Friday, January 28, 2011
We Have Moved!!!
Hello bleepfans. In light of the recent events surrounding blogspot, I have decided to move to my own domain. Get all your bleep crazes slaked at the new Sweet Little Bleeps. 2.0 baby!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
What The Bleeps Radio: #28
With below zero temperatures outside here, I think it's time to jump start everyone's afternoon. Therefore, it's going to be an all Drum & Bass playlist on What The Bleeps Radio here at KRUU 100.1fm, the grass roots and solar powered voice of Fairfield, Iowa and beyond. No sitting back with this one, jumping up and getting your frantic dance on is what you'll have to do. Expect to hear new things from Nikoi, Noisia, and others.For a full bleeplisting, and an archive of the show, check back here after 4pm CST.
What The Bleeps Radio - 1/22/11 128kbps
Bleeplist:
1. Enigma - The Shore (Original Mix)
2. Nero - Electron (Original Mix) BUY IT!
3. Avicii, Sebastien Drums - My Feelings For You (The Prototypes Remix)
4. Kanye West - Flashing Lights (High Contrast Remix)
5. Rusko - Hold On feat. Amber Coffman (Sub Focus Remix) BUY IT!
6. NC-17, KC - Canibal Holocaust (Original Mix)
7. Gemini - Electric Rain (Original Mix) BUY IT!
8. Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend (High Contrast Remix) BUY IT!
9. Little Boots - Meddle (Ebola Remix)
10. Imogen Heap - Headlock (High Contrast Remix) BUY IT!
11. Nikoi - Love Dreamer (Original Mix)
12. Sub Focus - Rock It (Original Mix) BUY IT!
13. Noisia - Shellshock feat. Foreign Beggers (Original Mix) BUY IT!
14. Kanye West - Blame Game (Calvertron Bootleg)
15. T.a.t.u. - All The Things She Said (DJ Reevo DnB Remix)
16. Bassnectar - Massive Attack (Original Mix)
17. Terravita - Up In The Club (Original Mix) BUY IT!
18. Bassnectar - Bass Head (Original Mix) BUY IT!
19. Chase & Status - No Problem (Original Mix)
20. The Young Punx - Ready For The Fight (Phonat's Punkstep Remix) BUY IT!
21. DC Breaks - Halo (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Loud Noises
360 Group is an artist/label management system that does a lot of promotion. People like Bar 9, Shook, Burns, Yuksek, and Feed Me are just a few of the all-star cast that is among their répertoire. On one of their soundcloud profiles, 360 Remixes, you'll find a ton of free downloads from a number of them, and their most recent one comes from Flux Pavilion.He remixes M.I.A.'s new hit number, 'Internet Connection.' Bringing a disjointed old school feel on top of the contemporary dubstep sound. Heavy on the 8-bit sounds, the dubstep rhythm does well behind M.I.A.'s vocals, and it sports a great breakdown. Definitely an interesting remix from Flux, and worthy of air time in clubs and on the radio.
M.I.A. - Internet Connection (Flux Pavilion Remix) <3
Next up we see Bare Noize giving away a free VIP of 'Nocturnal,' a melodic banger that drops in the usual Bare Noize fashion; heavy and hard, leaving no prisoners. A few too many wobbles for my taste, but it is still worth a listen, and it has interesting breakdowns.
Bare Noize - Nocturnal (VIP)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Exclusive: Heath Morris
I'd like to take a little time and blog space here to talk about Heath Morris, one of the Midwest's best kept secrets.Heath, previously known as (DJ) Siamey, is an avid producer who has made tons of tracks, and seems to have done a little bit of everything. His previous album 'Going Away' is a combination of old dance/rave music and video game soundtracks. It is exquisitely made, and takes you on a ride through acid house, DnB, easy listening, and breaks. One of the most diverse albums I've heard in years.
Today Heath has started to switch up his style. His most recent EP, 'Night Sounds' is a brilliant piece of audio composition. It seems to be influenced as much by the old SNES 8-bit style as it is by Justice. What we have here is a merging of genres that you don't normally see in the scene today. The sound is modern electro fused with a particular brand of ambiance; a different take on the genre that gives a nod to the new Daft Punk sound, as well as the Final Fantasy soundtracks. I could see SebastiAn dropping this at one of his sets to a massive reaction.
So without further ado, I present Night Sounds by Heath Morris. Follow the guy on facebook and soundcloud to keep up on his latest and greatest.
Heath Morris - Night Sounds:
1. Hello (Original Mix) <3
2. Forgive (Original Mix)
3. Space Memory (Original Mix) <3
4. Goodbye (Original Mix) <3<3 [Exclusive Giveaway!!]
Pick up the rest of the EP at iTunes!
Nikoi Round 2!
If you've been reading my blog, then you came upon my post on Nikoi (aka Mr Amenbreak) a while back. He is a producer who has a fresh take on DnB and dubstep, and his sound can be both smooth and frantic, great for listening and playing in the club.Having been around since 1986 as a DJ, Mr Amenbreak brings an enormous amount of veteran savvy to the scene, paying homage to the beginnings of DnB culture, and at the same time pushing his production level to 2011 with a fresh sound. His style is undoubtedly his own; melodic, grungy, a lullaby to put young children to sleep, a drop to raise the hairs on the back of your neck, and percussion to wow your eardrums. His ability to excite the listener with his drum-lines, in particular, makes an impression. Hopefully we will see this man take off in the near future.
He has a number of originals that he has sent me, and I'm going to share with you guys a few of them here. You guys know the drill, follow him on soundcloud, and for Gods sake, will somebody sign this guy?
Nikoi - Sour Milkshake (Original Mix) <3<3
Junglist Mercer - Brake Free (Mr Amenbreak Remix) <3
And one more in case you're like me and you can't get enough.
THE HIPPY RASTAMAN by NIKOI AKA MR AMENBREAK
Top 20 Dubstep 2010
The year of 2010 was quite big for dubstep, which exploded onto the scene like nothing else. Reminiscent of the rise of electro, dubstep is this years #1 underground music genre, and it has proved itself to be quite elastic and worthy of praise.
This list is something that I started doing in January, 2010, and have continued until now. I'll probably do the same thing for 2011.
Things I have intentionally left out: Artists like Digital Mystics, Mount Kimbie, Ramadanman, and others that make a sort of easy listening, deeper vibes dubstep. I am not saying that I dislike or disrespect these artists in any way shape or form, they have set the stage for incredible rhythmic complexity and mood in the dubstep world, but I feel like they belong in a league of their own. I also feel that comparing them to the artists and songs listed in this post would be unfair and pointless. This list is geared towards the heavier side of dubstep. I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by my neglect of the missing artists/dubs listed above, as I have nothing but respect for those artists and what they are doing. Undoubtedly,dubstep is going through an identity crisis (and you can read what NPR has to say about it here).
Here is the criterion by which I have decided this years (and every years) best.
1. What does it bring to the genre as a whole? Does it utilize sounds that we've never heard before? How innovative is the song, does it spawn copy cats, or is it copying something already? (Admittedly, everything is copying everything else in electronic music, but there are new ideas that effectively get pushed and I'm looking for those).
2. Dancehall playability. How well does it stand up on a big system, and does it make people want to dance?
3. Bedroom playability. Is this a song that you would play in your house at a lower volume, and is it good for listening casually? Admittedly, dubstep is meant to be played loud with proper sub woofers to cover the low end, and not every dubstep artist sells out to the masses. Some of them are uncompromising in their production to the point where if you don't have proper listening equipment, you will not be getting more than 10-20% of the effect of the song. No Joke. But I still feel this should be weighed when measuring the overall worth of a song. I will let you guys know when a song in this list requires proper bass for listening.
Note: I weigh bedroom playability higher in the dubstep list than I do in the electro list.
If you think I missed something please let me know by commenting below. It's becoming harder and harder to stay up on everything with all the new talent that is constantly surfacing. However, I recommend you comment on this list only after you listen to each song with proper bass.
The Top 20 Dubstep Tracks for 2010:
20. Hadouken! - Oxygen (Gemini Remix) BUY IT!
Edging in at the back is probably my favorite of all the bleeps from the UKF Dubstep 2010 compilation. It's a remix of Hadouken's 'Oxygen' from Gemini. The original is a futuristic, cyberpunk-esque, indie, electronic little bleep that has quite a bit of attitude, and reminds me of The Prodigy, but the remix is otherworldly. Gemini will surely be one of the top breakthrough artists of 2011, with his Blue EP set for release in February. You can treat yourself to a little preview of it here. His style is next level, boasting a sound that has never quite been done before. I am quite excited to see what he has in store for us.
19. Skream - Where You Should Be feat. Sam Frank (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Skream is someone of note in the dubstep scene. Famous for his breakthrough remix of La Roux's 'In For The Kill,' and for being one third of the amazing Magnetic Man trio, 2010 has been a big year for Skream. He released his artist album, 'Outside The Box,' and gets massive respect in the electronic community in general, not just in dubstep. Probably my favorite song from the album is 'Where You Should Be' featuring Sam Frank, it is stunning in its beauty and complexity. He makes fantastic use of both the ethereal pads and the deep resonant bass prevalent in every one of his productions, not to mention the oscillating synth that reminds me of pixie dust glittering in the air. This one takes you on a journey to a fantasy land and still blows me away every time I hear it.
18. Bassnectar - Here We Go (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Although Bassnectar may not have finished the year as strong as he started it, he is still amongst the best producers of 2010 in my opinion. No one quite does bass like he does, and 'Here We Go' is a great example. When it drops at 1:27, you are treated to a feast for your ears! The layering he does of several different basses, along with a sizzle synth to fill in the upper frequencies, is unbelievable. If you ever get to see this man play live on a proper system you'll see just how amazing it really is. Unless you have a great home studio you will not be able to get the full effect of this one, and I highly recommend getting tickets to one of his shows. It will be worth every penny. "...champion song..."
