Barring the list I put together in the last post, I've been a bit slow to the game with this end of year list business. Firstly, I have a bit of a dislike to this notion of ordering music of the highest calibre in a tedious list from top to bottom, for example a song at #40 therefore equates to it being 39 positions shitter than the one that reigns supreme at numero uno . . . WRONG! Secondly, there has been an excess of new music, artists and labels cropping up left, right, and centre, which is a + in some ways, but, is also a bit of a - considering that anyone can produce, press and publish their own music, and market it as a super, limited, untitled, marbled lacquer, 180 gram, etc.etc. vinyl, doesn't necessarily mean it's good, leaving people like me with a mountain of fodder to sift through. Essentially, this list is a bit late because of the silly amounts of material I have listened to or discovered throughout 2013. Somehow I have finally managed to whittle it down to some form of concise chart containing some biggies that got a lot of love on the end of year charts, and some unjustly, lesser-known diamonds in the rough that will have the folks at certain online publications (that shouldn't be mentioned) kicking themselves wishing that they stuck it on theirs. I must add that there are a lot of songs that I didn't include on this, but the sole purpose of this list was to give exposure to some tracks that didn't get as much love.
Disclaimer: All of these songs are #1's in their own right.
#35 - Max Graef & Muff Deep - Mambo Jambo [Box Aus Holz]
Young Berliner Max Graef is always on fine form. He has a solid style, sounding like a seasoned producer who has been in the game for years. Muff Deep joins Graef on this cut, producing a chugging, warm slab of house music. Graef has a bit of a reputation for knowing how to work samples in his productions and "Mambo Jambo" shows why.
#34 - Marcellis - You [Millions Of Moments]
Marcellis is a producer who carefully considers his music, swearing by the quality over quantity ethic. The Dutchman's productions are flawless and the releases are sparse. This song from his special "I Am Woman" EP, stood out for me. Fabian's smooth vocals compliment "You" making it sound like quality music that wouldn't seem out of place on daytime radio. Just imagine Fearne Cotton gushing about Marcellis on Radio 1.
#33 - Lake People - Brooklyn [Permanent Vacation]
Words from a previous post of mine:
"Under his Lake People alias, Leipzig’s Martin Enke makes atmospheric electronica. His forthcoming EP out on Permanent Vacation is an experiment fusing Ambient and IDM stylings, building them around an organic piano-loop that gives way to a prominent lead synth and ends up sounding somewhere between Aphex Twin and Isolée."
#32 - Talski - Canyons [Rivulet Records]
A stunning debut from Niklas Kraft under his Talski alias on the new-ish Rivulet Records out of Berlin. The song clocks in at exactly 10 minutes, and although consisting of simple repetition, the progression of the whirring, analogue chord at the heart of the song is trance-inducing, tear-jerking and definitely one that should be filed under the sunset / sunrise category. Kraft's use of obscure samples (cooking TV show chatter, murmurs supporting "the holy war against commercialism" and TV shows, the description of a car crash) that fill the first 3 or so minutes is also something to admire.
#31 - Mr Beatnick - Parallax Scroll [Don't Be Afraid]
Mr Beatnick's Parallax Scroll taking the rave to rehab, structured with chopped up amen breaks, ravey key stabs reminiscent of the nostalgic Hardcore / Rave sound that had a bit of a comeback in 2013, the song's ethereal synths that wash over the old-skool chaos provide its soothing backbone.
#30 Elgato - Dunkel Jam [White Label]
Following two stand-out release on Hessle Audio, Elgato continues to affirm his status as one of the most interesting producers in the experimental spectrum of electronic music.
#29 - Philipp Matalla - Alright [Kann]
Philipp Matalla's 'Alright' is a sun-kissed, slow burner with an unmistakably solid groove - that bassline is partly why Matalla's track made it in this list. The use of Bob Dylan's "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleedin')" adds to the beauty of this track, complimenting Philipp Matalla's musicality.
