10. Wolfgang Gartner - Illmerica
After a period of domination by Justice the mantle of the most powerful electro-house moment, the kind that works on absolutely any dancefloor was passed to Deadmau5 with 'Ghosts n Stuff' last year. This year Gartner's opus has taken that mantle. Teased and teased all year long with various clips and snippets appearing in his own sets and being leaked, he finally unleashed the definitive version in October after a reputed 300 hours of work on it.
9. Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette - Hello
Infectious to almost epidemic proportions 'Hello' was a stunning track from French producer Martin Solveig and Canadian synth-poppers Dragonette. Its bouncy, mesmerizing, funky and driving with its chunky bass, hypnotic synths and scattergun percussion. The tennis match between Solveig and Bob Sinclair in the video is completely real as well, actually filmed in front of 12,000 people at Roland Garros in Paris.
8. Don Diablo ft. Dragonette - Animale (Datsik Remix)
It seems like guest vocals from Dragonette is a sure fire way to get into this years top ten and this is another stunning track featuring that infectious voice. Datsik takes the seedy tones of Canadian DJ Don Diablo's original and washes it over with a further coating of smut and filth. The whomping bass drop comes crashing in before the 30 second mark and rarely lets up throughout the whole song, interspersed with the sounds of various lasers and computer game sound effects. The vocal is constantly peaking and a never-ending ball of energy, which pretty much sums up the whole track.
7. Swedish House Mafia - One (Congorock Remix)
The trio of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso have all had a number of successes by themselves over the past few years but as a collective they have absolutely destroyed all competition. The White Isle has virtually belonged to them the past two summers and in 'One' they have the most recognisable club hit of the year. The original is a classic in its own right, the Pharell featuring vocal version we'll do our best to ignore but the Congorock remix was just something else entirely.
6. Drop The Lime - Sex Sax
New York's Drop The Lime has always been on the peripheral of my tastes, his tracks always just lacking in something to make them stand out from the crowd. It turns out that something is a saxophone. Built around the sexiest of sax riffs, which loops and loops throughout the song, militant drum machines in the background, the bass pounds over head and cheeky wolf whistles and "aye! carumbas" inflict a sense of personality upon it. Originally just a DJ tool for his own sets, the reaction was so great that he had to develop into a full release and thank God he did.
5. Specimen A - Cold As Ice
A cover of Foreigner's 1980s hit and never likely to see a release outside of the artists Soundcloud page due to issues with the rights this is probably the rarest record on the list (even in these internet times). The bitch-slap of a vocal soars even higher on this version, the piano as present and mesmerizing as ever but it is that bass drop that echoes the vocal pattern that puts this so high upon our list. It's tracks like this that make Embargo what it is, tracks that you never hear anywhere else. An absolute monster.
4. Cherry Ghost - Finally (Time and Space Machine Re-Edit)
A remix of a cover of a classic. Cherry Ghost take CeCe Peniston's belting club smash and tone it down, turning into a different beast entirely. It becomes wistful and mourning in their hands, coming across as a brooding mid-80s classic. Every single listen brings more and more and this has without doubt been the track I have played the most to myself in the past couple of months since its release.
3. Mark Ronson and The Business International ft. Boy George & Andrew Wyatt - Somebody To Love Me
The talent involved simply in the writing of this song is testament to its pop perfection. Written by a team of writers in the manner of all those classic Motown duets that it emulates, this was penned by Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, Cathy Dennis, Anthony Rossomando (of Dirty Pretty Things & Klaxons) and Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow. Wyatt's duet with Boy George is note perfect, the formers pristine falsetto balancing the latter's unmistakable voice, the 80's star's most powerful performance for years, if not ever. Tinged with emotion and melancholy, a tale of heartbreak and longing, full of regret and and soul-searching. The most beautiful song of the year, this is destined to become a timeless masterpiece, its power growing with each passing year. In fifty years time our children and grandchildren will be think of this as we do Marvin & Tammi or Ike & Tina.
2. DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Flux Pavillion Remix)
The DnB crossover of the original was one of the big summer hits, reaching the levels of success that Shy FX used to enjoy all those years ago. The remix by Flux Pavilion was even better, managing to hold the upbeat vibe of the original while twisting it to incredibly dark places indeed. If you were lucky enough to be at Embargo the week before Christmas you'd have witnessed Flux himself jump onto the decks to play this for you, undoubtedly the biggest track of the year on the dancefloor.
1. Foals - Spanish Sahara (Deadboy Remix)
And now to my track of the year. It may not have reached the dancefloor all that often purely because of its length and the extended intro, without which the song just does not have the same impact. You simply need to have the full nine minutes to fully appreciate its power and beauty. The original was the centrepiece, the heartbeat of Foals' stunning second album - Yannis' voice sounding more fragile and emotive than ever before. Deadboy takes this vocal and slowly builds and builds upon it, layer upon layer of sound to create an epic masterpiece. After a minute the clacking beat come through, a mechanical clicking enters as we hit the second minute, replaced by the synths for the third minute. Four and a half minutes the sad organs appear, teasingly building until ravey stabs emerge thirty seconds later transcending the melancholy into a euphoric Chicago House feel. Listen to this as loud as you possibly can, its by far the best nine minutes you'll spend all year.
Showing posts with label Foals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foals. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
ARTISTS & PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
Wolfgang Gartner
As Joey Youngman he was beloved of the Deep & Jackin' House scenes, as Wolfgang Gartner he has thrust himself into the forefront of the Electro-Tech sound that has been destroying dancefloors all year. His collaboration with Deadmau5 'Animal Rights' was a massive dance chart hit, 'Illmerica' was one of the best tracks of the year in any genre and his Radio One Essential Mix was a 62 track epic that has to be heard to be believed.
Flux Pavilion
The only problem I can see with Flux is that I can never decide which of his tunes to play on any given night. He has been ridiculously prolific this year, dropping the huge remix of DJ Fresh 'Gold Dust' that blew the socks off the original, as well as stunning reworks of The Freestylers' 'Cracks' and even bringing Jamiroquai bang up to date with his remix of 'Blue Skies'. Then there was his own productions showing a versatility to his sound in a dubstep scene populated by artists chucking out the same thing over and over again with the tech-banger of 'I Can't Stop', the reggae tinged bounce that was 'Excuse Me' and this, the, er, haunting 'Haunt You'.
Congorock
Exploding at the start of the year with the party starter that was 'Babylon', Congorock is the latest name to come out of the burgeoning Italian electro scene that has brought us the likes of Crookers and The Bloody Beetroots. His remix of THE biggest dance anthem of the year, Swedish House Mafia's 'One' is set to be a classic for years to come and his take on Mark Ronson's 'Somebody To Love' juxtaposed the melodic heart-tugger of the original with the laser beams of the worlds biggest clubs.
Foals
The follow up to 2008's 'Antidotes' was always going to be difficult in this post-indie world (Klaxons' album in comparison came across as a jumbled mess of never quite finished ideas) and when the first track leaked the kids expecting another 'Cassius' were confused by 'Spanish Sahara' with its sparse vocals and barely there vocals. But in the context of the album in became a stunning centrepiece to an emotive, at times almost sensual whole. 'Black Gold' and '2 Trees' were bold and full of texture, 'This Orient' a catchy, twinkling epic and 'Miami' took a hip-hop groove and married it with post-punk hedonism in a way MIA could only dream of. Unfortunately they will not allow embedding of the Aphex Twin aping video, but check that out too.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Using easily the best artist name of the year, young producer Orlando Higginbottom has created a position for himself at the forefront of British dance music and is set to blow up to ridiculous proportions in 2011. You'll know his bass-heavy remix of Professor Green's 'Monster' from the Embargo floor and that is just one of a number of stunning tracks produced this year. Further remixes of Darwin Deez, Sky Ferreira, Fenech-Soler, Crystal Fighters & Tinashe all showcase his blend of bass obsessed electro-pop. His two EPs, 'All In Two Sixty Dancehalls' & 'Household Goods' have been revelatory and leave me very excited for next years album.
