Unlike previous years I bought next to no singles this year which really has affected my ability to judge the tracks of the year. This year my methods of music consumption were basically either through mixes on my ipod, or buying whole albums (usually old albums) on vinyl for home consumption.

Despite all this a few things managed to slip through and become firm favourites so lets take a look at a couple of them. I’m hoping to look at about 10 or so that really made a strong impact.

Ramadanman – Humber

This was floating around on a couple of appleblim’s mixes last year which might explain the lack of excitement that seemed to be around when this song was released this year. ‘Humber’ is a beautiful fusion of wooshy detroit synths and deep drums. Sven Weisemann came through with a nice deep house remix. The dubstep/techno crossover remained interesting to me this year after really making an impact last year, and this record is a prime example. Ramadanman was the producer of one of my favourite tracks of last year too – definitely one of my favourite producers at present.

Floating Points – Vacuum Boogie

I don’t really know much about floating points. This track is at the start of Scott Grooves’ very good FACT mix. I tend to listen to it a lot on the train so I’ve come to associate it with journeys, and I like the way this track builds its way up and up into heavier and heavier levels of bass.

Untold – Just For You

If the last 2 were a bit polite, here is something a tad heavier. Untold with his work on Hemlock, Hessle Audio and recently Hot Flush (basically a list of my favourite dubstep labels) has had a strong year. Really like the garagey aspects on this one and the way the whole thing sounds like it is falling down a hole in several parts. Looking forward to much more from Untold in 2010.

Donato Dozzy and Cio D’or – Menta

Mick and I were both fans of Cio D’ors’ work a few years ago, and it has been good to see her re-emerge this year amidst this darker techno sound that seems to be gaining traction from labels like Time to Express and Prologue. I didn’t make it to the Labyrinth festival in Japan this year, I am absolutely determined to do so next year. I did however enjoy a lot of this stuff. ‘Menta’ is a really deep, rolling tune that I heard in a lot of mixes this year, looking forward to more of this stuff next year.

Ame – Setsa

Ame and Innervisions had another good year with some strong releases. ‘Setsa’ has a good combination of catchiness and weirdness to get you hooked and keep you hooked. Had to pick this one up. Great work from them as well on ‘The Grandfather Paradox’ which I have kept going back to throughout the year.

That is it for today! Back with 5 more at some point soon!

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It’s times like this when you need the support of the BMP brothers. None of my close group of friends are overly keen on the idea of going out till 6 in the morning and others who could have been keen were either away for easter or not going to A Critical Mass and the Mulletover gig. No reason not to go though.

I got to Secretsundaze around 12.30, not early enough for the workshop, but seeing as i’m no producer, probably no great loss. I checked out the horsemeat disco room before heading down for the end of James Priestley’s set. Nothing overly memorible, though still good.

Dixon played for an hour from 2-3 before the rest of the Innervisions crew joined him on-stage. The crowd seemed kind of sober. It seemed like there were a few music nerds there mainly just to see Henrik play and see how well this live Innervisions thing works. Felt slightly sorry for the girl searching the floor for her bag of whateveritwasshelost and had a quick look myself..

From a silent start there was a massive applause before they went in to a couple of minutes of airy electro screams… then it was straight in to what can be seen below..

Critical Mass Secretsundaze

Dixon closest to the camera with Henrik in the middle and Kristian and Frank on the other end.

As expected they dropped D.P.O.M.P’s ‘ohh’ vocal in a few times through the hour, like how they do on the Grandfather Paradox.
Henrik was fantastic, as expected. Bobbed his head hardcore everytime something major was thrown in.

A Critical Mass Secretsundaze Easter Weekend

Kristian came on after their set but i was knackered and it was 4.30 so figured i best save myself for the long weekend and caught a few night buses home..

Sunday rolled around way too fast and it was time to go see Pedro, Rhadoo and DJ Deep after spending the whole afternoon and evening drinking champagne at a friends easter champagne ‘breakfast’.

The venue was again in Southwark, like the last mulletover i went to when Raresh played.. It was a cool venue, with the sound ranging from good to bad through the night.. I never did find room 2 where Greg Wilson was playing, which kinda pissed me off. One bouncer gave me very vague directions but i had a feeling the curtain in to the “VIP” room he was standing infront of is where Greg was behind..?

I managed to convince a flatmate to come and use the spare ticket i had but she was overly keen to indulge so i left her to it in the mainroom where Pedro and Rhadoo seemed to be going through the motions. Pedro was playing 12-2. What i saw was good but not amazing.. Rhadoo 2-4. Probably not the best time to see them (think after party). I think as a headliner Raresh is the one i’d be keen to see most again. He seems to have the most fun. DJ Deep was incredible. Started with very basic channel sounding drums which kicked off a set full of big drums and deep/thick bass. The room was much cooler than the overly hot and slightly agro/pushy (mostly due the it being so packed) mainroom where PIA:R were playing.. Unfortunately i forgot my camera so didn’t get any footage of DJ Deep but i really wish i had remembered it. There were definitely some Deeply Rooted tracks thrown in, but i was a bit too drunk to remember what exactly.