17. Katy B, Benga - Katy On A Mission (Original Mix) BUY IT!
One person to emerge as a superstar of pop music is Katy B. What is her signature sound? Electronic, and specifically dubstep. Her lyrics are incredibly catchy and the beat underneath 'Katy On A Mission' is amazing too. Probably because it was done by Benga; one third of Magnetic Man, and one hell of a badman producer! Massive respect to this song for its rise in popularity. If I heard songs like this on the radio more often, I might actually listen to the radio on a regular basis.
16. Freestylers - Cracks feat. Belle Humble (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!
The Freestylers have had a big year with a lot of great remixes. Foremost among them is Flux Pavilion's remix of 'Cracks.' It features his signature deep resonant basslines under high synth leads that drop amazingly well in the club. Belle Humbe's lyrics fit like a glove with the instruments. It's quite a classical, symphony-like influenced song this one. I thought it was amazing the first time I heard it. The replay value on this one is not as great as some of the other songs in this list, but at the end of the day you have to hand it to Flux, he is a badman.
15. Breakage - Speechless feat. Donae’o (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Known around the world as a man who creates a subsonic,"talking to sealife" sound in his dubstep, Breakage is something else. Amazing replay value to almost every single one of his songs, and his album 'Foundation' is amongst the best of the year. These days I get very excited when I see a new Breakage tune hit the scene. His remix of Clare Maguire (downloadable in the honorable mention section below) was and still is amazing. The melody and richness of his bass combined with the excellent vocals from Donae'o make 'Speechless' one of this years best.
14. Von D, DJ Madd - U (Original Mix) BUY IT!
DJ Madd is counted among the more underrated producers of music that I can think of. His tracks don't usually get much a buzz on the blogs, and he is not known in every circle, but nevertheless, he is an amazing producer. 'U' he did with Von D, and it is reminiscent of the early days of dubstep, when not everything was not all about glitchy, hardcore bass. This one rolls off the ears beautifully, and is among the more critically acclaimed by people with a sharp palette for dubstep (present company included). Great vocal samples, pads and resonant bass to warm the soul with this one. An atmosphere track first, but still very playable in the club especially for opening acts.
13. Jupiter One - Find Me A Place (Rx Remix)
I have had the great pleasure of being in contact with the guys from Subdivision Bass this year. Among them are Flufftronix (responsible for the incredible Luvstep mixes), Naddi Boh Peep, and .rar Kelly. However, the artist I am blogging about today is Rx. Rx hails out of the great city of Pittsburgh, PA and has made one of the best remixes I may have ever heard with 'Find Me A Place' by Jupiter One. Another mellow track here, with great replay value, Rx puts great melody, onto a song that takes you to a place where water flows and 'the wind never blows.' One of those songs that grips you and takes you on a journey if you'll let it. Fantastic.
12. Nero - Innocence (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Nero shows us once again why they are among the best in the world when it comes to melodic progressions. 'Innocence' features the midrange heaviness that has become signature in their productions. Some people hate on it, saying it is formulaic, but I say that is tastefully done boasting a great drop at 1:22 that grips you like few other songs this year have. Something about the way all the elements of a Nero song come together to both drop hard AND create an excellent ambiance is just too much for words. Great song here, go buy it peeps!
11. Distance - Beyond (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Distance has long wowed me, being one of 3 dubstep artists that I liked back in 2007 (along with Riskotheque, and Chase & Status). Their new hit, 'Beyond' is next level. It's one of those songs that sends you through a journey of desolation and awe in a world ravaged by...nuclear holocaust? The rapture? ...Something... That's what I thought the first time I heard it, and apparently I was not alone. There is a little cult video flying around the dubstep forum called 'Beyond Terminator' taking the opening scene from the new Terminator movie and putting this song in over the footage to great effect (viewable here). Sporting a deep, subtle and heavy flavor, 'Beyond' is a great dub, and will go down as one of the best dubs from Distance ever, methinks.
10. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Dry Lunch Remix)
Many of you probably did not see this one coming, I know I asked, "Who the heck is Dry Lunch?" But whatever you have to say about it, this is one hell of a remix. Featured on Rubadubdubbb as one of their own remixes, I have no idea if this one will ever get an official release. In any case you can expect to hear excellent, melodic flavors lead to a drop of great mouth basses that I can't get enough of. We'll see what happens to Dry Lunch in the future, but in the mean time have yourselves a listen.
9. Ajapai, Last Japan - I Feel For You (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Last Japan and Ajapai are both among my favorite artists of 2010, when I first heard a snippet of this collaboration, I was instantly hooked. The snare is worthy of note, with a reverse kick going into the the hit that makes it quite massive. This is one of those songs that has so many different basslines that it boggles the mind. But instead of being overwhelming, like a lot of recent dubstep, it is tastefully done, maintaining its dignity as a banger that you want to hear over and over. When the bass drops at 0:55 you are treated to a feast of assorted basslines, some of which are quite unique, while others I've heard in Excision tracks and songs from Bassnectar. It makes you wonder if there's not a master preset pack that is shared amongst elitist dubstep producers around the world. Regardless, there is considerable original thought in this one, and it has to be included in this list.
8. Mensah - Big Up The Goons (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Mensah has exploded onto the scene with a Joker influenced sound to satisfy all your purple cravings. 'Big Up The Goons' is a new song off of his latest EP and is worth having a listen to. Great dark ambiance is prevalent in this one, even once the bass drops. Although it's short, it is very sweet. Mensah is proving himself as an artist to watch for in 2011. I can't get enough of his sound.
7. Miike Snow - Silvia (Emalkay Remix)
Emalkay is one of those producers that I kind of place on a pedestal. Although he is influenced by older versions of his genre (who isn't?), he is not afraid to take a new direction. Combine that with next level production skills, and what you get is a recipe for one of the most notorious artists in the scene. His song 'When I Look At You' was arguably the best dubstep song of 2009, and I always want more. However, he doesn't release very many tunes in a year (around 5-10). It seems he is much more concerned with quality over quantity, another reason to admire the man. His remix of 'Silvia' is amongst the most haunting and beautiful of the year. It's one of those that, once you start it, you have to quit everything else you're doing and just listen. A truly stunning remix, and one for the record books.
6. Joker, TC - It Ain't Got A Name (Original Mix)
Joker shows us once again why he's one of the best in the game with 'It Ain't Got A Name' (with TC). If you didn't know already, Joker is famous for a sound that totally revolutionized how people thought about dubstep in general. This sound is something that he called 'Purple,' the color that it evokes in your imagination while listening to his music. It is a soft synth, hardware stylized sound that is amongst the fullest and deepest of any I've ever heard in music. Period. 'It Ain't Got A Name' stays quite true to the purple sound with a fantastic little DJ intro that gets switched up into a great bassline at 0:27 and never lets go. Amazing to just listen to in your bedroom or to play in the club.
5. Doctor P - Badman Sound (Original Mix) BUY IT!
This year has been big for Doctor P, as he is arguably the most popular dubstep artist of the first half of this year. Released last January, the way in which this one drops is unbelievable. I don't know how he made the bass sound like a giant talking troll, but he does, and it is quite breakthrough, with no one even coming close to the amount of mouth noise in their bass to date.
4. Bassnectar - Magical World feat. Nelly Furtado (Original Mix)
One of the most beautiful songs of the year in any genre, not just dubstep this song has massive appeal for bassheads and pop music lovers alike. Nelly Furtado comes at us with a great vocal on top of the man who is undoubtedly one of the greatest forces in the bass universe. His name is Lorin Ashton and is more commonly known as Bassnectar. The first half of this year was so incredibly huge for him (with releases like 'Timestretch' and bootlegs like this) that this could be his year. He is selling out mid sized venues around the world now (1000-10,000) and brings it every time. His fan base (present company included) has become quite fanatical in their following of him, buying up tickets within minutes of their posting online for sale. Although, he came down in terms of quality a bit with the 'Wildstyle EP,' his greatness in the studio and charisma on stage has made a loyal fan out of me.
3. Lung - Afterlife (Kryptic Minds Remix) BUY IT!
Ten years since they formed, 2010 marks a turning point in the disturbed mental explorations of Kryptic Minds. Having built an enviable back catalogue of dark, deadly drum & bass, the production duo of Si & Leon aka Kryptic Minds have quickly established a foothold in the exploding global dubstep scene. They are highly respected for their deep sound that grips you somewhere deep in your soul and doesn't let go. Their remix of 'Afterlife' is a great example of this. The way in which the sub bass comes in with the other elements, including the haunting vocals gets me every time. This isn't the most enormous bassline put together this year, but it is still one of the best.
2. The Living Graham Bond - Winter Hunter feat. Fiona Bevan (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!
Bare Noize, known for his hard hitting style, mellows out a tad with what feels like a rock-gone-dubstep remix of The Living Graham Bond's 'Winter Hunter.' Even though it feels like the original might be a hard rock song, it is actually a bouncey, house track that reminds me of Calvin Harris. This puts into perspective the remix power that Bare Noize brings to bare here (no pun intended :P). The drum fills in this song in particular, are mind boggling, with a live drumming feel that has enormous complexity. The lyrics sound better sped up with this bassline, and this track sports a great interchangeability between the various elements. Why is this #2? Listen for yourself.
1. Breakage - Higher (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Now I know that this song is probably not everyone's first choice for dubstep song of the year. Furthermore, I AM aware that 'Higher' was released in limited vinyl at the end of 2009, but regardless you have to give it up to Breakage. This is one of those songs that grows on you the more you listen to it. It's a little bit of an acquired taste, more for those dubstep listeners that already have an advanced palette, but why should you admire this song? Great drum fills that overlay an amazing amount of heavy feeling ambiance that side-chain's with the kick and snare. Something that has not really been done before, at least not in the way Breakage has done it. I will say that it is pointless to listen to this song without a proper sub woofer or headphones. The subsonic frequencies is a lot of what makes this song stand out. You don't hear the bass so much as feel it, and I promise you that I am not alone in thinking that this is the best song of the year. Breakage is a true genius of bass.
