Tracks of the Year 50-31

In 2011, I've probably listened to more music than in any other of my life. I seem to have it on all the time. I don't really watch TV any more, other than for the odd footy match, film or interesting documentary. So it took a while to whittle it down. I probably don't have the time to do a top 50, but I could have done a top 100 with plently to spare. I'm sure there's releases from the start of the year that my brain can no longer remember. That's not to mention the plethora of music from before Jan 1 2011 than I've enjoyed. Hope you enjoy the following...

(I've not included youtube/soundcloud as it would make the pages unbearably slow. Click on the track for a preview/video)

50. Omar S-Here's Your Trance, Now Dance (buy)

A quite magical ten minute epic from Omar S which set the scene for him in 2011, culminating in a full length entitled 'It Can Be Done, But Only I Can Do It' (humble yeah), showcasing some of his best recent releases (including this) and some excellent new tracks.

49. Intruder-Amame (Long Ass Mix) (buy)

Murk Records of the early 90s like Liberty City's 'Some Lovin' and 'That's What I Got' certainly found their place on the dancefloor in 2011, so smelling the renewed interest labelowners Ralph Falcon and Oscar Gaten re-emerged under an old name of 'Intruder' and delivered a stunning peak time 303 bomb.

48. The Dead Leaves-Harm (buy)

No new album for New York's finest The National this year, however if you wanted a fix turning to Australians' The Dead Leaves 'Harm' might have done the trick. Plagiaristic? Yes. As Good? Pretty much.

47. The Drums-I Need A Doctor (buy)

 The Drums quick fire release in 2011 may have had much of the same qualities from their 1st album, it did also highlight a much darker side sprayed all over the record, none more so than on 'I Need A Doctor'.

46. The Tortoise-Gonna Be (buy)

In 2011, Melbourne pushed itself forward as a major player in modern deep house/disco sounds. The Tortoise party house track 'Gonna Be' was one of many high points from the city which also included respected artists such as Tornado Wallace (Lewie Day) and Mic Newman (Fantastic Man). Another top notch release from 3rd Strike Records out of London.

45. Girls-Vomit (buy)

After the excellent ep 'Broken Dreams Club' in 2010, many were excited to hear what Girls would deliver in 2011. Whilst the album didn't hit the heights for myself personally, lead track 'Vomit' wasa clear standout with a slow quiet build up leading to a frenzied epic guitar solo.

44. Deep Space Orchestra-Riding in My Imaginery Jeep (buy)

DSO really emerged in 2011, with a successive of quality releases together with their own quality label Use of Weapons. 'Riding in My Imaginery Jeep' is tip top spaced out house music, with a nod to Germans Move D and Soulphiction.

43. Ron Basejam-Distant Voices (Hot Coins Remix) (buy)

Hot Coins aka Red Rack 'Em delivered a stunning remix here of Crazy P's Ron Basejam's Distant Voices. Finally pressed onto to vinyl this month, it's steady bass reminds me of the early hours of a balearic holiday.

42. Zodiac Free Arts Club-Floating World (buy)

Greek producer Argy moved away from his usual house output by creating Zodiac Free Arts Club, inspired by atmospheric krautrock of the 60s and 70s. Title track 'Floating World' hopes captures the psychdelic underground sound, and was a lovely journey into a largely forgotten era.

41. Owen-I Believe (buy)

Much of my musical taste now veers away from what Owen continues to release. However, the lush guitars and honest lyrics still turn my head, especially on 'I Believe'.

40. We Are Trees-I Don't Believe in Love (buy)

Sounding like Grizzly Bear without the really boring bits, We Are Trees completed their Girlfriend/Boyfriend EP set in 2011, with the bitter sounding 'I Don't Believe in Love' being a highlight. Lyrics like "I starts with a kiss, then ends with a bitch" displays good old fashioned indie-boy loser resentment.

39. Levon Vincent-No Regrets (buy)

Levon Vincent returned in 2011 with a couple of big releases and heavy, heavy tracks. I could have included all of his tracks of 2011 in my top 50 quite easily to be honest, but it was 'No Regrets' that was my personal fave.

38. Dive-Sometime (buy)

Straight out of the stables of Captured Tracks came member of Beach Fossils side project 'Dive'. No real surprises, just a shoegaze-harmony soaked number full of quality.

37. Wbeeza-Laying Here (buy)

House sound of London alert! Or some bullshit. Whatever. Quality house music from Wbeeza. Blogged about earlier in the year. Read all about it. The end.

