2010: A Retrospective

Admittedly there are more important things to be doing in December than making lists about what’s happened over the past 12 months. We're not the biggest fans of doing so over here plus someone has actually already done the hard work for everyone, creating the most essential list of occurrences in 2010 right here, but, well... here’s our tuppence worth, should you need to reaffirm your faith in our compliance with journalistic culture...

LPs of 2010:



fabric 55: Shackleton [fabric]

Less a mix, more a complete and perfect summation of Shackleton’s work to date, fabric 55 contains unreleased material, re-workings and edits from one of dance music’s true idealists. A bold and perfect vision captured impeccably.



Guido – Anidea [Punch Drunk]

Synths may have got weirder in 2010, but one person who absolutely owned his craft this year was Guido. Ever since we heard ‘Beautiful Complication’ at Rooted Records in Bristol, we knew Peverelist was onto a winner with the then untitled album project. What followed was a glimpse into the unique world of a deft musician on Anidea.



Actress – Splaszh [Werk Discs]

Darren Cunningham returned with sharpened nuances back in May for his debut on Honest Jons. Continuing to sound like the outside world listening in to club culture from a soapbox stuck outside of Barnet and wielding his EQs and filters in ways that seemed to filter out any kind of smiles or good intentions Splaszh became a dirty piece of history.



Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma [Warp]

Impossible to ignore, Flying Lotus’ second album for Warp Records trod a line between beat based genius and absolute freeform madness as the Californian producer went deep into his own universe. As far as crystalline productions go Cosmogramma was a space opera that ‘marks Ellison out as a true experimenalist’.



Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers [Hotflush]

If there’s one thing that unifies our picks for our albums of 2010 it’s the fact that each one presented a unique vision. Mount Kimbie’s offering was no different, with Crooks & Lovers veering almost awkwardly through some of the most melodically shattered beats of the year. A hit across the board it subverted a lot of dancefloor trends but still made appearances in sets from the best DJs out there.



Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner [Notown]

It feels a little terrifying to admit that sometimes the hype machine is completely on point and Gold Panda is a case in point. After various lowkey EPs on Various Prouction’s imprint, including the excellent ‘Back Home,’ the man known only as Derwin released Lucky Shiner - a sampledelic tapestry of up and down tempo music that mixes really well, at times, with UK funky.

Gold Panda also tops the SR ‘dreamboat of the year’ list pipping Drake, Reggie Yates and Zain from One Direction to the accolade. Congratulations to him.

Honourable mentions: Rudi Zygadlo, Liars, Ikonika, Darkstar, Deftones, Scuba and more.

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Compilations of 2010:



V/A – Modeselektion Vol. 1 [Monkeytown]

Aligning the clubbing underground’s elite is no mean feat, but to obtain exclusives from each one of them and introduce artists like Robag Wruhme and Housemeister in the same breath is kind of game changing.



V/A – Astro:dynamics [Astro:dynamics]

In the absence of any Beat Dimensions style offerings this year, Rekordah offered up a great set of beats A&Red, packaged and released by himself. His Astro:dynamics compilation remains an accomplished arrangement after repeated listens.



Kode9 – DJ KiCKS [!K7]

Kode9’s brand of UK funky is different. He’s pretty much become the pioneer of bastard house in our eyes and his mix for !K7 caught his style perfectly. Gutter yet danceable, it’s the real sound of his London 6-8 months ago.



V/A – Elevator Music Vol. 1 [fabric]

Yep – one for the bias aware out there - this collection, released in February of this year, gave some of this year’s stand out troupe (Mosca, Hackman, Julio Bashmore, Hot City, Doc Daneeka, xxxy) their first outing to the world in emphatic and beautifully packaged style.



V/A - Tropical Heat Vol 1 & Vol 2 [Myor]

Released in two parts across two 12"s the Tropical Heat series has a homespun feel. Its obvious from speaking with its curator, Coco Bryce, that he's as much in love with the music as we are with the quality of this year's Sonic Router mixes, and he manages to straddle the divide between skweee simplicity and boom bap technology across these 12"s with beats from people like Slow Hand Motem, Slugabed, Niño and Mesak.

Honourable mentions: Brownswood Electric, FABRICLIVE 50: Autonomic, Scuba for Sub:stance, fabric 50: Martyn.

