I have been a record dealer for years, one of the best things about my job is the amount of new stuff I get to hear...This year has been a fantastic year for music and I have to share my top three albums of 2004..

First up at number three is an album from 2002 that didn't hit these shores until this year by legendary German Chanteuse Hildegard Knef. The album is called "The Reform Sessions" and she is remixed by some top DJs' ... if you can get past the German language the album is absolutely brilliant and takes a bunch of sentimental old German songs and mutates them into something incredibly new and innovative. Some songs are done twice but couldn't be more different if they tried - a must for all DJ fans.

At Number two is "Samba Sunset" another DJ mix compilation very popular as of late - my Peruvian friend heard this on the Plane on the way back from Los Angeles and immediately wrote Air Canada to find out what it was - and a big bonus here is the Brazilian Bossa-trip hop Jazz feel of "Save a Prayer" with Simon le Bon of Duran Duran duetting this eighties classic with Sylvio Anastacio - the song sounds totally new. Louie Vega and Fantastic Plastic Machine also weigh in with contribtuions.

BUT The album of the year without a doubt has to be Matt Bianco and "Matts Mood." Yes this was the eighties group that featured Basia and after a very long time and various incarnations the original three members have gotten together and done quite simply the album of the year: sleek jazzy sophisticated, it's probably the best album they have ever done, Basia sounds as gorgeous as ever, the arrangements are first rate as is the musicianship. My only disappointment is the fact that this album will probably be overlooked here in North America, and if any album deserves a couple of Grammy's this one is it. Do check it out, it's very adult and an instant classic!