Anton Newcombe, dictator for life to the Brian Jonestown Massacre (BJM) collective, has chosen well. Reverting to type, the word Aufheben appears to have several contradictory meanings: among other things, it can mean to lift up, to transcend, to abolish or to sublate (the assimilation of a smaller entity into a larger one). Coming from a group that uses a clever portmanteau for their name, the deployment and manipulation of language and other elements must come as a second nature. The music released over the years also adheres to this philosophy of blending and subtle nuances; 60s psychedelic rock with an Eastern vibe. Think of 90s English public school rockers Kula Shaker, except more intense and heroin-addled. Their latest LP, the 20th in 19 years, remains true to the musical philosophy they have laid out since day one. Indeed, its the music that does the talking for a good portion of the entire record. With founder member Matt Hollywood back in the fold, BJM have once again found a very rich vein of inspiration to mine. Panic In Babylon, a transcendental instrumental, is a knockout of an opener. It is at once uplifting and dream-like; a mixture of instruments from the east and west cascading over and around a solid, unrelenting beat. Towards the end it begins to collapse in on itself before finally imploding amidst fading instruments and a veritable menagerie of animal noises; monkeys howling and dogs growling. Viholliseni Maalla, following immediately after, is led by Eliza Karmasalo, whose sultry tones are delivered in a foreign language. Remarkably upbeat, poppy even, its intrinsically enigmatic qualities should keep you coming back for repeat listens. It is unclear what language is being used in Gaz Hilarant, although the vocals and desert-in-the-moonlight music provide it with an air of wistfulness and desire. Illuminomi, one of the albums highlights, is another track sans English lyrics. Much like the Socialist commune they share a part of their name with, BJM retains the mysterious cult image that attracts a few but repels many. With songs that seem to have been beamed directly from some alternate dimension, underpinned by a constant message of love and hope despite hardships and horror its a shame the band plow on with far less recognition than they deserve. http://youtu.be/smogd7EuhJc So there you have it - five of the best albums of the year. What were your own favourite albums of 2012? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.