Instead of the usual disheartening trudge, January this year proved to be a rather uplifting affair – musically at least. A large part of the reason was the release of the Decemberists’ The Crane Wife, a record that managed to be both intricate, complex and accessible at the same time. For those new to the cause, ‘O Valencia!’ is a perfect place to start; a joyous and invigorating thing of beauty.