Jakwob
Another dubstep artist who has been incredibly productive this year, constantly changing his sound without letting it become tired is Jakwob. His Ellie Goulding remixes have become standards in the commercial dubstep world, along with a never ending list of remixes for Penguin Prison, Robyn, Audio Bullies, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, William Orbit, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cocknbullkid, I Blame Coco, Oh Snap!, Jessie J, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. & Temper Trap (amoung others)!
Afrojack
Where the Italians have enjoyed their own renaissance in breaking into the UK market, the dirty Dutch have taken it that one step further with their sound owning every set in every decent club going. Afrojack has taken it to another level and looks set to rise to the mythical Guetta level next year. Taking his Black Eyed Peas collaboration to one side 'Bangduck', 'Pacha On Acid' and 'Take Over Control' have been solid gold bangers this year and he has a knack of turning the likes of Madonna & Lady Gaga into twisting behemoths and his remixes of Example's 'Kickstarts' and David Guetta & Rihanna's 'Who's That Chick?' reach new levels of depravity.
Joker
The Bristol purveyor of the fabled 'Purple' sound made one of the undoubted anthems of the year in 'Tron', a track always guaranteed to force the most stationary of feet to move and to set limbs flailing. Making a name for himself by taking some of the most soulful vocals and overlaying them with the deepest of sub-bothering bass, check his work on the Beth Ditto featuring 'Cruel Intentions' by Simian Mobile Disco and the stunning 'Doncamatic' by Gorillaz featuring Daley (who himself is set to be one of next years big breakthroughs).
Sleigh Bells
Feedback drenched, rattling low-end beats, distorted guitars and occasionally nonsensical vocals Sleigh Bells are at first a difficult proposition. Nursed along by such luminaries as MIA and Spike Jonze the more you listen to them the more they shine, the structure of their songs shining through on a wave of bubblegum vocals and conflicting beats. A marriage of the lo-fi, dreamy indie and abrasive rave sounds they were about as 2010 as it gets.
Magnetic Man (& a sly nod to Katy B)
Last but by no means least we come to the breakout moment for dubstep in 2010. Of course Skream & Benga (as well as Artwerk) have been around for years but they have bought the scene crashing into the mainstream this year with their stunning self-titled album. 'I Need Air' was the first hit reaching chart positions no-one really thought possible and riding on the back of this was the massive number one crafted by Benga for Katy B 'Katy On A Mission'. Further collaborations with Katy B on the outstanding 'Perfect Stranger' and Skream's mix of 'Lights Out', a definitive Radio One Essential Mix and a live show that proved that dubstep could transcend the undergrounds clubs it grew from and become a main stage staple showed that the year belonged to Magnetic Man.
As Joey Youngman he was beloved of the Deep & Jackin' House scenes, as Wolfgang Gartner he has thrust himself into the forefront of the Electro-Tech sound that has been destroying dancefloors all year. His collaboration with Deadmau5 'Animal Rights' was a massive dance chart hit, 'Illmerica' was one of the best tracks of the year in any genre and his Radio One Essential Mix was a 62 track epic that has to be heard to be believed.
Flux Pavilion
The only problem I can see with Flux is that I can never decide which of his tunes to play on any given night. He has been ridiculously prolific this year, dropping the huge remix of DJ Fresh 'Gold Dust' that blew the socks off the original, as well as stunning reworks of The Freestylers' 'Cracks' and even bringing Jamiroquai bang up to date with his remix of 'Blue Skies'. Then there was his own productions showing a versatility to his sound in a dubstep scene populated by artists chucking out the same thing over and over again with the tech-banger of 'I Can't Stop', the reggae tinged bounce that was 'Excuse Me' and this, the, er, haunting 'Haunt You'.
Congorock
Exploding at the start of the year with the party starter that was 'Babylon', Congorock is the latest name to come out of the burgeoning Italian electro scene that has brought us the likes of Crookers and The Bloody Beetroots. His remix of THE biggest dance anthem of the year, Swedish House Mafia's 'One' is set to be a classic for years to come and his take on Mark Ronson's 'Somebody To Love' juxtaposed the melodic heart-tugger of the original with the laser beams of the worlds biggest clubs.