I caught the last 10 minutes of Rhadoo and it seemed like the room was thinning slightly. It was starting to get the right vibe for one of their sets but again 4.15 rolled around and Rhadoo left the stage and so off i went, collecting a Geddes promo mix on my way out, which i’ll try and listen to some time this week.

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Deerhunter – Weird Era Cont/Microcastle
Back when Atlas Sound came out at the start of the year, i thought my love affair was over with Bradford Cox. Turns out, it wasn’t His solo-ish side project Atlas Sound turned out to be a much needed breath of fresh air from the Deerhunter sound. I still haven’t listened to it nearly enough to warrent it a place in my favourite albums. I think the fact he wrote most of it about being stuck in hospital beds and in his room turned me a bit off to begin with, but like anything Mr Cox does, it took some time to grow.

Fluorescent Grey Ep from last year was quite easily one of my favourite records. It would sit on rotate for days on end in my car, which was perfect for my 20 minute or so drive to work. Yes- i bought the CD.
Both Microcastle and Weird Era Cont do what so many bands seem to struggle with these days. They hook you in with good melodies. What i like most about Deerhunter is how messy it can get, once they have you hooked in, while still staying focussed. Anyone who has seen interviews with Bradford Cox knows he just loves to, in lack of a better term, ‘Jam’ and so it’s actually the droney, sloppyness of their production that ads the most character. http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/
Never Stops
Slow Swords

Hercules and Love Affair – S/T
Andrew Buttler, who once upon a time dated Derrick Carter, really knows how to write excellent disco. I was so overly hyped for this album. Cassique#2/Roar was such a brilliant record and it wasn’t till this was released that i even found out that Antony Hegarty, of Antony and the Johnsons fame, was the ‘vocal’ on Roaaaar. It’s a real shame Antony isn’t able to perform with them live, but seeing them at the Soho Revue Club in Soho with Benny, really proved how amazing this record is. Nomi (the hotest transexual ever) holding her own in replicating Antony’s parts. I do urge you to give this album a go despite what you may feel about Antony’s vocals. Maybe put it on while you’re cooking a BBQ on a hot Sunday afternoon or something.. Enough about you, this album still blows me away.
Raise me up

Beck – Modern Guilt
I know… obvious choice… but thing is there’s not that many albums that i like that I can put on in just about any scenario and it will work. I’ve liked Beck for as long as i can remember. I was even considering writting up his Mutations album as my BMP Album review thingy but flagged that when i realised it wasn’t that apt to what the BMP really stand for. Dance music!
Danger Mouse has done some good and some not so good over the past 5 or so years, whenever it was he did the Grey Album. I was actually kind of bummed when i found out that Beck had him produce this. There’s definitely parts of this album, like Cold Brains, which resemble Caribou/Manitoba which is not such a bad thing because Beck has a pretty cool voice, which is something i think Caribou sometimes lacks.
Walls

Quiet Village – Silent Movie
I was so late to the party on this one. I’m sure these guys have been discussed in the BMP but i’m all the way over here and it kind of just passed me by till quite recently. Apparently heaps of people aren’t all that in to Radio Slave (thanks Nick for pointing out this is RS). Me on the other hand, i’m totally in to him and this side project of his choice! I found myself running to catch a bus a few weeks ago to the opening of Circus of Horror and somehow it worked so well i found myself chuckling, just as i hopped on the bus, the song kicked in to the ‘oh, Hai, hai, hai’.
Circus of Horror

David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything that happens will happen today
OHMYGOD! Two old bastards still making fun music. Yea, yea they’re not exactly pushing boundries or bulldozing any walls with this but it’s not always about making music people will have to grow to love. I instantly enjoyed listening to this and it hasn’t worn thin yet. I’ve never really bought or even downloaded Roxy Music but i’ve been quite a fan of David Byrne and The Talking Heads since i was 6 and Burning Down the House was the soundtrack to the Nerds house burning down on Revenge of the Nerds.
Obvious fact – this is the first time they have made an album together in over 25 years.
Life is Long

Ame – Fabric 42
Strictly not an ‘album’, but i have to include this because it was easily my favourite in what turned out to be quite a strong year of Fabric Mixes. Luciano, Metro Area and Robert Hood rounding it off pretty well. What i like the most about this album and the way that Frank and Kristian work is the way they slowly build track upon track, layer, upon layer. From the opening Linkwood ‘Hear the sun’ in to the dark, druggieness of Even Tuell’s Untitled and then to bumping Minilogue & KAB That’s A Nice Way To Give Me Feedback (Wighnomy Brothers Quintenzirkel Remikks) This combo gets me everytime i listen and has been amazing while late night tubing around London.
Favourite record on the mix goes to Berlin Dub, which waits for me patiently on vinyl back at my parents house.
Mixworks – Berlin Dub

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Lie down in the light
Still pretty annoyed that the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy concert that i went to with Wayde in Berlin was the night after completing a 3 day Amsterdam bender. I smelt so bad. I think the girl sitting next to me could even smell me and slowly edged herself closer to her boyfriend. That would have been my body trying to get rid of every ounce of toxen i’d stuffed it with
Will Oldham is already recording his next album, which is due out some time early next year.
Where is the Puzzle

