The Fu*king Champs - V
There aren't many bands to my mind that can mix incredible technical skill with a good sense of fun.
Air on the G-String may sound like blasphemy to classical fans, but they pull it off really well. Also their guitarist used to be in Weakling, one of my favourite black metal bands ever.
Gregor Samsa - 27:36
Detractors write their music off as sounding Sigur Ros-lite, but for me they throw quite a few different elements into the mix. The second track is definitely the standout track, being one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
VNV Nation - Empires
This is an absolute classic and bizarrely used to be one of my standard choices to accompany my reading of journals/books at uni. They're also the music act I most want to see live at the moment.
Nadja - Truth Becomes Death
Ugh, the phrase 'ambient doom' fills me with uneasiness, but ultimately it's the best one to describe this monster, which is the brainchild on one of the most prolific artists I know: Aidan Baker. His noise-based material is good too, but I prefer the huge, menacing side of Nadja.