Foals
The follow up to 2008's 'Antidotes' was always going to be difficult in this post-indie world (Klaxons' album in comparison came across as a jumbled mess of never quite finished ideas) and when the first track leaked the kids expecting another 'Cassius' were confused by 'Spanish Sahara' with its sparse vocals and barely there vocals. But in the context of the album in became a stunning centrepiece to an emotive, at times almost sensual whole. 'Black Gold' and '2 Trees' were bold and full of texture, 'This Orient' a catchy, twinkling epic and 'Miami' took a hip-hop groove and married it with post-punk hedonism in a way MIA could only dream of. Unfortunately they will not allow embedding of the Aphex Twin aping video, but check that out too.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Using easily the best artist name of the year, young producer Orlando Higginbottom has created a position for himself at the forefront of British dance music and is set to blow up to ridiculous proportions in 2011. You'll know his bass-heavy remix of Professor Green's 'Monster' from the Embargo floor and that is just one of a number of stunning tracks produced this year. Further remixes of Darwin Deez, Sky Ferreira, Fenech-Soler, Crystal Fighters & Tinashe all showcase his blend of bass obsessed electro-pop. His two EPs, 'All In Two Sixty Dancehalls' & 'Household Goods' have been revelatory and leave me very excited for next years album.
Jakwob
Another dubstep artist who has been incredibly productive this year, constantly changing his sound without letting it become tired is Jakwob. His Ellie Goulding remixes have become standards in the commercial dubstep world, along with a never ending list of remixes for Penguin Prison, Robyn, Audio Bullies, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, William Orbit, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cocknbullkid, I Blame Coco, Oh Snap!, Jessie J, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. & Temper Trap (amoung others)!
Afrojack
Where the Italians have enjoyed their own renaissance in breaking into the UK market, the dirty Dutch have taken it that one step further with their sound owning every set in every decent club going. Afrojack has taken it to another level and looks set to rise to the mythical Guetta level next year. Taking his Black Eyed Peas collaboration to one side 'Bangduck', 'Pacha On Acid' and 'Take Over Control' have been solid gold bangers this year and he has a knack of turning the likes of Madonna & Lady Gaga into twisting behemoths and his remixes of Example's 'Kickstarts' and David Guetta & Rihanna's 'Who's That Chick?' reach new levels of depravity.
Joker
The Bristol purveyor of the fabled 'Purple' sound made one of the undoubted anthems of the year in 'Tron', a track always guaranteed to force the most stationary of feet to move and to set limbs flailing. Making a name for himself by taking some of the most soulful vocals and overlaying them with the deepest of sub-bothering bass, check his work on the Beth Ditto featuring 'Cruel Intentions' by Simian Mobile Disco and the stunning 'Doncamatic' by Gorillaz featuring Daley (who himself is set to be one of next years big breakthroughs).
Sleigh Bells
Feedback drenched, rattling low-end beats, distorted guitars and occasionally nonsensical vocals Sleigh Bells are at first a difficult proposition. Nursed along by such luminaries as MIA and Spike Jonze the more you listen to them the more they shine, the structure of their songs shining through on a wave of bubblegum vocals and conflicting beats. A marriage of the lo-fi, dreamy indie and abrasive rave sounds they were about as 2010 as it gets.
Magnetic Man (& a sly nod to Katy B)
Last but by no means least we come to the breakout moment for dubstep in 2010. Of course Skream & Benga (as well as Artwerk) have been around for years but they have bought the scene crashing into the mainstream this year with their stunning self-titled album. 'I Need Air' was the first hit reaching chart positions no-one really thought possible and riding on the back of this was the massive number one crafted by Benga for Katy B 'Katy On A Mission'. Further collaborations with Katy B on the outstanding 'Perfect Stranger' and Skream's mix of 'Lights Out', a definitive Radio One Essential Mix and a live show that proved that dubstep could transcend the undergrounds clubs it grew from and become a main stage staple showed that the year belonged to Magnetic Man.
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