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12”s/EPs/Tracks:

Ramadanman - Work Them/Fall Short [Swamp 81]
Deadboy – If You Want Me [Numbers]
Jeremiah – Birthday Sex (Hovatron Remix) [FREE DL]
Addison Groove – Footcrab [Swamp 81]
James Blake – CMYK [R&S]
Hizatron – HZA EP [Wigflex]
Elgato – Blue/Tonight [Hessle Audio]
Girl Unit – IRL [Night Slugs]
Braiden – The Alps [Doldrums]
Joe – Claptrap [Hessle Audio]
Blawan – Iddy/Fram [Hessle Audio]
Becoming Real ft. Trim – Spectre EP [Not Even]
T.Williams - Chop & Screw [Deep Teknologi]
Mosca – Square One EP [Night Slugs]
Martin Kemp – Wot U Got/Fix [Blunted Robots]
LV & Okmalumkoolkat – Boomslang [Hyperdub]
Kontext – Sattva [Immerse]
Sentel – Chapel 20 [Concrete Cut]
The Phantom – Nightgame (Zeppy Zep Remix) [Senseless]
Ill Blu – Bullion/Dragon Pop [Hyperdub]
Altered Natives – The Bitch/Crop Duster [3024]
Arp101 – Dead Leaf [Eglo]
Icicle – Anything [Tempa]
Fantastic Mr Fox – Evelyn [Black Acre]
Jackal Youth – Let Me Be [Reduction]
West Norwood Cassette Library – Blonde on Blonde [TEAL]
Hypno – Over The Top EP [PTN]
MJ Cole & Wiley – From The Drop [Prolific]
Randomer – Be Electric [Tru Thoughts]
Martyn – Left Hander [3024]
Ikonika & Optimum – Aqueous Cream [Hum & Buzz]
DVA – Natty/Ganja [Hyperdub]
Hyetal & Shortstuff – Ice Cream [Punch Drunk]
Spatial – INFRA004 [Infrasonics]
Jamie Grind – Baloon [Infrasonics]
Lone – Once In A While [Werk Discs]
Mr Mageeka - Different Lekstrix [Numbers]
Jam City – Ecstasy Refix [Night Slugs]
LHF – EP1: Enter In Silence… [Keysound]
Falty DL – Freqaflex [Planet Mu]
Breach – Fatherless [PTN]

This list is just a glimpse. There are so many more singles/EPs/tracks I’ve thought of since I even published this... I give up.

::

Please note: These lists are not definitive. Tomorrow it would most likely be very different...

2009: A Retrospective

Ok so I finally relented... after several weeks of anxiety, of convincing myself that regular readers will know exactly what I'm going to pick and of me embracing the casual fear that I would undoubtedly leave out something that a year later down the line I would grow to be completely in love with; I caved in... to the pressure of the 2009 retrospective and especially to the one person who emailed in and told me they couldn’t wait to see our end of year roundup.

This, my friend, is forever dedicated to you.

LPs of 2009:

2562 – Unbalance [Tectonic]

‘Unbalance’ feels a bit like a zenith for techno-tinged dubstep in 2009. There hasn't been an album that sums up the attitude and style of a producer so well since Martyn's 'Great Lengths' and its plush decadence. Similar to that record, these tracks work just as well away from the dance floor, just as comfortably soundtracking that last slow tussle with consciousness as they do your 4 AM drunken peak. – Taken from the SR penned RA review



DOOM – Born Like This [LEX]

Littered with comic book references, vocal skits and spoken word samples from people like Charles Bukowski, from whose poetry the album’s title is taken from, ‘BORN LIKE THIS.’ can only really be described as typical DOOM. A monumental character within rap he’s been accused of faking performances, hidden behind a metal mask for his entire career and yet he’s undoubtedly produced the next in his succession of superbly essential solo albums. – Taken from the SR penned Rock-A-Rolla review that I don’t think ever made it to print.



Martyn – Great Lengths [3024]

I did review this for Woofah but it was never used and sadly those gluttonous verses of my love for Martyn’s music have since been lost to a corrupted hard drive. Still, ‘Great Lengths’ was a purist realistion at the time of its release; a total wake up call for immaculately executed dancefloor dubstep. Superbly produced and constructed with a fiercely individual and warm sound bank it cemented the crossover potential of house & techno into bass music and rocked the shit out of any dance that dared to house it as it did it.



Peverelist – Jarvik Mindstate [Punch Drunk]

Despite its complexities, Tom Ford's approach to music-making seems delightfully linear and his on-album modesty—only nine tracks—goes a long way to juxtapose his studio workings. 'Jarvik Mindstate' is positively bulging with character, swelling with the kind of intrinsic rhythm that you just can't teach or learn. At times it drives a jagged shank into the notion of "dubstep," stumbling away from the altercation over the course of the album, ending up as far away from it as could be possible. – Taken from the SR penned RA review



Mountains – Choral [Thrill Jockey]

Like a less abrasive Fennesz (without the noisy drone bits), Mountains have an uncanny ability to astound. Their music may not be as instantly gratifying as a repetitive riff party but it is incredibly atmospheric. ‘Sweeping’ is almost undoubtedly the best adjective to describe these 6 tracks as they flitter and push themselves past your ears with gusto, enevloping your concentration with their subtle flecks of melody and involved guitar workouts. – Taken from the SR penned Rock-A-Rolla review (Issue 18)

Special mentions go to FaltyDL's 'Love Is A Liability' on Planet Mu, Lukid's 'Foma' and Actress' 'Hazyville' - both on Werk Discs, 10-20's self titled album on Highpoint Lowlife and Raekwon's 'Only Built For Cuban Linx 2' on EMI.