#28 - Kit Grill - Prism [Primary Colours Records]
NTS associate Kit Grill released the fruits of his labour in 2013 with the impressive 'Mirror Image' LP on GETME!, along with his self-released 'Expressions' EP which the above track of organic, minimalist electronica features on. The track's versatility drew me in, Prism would go down well on a large sound system in a packed club, just as much as it would in the domestic environment.
#27 - Seven Davis Jr. - All Kinds [Must Have Records]
Seven Davis Jr's "All Kinds" is soulful, funk with balls. With claps that snap and reverberating vocals, SDJR opts for a raw, lo-fi sound, as opposed to the clean production that is prevalent in the genre. It also really works a dancefloor, having seen Jay Daniel play it out at Rhythm Section back in November.
#26 Erdbeerschnitzel - Cushion [Delsin]
Following on from Tim Keilling's 2012 Mirau-released 'Tender Leaf' LP, Erdbeerschnitzel's EP on Delsin firmly cements his position as a producer doing things on a level that is entirely their own.'Cushion' shows Keilling crafting his own identifiable sound without resorting to the latest hype-worthy trends dance music has to offer. The track has a real looseness to it, along with the acoustic and organic instrumentation, both are very welcoming, considering the 'X' amount of artists making their productions sound like they have all been maxed out into the red.
#25 - Alex Burkat - Shower Scene [Mister Saturday Night]
Alex Burkat's ability to risk blending orchestral string sections with electronic sounds and noises, allows him to produce an off-kilter style of electronica sounding like no other. An member of staff at Resident Advisor hit the nail on the head branding Burkat's style as "Arcade Fire House".
#24 - Terrence Dixon As Population One - Self Portrait [Monique Musique]
One of the unsung heroes of Minimal Techno, Detroit's Terrence Dixon under his Population One guise. Terrence Dixon works the less is more formula, a beatless, super trippy track + warped vocals + a synth pattern that puts the listener into a trance / on edge, makes for some mesmerising listening.
#23 - Orson Wells - Leaving [Live At Robert Johnson]
Frankfurt's Lennard Poschmann provided 2013 with one of electronic music's most stunning moments. Taken from the 'Lonely No More' EP, - released on Live At Robert Johnson, the label behind the legendary German clubbing institution - lead track 'Leaving' inner beauty derives from the cascading and gentle keys, soaring synthesizer sonics, melodic marimbas and xylophones, and a percussive shaker pattern sounding like a swarm of crickets on a balmy night. The subtlety of the production is also a key factor to its allure with the delicate use of a 303 creeping in, but never peaking, and providing a turning point for this sublime piece.
#22 - D'Marc Cantu - Size and Shape [Crème Organization]
Keeping up with his flawless discography, D'Marc Cantu had a stellar 2013 with some solid releases. His 'Alternate Frequency' EP on the highly revered Crème Organization provided 2013 with one of its hands-in-the-air moments 'Size & Shape'. The lead hook, offbeat claps and cowbells makes it sound like a sci-fi hybrid Electro-House-Techno jam, whilst still sounding like an aged gem from the late 80s. Instant earworm.
#21 - Joe - Slope [Hessle Audio]
Joe returns to Hessle Audio after three years. Like 'Claptrap', 'Slope' is another timeless release. Joe utilises the minimal yet effective approach that he has become synonymous with. Sporadic, percussive elements, muffled vocal cuts and a druggy drone sounding like Chewbacca wailing build throughout the first three minutes. As the title suggests, 'Slope' gains momentum, a throbbing sub erupts and Chewbacca now sounds like a sci-fi freak with a mission to fizz your brain cells. Joe at his best.
#20 - Fred P - Reach [A Harmless Deed]
Every Fred Peterkin composition pays a strong attention to the finer details, no one quite layers their ideas and sonical textures quite like him. 'Reach' is an example of one of the many Fred P trance-inducing, psychedelic sermons.
