Noodle will be turning a year old at the start of next month, and it's funny to think of how much he's changed since he was a wee pup.

#TheN0ughtie5 18 Los Campesinos! You! Me! Dancing! 2007 UK Staying on the dancing theme with this slow build into sudden frenetic action.

#TheN0ughtie5 17 Sons And Daughters Dance Me In 2005 UK I was obsessed with The Repulsion Box when it came out, and this single was one of the first tracks that really grabbed me.

#TheN0ughtie5 16 At The Drive-In One Armed Scissor 2000 USA Blew my damn mind the first time I heard it, and it sounds just as great now. Also gave us that Jools moment when Robbie Williams had to follow them and looked proper baffled and unnerved.

#TheN0ughtie5 15 Christina Aguilera Ain't No Other Man 2006 USA I haven't spotted many Xtina picks so far, so I'm assuming y'all have her tucked away for later. This horn-assisted bombast is my fave, and I look forward to seeing yours.

#TheN0ughtie5 14 Broadcast Pendulum (Pendulum EP) 2003 UK I'll most likely be slipping an HM to the more popular track, but I'd be lying to myself if I didn't pick this one for my main list. The teutonic drive of it intoxicates me.

#TheN0ughtie5 13 Trost In Diesen Raum 2006 Germany 50% of Cobra Killer taking us into the weekend with some jazz-forward trip-hoppish vibes. A very self-indulgent pick for me, and I'm OK with that.

#TheN0ughtie5 12 Freezepop Less Talk More Rokk (The Rokk Suite EP) 2006 USA The band that leveraged their position at the heart of the creators of Guitar Hero to get this entirely guitar-free track into people's homes. Admirable moxie, and a fabulous bit of deadpan synthpop.

#TheN0ughtie5 11 Ladytron Destroy Everything You Touch 2005 UK Unusually for me, I'm going with one of the main consensus picks - but good lord, what a tune, and what a catalogue.

#TheN0ughtie5 10 Annie Chewing Gum 2004 Norway Has there ever been such a sleekly, efficiently catchy pop song? It burrows into the brain even before the chorus starts.

A message from Noodle.

#TheN0ughtie5 9 Basement Jaxx Romeo 2001 UK After my frustrated efforts at getting Red Alert into #1C000LEST, you better believe I'm pushing for some 00s Jaxx. C'mon, it's too fun to fail!

#TheN0ughtie5 8 Jay-Z 99 Problems 2004 USA His own actions may have left him on an even hundred since this was released, but that does not change the fact that the tune bangs.

#TheN0ughtie5 7 Husky Rescue Summertime Cowboy 2004 Finland A lot of HR's singles are wistful or solemn, so it's a delight to hear this breezily camp number, whipcracks and all.

#TheN0ughtie5 6 Boris Statement 2008 Japan Proving that they are just as capable at blasting out short-form bangers as they are drone epics, Japan's finest deliver the squalling goods.

#TheN0ughtie5 5 HALCALI Tandem 2003 Japan 11 POINTS The incredibly catchy debut single by a female Japanese rap-pop duo? In MY list? It's more likely than you think.

#TheN0ughtie5 4 The Go! Team Bottle Rocket 2005 UK 11 POINTS The most explosively funky jam on an album built exclusively from explosively funky jams. As essential as sun cream when Summer rolls around.

#TheN0ughtie5 3 Mew Am I Wry? No 2002 Denmark 11 POINTS I was obsessed with Mew for a hot minute back in the 00s, and this was my first exposure to them. I still find it a smashing piece of work.

#TheN0ughtie5 2 Britney Spears Toxic 2004 USA 11 POINTS Those strings might be the best sample in pop history. The rest of the tune is pretty great too.

#TheN0ughtie5 1 Amerie 1 Thing 2005 USA 12 POINTS Obviously...

We only bloody gone and done it! Hooray for the excellent music scene of Algeria, both past and present, and particularly to the disco genius that can make you truly believe that a tortoise can rollerblade.

