6 Music Recommends: our top 10 albums of the year revealed!

We've named Badbadnotgood's IV our Album of the Year 2016.

When a band's description is as specific as 'Canadian jazz instrumental hip hop" you know you're in for some interesting sounds, delivered in heaps on their fourth studio album.

Here's what our presenters had to say about it-

“It’s got enough space in the music for you to lose yourself in it, and for me that’s just been absolutely critical this year. I don’t know why but I’ve been drawn back and back to music that lets me do that. I also love the collaborations on this record – it is intensely pleasing and quite diverse really, you’ve got Time Moves Slow featuring Sam Herring of Future Islands and that’s undeniably one of the classic tracks that 2016 has produced.

But then you’ve got collaborations with people like Kaytranada who is such and exiting artist and who has released his own fantastic album this year. So I quite like the fact that this album is its own really pleasing, really brilliant piece of art, but it also points to lots of other things that are going on in the world at the moment that are exciting and creative and brilliant, so for me that why I’ve chosen this album as my favourite of the year.

Also the cover is hilarious, and while that hasn’t informed my judgement it certainly doesn’t hurt!” - Lauren Laverne

“Its jazz its prog its electronic…its beautifully played.. I love music that pulls me in different directions and can’t be easily categorised and that certainly fits the bill with this one” - Stuart Maconie

The brilliant album that turned out to be a phenomenally moving farewell, David Bowie's final work is a titanic achievement.

An album that the human race will be listening to in a thousand years from now.

Mary Anne Hobbs

"An album that the human race will be listening to in a thousand years from now, a masterful swansong from one of the greatest artists who ever walked among us." - Mary Ann Hobbs

“David Bowie was my idol at 14 and still my idol when he released ★. Ultimately this album has what all great Bowie albums have: a different sound from the previous album, great tunes, surprisingly powerful vocals, intruiging imagery, glamour, panache, tenderness and mystery. Some of it gives itself to you easily and some of it remains tantalisingly unfathomable, a masterpiece.” - Mark Radcliffe

A complex, extremely emotional album - deeply personal and raw, which shows the best of Nick Cave in the worst of circumstances.

As a listener and a fan you’ve never felt so close to Nick.

Mary Anne Hobbs

"A deeply intimate album written before and recorded after the tragic death of Nick Cave’s 15 year old son Arthur, as a listener and a fan you’ve never felt so close to Nick." - Mary Anne Hobbs

On his sophomore album, Michael Kiwanuka's soulful, honest pop narratives have won over our presenters and the great British public alike.

It’s a record I have returned to over and over again

Lauren Laverne

”It’s a record I have returned to over and over again and loved the stories he was sharing there” - Lauren Laverne

An atmospheric, spooky work of genius sampling and intense detail-

The record gives the impression of someone operating at the very top of their game.

Gideon Coe

“Masaaki Yoshida has made a wonderful album, one which has stayed with me all year. The fact that the record came out in January may give it an advantage but, equally, January releases can sometimes get a bit lost as the year wears on. Not this one. Brilliant use of rhythm and melody, beats and samples and vocal loops.

It's not groundbreaking to use such things but his skill and feel and touch is exceptional. The vocal on Monsoon is one of the most beautiful things I've heard all year. The record gives the impression of someone operating at the very top of their game. That said, I can't wait to hear what he does next.” - Gideon Coe

A troubled, agitated work about the specifics of survival in dark times, from community and club nights to alienation and those specific neuroses of the small hours.

“Let Them Eat Chaos is a work of exceptional density and eloquence. A cinematic 47 minute journey embracing both the innermost workings of the human heart and the widescreen sweep of the approaching storm - social, political and environmental - enveloping all our lives in 2016. With music every bit as fresh and adventurous as Kate's own lyrics and delivery, Let Them Eat Chaos stands head and shoulders above every other album I've heard this year, if not this decade. “

It's been half a decade since Bon Iver, Bon Iver and the returning sound is glitchier, less certain, more confident.

“I love Bon Iver because of the development of his sound over three albums and this new one is about as strange and mangled as a White Rock Record can be, whilst still being accessible and beautiful, enigmatic pop music. I could live without the obfuscation of the titles if I’m honest, but I don’t pay much attention to those. I just let it wash over me like a breaking wave with lots of weird but pretty little sea creatures wiggling around in it.” - Mark Radcliffe

Witty, smart, anecdotal pop that grabs the gnarly truth of being confused, teen or not and trying to come to terms with yourself.

“The first proper new album since Will formed Car Seat Headrest around himself. It’s a record which pulls off that trick of being complicated and, sometimes, a skewed version of alt pop music. It’s very simple and to the point in places. But I like it because Will’s obviously got a story to tell. He’s got a slightly world weary view of life to share with us. It’s about how some aspects of the world are a bit broken. And couldn’t we just do a bit better?” - Steve Lamacq

Radiohead's ninth studio album appropriately makes our #9 -

"A mercurial and devastatingly beautiful album from the most important band on earth" Mary Anne Hobbs

Strange, deep and dense - where do you go when you need to get weirder?

“I pity AND envy anyone who has just discovered the unbeatable Thee Oh Sees because their back catalogue is a very deep treasure trove which to plunder from scratch could leave you penniless. Well worth it though. I always advise newcomers to start with A Weird Exits (and work backwards) which is, for me, not only their best album so far - it’s also the best album of 2016 - bar none. Best live band in the world too. Honest!” - Marc Riley