#19 - Greg Beato - Respect The 78 [Apron]
By far one of the shining stars of 2013, and I have high expectations for what 19 year old Greg Beato has in store for this year. There's no doubt he will pull it out of the bag. In terms of my favourite Beato joint from last year, it was tough to pick, but this cut from his debut EP on Funkineven's Apron label really stood out. 'Respect The 78' is a 13 minute expedition of sinister, raw, disjointed, head-fuck techno.
#18 - Ttam Renat - Messages [Mood Hut]
Vancouver's Mood Hut collective had a killer string of releases on wax and cassette in 2013, with staple names such as Aquarian Foundation, Local Artist and Cloudface joining the fold. There is scarce information on him, however Ttam Renat had heads frothing at their chops with his brand of Tropical, New-Age Dance music. "Messages"'s ethereal opening sequence, filled with bird sounds and otherworldly synthesizers set an exotic backdrop contrasted by the striking analog-laden bassline and nostalgic percussive elements referencing House music's golden era, allowing parallels to be drawn with 808 State's milestone track "Pacific 202".
#17 - Andras Fox Ft. Oscar S Thorn - What They Say [Dopeness Galore]
Melbourne's Andras Fox's Embassy Café was another highlight from 2013, blending House - in a similar vein to Larry Heard and cult acts Dream 2 Science and Virgo Four - and Smooth eighties Funk jams.'What They Say" is complimented by Oscar S Thorn's vocals and the lush lead chords with the potency to melt chocolate, the twinkling keys floating above Thorn's vocals let Andras's musicality shine through. Like most of Embassy Café, "What They Say" is effortlessly simple, but still effective, and it never gets old.
#16 - Tambien - Sexalität [Public Possession]
Public Possession brainchild - as well as being 2/3 of the production trio - Tambien, released their track 'Robusto / Sexalität' EP inaugurating the Munich record store's off-shoot label in the summer of 2013. Tambien's 'Sexalität' stood out with its beastly bassline and swinging drums giving the song real drive, the vocal raises the tempo and when the bass creeps back in, makes 'Sexalität' an ultimate peak-timer.
You can hear a longer clip of the track from Truss and Tessela's recent Boiler Room, c. 19:20 mark :
#15 - Gnork - Blorp93 [Blind Jacks Journey]
'Blorp93' one of the two offerings from Gnork on Blind Jacks Journey's v/a 'Dream House Volume 1.2' EP was one of the most refreshing takes on the Jungle / Rave revivalism that was ubiquitous in 2013. The first minute and a bit sound like 'Blorp93' could just be another super-deep house track -which is all well and good -, however when the pitch-shifted piano line and breakbeat kicks, the song is transformed into this ravey-deep house hybrid. Gnork breaks the mould and flips these various styles on their head taking from something tried and tested, to create something unique.
#14 - Levon Vincent - ??? [Novel Sound]
Levon Vincent is often credited for his dark, stripped-down sound. For his eighth release on Vincent's 'Novel Sound' imprint, '???' provided the EP's grooviest (can that word be used in the context of Vincent's music?). Levon's sound is instantly identifiable from the grainy kick and hi-hat's sounding like sandpaper put through a compressor, claps that sound like, well, thunder-claps and a fidgety bassline that jumps all over the place winning listeners over all the time.
#13 - A Sagittariun - The Mojo Odyssey [Elastic Dreams]
A Sagittariun's music is well thought out. The mystery man from Bristol released his debut album 'Dream Ritual', last year. The record provided a cinematic listening experience, an album with a very versatile scope, predominantly with its focus shifted to home-listening. This ethos is also evident in the 12"s he has released, with each EP having a wide variety of ideas, but leaning closer to a club setting. Self-released on his Elastic Dreams label, 'The Mojo Odyssey' is ambient-tinged, atmospheric Techno with a sound firmly rooted in the present, but also harking back to the styles of early Aphex Twin and Luke Slater. Vigorous subs ricochet of hyperactive percussion and a manipulated, repetitive stab conjuring the song's evocative mood.