Compilations of 2009:

V/A - Beat Dimensions Vol 2 [Rush Hour]

The ultimate snapshot of this new slumped instrumental hip hop music some dare to call wonky; presented over 2 CDs with an insane level of quality control and a tracklist reading like a whose who in beats. I once heard a Beatnicks compilation that assured me of my love for twisted hip hop and this collection of sketches will undoubtedly do the same for legions of newcomers for a long, long time to come. It is simply utterly next level.



V/A - Skweee Tooth [Ramp/Flogsta Danshall]

Criminally overlooked, the ‘Skweee Tooth’ compilation forged relations between Scandinavia’s almost chip tune like electronica (skweee) scene and the fresh injection of 8bit computerisms in hip hop, recording it perfectly for all comers to embrace. Harbouring numerous gems it’s a glorious collation of the scene’s brightest talents with producers like Beatbully and Rigas Den Andre standing tall alongside Daniel Savio and the beautifully christened Wankers United.



V/A – 5 [Hyperdub]

For some 2009 was the year of Hyperdub; and after 5 years in the game and a whole load of interest in label, Kode 9 saw fit to mark the anniversary with a mixture of the old and new. Collecting some of the best and most vital works of Hyperdub artists as varied as Ikonika, Cooly G, Darkstar, King Midas Sound and Samiyam he presented the music beautifully with a 2nd disc of brand new material from label staples and like minded friends like Mala and Flying Lotus.



V/A – Mary Anne Hobbs presents Wild Angels [Planet Mu]

Simply put, I don’t think there is anyone out there who gets as much access to new talent as BBC Radio 1’s Mary Anne Hobbs and her third compilation outing on the Planet Mu showed just that. Reflecting the Sonic Router mentality perfectly she sat tracks from dubstep’s brat pack; Brackles, Untold, Hyetal and Gemmy alongside beats from Hudson Mohawke, Mono/Poly, Nosaj Thing and Teebs to astounding effect.



V/A - Tectonic Plates Vol. 2 [Tectonic]

With 'Tectonic Plates Vol. 2,' label boss Pinch proved that his imprint has the scope to reel in the big dawgs. Speaking to us in an interview at the time Pinch said: “it’s kind of an extension on the idea of the first Tectonic Plates series which was the idea of being Dubstep Allstars with each vinyl plate being a double A side and then a collection of the tracks on CD, kind of like the label highlights, with an upfront dubplate mix on CD 2.” It also housed the first more dubstep structured beat from Flying Lotus in ‘Glendale Galleria.’

Tracks of 2009 (in no ascertainable order):

Untold - Stop What You're Doing (James Blake RMX) [Hemlock]
Instra:mental - Watching You [Non Plus+]
2562 - Like A Dream [Tectonic]
Mount Kimbie - Sketch On Glass [Hotflush]
Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo [Hotflush]
Slugabed - Super Freak [Stuff (White Label)]
Scuba – Symbiosis [Hotflush]
Shackleton - I Want To Eat You [Mordant Music]
Shortstuff - A Rustling [Ramp Recordings]
Joker & Ginz – Purple City/Re-Up [Kapsize]
MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Brackles Remix) [Free DL]
Mono/Poly - Distant Form [Rush Hour]
Guido - Beautiful Complication [Punch Drunk]
Martyn – Vancouver [3024]
Tempa T – Next Hype [No Hats No Hoods]
Rekordah - Mint Milano [C8 Cassette]
Martin Kemp/Mickey Pearce – No Charisma/Innami [Blunted Robots]
Joe – Grimelight [Hessle Audio]
Nosaj Thing -1685/Bach [Alpha Pup]
Low Limit – TrapperKeeper [forthcoming on Numbers]
Pariah - Detroit Falls [R&S]
Hyetal - Gold Or Soul [Soul Motive]
Rigas Den Andre – Distordelle [Ramp Recordings/Flogsta Danshall]
Pearson Sound – Wad [Hessle Audio]
Ikonika vs Eero Johannes - We Could Be Ikons [Planet Mu]
Darkstar - Aidys Girl Is A Computer [Hyperdub]
James Blake - Air & Lack Thereof [Hemlock]
Zomby – Digital Flora [Brainmath]
Pangaea – Memories [White]
Jamie Vex'd - In System Travel EP [Planet Mu]

Please note:
These lists are not definitive. There are so many more (especially for the last category).
This is how the Sonic Router contributors and I felt today, on 17th December 2009.
Tomorrow it would most likely be very different...