Honorable Mentions - In no particular order:
- Rob Sparx - Arcade (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- James Blake - CMYK (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Yael Naim - Toxic (Britney Spears Cover) (16 Bit Dubstep Remix)
- Crystal Fighters - Swallow (Funtcase Remix) BUY IT!
- Noah D, Mensah - Kashmir (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Joker - Tron (VIP Mix) BUY IT!
- Ill & Natti - Get It On (Original Mix)
- Matt-U, DJ Madd - Running Man (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Dux - Pure Woman (Remix)
- Dansette Junior - Paranoid (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Timestretch (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me (Breakage Remix)
- Reso, Vent - Rumble (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Lastitude (Dillon Francis Remix)
- Subscape - Screw Up (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Rusko - Woo Boost (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Out For Blood feat. Omar Linx (Original Mix)
- Flux Pavilion - Got 2 Know (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Magnetic Man - Karma Crazy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Vaski - Hurricane (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Setspeed - Two Blocks Down (Original Mix)
- Sidney Samson - Riverside (Let's Go!) feat. Wizard Sleeve (Breakage Remix)
- Bassnectar - Underwater feat. Tina Malia (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Rudeboy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- The Widdler- Origin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Madd - Someone (Breakage Unspecified Remix) BUY IT!
- Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (High Rankin Remix)
- Callan Maart - Liquid Shards (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Graphics - I Need You VIP (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Lisa Gerrard - Now We Are Free (Enigma Remix)
- Jakes - Time Ends (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Addison Grooves - Footcrab (VIP Mix)
- Marco Del Horno, Swerve - Ho! Riddim (Swerve Remix) BUY IT!
- Clare Maguire - Ain't Nobody (Breakage Remix)
- Plan B - The Recluse (Nero Remix)
- Trolley Snatcha - SlowDown (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Portishead - Over (HABSTRAKT Dubstep Refix)
- Emalkay - Crusader (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Martyn - Hear Me (Zomby Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!
- Breakage - Justified feat. Erin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Blame - Star feat. Fuda Guy & Camilla Marie (Doctor P Remix) BUY IT!
- The Others - Gravity (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Sneak - Southern Boy (12th Planet & Flinch Remix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Wildstyle Method (Radio Edit)
- Chuck Fenda - Gwaan Plant (Brown and Gammon Refix)
- Polizei - Turn the Lights Down (Original Mix)
- Bassnectar - Massive Attack (Original Mix)
- Jeuce - Flavour (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!
This list is something that I started doing in January, 2010, and have continued until now. I'll probably do the same thing for 2011.
Things I have intentionally left out: Artists like Digital Mystics, Mount Kimbie, Ramadanman, and others that make a sort of easy listening, deeper vibes dubstep. I am not saying that I dislike or disrespect these artists in any way shape or form, they have set the stage for incredible rhythmic complexity and mood in the dubstep world, but I feel like they belong in a league of their own. I also feel that comparing them to the artists and songs listed in this post would be unfair and pointless. This list is geared towards the heavier side of dubstep. I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by my neglect of the missing artists/dubs listed above, as I have nothing but respect for those artists and what they are doing. Undoubtedly,dubstep is going through an identity crisis (and you can read what NPR has to say about it here).
Here is the criterion by which I have decided this years (and every years) best.
1. What does it bring to the genre as a whole? Does it utilize sounds that we've never heard before? How innovative is the song, does it spawn copy cats, or is it copying something already? (Admittedly, everything is copying everything else in electronic music, but there are new ideas that effectively get pushed and I'm looking for those).
2. Dancehall playability. How well does it stand up on a big system, and does it make people want to dance?
3. Bedroom playability. Is this a song that you would play in your house at a lower volume, and is it good for listening casually? Admittedly, dubstep is meant to be played loud with proper sub woofers to cover the low end, and not every dubstep artist sells out to the masses. Some of them are uncompromising in their production to the point where if you don't have proper listening equipment, you will not be getting more than 10-20% of the effect of the song. No Joke. But I still feel this should be weighed when measuring the overall worth of a song. I will let you guys know when a song in this list requires proper bass for listening.
Note: I weigh bedroom playability higher in the dubstep list than I do in the electro list.
If you think I missed something please let me know by commenting below. It's becoming harder and harder to stay up on everything with all the new talent that is constantly surfacing. However, I recommend you comment on this list only after you listen to each song with proper bass.
The Top 20 Dubstep Tracks for 2010:
20. Hadouken! - Oxygen (Gemini Remix) BUY IT!
Edging in at the back is probably my favorite of all the bleeps from the UKF Dubstep 2010 compilation. It's a remix of Hadouken's 'Oxygen' from Gemini. The original is a futuristic, cyberpunk-esque, indie, electronic little bleep that has quite a bit of attitude, and reminds me of The Prodigy, but the remix is otherworldly. Gemini will surely be one of the top breakthrough artists of 2011, with his Blue EP set for release in February. You can treat yourself to a little preview of it here. His style is next level, boasting a sound that has never quite been done before. I am quite excited to see what he has in store for us.
19. Skream - Where You Should Be feat. Sam Frank (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Skream is someone of note in the dubstep scene. Famous for his breakthrough remix of La Roux's 'In For The Kill,' and for being one third of the amazing Magnetic Man trio, 2010 has been a big year for Skream. He released his artist album, 'Outside The Box,' and gets massive respect in the electronic community in general, not just in dubstep. Probably my favorite song from the album is 'Where You Should Be' featuring Sam Frank, it is stunning in its beauty and complexity. He makes fantastic use of both the ethereal pads and the deep resonant bass prevalent in every one of his productions, not to mention the oscillating synth that reminds me of pixie dust glittering in the air. This one takes you on a journey to a fantasy land and still blows me away every time I hear it.
18. Bassnectar - Here We Go (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Although Bassnectar may not have finished the year as strong as he started it, he is still amongst the best producers of 2010 in my opinion. No one quite does bass like he does, and 'Here We Go' is a great example. When it drops at 1:27, you are treated to a feast for your ears! The layering he does of several different basses, along with a sizzle synth to fill in the upper frequencies, is unbelievable. If you ever get to see this man play live on a proper system you'll see just how amazing it really is. Unless you have a great home studio you will not be able to get the full effect of this one, and I highly recommend getting tickets to one of his shows. It will be worth every penny. "...champion song..."
17. Katy B, Benga - Katy On A Mission (Original Mix) BUY IT!
One person to emerge as a superstar of pop music is Katy B. What is her signature sound? Electronic, and specifically dubstep. Her lyrics are incredibly catchy and the beat underneath 'Katy On A Mission' is amazing too. Probably because it was done by Benga; one third of Magnetic Man, and one hell of a badman producer! Massive respect to this song for its rise in popularity. If I heard songs like this on the radio more often, I might actually listen to the radio on a regular basis.
16. Freestylers - Cracks feat. Belle Humble (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!
The Freestylers have had a big year with a lot of great remixes. Foremost among them is Flux Pavilion's remix of 'Cracks.' It features his signature deep resonant basslines under high synth leads that drop amazingly well in the club. Belle Humbe's lyrics fit like a glove with the instruments. It's quite a classical, symphony-like influenced song this one. I thought it was amazing the first time I heard it. The replay value on this one is not as great as some of the other songs in this list, but at the end of the day you have to hand it to Flux, he is a badman.
15. Breakage - Speechless feat. Donae’o (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Known around the world as a man who creates a subsonic,"talking to sealife" sound in his dubstep, Breakage is something else. Amazing replay value to almost every single one of his songs, and his album 'Foundation' is amongst the best of the year. These days I get very excited when I see a new Breakage tune hit the scene. His remix of Clare Maguire (downloadable in the honorable mention section below) was and still is amazing. The melody and richness of his bass combined with the excellent vocals from Donae'o make 'Speechless' one of this years best.
14. Von D, DJ Madd - U (Original Mix) BUY IT!
DJ Madd is counted among the more underrated producers of music that I can think of. His tracks don't usually get much a buzz on the blogs, and he is not known in every circle, but nevertheless, he is an amazing producer. 'U' he did with Von D, and it is reminiscent of the early days of dubstep, when not everything was not all about glitchy, hardcore bass. This one rolls off the ears beautifully, and is among the more critically acclaimed by people with a sharp palette for dubstep (present company included). Great vocal samples, pads and resonant bass to warm the soul with this one. An atmosphere track first, but still very playable in the club especially for opening acts.
13. Jupiter One - Find Me A Place (Rx Remix)
I have had the great pleasure of being in contact with the guys from Subdivision Bass this year. Among them are Flufftronix (responsible for the incredible Luvstep mixes), Naddi Boh Peep, and .rar Kelly. However, the artist I am blogging about today is Rx. Rx hails out of the great city of Pittsburgh, PA and has made one of the best remixes I may have ever heard with 'Find Me A Place' by Jupiter One. Another mellow track here, with great replay value, Rx puts great melody, onto a song that takes you to a place where water flows and 'the wind never blows.' One of those songs that grips you and takes you on a journey if you'll let it. Fantastic.
12. Nero - Innocence (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Nero shows us once again why they are among the best in the world when it comes to melodic progressions. 'Innocence' features the midrange heaviness that has become signature in their productions. Some people hate on it, saying it is formulaic, but I say that is tastefully done boasting a great drop at 1:22 that grips you like few other songs this year have. Something about the way all the elements of a Nero song come together to both drop hard AND create an excellent ambiance is just too much for words. Great song here, go buy it peeps!
11. Distance - Beyond (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Distance has long wowed me, being one of 3 dubstep artists that I liked back in 2007 (along with Riskotheque, and Chase & Status). Their new hit, 'Beyond' is next level. It's one of those songs that sends you through a journey of desolation and awe in a world ravaged by...nuclear holocaust? The rapture? ...Something... That's what I thought the first time I heard it, and apparently I was not alone. There is a little cult video flying around the dubstep forum called 'Beyond Terminator' taking the opening scene from the new Terminator movie and putting this song in over the footage to great effect (viewable here). Sporting a deep, subtle and heavy flavor, 'Beyond' is a great dub, and will go down as one of the best dubs from Distance ever, methinks.
10. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Dry Lunch Remix)
Many of you probably did not see this one coming, I know I asked, "Who the heck is Dry Lunch?" But whatever you have to say about it, this is one hell of a remix. Featured on Rubadubdubbb as one of their own remixes, I have no idea if this one will ever get an official release. In any case you can expect to hear excellent, melodic flavors lead to a drop of great mouth basses that I can't get enough of. We'll see what happens to Dry Lunch in the future, but in the mean time have yourselves a listen.
9. Ajapai, Last Japan - I Feel For You (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Last Japan and Ajapai are both among my favorite artists of 2010, when I first heard a snippet of this collaboration, I was instantly hooked. The snare is worthy of note, with a reverse kick going into the the hit that makes it quite massive. This is one of those songs that has so many different basslines that it boggles the mind. But instead of being overwhelming, like a lot of recent dubstep, it is tastefully done, maintaining its dignity as a banger that you want to hear over and over. When the bass drops at 0:55 you are treated to a feast of assorted basslines, some of which are quite unique, while others I've heard in Excision tracks and songs from Bassnectar. It makes you wonder if there's not a master preset pack that is shared amongst elitist dubstep producers around the world. Regardless, there is considerable original thought in this one, and it has to be included in this list.
8. Mensah - Big Up The Goons (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Mensah has exploded onto the scene with a Joker influenced sound to satisfy all your purple cravings. 'Big Up The Goons' is a new song off of his latest EP and is worth having a listen to. Great dark ambiance is prevalent in this one, even once the bass drops. Although it's short, it is very sweet. Mensah is proving himself as an artist to watch for in 2011. I can't get enough of his sound.
7. Miike Snow - Silvia (Emalkay Remix)
Emalkay is one of those producers that I kind of place on a pedestal. Although he is influenced by older versions of his genre (who isn't?), he is not afraid to take a new direction. Combine that with next level production skills, and what you get is a recipe for one of the most notorious artists in the scene. His song 'When I Look At You' was arguably the best dubstep song of 2009, and I always want more. However, he doesn't release very many tunes in a year (around 5-10). It seems he is much more concerned with quality over quantity, another reason to admire the man. His remix of 'Silvia' is amongst the most haunting and beautiful of the year. It's one of those that, once you start it, you have to quit everything else you're doing and just listen. A truly stunning remix, and one for the record books.
6. Joker, TC - It Ain't Got A Name (Original Mix)
Joker shows us once again why he's one of the best in the game with 'It Ain't Got A Name' (with TC). If you didn't know already, Joker is famous for a sound that totally revolutionized how people thought about dubstep in general. This sound is something that he called 'Purple,' the color that it evokes in your imagination while listening to his music. It is a soft synth, hardware stylized sound that is amongst the fullest and deepest of any I've ever heard in music. Period. 'It Ain't Got A Name' stays quite true to the purple sound with a fantastic little DJ intro that gets switched up into a great bassline at 0:27 and never lets go. Amazing to just listen to in your bedroom or to play in the club.
5. Doctor P - Badman Sound (Original Mix) BUY IT!
This year has been big for Doctor P, as he is arguably the most popular dubstep artist of the first half of this year. Released last January, the way in which this one drops is unbelievable. I don't know how he made the bass sound like a giant talking troll, but he does, and it is quite breakthrough, with no one even coming close to the amount of mouth noise in their bass to date.
4. Bassnectar - Magical World feat. Nelly Furtado (Original Mix)
One of the most beautiful songs of the year in any genre, not just dubstep this song has massive appeal for bassheads and pop music lovers alike. Nelly Furtado comes at us with a great vocal on top of the man who is undoubtedly one of the greatest forces in the bass universe. His name is Lorin Ashton and is more commonly known as Bassnectar. The first half of this year was so incredibly huge for him (with releases like 'Timestretch' and bootlegs like this) that this could be his year. He is selling out mid sized venues around the world now (1000-10,000) and brings it every time. His fan base (present company included) has become quite fanatical in their following of him, buying up tickets within minutes of their posting online for sale. Although, he came down in terms of quality a bit with the 'Wildstyle EP,' his greatness in the studio and charisma on stage has made a loyal fan out of me.
3. Lung - Afterlife (Kryptic Minds Remix) BUY IT!
Ten years since they formed, 2010 marks a turning point in the disturbed mental explorations of Kryptic Minds. Having built an enviable back catalogue of dark, deadly drum & bass, the production duo of Si & Leon aka Kryptic Minds have quickly established a foothold in the exploding global dubstep scene. They are highly respected for their deep sound that grips you somewhere deep in your soul and doesn't let go. Their remix of 'Afterlife' is a great example of this. The way in which the sub bass comes in with the other elements, including the haunting vocals gets me every time. This isn't the most enormous bassline put together this year, but it is still one of the best.
2. The Living Graham Bond - Winter Hunter feat. Fiona Bevan (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!
Bare Noize, known for his hard hitting style, mellows out a tad with what feels like a rock-gone-dubstep remix of The Living Graham Bond's 'Winter Hunter.' Even though it feels like the original might be a hard rock song, it is actually a bouncey, house track that reminds me of Calvin Harris. This puts into perspective the remix power that Bare Noize brings to bare here (no pun intended :P). The drum fills in this song in particular, are mind boggling, with a live drumming feel that has enormous complexity. The lyrics sound better sped up with this bassline, and this track sports a great interchangeability between the various elements. Why is this #2? Listen for yourself.
1. Breakage - Higher (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Now I know that this song is probably not everyone's first choice for dubstep song of the year. Furthermore, I AM aware that 'Higher' was released in limited vinyl at the end of 2009, but regardless you have to give it up to Breakage. This is one of those songs that grows on you the more you listen to it. It's a little bit of an acquired taste, more for those dubstep listeners that already have an advanced palette, but why should you admire this song? Great drum fills that overlay an amazing amount of heavy feeling ambiance that side-chain's with the kick and snare. Something that has not really been done before, at least not in the way Breakage has done it. I will say that it is pointless to listen to this song without a proper sub woofer or headphones. The subsonic frequencies is a lot of what makes this song stand out. You don't hear the bass so much as feel it, and I promise you that I am not alone in thinking that this is the best song of the year. Breakage is a true genius of bass.
Honorable Mentions - In no particular order:
- Rob Sparx - Arcade (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- James Blake - CMYK (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Yael Naim - Toxic (Britney Spears Cover) (16 Bit Dubstep Remix)
- Crystal Fighters - Swallow (Funtcase Remix) BUY IT!
- Noah D, Mensah - Kashmir (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Joker - Tron (VIP Mix) BUY IT!
- Ill & Natti - Get It On (Original Mix)
- Matt-U, DJ Madd - Running Man (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Dux - Pure Woman (Remix)
- Dansette Junior - Paranoid (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Timestretch (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me (Breakage Remix)
- Reso, Vent - Rumble (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Lastitude (Dillon Francis Remix)
- Subscape - Screw Up (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Rusko - Woo Boost (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Out For Blood feat. Omar Linx (Original Mix)
- Flux Pavilion - Got 2 Know (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Magnetic Man - Karma Crazy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Vaski - Hurricane (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Setspeed - Two Blocks Down (Original Mix)
- Sidney Samson - Riverside (Let's Go!) feat. Wizard Sleeve (Breakage Remix)
- Bassnectar - Underwater feat. Tina Malia (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Rudeboy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- The Widdler- Origin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Madd - Someone (Breakage Unspecified Remix) BUY IT!
- Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (High Rankin Remix)
- Callan Maart - Liquid Shards (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Graphics - I Need You VIP (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Lisa Gerrard - Now We Are Free (Enigma Remix)
- Jakes - Time Ends (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Addison Grooves - Footcrab (VIP Mix)
- Marco Del Horno, Swerve - Ho! Riddim (Swerve Remix) BUY IT!
- Clare Maguire - Ain't Nobody (Breakage Remix)
- Plan B - The Recluse (Nero Remix)
- Trolley Snatcha - SlowDown (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Portishead - Over (HABSTRAKT Dubstep Refix)
- Emalkay - Crusader (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Martyn - Hear Me (Zomby Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!
- Breakage - Justified feat. Erin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Blame - Star feat. Fuda Guy & Camilla Marie (Doctor P Remix) BUY IT!
- The Others - Gravity (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Sneak - Southern Boy (12th Planet & Flinch Remix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Wildstyle Method (Radio Edit)
- Chuck Fenda - Gwaan Plant (Brown and Gammon Refix)
- Polizei - Turn the Lights Down (Original Mix)
- Bassnectar - Massive Attack (Original Mix)
- Jeuce - Flavour (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Datagun + Utopia Park
Home boys Utopia Park (previously Porno Galactica) are known all over the USA for their high energy performances and feel good vibes in a post-punk, indie dance style music, and performance, that makes you want to jump. Today they switch up their style a bit with their latest remix of Datagun. Simultaneously fresh and familiar with quirks like a snare drum coming in on the 4, and tons of ethereal padded melodies floating around, this little bleep is worthy of note. Keep your eyes on Utopia Park by following them on soundcloud, and adding them on facebook.
Datagun - Volunteer Pioneer (Utopia Park's Bubble-Bath-of-Blood ReDrown) <3
New Ninetynine Bangers
Ninetynine, renowned in the underground electro scene for his nightmare-esque bangers, comes out with new things for all you thrash heads. Mr. Oizo is remixed in the first one here. It is one of the best remixes of his songs that I've ever heard. Heavy electro stabs, with epic pads overlaying this remix, which tastefully samples, and stays true to, the original. What you end up with is a banger that few have matched and probably none have surpassed, reminding me both of Boys Noize and Haezer.Mr. Oizo - Hun (Ninetynine Hertz Remix) <3<3
Next up is an official remix of Super Pixel!, another electro thrash band. They are signed to Digithype Records, and are doing a lot of damage. Ninetynine's remix is both epic and hardcore, as per usual. It is listenable in your home studio, and still has a flair that would do well in a club. Grab your copy right now.