#12 - Anthony Naples - I Don't See Them [Rubadub]
Consiering Anthony Naples has a back catalogue that consists of no more than 5 EPs, he sounds like a veteran with a distinguishable character to his records. His 'Mad Disrespect' release on Mister Saturday Night in 2012 was a particular highlight and had many eager to see what else Anthony would pull out of the bag, hoping that he was not a one-trick pony. That he is not. In fact, he is one of the shining hopes of electronic music today, his white label on Rubadub proves why. 'I Don't See Them' instantly propels the listener with its booming kick - a stark contrast - to the dubby textures that wash over the top, sounding like the closest sonic representation of clouds, seriously deep 'n' floaty business.
#11 - Tuff Sherm - Burglar Loops [The Trilogy Tapes]
Tuff Sherm's EP on Will Bankhead's incredibly consistent Trilogy Tapes provided an invigorating listening experience. Real name, Eugene Hector a.k.a. Dro Carey, Hector's title track from the Burglar Loops EP was off-kilter, sinister Techno-not-quite-Techno, developed through an odd combination that works really well. A chopped 'n' screwed Mobb Deep sample loops, whilst highly emotive and haunting chords rise, setting the gloomy mood that persists throughout. Along with the rest of the EP and his work as Dro Carey, Tuff Sherm has a reluctance to sit on one idea or sound, you can't really pigeonhole or put a finger on what you're hearing, all you know is that Eugene Hector has a capability to make music that evokes feelings whilst taking risks and sounding entirely his own.
#10 - Palms Trax - Equation [Lobster Theremin]
Palms Trax’ ‘Equation’ was another stand out release from 2013, that simultaneously helped in launching the Lobster Theremin imprint, a promising label that will have me along with many others keeping their ears close to the ground. Berlin resident Jay Donaldson a.k.a. Palms Trax dropped this mighty slice of goodness, the incredibly melodic strings and uplifting chords, killer analog-heavy bassline, and retro-leaning percussive patterns make ‘Equation’ sound like it’s fresh out of late 80s Chicago / Detroit, but it has a very polished, fresh feeling to it, preventing Palms Trax from sounding like another flash-in-the-pan pastiche.
#9 – DJ Fett Burger & DJ Speckgürtel – Speckbass [Sex Tags UFO]
Anything that surfaces from any of the Sex Tags affiliated sub labels is ace in my book. They seem to have all bases covered when it comes to their aesthetic, there is the weird + wonderful cover art, the humorous slogans and words that adorn the labels on the vinyl, to the odd-ball takes on electronic, experimental and leftfield music that they release. The Sex Tags family kind of have a tongue-in-cheek-ness surrounding them and the way they approach their work. These tongue-in-cheek references are clearly evident in DJ Fett Burger (Sex Tags brainchild, along with his bro DJ Sotofett) and DJ Speckgürtel’s ‘Speckbass’. There is a willingness to explore, experiment and risk noodling around with off the wall ideas. ‘Speckbass’ covers a broad span of styles, a deceiving opening sounds like it could be another one of those raw, lo-fi tracks à la L.I.E.S., but with the added ingredients of marimbas and an in your face slap bass the track’s direction completely shifts. I would often feel that funked-out slap bass in a traditionally house framework would sound out of place, however Fett Burger’s and Speckgürtel’s effort feels so natural under the Sex Tags imprint.
#8 – Floorplan – Never Grow Old [M-Plant]
The sole intention for most of the stuff on this list was to devote coverage to some spot-on music, that didn’t get as much love on the end of year lists. Aside from a couple other biggies in this list, Floorplan’s ‘Never Grow Old’ was always going to make it on here. Having been active longer than I have been alive, Robert Hood is one of those talents that you can always expect a high standard. As a devout Christian, Hood effortlessly fuses the two core - and unlikely combination of - passions, his faith and Techno. His house-leaning Floorplan alias provided 2013 with one its best long players, choc-a-bloc with stonking house and techno cuts, delivered and produced in only the way Mr Hood can. ‘Never Grow Old’ was one of these tracks, it was inescapable last year, having been on heavy rotation from a considerable array of House and Techno DJs. Hood’s usage of Aretha Franklin’s vocal is distinctive, allowing her gospel preaches to take full control of the song. Hood’s instrumentation takes the backseat, but progressively escalates with the shimmering chord stabs, shuffling hi-hats and jackin’ kick/clap pattern coming into prominence, hitting boiling point and correlating with Franklin’s soaring sermon chant.
