 2.5-minute blast of energy with screams in the chorus that you can jump around to without a care in the world. Awesome.
(Also my most beloved owned vinyl, in transparent Fairy green, so cute).
15. 16 Horsepower - "American Wheeze" (Sackcloth 'n' Ashes)
Apparently, this is called gothic country, and there isn't a band more fitting to play this music. Accordions, banjos and a voice that sound like they come from somewhere really dark.
14. The Trash Can Sinatras - "How Can I Apply...?" (A Happy Pocket)
Perfect indie pop from Scotland, with a real earworm of a chorus.
13. Radiohead - "Talk Show Host" (b-side to "Street Spirit")
This would go on to become pretty big in 1997 because of the Romeo & Juliet OST but in 1996 it was just one of Radiohead's stellar b-sides and an indicator of the huge step forward they were about to take.
12. Lamb - "God Bless" (Lamb)
Trip hop with a hint of drum and bass, plus strings and flutes and keys creating a beautiful sonic world inhabited by Lou Rhodes' voice. An uplifting song that sounds like a sunny day in nature.
11. Mazzy Star - "Roseblood" (Among My Swan)
Those brooding guitars melting around Hope Sandoval's voice made me stop in my tracks upon hearing this on the radio and go get the album pretty much immediately.
10. Booth & the Bad Angel - "The Dance of Bad Angels" (s/t)
Angelo Badalamenti and Tim Booth teamed up for this one-off which turned out to be worthy of their names. This soaring song features one of Booth's best-ever performances.
9. Geneva - "Closer to the Stars" (b-side to "No One Speaks")
I had posted this in the #bsides challenge, saying that if I ranked them it would be near the top. It's by far my favourite Geneva song - an ethereal marvel bafflingly hidden away.
8. Screaming Trees - "Sworn and Broken" (Dust)
I could have chosen almost any track from my favourite 1996 album. This wins because of the wonderful, almost euphoric keyboard solo in the bridge. The world is definitely missing Mark Lanegan.
7. Underworld - "Born Slippy"
Summer of '96 and I'm in a club in Brit youth hot-spot Kardamena, when I hear those keyboards and all hands are in the air. It goes on for ages and I wonder when the song will start, then it does and it's relentless. Huge, and rightly so.
6. Belle & Sebastian - "Like Dylan in the Movies" (If You're Feeling Sinister)
Just Stuart Murdoch casually coming up with one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard in a pop song. And then there's that spine-tingling ending.
5. Telstar Ponies - "Last Outpost" (Voices From the New Music)
A slow-burning epic from Scotland, with beautiful post-rock-flirting guitars that get noisier as the song builds. I put this on every mixtape I made that year.
4. Mogwai - "Summer" (single)
Still my favourite Mogwai song, and the one that introduced them to me. The quiet intro, the drops of xylophone, the bursts of guitar noise and of course that gorgeous circular melody. Just a masterpiece.
3. Broadcast - "The Book Lovers" (The Book Lovers EP)
Retro elegance married to '90s quirky pop sensibility, a match made in heaven that resulted in this fantastic song. That keyboard had me hooked from the first listen.
2. dEUS - "Roses" (In A Bar, Under the Sea)
Few songs *are* the '90s more than this to me. It's my favourite dEUS song, it was the highlight of my first-ever show (insanely good live) and it just represents a part of my life that I hold dear.
1. Orbital - "The Box" (In Sides)
The song that initiated my interest in electronic music, one that I spent hours dancing to, and by far the coolest use of a santouri (santoor) I've ever heard. Still sounds like the timeless classic it is.
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