Super Pixel! - Bangers (Ninetynine Nightmare 97 Remix)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Enigma Keeps Killin' It
Enigma, one of the UK's best kept secrets, continues to give away fantastic originals to all of his fans on his soundcloud page. The first is an amazing composition of liquid DnB perfection. It's something that you can lose yourself in, and I'm particularly loving the sub bass in this one.Enigma - The Shore (Original Mix) <3
Next up we go back to what Enigma is known best for; dubstep. I like the melody that starts things off right, until it drops into a grimey, dirty bassline that makes you feel like you're moving through sludge. Gotta love the effect it has on your body even if the drop doesn't make you excited. Impressive.
Enigma - Badness! (Original Mix)
Keep an eye out for his forthcoming album, 'Variationz.' Out soon on LU10 Records. Also, here are some previous goodies from Enigma, pick them up if you haven't already.
Introducting: Monty
Every once in a while, I'll stumble upon an artist that blows me away with their production. They won't be well known, and will usually not have very many views on their profiles, but their sound speaks for itself.Monty is one of those people. He produces a trance infused dubstep that grabs your attention, and has a production value that far exceeds what you would expect from an amateur. His sound builds like most trance songs, to a climax that makes you pumped up and wanting to get up and shake it. Download a giveaway, and have a look at his latest and greatest. Be sure to follow the guy on soundcloud.
Monty - State of Trance (Dubstep Mix)
Comic Strips Is Back!
You might remember Comic Strips as an interesting mashup artist that takes some of the best from the pop world, and the underground, and puts them together. Well, all things must change. Not the least of which is Comic Strips' sound, which has become HEAVY!This guy now produces electro-thrash to rival Haezer, F.O.O.L and some of the other greats. Although he still has a flair for vocal samples (most or all are now recorded), the difference is clear, and his production level has gone way up. It has been a pleasure watching him grow. Whether you like rocking out the latest electro in your bedroom, or dropping it to screaming people in the club, Comic Strips is someone to keep your eye on. Follow him on facebook and soundcloud, and download his most recent EP for free!
Comic Strips - Buck Naked In the Club (Original Mix)
Comic Strips - Buck Naked In the Club (The Mass Brothers Remix)
Comic Strips - Ghost Troubles (Original Mix) <3
Some electro remixes:
Congorock - Babylon (Comic Strips Remix) <3
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Top 20 Electro 2010
Not sure what happened, but somehow the original post got deleted. So here it is again.
As 2010 comes to a close, there is a lot of excitement for the future. Dance music is bigger and better than ever, and 2011 will be a BIG year, mark my words. However, this post is all about looking back on the previous year and appreciating what was, for in looking back, we may be able to glimpse the shape of things to come.
This list is something that I started doing in January, 2010, and have continued until now. I'll probably do the same thing for 2011.
If you think I missed something please let me know by commenting below. It's becoming harder and harder to stay up on everything with all the new talent that is constantly surfacing.
Here is the criterion by which I have decided this years (and every years) best.
1. What does it bring to the genre as a whole? Does it utilize sounds that we've never heard before? How innovative is the song, does it spawn copy cats, or is it copying something already? (Admittedly, everything is copying everything else in dance music, but there are new ideas that effectively get pushed and I'm looking for those).
2. Dancehall playability. How well does it stand up on a big system, and does it make people want to dance? At the end of the day, that's what dance music is all about.
3. Bedroom playability. Is this a song that you would play in your house at a lower volume, and is it good for listening casually? I admit that dance music is meant to be played loud with lots of bass, but properly recorded songs will be able to stand up both in the club and be listenable in your headphones. I don't weigh this one as heavily as I do the other two, but if a song has both, they get pushed farther up this list.
Okay enough talk, let's get to it.
The Top 20 Electro Tracks for 2010:
20. Afrojack, Gregor Salto - I'll Be There feat. Jimbolee (Main Mix) BUY IT!
Been way into Afrojack for several years now, he has proved himself as one HELL of a producer, pushing the envelope on the funky, dutchy, electro house sound, but for a while I felt that 'I'll Be There' was a blatant rip off of 'Pon de Floor' by Major Lazer, until I found out that Afrojack was the one that ghost produced 'Pon de Floor' in the first place. So then I felt better about it. Unfortunately, one of the criteria upon which I grade things is what it brings to the scene as a whole, and the feel you get from this bleep has been done before, but it's still very good, so I'll include it at #20.
19. We Are Tokyo - Best In Me (Ninetynine's Nightmare Remix)
Whether this is an official remix for We Are Tokyo or not, I don't know. What I do know is that Ninetynine produces a special brand of nightmarish electro that simply cannot be ignored. A lot of his remixes and originals have a 'rock band' feel to them, like they are covers of songs that he wrote for his band back in ('99) the 90's. In any case, this guy has continued to impress me over the last year, and deserves a spot here in the top 20. Check out his soundcloud, as he usually gives away everything he makes for free.
18. The Soulbrothers - 21st Century Disco Shit (Miles Dyson Remix) BUY IT!
A lot of things have changed this year in the electro world, however one of them is NOT Miles Dyson. The guy continues to put out a special brand of moogish electro that will captivate almost any dancefloor and this remix is no exception. At the drop at 1:40, we are transported from 80's funk into the future of dance with an explosion that both makes you want to shake it and scream out loud at the sheer intensity and diversity of it. You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into switching up and changing the rhythm in each beat. One hell of a remix and worthy of every DJs library. Thanks for keeping it real Miles.
17. Haezer - WTFIH (Cyberpunkers Remix) (Tomlinson Edit)
The sound hitting your ears in this little bleep is the culmination of a lot of work from many different artists around the world. The first one would be Haezer, famous for creating his own brand of electro, and spawning countless copycats, prodigy's, and protege's. The second would be the Cyberpunkers, who have consistently been churning out tunes that have their own particular brand of mouth-bass electro, and finally comes Ben Tomlinson, famous for his excellent brand of not-so-mainstream mash-ups and edits. All together you get hard hitting electrobasslines, with funky breakdowns for massive effect. Best keep your eyes on each one of these artists, if they keep it up, the only place they are moving is up.
16. Kid Cola - Kappa Kappa (Last Japan Remix) BUY IT!
Last Japan is one of a number of young producers that are making a BIG buzz in the dance music world. It seems that the veterans have paved the way for youngsters to step in, as it so often happens. Last Japan in particular brings a flavor of electro that I just can't seem to get enough of. His remix of Kid Cola's 'Kappa Kappa' is a good example of what he's capable of, utilizing the wobble bass to massive effect in this Jungle meets funky electro breakthrough remix.
15. Feed Me, Kill The Noise - Muscle Rollers (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Feed Me was an artist that I almost forgot about. They were making a mild buzz on the blog scene in 2008 with their release of, 'The Spell/Raw Chicken' but their hype never made it back. They have come back in a big way however, with their HUGE release of 'Feed Me's Great Adventure.' A lot of well crafted little bleeps on this one, but the 4th song is the one I want to talk about; it's a collaboration with Kill The Noise. The song starts off with an almost Fake Blood type feel, which was quite popular in 2008, but when it drops it's all 2010 baby! We get hit hard with a number of heavy hitting synths that will electrify big crowds. It's one of those "OMG I can't believe what I'm hearing" drops, and it is done quite well. In addition, there are an enormous number of other elements going on in the background that puts this one ahead of any 2010 songs from Skrillex (in this bloggers humble opinion), and therefore has great replay value. One synth in particular reminds me of a someone like Kirk Hammett from Metallica going bonkers on his guitar with 8 fingers. Impressive song any way you put it.
14. Noisia - Machine Gun (DJ Edit) BUY IT!
Noisia, previously way into the DnB and Breaks scene, released quite a stunning album artist album called 'Split The Atom' earlier this year. One of the forerunners that sticks out the most on the album is 'Machine Gun.' This little bleep packs a heavy bass that would usually belong in the Dubstep/DnB scene, but is used here in what is a absolutely MASSIVE electro house rendition. Percussion trudges on like a freight train until the tempo switches up into...what is that triplets? No they're going from electro house into DnB??? No, it was all a front they're back to electro House. The heavy bass in this one is a signature sound that is present in their production in general, and it's heavy! Believe you me, 'Machine Gun' will not soon be forgotten.
13. Deadmau5 - Cthulu Sleeps (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Admittedly, although DJ Mag says that Deadmau5 is bigger and better than ever, a lot his recent tracks are not as breathtaking as they once were. Not to hate on the man, but he has set a very high bar for himself with his production, and several of his tracks aren't resonating with me like his older ones did (half of his recent album was throwbacks to things he's already made/released). But I still have to give him credit for constantly pushing the envelope in house, making things that no one else would even really think of. 'Cthulu Sleeps' is a fine example of his. The hard hitting electro synth almost reminds me of tentacles wiggling in the air, and that fades out into another one of his amazing melodic breakdowns that he has become famous for. Interweaved in it all is what appears to be desynchronized overlay synth that is constantly going in and out of beat and up and down in pitch. I could say a lot more about this one, but have yourself a listen if you haven't already. Fill in the blanks in the comments below.
12. Plump DJs - Light Fantastic (Original Mix) BUY IT!
The Plump DJs have been wowing me for years now. It seems in every release they do, they have something that you could call extraordinary, something that is above and beyond the call of a musical producer in this world. They've recently switched up their style from strictly Breaks to something that is more fluid, amorphous and harder to classify. I want to call it House, but it still maintains its breakbeat feel, so I'll just call it electro. One hell of a release here in 'Light Fantastic' that came only in the last few weeks, but stands up to anything I've heard for the whole year.