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – S/T
The most amazing thing that has come from the BMP is the amount of quality music i’ve been exposed to that i wouldn’t have otherwise. There’s no way i ever would have heard these 2 sisters and brother (Kitty 20, Daisy 16 and Lewis 18) if it wasn’t for everyones favourite short wearing daktari. I was lucky enough to see these kids play along with their parents at the Cabaret club Madame Jojos in Soho a few weeks ago. Seeing them jump from instrument to instrument is something anyone into music would admire. Mum on the double bass and Dad on the guitar were very quiet throughout the show, barely saying a word each and just letting their kids do what they’ve obviously been doing from an early age. There’s so much fun on this record. Have a party, turn this up loud and watch people in the room.

Lee Jones – Electronic Frank
Last year was pretty massive for house/techno producers LP’s. Efdemin, Pantha Du Prince, Apparat. There’s probably quite a few I missed this year while i was traveling and not really keeping up. I have been enjoying this though. Parts of it actually remind me alot of the Dial guys, the way it stabs at dark basslines and wanders around the keys. Fade outs are a bit annoying but that’s just something you come to expect with House LP’s.
Shoe Shine

Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dymphna
Gang Gang Dance lead the New York Boardrum 8/8/8 drumming while the organisers/conductors, the Boredoms this year performed it over in LA. In the beginning this wasn’t exactly the easiest of albums to love due to them taking on almost too many influences (Grime and Italians do it better styled disco to name a few). I even cringed a little at first when Tinchy Stryder starts rhyming on Princes. The more i’ve listened though, the more the good parts have outshone the bad. Like the transition from opening Bebey to First Communion. Afoot and everybodys favourite House Jam sort of round off the second half of the album nicely. Live they should be quite fun, so i’ve got 5 tickets for some close friends and me to go see them next February.
House Jam

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Saw these on Faith. They’re recorded off some Spanish radio station live from somewhere. I’m really enjoying the Henrik Schwarz mix. Still haven’t managed to see him live. His mix is here.
Also a mix from Frank of Ame, Dixon and Marcus Worgull

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From one house legend to another – Tony Humphries has mixed the latest MOS compilation entitled “Moments In House” which is full of classic 90s house and garage including work from Sagat, Todd Terry, MAW, X-Press 2, Romanthony etc…

And lastly, following on from their awesome Fabric mix cd, Ame have a 60 minute RBMA mix available here.

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What the hell is this stuff???

I have been finding me as much Cassy, Miss Fitz, Mara Trax stuff as possible of late. Its all super deep jackin house in the style of early Chicago house as in it uses an 808 and not a hell of a lot else. I can’t get enough presently!

May I recommend these readers:

Miss Fitz – Drifting on

Cassy – April

Mara Trax – Let Goose

Miss Fitz – Colici (Sascha Dive’s dark beat mix)

Delightful!

Also can’t go too far with out mentioning the beaut Afefe Iku mix of Ruff Way – Rhythm & Sound (Afefe Iku remix)

immediately figured, `Why would ya bother that old dog? It is pretty much perfect how it is but, as usual, me wuz wrong…..

The Ame Fabric is a very good listen too, which has come to be expected from these guys. I still barely go a month with out feeling the urge to re-run either Dessous Skin is In or Ame Mixing

Top drawer gear there.

Oh and heres Petre Inspirescu/Pedro smashing it in Romania

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a DJ mix by Rob Warner

http://www.sendspace.com/file/t3hrf3
Get in quick! Rob Warner mixes are rare as Rocking Horse shit!
Some very nice house of all descriptions present here
Ta Robert!

MORITZ VON OSWALD + TIKIMAN live PA @ shanti, moscow 11-4-08
http://sound.modelfruit.com/sets/moritz_von_oswald_with_tikiman_-_shanti_11.04.08.mp3
This is a live mix by our perennial deeply dubby favourites Moritz Von Oswald and Tikiman.
Ya may know these guys from a few top lps as Rhythm & Sound, Maurizo 12′s or Basic Channel.
Nice for ya sunday morning wake up, and always leads to the question of….
“is it too early for a bucket bong?”
Mountain People @ Studio 80 Amsterdam 28/6/08 http://www.p45.ch/sounds/mixes/rozzoAtStudio80_28062008.zip
new mountain people set!! awesome!
Bumpy deep `haus’ from the Amsterdam. Benny is keen on this, so it must be good!
or we will give him shit forever if its not!

Also don’t miss out on Bob’s new Podcast either, go the Anti Folk Discombobulation
http://www.stink-finger.com/bob-stink-finger-podcast-02/

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On the new records front, have a goosey at this un!
The new Innervisions by some of our fave germans. Proper house music

Henrik Schwarz, Ame & Dixon DPOMB EP (12″)
DPOMB” (version 1) http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF323102-01-01-01.mp3
DPOMB” (version 2) http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF323102-01-02-01.mp3

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