36. Dorisburg-Emotion (buy) 

Top notch German deep house that I couldn't get enough off. From the excellent 'Family Horror' double LP from earlier this year. Recommended.

35. Zoo Kid-Out Getting Ribs (buy)

Mate of mine told me about this kid a while back, and hasn't shut up about him since. Pitchfork have gone on and on about this song (and the video) for a while. Don't bother with that shit, just give it a keen listen.

34. No Regular Play-Takin' U Back (buy)

Wolf & Lamb & Soul Clap were at one point beginning to take over the house world. Of course that didn't happen. But from one of the best mixes of the year, their combined DJ kicks, brought us this great tune from regular cohorts No Regular Play. Sexy music apparently.

33. Maximillion Dunbar-Polo (buy)

Lifted from probably the EP of the year for me, balearic, slowed down grown up house music. Or just some good sounds playing off a bit of wax.

32. Pygmy Lush-January Song (buy)

Low key indie-folk from Pygmy Lush. Underground as hell apparently. But with the internet is anything nowadays? Hints of the best of Port O Brien and Fleet Foxes.

31. Moomin-You (buy)

More German deep house again. There's just so much of it! Moomin's album was a beauty with so many highlights. The hypnotic loop and beat of 'You' ensured it ended the year as very high on my playlist counter.

Soundwaves Project 0.1

After my move down to the quieter life in Cornwall, one could presume that I would have maybe retired from getting behind new nights without the ready made demand that was served up in my former home of Manchester. Well, that hasn't happened. Inspired by local DJ and committed resident Jennifer Johnson, I am proud to present and be part of the Soundwaves Project. Our Launch night is this Saturday 10th December in the beautiful setting of the Driftwood Spars Hotel in St. Agnes. The night is held in aid of local community based charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). Audio support will come from Cornwall-based Allen & Heath, the world's most renowed and respected name in audio mixing desks. Featuring an array of DJ talent and styles, based both locallly and from further afield, Soundwaves aims to provide a night of eclectic vibes and good times for a great cause. 



All proceeds will go to SAS, with a suggested donation of £3 on the door.
 
DJ's will include: -

Catrina D'Olive
Rodney Peasley
Sam Farnell
James Walker
Luke Walker
Frank Gane
Ryan Kelsey
Jennifer Johnson 

Much hard work has gone to into this, especially by a certain Miss Johnson and I just know it will be a blinder. So put the festive preparations on hold and get down to the Driftwood in St Agnes for a truly special night!


Mixes:

http://community.littlesouth.com/_Jennifer-Johnson-Littlesouth-Eclectic-Dance-DJ-0132011/audio/881244/60666.html?widgetId=157413

http://soundcloud.com/renster_jen

http://soundcloud.com/jwalk

http://testpressing.org/2011/11/164-walk-music-the-low-life-elite/

Yvette Michele-Everyday and Everynight (WalkMusic Edit)

I'm proud to present another beautiful re-edit from West Didsbury's own Walkmusic. Unsurprisingly it's a track that may have passed you by in the mid 90s upon it's release, however it's re-imagined into a lovely mid-tempo groove here. Once again this in Wav. file format so it's high on quality as well as content. Grab it below.

  Everyday & Everynight // Yvette Michele (1995) // WalkMusic Edit by JWalk

Walkmusic also popped up with a podcast entitled 'The Low Life Elite' for the acclaimed balearic beats and lifestyle site testpressing.org. Expect more imaginative arrangement and beautiful eclectic vibes. Give it a listen and visit the site here.

Walkmusic will also be heading down for the first Soundwaves Project in a couple of weeks in St Agnes in Cornwall. More info soon!!!

Top Ten Tracks November

As the winter tries to draw in and the festive bullshit begins in earnest, here's my top ten tracks for November. Time pending, I hope to begin compiling my top lists for 2011 very soon, so therefore there won't be a top ten for December on the blog, even though there will be one in my head.

1. Nick Holder-Feelin' Sad (buy)


House of the highest order. Getting repressed apparently.

2. Norma Jean Bell-Love's Got It's Hook In Me (buy)


Late 90s, Kenny Dixon Jr. jazzy house vehicle. Ace.

3. Iron Curtis-Goma (buy)


The epitome of the disco-infused deep house sounds of 2011, this time on Kolour.