#7 – Galcher Lustwerk – Leisure [White Material]
The ‘Working Man’s Techno’ force White Material were everywhere in 2013, constantly surrounded with hype, and never failing to live up to it. Brooklyn’s Galcher Lustwerk was one of the core members from the White Material family who particularly felt what it was like to be at the receiving end of the buzz that was generating around the label throughout 2013. Both his ‘Blowing Up The Workshop’ mixtape and the ‘Tape 22’ EP ignited the hype machine, gaining Lustwerk a whole lot of attention. His blend of nocturnal R&B and deeper house and techno aesthetics developed a whole new sound that was – although often affiliated with – as far removed from the noisy, raw breed of electronica that was pervasive last year. ‘Leisure’ embodied this sound, with dreamy, wailing textures opening out the track and 808 cowbells galloping, with Galcher’s softly spoken vocals floating across the tunes atmosphere. The only downside, the song lasts for 3 and half minutes, it’s one of those jams that could go on forever allowing you to wallow its hypnotic vibe. ‘Leisure’s teaser certainly fired Galcher Lustwerk up to the top of my list of producers to keep an ear out for, I’m just waiting for what Lustwerk drops in 2014, no doubt it will pop off.
#6 – R-Zone 05 – nRg Zone (Happy Mix) [R-Zone]
The Crème Organization-affiliated R-Zone came into prominence this year, releasing music strongly influenced by 80s/90s hedonism and the Hardcore / Jungle / Rave sound that was strong around the era. Initially, all of the R-Zone releases refused to name those responsible behind each responsible release, but with time, music-geeks have managed to unmask some of the figures - from JD Twitch to Willie Burns - behind these works of art. It was ‘nRg Zone (Happy Mix)’ from R-Zone 05 that stood out for me, although the sound was heavily referencing something that was from the past and not covering anything ground breaking, I did welcome the sound’s return. Tuff City Kids (Gerd Janson & Lauer) were the guys behind the release, all of their releases both solo and together as Tuff City Kids have always been solid. The track has all the clichés of the sound that R-Zone focuses around, but it is the finesse of T.C.K’s production skills that play a big part in pulling off a style that had grown saturated over two decades ago.
You can hear a longer clip of the track over at Prosumer's Boiler Room, c. 36 minute mark:
#5 – Florian Kupfer – Feelin’ [L.I.E.S.]
You’ve got to give Ron Morelli’s L.I.E.S. a whole lot of credit, in 2013, the label had about thirty releases. When you think of the amount of labels that highly regard quality over quantity and release about 3 EPs in a year, and then you look at L.I.E.S. who released 10 times that and each record is of a strong standard, Morelli must be doing something right. ‘Feelin’ was clearly L.I.E.S’ biggie from 2013, and what has become a pattern for the label, also gave breath to a fresh and promising talent in the name of Florian Kupfer. The track ticks all the boxes for ‘that’ L.I.E.S. sound, but goes a bit further, with Kupfer emphasising the minor chord melody that intertwines around the 909 drums that bleed and hiss into the track’s audio. The other talent lies in the ability to completely fuck around with a vocal, manipulating the female vocal, allowing it to match the track’s sombre mood. Add to all of this, the driving bassline with drips of acid, and you’ve got a versatile track that would tear it up in a peak-time warehouse, or albeit during a sunrise or sunset to cap off a magical moment.
