2006 singles

(annotated list here)

1. Harper Lee "He Holds A Flame" (Matinee Recordings)
2. Television Personalities "All The Young Children On Crack, All The Young Children On Smack" (Domino)
3. Chris Liberator and K.N. featuring DJ Cydeboard and DJ 2003 "Soba Grey" (Maximum Minimum)
4. The Butterflies Of Love "Orbit Around You" (Fortuna Pop!)
5. Secret Shine "Elemental EP" (Razorblade)
6. Kryz "Return To Libc (Dysconform)" (Wah Wah)
7. Deicide "Homage For Satan" (Earache)
8. DJ Geraldine and D.A.V.E. The Drummer "Untitled (Hydraulix 35A)" (Hydraulix)
9. Darkthrone "Too Old, Too Cold" (Peaceville)
10. Chris Liberator, K.N., DJ Cunt, DJ Cydeboard and DJ 2003 "Classic Silver" (Maximum Minimum)

11. Arab Strap "Speed Date" (Chemikal Underground)
12. Paul Langley "Sexual Predator" (4x4)
13. The Lucksmiths "A Hiccup In Your Happiness Ep" (Matinee Recordings)
14. Forest Giants "Planes Fly Overhead" (Cherryade)
15. Lovejoy "England Made Me Ep" (Matinee Recordings)
16. Sarandon "The June Bride" (Wrath)
17. Jamie Taylor "Robin Hood" (Cluster)
18. Morrissey "You Have Killed Me" (Attack)
19. The Slits "Revenge Of The Killer Slits Ep" (Only Lovers Left Alive)
20. Shredder "32930 Miles There And Back" (Cluster)

21. Supar Novar "All The Way" (Kemet Entertainment)
22. Monkey Swallows The Universe "Science" / "Happiness" (Thee S.P.C.)
23. The Gresham Flyers "Shiftwork" ([Barryland])
24. Slayer "Cult" (Columbia)
25. Lethal Bizzle vs Test Icicles "Mind Your Head" (V2)
26. Wiley "Eskiboy" (White Label)
27. Secret Shine "Beyond Sea And Sky Ep" (Razorblade)
28. Terra Firma "New Era" (Kemet Entertainment)
29. Ant and DDR "Part Of The Union" (Super Conductor)
30. Fanfarlo "Talking Backwards" (Fortuna Pop!)

31. Kelman "The Heart Is A Useless Ally" (Linear)
32. Micall Parkinsun Featuring Dubbledge "Hungry" (Sit Tight Records)
33. Ninehundredand9 "X-Force" (Powertools)
34. The Loft "Rickety Frame" / "Model Village" (Static Caravan)
35. Kektex "I Kill Everything I Fuck" / "I Fuck Everything I Kill" (Apex)
36. Scratchy "Shangooli" (Dumpvalve)
37. Skepta "Duppy" (white label)
38. Jim Reid "Dead End Kids" (Transistor Records)
39. Wiley "Gangsterz" (white label)
40. Syer "Syernide EP" (white label)

41. Scorcher / Wiley "Chance Us" (white label)
42. The Nightingales "Let's Think About Living" (Fake Product)
43. Camera Obscura "Let's Get Out Of This Country" (Elefant)
44. Dcoy Ft. Wiley "Johnny Was A Bad Boy" (white label)
45. Ant and Nick Grater "Our Broken Toy" (Cluster)
46. Moorish Delta 7 "Levels EP" (7even Entertainment)
47. Give Up All Hope "Nowhere To Hide From Yourself" (Never Healed)
48. D.A.V.E. The Drummer and K.N. "Work The Groove" (Apex)
49. Mr. Ti2bs "Inner City Rap" (Kemet Entertainment)
50. Tiger Force "Syntax Error" (Marquis Cha-Cha)

The serene, super-missed Harper Lee came out on top, but it was desperately close as the Television Personalities' stunning comeback single gnawed at its heels all the way. The Butterflies of Love also scored highly, with a record that demanded celebration. And as well as the former Brighter man and Kicker woman at #1, the chart also featured erstwhile members of the Flatmates, Blue Aeroplanes, the Smiths, Baptiste, More Fire Crew, Jesus and Mary Chain, We Are Going To Eat You and Doom...

A number of people turned up on more than one of these best singles: Wiley marshalled the lower reaches at 26, 39, 41 and 44 (also supplying a remix on the flip of 36): former indie-popper Chris Liberator came in at 3 and 10 (assisted on both by the unlikely-sounding trio of K.N. - who also appeared at no. 48 - DJ Cydeboard and DJ 2003). Ant Wilson was at 29, 45 and, under a pseudonym, at 33: incidentally, if you were wondering where Guy McAffer had got to this year, he was at number 20 under another pseudonym (the great "32930 Miles and Back" single). Oh, and D.A.V.E. The Drummer continued to take a grip, doubling up at 8 and 48.

Excellent releases from Deicide and Darkthrone meant that metal, usually only really now an album genre, was at last represented in the Top 10 singles. It was also the year that Secret Shine made a comeback, with two very good EPs - "Elemental", in particular, placing in the year's top five. Other bands on the comeback trail (or at least on a slight return) included no less than the Slits (19) and the Loft (34).

The singles list was also (marginally) more international, with three American bands, plus representation from Spain, Norway, Australia, Japan (K.N.) and South Africa (yep, Nick Grater again...)