11. Wolfgang Gartner - Undertaker (Original Mix) BUY IT!
I've called him the King, and I still stand by that. 'Undertaker' is a true spectacle to behold, and a pioneer of that resonate, hard-hitting, dance music we call electro house. It is another amazing release from the man who seems to pour 10 songs worth of work into a single track. A true force to be reckoned with, Wolfgang Gartner will go down as one of the premiere artists of our time. Glitched out, harmonized, signature electro sounds fill your eardrums and make you want to slam that dancefloor like almost nothing else does. The only reason this one isn't higher up on the list is because I feel it more or less copies what Deadmau5 did with 'Ghosts 'N' Stuff.' An amazing production though regardless and totally worthy of this list.
10. Drop The Lime - Sex Sax (Bart B More Remix) BUY IT!
A lot of things come to mind when thinking of this little bleep. One, that Drop The Lime is one hell of an innovator, bringing in an old school Chicago House feel with 'Sex Sax.' Another is that Bart B More is one funky ass mofo. This song boasts what is probably my all time favorite DJ intro for any track ever. Something about the broken up beat of the drums just makes me (and every dancefloor I've ever dropped this on) want to DANCE. I can't get enough of this one, and it all seems to meld together to form something that is greater than the sum of its parts. The playability of this one is astonishing.
9. Erol Alkan, Boys Noize - Lemonade (Original Mix) BUY IT!
This one will be in every electro blogs top list for the year. What else is there to say about the flawlessness of some of the productions that Boys Noize churns out that hasn't already been said? There's definitely something about this one in particular that shines and will turn heads whenever you put it on, though. Steve Aoki dropped this at 4pm (early on) at Ultra 2010, and his crowd grew from 500 to several thousand by the end of it. That magnetic mix of almost inconceivable noise that is so well produced it blends in with the melody of the bassline and leads, is a trademark of Boys Noize, and let's not forget Erol Alkan's involvement in this one, as he is a genius in a league his own as well. It has an almost mellow feel when played at low volume, and is a huge pickmeup to a crowd when blared out on a proper system. Big ups!
8. F.O.O.L - Berserkergang feat. A Girl And A Gun (Owl Vision Remix) BUY IT!
F.O.O.L's story is one that I've been following before they even had 5,000 views on their myspace, and before they were signed at all. They churn out new tracks like nobodies business, and each one seems more radiant than the last. Owl Vision is on the remix of this one, a group that is climbing to new heights with (or possibly because of) F.O.O.L, and have done quite a number on the original, making me think of a Metallica and Justice as influences in the style and tone of the remix. It's hard to talk about the electro scene in 2010 without mentioning F.O.O.L, and I have high hopes for them in the future. We'll see what happens, and remember, THEY AREN'T FRENCH!
7. Danger - 4h30 (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Danger continues his streak of dark, subtle and mystifying French electro that makes you wonder if he doesn't have a grand scheme for an epic tale in the works. His particular brand of old snes enfused electro has lost little to none of its flair with '9/17/2007,' his newest EP. '4h30' is by far my favorite of the bunch sending you on another journey through his world. There is a lot of mystery around his EP and track names, take the intro teaser line to the EP released on his youtube channel earlier this year.
"On the third day, the first would die so the second would be freed..."
I guess we'll just wait and see what he will do with all of this interesting info, but in the mean time we'll enjoy his music.
6. Kill The Noise - Jokes On You (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Kill The Noise has been on the scene for a long time, quietly creating that brand of electro that is best played VERY loud. You know what I'm talking about. This year their only official release was the Roots EP, but they made up for quantity with quality. The drop from arguably the best bleep of the EP ('Jokes On You') comes out of left field after the first minute. You're not quite sure how it's possible to produce what you're hearing when it drops, but you know that you want to put your hands up and unintelligibly shout out your feeling of boundless joy that wells up within you at the sheer ecstasy of it all. Even today, now that I know what's coming, I still get excited at the drop that boasts the use of 808 kicks and one hell of a heavy synth that seems to be both bassline and lead. In New York City they use a word that is appropriate here, "Fahgettabautit."
5. Boemklatsch - One More Day feat. Mike Lord (Original Mix)
I freaked out the first time I heard a teaser for this one, something I do less and less these days with the sheer volume of music I listen to. Boemklatsch has seemingly come out of nowhere to rise up to the same level as any name in the industry today. They have an exquisite production style that pushes their musical genre in new directions, a style that pushes the envelope on what's possible. 'One More Day' is, in my mind, the penultimate example of their style to date that boasts both ambiantic, melodic leads, with a dirty, dirty bassline that I have trouble getting out of my head. The track itself is on their album 'Spontaneous Combustion' which I believe is only out on limited CD at this point. However, it was also released as a single with amazing remixes from the likes of High Rankin, Peacetreaty, and Rip TidE, among others (get 'em all here!). One for the record books here, and I know this for certain; Boemklatsch is here to stay.
It's been quite a year for Noisia. They've always had a bass heavy flair to their beats, so now that that sound is in, it stands to reason that Noisia should get a big boost in terms of popularity. Regardless, their song 'Alpha Centauri' is in a league of its own. Apart from perhaps anything I've listened to this year. Bladerunner-esque, 80's style ambiance transitions into what is one of the craziest drops I've ever heard. You can tell meticulous detail and planning was put into each part of this one, and I feel it is sort of the penultimate culmination of Noisia's sound. Their signature heavy bassline, wobbles, oscillates, changes pitch and tempo, and blows your mind while the percussion goes on and on. When we look back at some of the best bleeps of this era, we will undoubtedly see 'Alpha Centauri' forefront amongst them all.
1. A1 Bassline - Breathless (Original Mix) BUY IT!
A1 Bassline has always been a curious artist to me. I have nothing but respect for the man, and good things to say, more or less. He doesn't seem to follow (electro underground) pop culture trends hardly at all, and seems to make music in whatever way he sees fit. It is artists like him that are truly pushing dance music to new and greater heights. While some of his bleeps can be hit-or-miss, when he's on, he's ON! 'Breathless' is one of the greatest examples of an 'on' production from him in my humble opinion. The intensity of the drop is complimented quite well by melodic leads and funky old school-esque percussion. He is one of the first instigators of the wobble bass in house music, and he uses it here with such precision and flair as to boggle the mind. "Let the music take control" is the vocal sample he uses, and boy does it. Every single time I've ever dropped this one, I've got an amazing response this year, and I will always have it on hand. It is one of those timeless little bleeps that I imagine will keep getting replayed as the years go by. I think the top 2 of this year was a toss up, but A1 Bassline just edges in with the universal appeal of this one. FOR GODS SAKE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ONE GET IT NOW!
Honorable mentions, in no particular order (and I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out here...):
- Crystal Castles - Celestica (Clockwork Remix)
- Drop The Lime - Devil's Eyes (Foamo Remix)
- BetaTraxx - Mafiosa (Original Mix)
- Bird Peterson - Actin' Up At Zenobias (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Redial - Let Me Go (Vengeance Remix)
- Sandro Silva, Anjiro Rijo - Fifty What (Dem Slackers Remix)
- Dem Slackers - Let's Go (Bart B More 'Lesssgo' Remix) BUY IT!
- Crookers, Roisin Murphy - Royal T (Foamo Remix) BUY IT!
- Dillon Francis, DJ Ammo - Westside (Original Mix)
- Toddla T - Sky Surfing feat. Wayne Marshall (Douster Remix) BUY IT!
- Joe and Will Ask - Rainbow Trout (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Costello - Girls Speak Louder - Donique Remix (Miles Dyson's Breaksfest Perth Edit) BUY IT!
- Voodoo Chilli - Ya Dance So Sexy Baby (Original Mix)
- Wolfgang Gartner - Illmerica (Extended Mix) BUY IT!
- Feed Me - Green Bottle (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Feed Me - White Spirit (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Depuis91 - Erothiq (VNNR Shake The Room Remix) BUY IT!
- Shinichi Osawa - EEAA (Mustard Pimp Remix)
- Coin Operated Boy - Katzenjammer (Decibel RSPCA Remix) BUY IT!
- The Brockout - Shake Down (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Fauna - Gauchito Gil (Douster Remix) BUY IT!
- Warrior One - Bad Like Jimmy Cliff (Original Mix)
- Dada Life - Unleash The Fucking Dada (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Sidney Samson - Riverside (Peo de Pitte Rerub)
- Bénny Bénαssï, Thé Bïz – Satïsfαctïōn (Άfrōjαck Remix)
- DJ Zinc - Nexx (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- G Star, Last Japan, 321 - Big Man (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Freefire - Dataloss (Darth & Vader Remix) BUY IT!
- Drivepilot - Fuck Yeah! (F.O.O.L Remix)
- LCD Sōũndsystém - Yoũ Wαntéd α Hit (Sōũlwαx Remix)
- Chanty Poe - YesNoMaybe (Neo Tokyo Remix)
- Boys Noize - Yeah (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- F.O.O.L - To Japan And Never Back (Original Mix)
- Neo Tokyo - Laser Laser (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Aaron Sen - Apes From Space (Dirtyloud Remix) BUY IT!
- Mol, SQL - Frogs And Toads (Miles Dyson Breakfest Makeover) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Here Comes The Boom (Original Mix)
- Indiekid - Electric Symphony (Part I)
- Mujava - Mugwanti (R3hab Remix) BUY IT!
- Earl Black - F Pills (Urchins Remix)
- Chase & Status - Let You Go (Original Mix) BUY IT!
As 2010 comes to a close, there is a lot of excitement for the future. Dance music is bigger and better than ever, and 2011 will be a BIG year, mark my words. However, this post is all about looking back on the previous year and appreciating what was, for in looking back, we may be able to glimpse the shape of things to come.
This list is something that I started doing in January, 2010, and have continued until now. I'll probably do the same thing for 2011.
If you think I missed something please let me know by commenting below. It's becoming harder and harder to stay up on everything with all the new talent that is constantly surfacing.
Here is the criterion by which I have decided this years (and every years) best.
1. What does it bring to the genre as a whole? Does it utilize sounds that we've never heard before? How innovative is the song, does it spawn copy cats, or is it copying something already? (Admittedly, everything is copying everything else in dance music, but there are new ideas that effectively get pushed and I'm looking for those).