LAST CALL For votes in the #PWC26 final - I'll be closing this at 9PM UK time (so in about 2 hours)

I never would have guessed we'd get this far, and against one of my favourite sides of the whole tournament. I would once again love for you to vote Algeria, but most of all I'd love for you to listen to all the top tunes and vote with your ears. It's bangers all the way down.

Tricia Squire, 34, walks her five-year-old Samoyed, Chewy, twice a day, attracting constant attention from people eager to delay Squire’s walk on the baseless assumption that dog owners are universally sociable.

In May, I thought aespa had released the best pop song of the year. I was wrong. The best pop song of the year was released in May, by aespa.

#PWC26 THE SEMI FINALS of THE POP WORLD CUP Austria v Algeria! Turkey v DR Congo! AND - a chance to nominate your favourite discoveries of the tournament in the Golden Beat docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Croissant

Look, of course I'm going to do the managerial thing and encourage you to vote for Algeria's own disco queen Zohra to get into the final, but real talk? These are four whipsmart tunes that you need to get into your ears immediately.

A tantalising stat, and with only just over an hour to add EVEN MORE BONUSES! You know what to do, Fennec fans!

Here’s a poem called ‘What Don Corleone Did Next’. #worldotterday

The Pop World Cup - it's like the World Cup, but it's for Pop Music, and we're down to the last 8 countries standing (5 of them are in Africa, with tracks ranging from mid-70s Algerian disco to 2024's French-Congolese smash hit from Theodora)

The commentariat are preparing to dash the Algerian hopes of getting their first ever entry into Pollhalla. Come support the Fennec dream and vote in the only Springtime music competition that matters! (But also vote for the songs you like, it's just a bit of fun)

Thought it was tough before? Well, you were right. But it hasn't got any easier, that's for sure! If you want to spare a vote for an Algerian banger, I'd be very grateful, but you really owe it to yourself to listen to these 16 excellent tracks from around the globe.

LAST CALL on these - I'll be closing them down by 4PM UK time (i.e. in about 3 hours) docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

"I need AI art, otherwise I can't make my project." Randy Savage cut a promo with nothing but a coffee creamer he swiped from craft services. Stop making excuses and do better.

Want to close these down this afternoon so make your choices!

It's your last day to vote in the matches they're calling "The Ones That Didn't Do So Well In The Best Poll We've Had For Years"

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the love I feel for this ridiculous creature.

Here we go again then. My Algerian side has the deliciously textured stylings of Imarhan, and we'd love to get your votes, but you really should be doing your ears a favour and getting fully involved with all of these excellent tunes.

Based on this it's hard to say, as Algeria manager, if it's time to chill the champagne of celebration or the Special Brew of commiseration, but one thing is certain - if you haven't got involved with the Pop World Cup yet, you're missing out on a world of excellent music. Literally!

Shouting "stop swinging left to right like you're the bloody Labour party" at the dog didn't get the laugh I hoped it would. Tough crowd in Asda car park this morning.

The matches are getting really serious now, and they weren't exactly mucking about before. Please give these ripping good tunes a listen and a vote, and maybe consider giving a little extra attention to a fantastic bit of Algerian disco.

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Having a lazy Sunday? Why not spend some of it listening to some excellent tunes from around the world, and voting for your faves! If one of them happens to be from Algeria, that would be pretty cool...

Still hoping for more votes on these! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Noodle has been sleeping inverted with increasing regularity, and I have no idea why. Fortunately, he looks very cute.

The final episode of Beneath the Cosmic Waves season 1 is out now!! Until next time, keep your hearts open. The world is full of stories, if you only know how to listen. beneaththecosmicwaves.podbean.com/e/episode-7-... 🌌🌊🪼🎧 #audiodrama

Thanks to the wonderful voters out there, my sweet Algerian team made it to Round 2. Now they once again need your votes to help keep the Fennec dream alive, be it via the bongo-laced ululating disco of Zohra or the hefty desert blues of Imarhan. Listen to some great tunes and vote, you beauties!

I want to close tomorrow's a bit earlier so I can get the playlists for Round 2 and the B-Sides all nicely done, so vote in this too please, don't leave it late :)