#4 – Joey Anderson – Press Play [Latency]
With his brand of sparse, emotive and abstract techno, Joey Anderson potentially had the greatest 2013 out of all the producers I listened to. His distinctive sound frequently pricked the ears up of music fans, bloggers and DJs alike. His songs were renowned for their off-kilter structure, weird choice of instrumentation and the all-round aura that permeated throughout his productions. These are tracks made for maxing out at home, but they can also be used as the vital stepping-stones for warming up and paving a journey for a psychedelic, set. Moreover, a track like ‘Press Play’ could be a perfect choice for a dark and emotive moment around the 5-am mark, with its indecipherable vocal, trippy synths, reverberating hi-hats, and the spine-tingling piano line. Having seen Joey play at secretsundaze last summer, I know for a fact that his sound really works in warming up the dancefloor, taking them on a trance-enduring trip. With a album in the works on Dekmantel, we could be having an early contender for album of the year, and hopefully be seeing him play out in the UK a lot more.
#3 – Jordan GCZ – Crybaby J [Off Minor Recordings]
I didn’t really see this on too many end of year lists, and I can’t understand why. Already known as one half of analog improv-freaks Juju & Jordash and a third of Magic Mountain High, the quality of Jordan Czamanski’s solo material is undoubtedly on a par with the other projects he is involved in. ‘Crybaby J’ helped Jordan kick off his Off Minor imprint with a big fucking amazing / tear-jerking BANG! Crybaby J starts off with the ethereal, glowing, yet sombre synths, creating a musical atmosphere that would be expectant from Mr Czamanski. The song’s harrowing tone takes a turn, sounding even more sorrowful with the beautiful, wailing synth (hence the Crybaby reference in the title) shifting the listener’s attention throughout, add to this the pads that fade in and out, and the woeful vocal harmonies in the background, the song could have the power to make Prosumer use up a whole pack of Kleenex during the tracks duration. The song certainly moved me in the same way, music that has the power to do this is a timeless and deserves all the praise it can get. In a time when so much music has lost its sense of feeling and emotion, just generic “bangers” tossed around left, right + centre, it’s great to have music that still exists with this much feeling and depth.
#2 – Breaker 1 2 – 2 [Forbidden Planet]
Released on the newly-established Forbidden Planet, the label behind the radio show and monthly party of the same name, ‘2’ was a house track in a similar vein to the lo-fi heavy house sound that dominated the underground in 2013. The only difference with ‘2’ is that it takes the raw’n’rugged style to great, new heights. When I first heard it played out I was instantly won over by the ambient Boards of Canada-esque chords that provided the backdrop for the contrasting warehouse-ready, shuffling hi-hat-thumping kick – clap combo that rattles the whole song to its bare bones. It’s a haunting listen that left a lasting impression on me. I was curious to find more music from this unknown pseudonym, but as of yet no luck. One Discogs user believes it could be Greg Beato behind the alias, considering Breaker 1 2 hails from Florida, so does Greg. More explicitly, an old Forbidden Planet mix on their soundcloud page shows the track listed at the end of the mix with Mr Beato’s name written backwards, this all match up. Their styles are very similar too, and Greg Beato has a track record for releasing sublime music. If it is him, bearing in mind that he is only 19 and releasing stuff like this, well, it’s safe to say he can be considered a true great in the House and Techno realm from our generation.
#1 – Even Tuell & Midnightopera – Untitled B2 [Workshop]
An Even Tuell release does not come round very often, so when his collaboration with Midnightopera, surfaced on the unstoppable Workshop, it was bound to be special. The limited release (and excessively expensive, peep discogs) was made up of three untitled cuts, but it was the second track on the B-side that absolutely stunned me. The track is incredibly simple, yet, incredibly effective with a melancholic 4-chord sequence repeating throughout, surrounded with a background of filtered, field recordings, pittering hi-hats, and conflicting claps and dubby-drums. As the song progresses, it feels like there are two songs playing at once with each form of instrumentation having an accompanying and contrasting contribution to the track’s structure. In what appears to be a very simple track, the tiny attention to detail, and the reserve and delicacy that the track contains without losing any of its energy, truly makes it a leading masterpiece from 2013. I’m not going to spoil this track with too many words, just close your eyes, listen and zone off for 9 minutes * repeat as necessary *.