4. Shoebox-Falling in the Right Place (buy)


Mystery 4 track EP recently dropped that I just love to bits, with 'Falling in the Right Place' as my highlight.

5. System Status-Downtime (buy)

  System Status - Downtime by daverendle
Soothing disco beats on Untracked from last year.

6. L J Reynolds-Trust in Me (buy)


Modern Soul beaut from the year I was born. 

7. Damien Jurado-Nothing is the News (pre-order-free download from official site)



New Jurado once again (this is never a bad thing) and it's a lovely taster of what's to come. A full band dynamic is what's in store for his latest release.

8. Other Lives-Tamer Animals (buy)


I missed the boat for most of this year with Other Lives. Good recommendation from the boys at Folly of Youth and after a few listens I was sold. Reminds me of the best of Midlake.

9. Bjork-I Miss You (buy)


I now reside in a house with every Bjork record imaginable. Revisted Post recently and forgot all about 'I Miss You'. Just wonderful.

10. Crooked Fingers-Sad Love (buy)


Sad, sad music about the demise of a relationship from Eric Bachmann of Archers of Loaf fame.  Lyrics are just beautiful...

"What's meant to be has fallen through
Is running through your veins
An evil kind of bloodless pain
Is creeping through the cracks that swell
To swallow you up into Hell
To shatter all that you believed
And let your lonesome heart be free"

Oracy-Rewound

Over the last few years German label Mojuba have brought us some of the deepest house sounds (mainly before the 'deep house' penny dropped) from a wide range of respected artists, including Sven Weisemann, Nick Sole and Stereociti. I only really cottoned onto the label earlier this year and have done some digging around and found some seriously good house music. A standout highlight is this 2008 release by Oracy.



The A side and title track 'Rewound' is deep Detroit techno at its finest with minimal shuffle throughout before a energetic synth workout attempts to show it's worth to the dancefloor. On the flip we have 'Hold On', dancefloor deepness of the highest order. It's steady bassline and repetive male vocal gives the track a hynoptic like quality; if you're lucky to hear it out anyime soon, I very much doubt you'll leave the dancefloor.Excellent stuff.

Oracy-Rewound (buy)

Mano Le Tough-In My Arms

Been getting into alot of stuff out of Future Times and the like recenty. Most 4/4 has been not doing it for me of late to be honest. However I'm loving the dreamy and atmospheric sound of these kinds of releases which have so much more going on than your standard house/techno of late and all at the same time, still worthy of any dancefloor I want to be on.

Prins Thomas's label Internasjonal hasn't let us down either in 2011. Already we've been treated to  a stunning Mark E remix of DJ Ageishi & Ackin's 'Rain Parade' and this week drops Discodrome's 'Build A House' featuring remixes from Prins Thomas and Tensnake.



Arguably the label's finest release of 2011 has come in the shape of Irishman Mano Le Tough's 'In My Arms' 12".  The title track is a sombre, reflective but strangely upbeat piece of beautiful electronic music.The B-sides aren't bad either, 'Dropping Bombs' is a electronic house chugger with swirls of other worldy shit going down. On the flip we have ten minute epic 'Those Lights Are Lives', which like the whole EP has a hynoptic like quality to it, with the capacity to take you away from the grey skies for a short but worthwhile interlude.

Mano Le Tough-In My Arms (buy)

Moomin-The Story About You

I'm a sucker for slightly understated deep house music. So it's no surprise that I've enjoyed several of German Moomin's releases of late. It's also no surprise that his melodic, warm deep house sounds find themselves on Smallville for the release of his debut album 'The Story About You'.



I got told recently by an artist (they will remain nameless) that the record labels press officers completely made up the press blurb about one of his 12" releases and he had no idea what they were on about it (it involved stars/beaches/heaven etc etc etc). It seems that this might have happened again with this release. Whilst I understand and appreciate the 'magic' of house music, sentences such as "Real House Music is only possible within a soulful surrounding" make me want to find a bucket. Maybe I'm just a cynical old bastard, but I think words (ironically like this) often don't do the music justice, and when attempting to get the message across, you can be left with sentences representing what the writer thinks sound good or relevant.Try to stick to the music, and just read my blog in the future!

Anyway, this album is highly recommended. It contains the majestic 'Watermelon' which was on his 'Spare Time' EP from earlier this year. It might even suprass Stereociti's effort in deep house artist album of the year, and that would be quite some feat. 


Moomin-The Story About You (buy)