As state-of-the-indie-record-shop-nation health checks go, this annual statement of what has chimed with those behind the shop counters at the Rough Trade chain is a reliable bellwether of tastes and trends. It's also an annual reminder of the invaluable work done by those music fans who still work in retail when it comes to fine-tuning tastes and moulding collections. This particular class of 2016 include several of those indie and alternative names much featured elsewhere, with tracks from Mitski, Fat White Family, Margo Price, Car Seat Headrest, Sunflower Bean, Kaytranada and the fantastic Whitney. Seeing as the task of any self-respecting record store clerk is to guide you to the lesser-known attractions, kudos then to to those who've chosen El Michels Affair's delicious Strange Boy, the new groove swagger of Moses Boyd on Rye Lane Shuffle and Unloved's vintage pouting on This Is the Time. roughtrade.com