Tracks of the Year 50-31

My tracks of the year. 50 of them. Many have sneaked in at the last minute whilst others will count themselves unlucky not to be included (I'm sure their hurting right now). Feel free to add your opinions and better yet suggestions for tracks I should have listened to. Cheers!

50. Ramadanman- Work Them (buy)

Ramadanman continued in 2010 where he had left off the year before with an impressive amount of impressive releases. Off all his cuts, 'Work Them' did it for me for it's sheer intensity coupled together with it's epic breakdown of euphoric noise, when all you can do is wait for it to go off and hope you survive.

49. Gayngs-The Gaudy Side of Town (buy)

Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) certainly kept himself busy with guest spots in 2010. He grabbed the headlines guesting on Kanye's megahit with Jay Z etc etc. but it was his soothing vocals to a project entitled 'Gayngs' which grabbed my attention. Taking their cue from Manchester and Salford's very own 10cc; 'The Gaudy Side of Town' is a sultry 7 minute smooth jam. Another impressive release from Chad Van Gaalen and his Jagjaguwar label.

 48. Surround Sounds-Beyond the Dance (12" Extended Mix)  (buy)

New label Surround Sounds is featured twice on my list, firstly with 'Beyond the Dance'. Labelled 'boogie-house' by Piccadilly Records (no, im not sure about that either), the track is a late night dancefloor killer. Just wait for the bass to drop! A label to keep your eyes out for.

47. Jamie Woon-Night Air (buy)

Burial-produced 'Night Air' created a mini crossover hit for relative London-based newcomer Jamie Woon. What is essentially a dark pop song is moulded by Burial's sharp arrangement and turns out to be a perfect foil for Woon's high pitched wail. His album will follow next year and it will be interesting to see if he gets Burial on board again. If it all works this well, the result could be very exciting indeed.

46. Erykah Badu-Window Seat  (buy)

The video may have caused a stir (and got Miss Badu in a bit of trouble) but the track was what did it for me. The track is a slow laid back jam for a slow summer afternoon. Wonderful.

45. Broken Social Scene-Meet Me in the Basement (buy)

On a really special and at times beautiful and subtle album, Broken Social Scene changed tact with 'Meet Me in the Basement'. A three-minute uplifting instrumental stomp, once it sets off there really is no stopping it. Crescendo after crescendo builds and it's a shame when it all ends so soon.

44. David Dondero-Building the New Berlin Wall

A song yet to be released, but it has been a big hit in David Dondero's live set of late and was a highlight of the Conor Oberst organised 'Concert for Equality' which wanted to highlight the oppressive legislation introduced by some border states against immigrants and actual U.S citizens. Lets hope it secures a release in the very near future.

43. Perfume Genius-Mr. Peterson (buy)

Perfume Genius emerged with his broken tales from many misguided and painful experiences from a tortured youth. Describing a relationship with an older man, it was never going to end well with the old man jumping off a building just before sharing a Joy Divison LP. Certainly bleak, but touching and beautiful. 

42. Tensnake-Coma Cat (buy)

A breakthough year for Tensnake. His brand of updated disco hit the heights with Coma Cat in early 2010. Almost impossible not to like, it's catchy hook was also impossible to ignore and before the summer was out, it was everywhere.

41. Jimpster-Inside The Loop (Buy)

'In the Loop' is an absolute classic timeless house tune and Jimpster at his best. Just watch out for those old school handclaps!

40. Wild Nothing-Your Rabbit Feet (buy)           

After the success of Wild Nothing's full length debut Gemini, their main man (well their only initial member), Jack Tatum quickly released a 3 track EP Evertide. It's highlight was 'Your Rabbit Feet',  a continuation of the great work from their album; shimmering guitars, a melodic bassline and a yearning, pleading voice. This EP was unbelieveably only one of 75 to launch a new label. Fortunately it has been re-released as new EP entitled Golden Haze. Get on it.

39. Pursuit Grooves-Whisper (buy)

I'll have to tip my hat to a mate of mine as until about 3 weeks ago, I'd not heard of Pursuit Grooves and didn't really care for this kind of music. However this EP and this track I've warmed to. 'Whisper' is a very dark track indicating it's no party song, but a very deep soulful dubby track. It is me or does it sample a song from the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream? Put my mind at rest please.

38. Kaine feat. Kathy Diamond-Loves Saves the Day (Mario Basnov Vocal Remix) (buy)

I was suprised to learn that Balearic smash 'Love Saves the Day' wasn't on Permanent Vaction as it sounds like the usual sort of tune they would churn out for breakfast. Mario Basnov's subtle vocal rework gives the track an 80s disco feel but with the added bonus of the production quality of today. Kathy Diamond is often the go to girl for tunes such as this as it pleasing to see her display he vocal talents here again.

37. James Blake-CMYK  (buy)

Now safely in the public consciousness after being tipped as one of the sounds of 2011 by the BBC, James Blake hit plently of heights with 'CMYK' earlier in the year. Watch this kid go.

36. The National-Bloodbuzz Ohio (buy)

The most successful year to date for The National began with the release of their 1st single 'Bloodbuzz Ohio'. Track contains some of my favourite lyrics of the year"'I still owe money to the money to the money I owe". You should already own this album and have played this song to death.

35. Midlake-Rulers, Ruling All Things (buy)

Midlake's new album, which dropped in early 2010 certainly didn't hit the peaks of their predecessor The Trials of Van Occupanther, however it did have it's moments, none more so than 'Rulers, Ruling All Things'.

34. Marius Våreid-Vallefaret (buy)

Scandinivian cosmic disco this time from Maris Vareid. It's gentle beat builds slowly against soothing synths which beams effortlessly. No surprise that this release was from Prins Thomas' label.

 33. Four Tet-Sing (buy)

Kieran Hebden once again displayed his ability to take on the dancefloor and the headphones at the same time and create catchy beats and infectious hooks with little tiny vocal fragments. In my opinion this method reached it's peak on 'Sing'.

32. Les Savy Fav-Sleepless in Silverlake (buy)

No Les Savy Fav album will ever live up to their live shows which are brutal and frenetic where we see a display of how fucking mental lead singer Tim Harrington really is (crowd surfing on a mattress last time I saw them). Their new album felt less like a new album but a continuation of the last album Lets Stay Friends but unfortunately nowhere near as good. It still had its highlights though, none more so when they moved into poppier fare with the mid-tempo 'Sleepless in Silverlake'.

31. Mark E-Nobody Else (buy)

Mark E once again treated us to plently of outstanding 12" releases on a variety of excellent labels. Released on Gerd Janson's Running Back, 'Nobody Else' is what did it for me, full of his signature disco-heavy bass together with a more electronic feel than his usual productions.