2. Dancehall playability. How well does it stand up on a big system, and does it make people want to dance? At the end of the day, that's what dance music is all about.
3. Bedroom playability. Is this a song that you would play in your house at a lower volume, and is it good for listening casually? I admit that dance music is meant to be played loud with lots of bass, but properly recorded songs will be able to stand up both in the club and be listenable in your headphones. I don't weigh this one as heavily as I do the other two, but if a song has both, they get pushed farther up this list.
Okay enough talk, let's get to it.
The Top 20 Electro Tracks for 2010:
20. Afrojack, Gregor Salto - I'll Be There feat. Jimbolee (Main Mix) BUY IT!
Been way into Afrojack for several years now, he has proved himself as one HELL of a producer, pushing the envelope on the funky, dutchy, electro house sound, but for a while I felt that 'I'll Be There' was a blatant rip off of 'Pon de Floor' by Major Lazer, until I found out that Afrojack was the one that ghost produced 'Pon de Floor' in the first place. So then I felt better about it. Unfortunately, one of the criteria upon which I grade things is what it brings to the scene as a whole, and the feel you get from this bleep has been done before, but it's still very good, so I'll include it at #20.
19. We Are Tokyo - Best In Me (Ninetynine's Nightmare Remix)
Whether this is an official remix for We Are Tokyo or not, I don't know. What I do know is that Ninetynine produces a special brand of nightmarish electro that simply cannot be ignored. A lot of his remixes and originals have a 'rock band' feel to them, like they are covers of songs that he wrote for his band back in ('99) the 90's. In any case, this guy has continued to impress me over the last year, and deserves a spot here in the top 20. Check out his soundcloud, as he usually gives away everything he makes for free.
18. The Soulbrothers - 21st Century Disco Shit (Miles Dyson Remix) BUY IT!
A lot of things have changed this year in the electro world, however one of them is NOT Miles Dyson. The guy continues to put out a special brand of moogish electro that will captivate almost any dancefloor and this remix is no exception. At the drop at 1:40, we are transported from 80's funk into the future of dance with an explosion that both makes you want to shake it and scream out loud at the sheer intensity and diversity of it. You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into switching up and changing the rhythm in each beat. One hell of a remix and worthy of every DJs library. Thanks for keeping it real Miles.
17. Haezer - WTFIH (Cyberpunkers Remix) (Tomlinson Edit)
The sound hitting your ears in this little bleep is the culmination of a lot of work from many different artists around the world. The first one would be Haezer, famous for creating his own brand of electro, and spawning countless copycats, prodigy's, and protege's. The second would be the Cyberpunkers, who have consistently been churning out tunes that have their own particular brand of mouth-bass electro, and finally comes Ben Tomlinson, famous for his excellent brand of not-so-mainstream mash-ups and edits. All together you get hard hitting electrobasslines, with funky breakdowns for massive effect. Best keep your eyes on each one of these artists, if they keep it up, the only place they are moving is up.
16. Kid Cola - Kappa Kappa (Last Japan Remix) BUY IT!
Last Japan is one of a number of young producers that are making a BIG buzz in the dance music world. It seems that the veterans have paved the way for youngsters to step in, as it so often happens. Last Japan in particular brings a flavor of electro that I just can't seem to get enough of. His remix of Kid Cola's 'Kappa Kappa' is a good example of what he's capable of, utilizing the wobble bass to massive effect in this Jungle meets funky electro breakthrough remix.
15. Feed Me, Kill The Noise - Muscle Rollers (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Feed Me was an artist that I almost forgot about. They were making a mild buzz on the blog scene in 2008 with their release of, 'The Spell/Raw Chicken' but their hype never made it back. They have come back in a big way however, with their HUGE release of 'Feed Me's Great Adventure.' A lot of well crafted little bleeps on this one, but the 4th song is the one I want to talk about; it's a collaboration with Kill The Noise. The song starts off with an almost Fake Blood type feel, which was quite popular in 2008, but when it drops it's all 2010 baby! We get hit hard with a number of heavy hitting synths that will electrify big crowds. It's one of those "OMG I can't believe what I'm hearing" drops, and it is done quite well. In addition, there are an enormous number of other elements going on in the background that puts this one ahead of any 2010 songs from Skrillex (in this bloggers humble opinion), and therefore has great replay value. One synth in particular reminds me of a someone like Kirk Hammett from Metallica going bonkers on his guitar with 8 fingers. Impressive song any way you put it.
14. Noisia - Machine Gun (DJ Edit) BUY IT!
Noisia, previously way into the DnB and Breaks scene, released quite a stunning album artist album called 'Split The Atom' earlier this year. One of the forerunners that sticks out the most on the album is 'Machine Gun.' This little bleep packs a heavy bass that would usually belong in the Dubstep/DnB scene, but is used here in what is a absolutely MASSIVE electro house rendition. Percussion trudges on like a freight train until the tempo switches up into...what is that triplets? No they're going from electro house into DnB??? No, it was all a front they're back to electro House. The heavy bass in this one is a signature sound that is present in their production in general, and it's heavy! Believe you me, 'Machine Gun' will not soon be forgotten.
13. Deadmau5 - Cthulu Sleeps (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Admittedly, although DJ Mag says that Deadmau5 is bigger and better than ever, a lot his recent tracks are not as breathtaking as they once were. Not to hate on the man, but he has set a very high bar for himself with his production, and several of his tracks aren't resonating with me like his older ones did (half of his recent album was throwbacks to things he's already made/released). But I still have to give him credit for constantly pushing the envelope in house, making things that no one else would even really think of. 'Cthulu Sleeps' is a fine example of his. The hard hitting electro synth almost reminds me of tentacles wiggling in the air, and that fades out into another one of his amazing melodic breakdowns that he has become famous for. Interweaved in it all is what appears to be desynchronized overlay synth that is constantly going in and out of beat and up and down in pitch. I could say a lot more about this one, but have yourself a listen if you haven't already. Fill in the blanks in the comments below.
12. Plump DJs - Light Fantastic (Original Mix) BUY IT!
The Plump DJs have been wowing me for years now. It seems in every release they do, they have something that you could call extraordinary, something that is above and beyond the call of a musical producer in this world. They've recently switched up their style from strictly Breaks to something that is more fluid, amorphous and harder to classify. I want to call it House, but it still maintains its breakbeat feel, so I'll just call it electro. One hell of a release here in 'Light Fantastic' that came only in the last few weeks, but stands up to anything I've heard for the whole year.
11. Wolfgang Gartner - Undertaker (Original Mix) BUY IT!
I've called him the King, and I still stand by that. 'Undertaker' is a true spectacle to behold, and a pioneer of that resonate, hard-hitting, dance music we call electro house. It is another amazing release from the man who seems to pour 10 songs worth of work into a single track. A true force to be reckoned with, Wolfgang Gartner will go down as one of the premiere artists of our time. Glitched out, harmonized, signature electro sounds fill your eardrums and make you want to slam that dancefloor like almost nothing else does. The only reason this one isn't higher up on the list is because I feel it more or less copies what Deadmau5 did with 'Ghosts 'N' Stuff.' An amazing production though regardless and totally worthy of this list.
10. Drop The Lime - Sex Sax (Bart B More Remix) BUY IT!
A lot of things come to mind when thinking of this little bleep. One, that Drop The Lime is one hell of an innovator, bringing in an old school Chicago House feel with 'Sex Sax.' Another is that Bart B More is one funky ass mofo. This song boasts what is probably my all time favorite DJ intro for any track ever. Something about the broken up beat of the drums just makes me (and every dancefloor I've ever dropped this on) want to DANCE. I can't get enough of this one, and it all seems to meld together to form something that is greater than the sum of its parts. The playability of this one is astonishing.
9. Erol Alkan, Boys Noize - Lemonade (Original Mix) BUY IT!
This one will be in every electro blogs top list for the year. What else is there to say about the flawlessness of some of the productions that Boys Noize churns out that hasn't already been said? There's definitely something about this one in particular that shines and will turn heads whenever you put it on, though. Steve Aoki dropped this at 4pm (early on) at Ultra 2010, and his crowd grew from 500 to several thousand by the end of it. That magnetic mix of almost inconceivable noise that is so well produced it blends in with the melody of the bassline and leads, is a trademark of Boys Noize, and let's not forget Erol Alkan's involvement in this one, as he is a genius in a league his own as well. It has an almost mellow feel when played at low volume, and is a huge pickmeup to a crowd when blared out on a proper system. Big ups!
8. F.O.O.L - Berserkergang feat. A Girl And A Gun (Owl Vision Remix) BUY IT!
F.O.O.L's story is one that I've been following before they even had 5,000 views on their myspace, and before they were signed at all. They churn out new tracks like nobodies business, and each one seems more radiant than the last. Owl Vision is on the remix of this one, a group that is climbing to new heights with (or possibly because of) F.O.O.L, and have done quite a number on the original, making me think of a Metallica and Justice as influences in the style and tone of the remix. It's hard to talk about the electro scene in 2010 without mentioning F.O.O.L, and I have high hopes for them in the future. We'll see what happens, and remember, THEY AREN'T FRENCH!
7. Danger - 4h30 (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Danger continues his streak of dark, subtle and mystifying French electro that makes you wonder if he doesn't have a grand scheme for an epic tale in the works. His particular brand of old snes enfused electro has lost little to none of its flair with '9/17/2007,' his newest EP. '4h30' is by far my favorite of the bunch sending you on another journey through his world. There is a lot of mystery around his EP and track names, take the intro teaser line to the EP released on his youtube channel earlier this year.
"On the third day, the first would die so the second would be freed..."
I guess we'll just wait and see what he will do with all of this interesting info, but in the mean time we'll enjoy his music.
6. Kill The Noise - Jokes On You (Original Mix) BUY IT!
Kill The Noise has been on the scene for a long time, quietly creating that brand of electro that is best played VERY loud. You know what I'm talking about. This year their only official release was the Roots EP, but they made up for quantity with quality. The drop from arguably the best bleep of the EP ('Jokes On You') comes out of left field after the first minute. You're not quite sure how it's possible to produce what you're hearing when it drops, but you know that you want to put your hands up and unintelligibly shout out your feeling of boundless joy that wells up within you at the sheer ecstasy of it all. Even today, now that I know what's coming, I still get excited at the drop that boasts the use of 808 kicks and one hell of a heavy synth that seems to be both bassline and lead. In New York City they use a word that is appropriate here, "Fahgettabautit."
5. Boemklatsch - One More Day feat. Mike Lord (Original Mix)
I freaked out the first time I heard a teaser for this one, something I do less and less these days with the sheer volume of music I listen to. Boemklatsch has seemingly come out of nowhere to rise up to the same level as any name in the industry today. They have an exquisite production style that pushes their musical genre in new directions, a style that pushes the envelope on what's possible. 'One More Day' is, in my mind, the penultimate example of their style to date that boasts both ambiantic, melodic leads, with a dirty, dirty bassline that I have trouble getting out of my head. The track itself is on their album 'Spontaneous Combustion' which I believe is only out on limited CD at this point. However, it was also released as a single with amazing remixes from the likes of High Rankin, Peacetreaty, and Rip TidE, among others (get 'em all here!). One for the record books here, and I know this for certain; Boemklatsch is here to stay.
Also, big ups to Boemklatsch Records for giving me permission to post a free 320 to this amazing song! Get it by clicking the link above!
4. Congorock - Babylon (Dub Mix)
Among the artists to rear their heads and make a ruckus in the scene of 2010 from seemingly nowhere, Congorock stands out in front of almost all of them. All of the sudden, 'Babylon' was released to the blogs, and everyone wanted to do a post on it. It's one of those bleeps that both hits hard the first time you play it, and grows on you the more you listen to it. It also boasts some great drumfills and fun, happy non-melodic sounds that you will only see in Congorock productions. They have propelled themselves to great success with this bleep, and have since gone on to do an official remix for the Swedish House Mafia (viewable here). Also be sure to check out my post on the Urchins remix and my post on the Peo de Pitte remix of this track. Both are great versions of the song that keep the heart of the original but still have a lot of originality thrown into them.
3. The Squatters - On Fire (Original Mix)
Here once again, we have ANOTHER 2010 breakthrough artist. I should probably make a top list of breakthrough artists for the year, but this one is the last on the list here, and there is a reason I put this one at #3. The Squatters have a particular brand of brilliance in their productions, both making music that is popular in the scene and adding a unique flair to it all that I can only call 'funky-ass-shiiiiiiiiiiit!' 'On Fire' is probably one of my favorites of theirs to date, it delivers a synth that we should recognize as sampled from the popular Laidback Luke/Steve Angello track from 2008, 'Show Me Love.' Except they do something with it that I don't think anyone had really thought of doing (EDIT: Actually that last statement is wrong, you can check out Afrojack's remix of 'Show Me Love' here, and there is a similar thing going on). Included in the drop of 'On Fire' is a funky little vocal chop, which impressively transitions into full fledged Dutch House. Almost every single time I've dropped this one, I've had someone come up to me and ask me what it is I'm playing. As far as the future is concerned, you can expect to see next level things from The Squatters as soon as they can release them. Check out their mix for Kissy Sell Out for a little preview :). Pay special attention to the last song of the mix...best electro of 2011 candidate? I think so.
2. Noisia - Alpha Centauri (Original Mix) BUY IT!
4. Congorock - Babylon (Dub Mix)
Among the artists to rear their heads and make a ruckus in the scene of 2010 from seemingly nowhere, Congorock stands out in front of almost all of them. All of the sudden, 'Babylon' was released to the blogs, and everyone wanted to do a post on it. It's one of those bleeps that both hits hard the first time you play it, and grows on you the more you listen to it. It also boasts some great drumfills and fun, happy non-melodic sounds that you will only see in Congorock productions. They have propelled themselves to great success with this bleep, and have since gone on to do an official remix for the Swedish House Mafia (viewable here). Also be sure to check out my post on the Urchins remix and my post on the Peo de Pitte remix of this track. Both are great versions of the song that keep the heart of the original but still have a lot of originality thrown into them.
3. The Squatters - On Fire (Original Mix)
Here once again, we have ANOTHER 2010 breakthrough artist. I should probably make a top list of breakthrough artists for the year, but this one is the last on the list here, and there is a reason I put this one at #3. The Squatters have a particular brand of brilliance in their productions, both making music that is popular in the scene and adding a unique flair to it all that I can only call 'funky-ass-shiiiiiiiiiiit!' 'On Fire' is probably one of my favorites of theirs to date, it delivers a synth that we should recognize as sampled from the popular Laidback Luke/Steve Angello track from 2008, 'Show Me Love.' Except they do something with it that I don't think anyone had really thought of doing (EDIT: Actually that last statement is wrong, you can check out Afrojack's remix of 'Show Me Love' here, and there is a similar thing going on). Included in the drop of 'On Fire' is a funky little vocal chop, which impressively transitions into full fledged Dutch House. Almost every single time I've dropped this one, I've had someone come up to me and ask me what it is I'm playing. As far as the future is concerned, you can expect to see next level things from The Squatters as soon as they can release them. Check out their mix for Kissy Sell Out for a little preview :). Pay special attention to the last song of the mix...best electro of 2011 candidate? I think so.
2. Noisia - Alpha Centauri (Original Mix) BUY IT!
It's been quite a year for Noisia. They've always had a bass heavy flair to their beats, so now that that sound is in, it stands to reason that Noisia should get a big boost in terms of popularity. Regardless, their song 'Alpha Centauri' is in a league of its own. Apart from perhaps anything I've listened to this year. Bladerunner-esque, 80's style ambiance transitions into what is one of the craziest drops I've ever heard. You can tell meticulous detail and planning was put into each part of this one, and I feel it is sort of the penultimate culmination of Noisia's sound. Their signature heavy bassline, wobbles, oscillates, changes pitch and tempo, and blows your mind while the percussion goes on and on. When we look back at some of the best bleeps of this era, we will undoubtedly see 'Alpha Centauri' forefront amongst them all.
1. A1 Bassline - Breathless (Original Mix) BUY IT!
A1 Bassline has always been a curious artist to me. I have nothing but respect for the man, and good things to say, more or less. He doesn't seem to follow (electro underground) pop culture trends hardly at all, and seems to make music in whatever way he sees fit. It is artists like him that are truly pushing dance music to new and greater heights. While some of his bleeps can be hit-or-miss, when he's on, he's ON! 'Breathless' is one of the greatest examples of an 'on' production from him in my humble opinion. The intensity of the drop is complimented quite well by melodic leads and funky old school-esque percussion. He is one of the first instigators of the wobble bass in house music, and he uses it here with such precision and flair as to boggle the mind. "Let the music take control" is the vocal sample he uses, and boy does it. Every single time I've ever dropped this one, I've got an amazing response this year, and I will always have it on hand. It is one of those timeless little bleeps that I imagine will keep getting replayed as the years go by. I think the top 2 of this year was a toss up, but A1 Bassline just edges in with the universal appeal of this one. FOR GODS SAKE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ONE GET IT NOW!
Honorable mentions, in no particular order (and I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out here...):
- Crystal Castles - Celestica (Clockwork Remix)
- Drop The Lime - Devil's Eyes (Foamo Remix)
- BetaTraxx - Mafiosa (Original Mix)
- Bird Peterson - Actin' Up At Zenobias (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Redial - Let Me Go (Vengeance Remix)
- Sandro Silva, Anjiro Rijo - Fifty What (Dem Slackers Remix)
- Dem Slackers - Let's Go (Bart B More 'Lesssgo' Remix) BUY IT!
- Crookers, Roisin Murphy - Royal T (Foamo Remix) BUY IT!
- Dillon Francis, DJ Ammo - Westside (Original Mix)
- Toddla T - Sky Surfing feat. Wayne Marshall (Douster Remix) BUY IT!
- Joe and Will Ask - Rainbow Trout (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Costello - Girls Speak Louder - Donique Remix (Miles Dyson's Breaksfest Perth Edit) BUY IT!
- Voodoo Chilli - Ya Dance So Sexy Baby (Original Mix)
- Wolfgang Gartner - Illmerica (Extended Mix) BUY IT!
- Feed Me - Green Bottle (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Feed Me - White Spirit (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Depuis91 - Erothiq (VNNR Shake The Room Remix) BUY IT!
- Shinichi Osawa - EEAA (Mustard Pimp Remix)
- Coin Operated Boy - Katzenjammer (Decibel RSPCA Remix) BUY IT!
- The Brockout - Shake Down (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Fauna - Gauchito Gil (Douster Remix) BUY IT!
- Warrior One - Bad Like Jimmy Cliff (Original Mix)
- Dada Life - Unleash The Fucking Dada (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Sidney Samson - Riverside (Peo de Pitte Rerub)
- Bénny Bénαssï, Thé Bïz – Satïsfαctïōn (Άfrōjαck Remix)
- DJ Zinc - Nexx (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- G Star, Last Japan, 321 - Big Man (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Freefire - Dataloss (Darth & Vader Remix) BUY IT!
- Drivepilot - Fuck Yeah! (F.O.O.L Remix)
- LCD Sōũndsystém - Yoũ Wαntéd α Hit (Sōũlwαx Remix)
- Chanty Poe - YesNoMaybe (Neo Tokyo Remix)
- Boys Noize - Yeah (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- F.O.O.L - To Japan And Never Back (Original Mix)
- Neo Tokyo - Laser Laser (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Aaron Sen - Apes From Space (Dirtyloud Remix) BUY IT!
- Mol, SQL - Frogs And Toads (Miles Dyson Breakfest Makeover) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Here Comes The Boom (Original Mix)
- Indiekid - Electric Symphony (Part I)
- Mujava - Mugwanti (R3hab Remix) BUY IT!
- Earl Black - F Pills (Urchins Remix)
- Chase & Status - Let You Go (Original Mix) BUY IT!
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