This arrives a little late due a touch of flu. But the blog will be back to its old self soon enough. Be sure to also check out the
Top 50 Original Tracks list too.
1. DJ Hell feat Bryan Ferry – U Can Dance (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)
Bettering even the mighty Carl Craig on the remix front, SMD unfold big, plodding bass pads that give way to Bryan Ferry’s strained croon, before embarking on a beautiful, dark techno progression, all techno blips and bops, hissing high-end, gulping beats and sub-aquatic sonics. The track builds and builds into a crescendo of submerged, rushing synths, before reaching its climatic downpour of boulder-sized sonic raindrops. Excellent peak-time ammunition.
2. No Regular Play – Smiling Faces (Soul Clap Remix)
One of the lesser known Soul Clap remixes, this does that rare thing: it trumps the original. The Boston duo smooth out the wonky, incongruous flex of the original, and opt to include that infectious folksy vocal sample in its entirety (rather than NRP’s snatchy snippets). Soul Clap’s snares are sharp and forceful, whilst the compressed bass packs an abrupt punch, making for a soulful, bumpy houser. The track remains one of the catchiest of the year and boasts a rolling, bouncing groove that holds surprising weight on the dancefloor (RTK got a big response after dropping it at the Jackmode vs Pelski).
3. Jamie Woon – Night Air (Ramadanman Refix)
An abstract medley of crackling and fizzing fill the hushed first minute of Ramadanman’s remix – a good indication of where Mr Kennedy’s taking this one – it’s a slow, patient builder. Swathes of swooning bass undercut a tinny rattatat of percussion that shuffles forward coyly, holding back, with a forced restraint, ready to take off at any point. Of course Jamie Woon’s gorgeous vocal work makes the original one of the best tracks of the year. But Ramadanman, inserting a rattling momentum, creates a wonderful sense of the whole thing balancing on the edge, teetering forward, bristling with eager energy and barely contained.
4. The Jackson Five – Dancing Machine (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
This limited edition vinyl release is a tribute to the late, great Michael Jackson; a joint project between Schwarz, Universal/Motown and Wordandsound held in the superstar’s honour. Like Schwarz’s famous Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers edits, it’s simple, and yet technically dazzling stuff. He gives the 1973 hit a funky, Detroit-laden makeover, fitted with a sparkly, retro verve. The result is something so simple and instantly accessible that it even ended up on the Christmas Mix CD I gave to my mum this year…
5. T.Williams – Heartbeat ft Terri Walker (Mosca Remix)
UK Funky can be bland at the best of times. It’s refreshing then to see the consistently cutting-edge Mosca turning in such a cheeky yet magnificent remix and going about it with such fervour (he even inserts his name into the track at one point: “Oh Mosca, you lift me higher.”). On the original, the light-footed latin percussion takes a backseat to the dramatic vocals of Terri Walker. Mosca, on the other hand, ramps up the beats, replacing the timid bobbing of the original with energetic flurries of slapping snares and operatic violins. Those strings sore alongside Walker’s soulful vocals, which unfortunately forces me to describe it with that great misused word: epic.
6. Kaine – Love Saves The Day (Soul Clap Remix)
You may remember Edit-gate (to coin a phrase), the minor controversy surrounding Soul Clap’s Edits EP. They were criticised by one Resident Advisor reviewer for lack of imagination, for downright lazy productions whereby they simply slapped a house kick over a pop track. Well, whatever you might think of recent disco pop edits, Soul Clap proved the naysayers with this beautifully intricate remix of the summer anthem. Their use of old school drum patterns provide an effortless and infectious rhythmic swagger, with neatly dubbed-out vocals and rearranged piano stabs, all in keeping with the original’s elated vibe. A meticulous production.
7. The XX – Crystalised (Dark Sky Remix)
Like the achingly trendy Klaxons before them, The XX – with their gentle, catchy vocals – are ripe for remixing. And so the remixes came in their hoards (from Jamie Jones, Untold, Rory Philips and plenty more), but Dark Sky’s garage rework remains the definitive take. For me it’s the opening that steals the show, the sparse cracking of snares and vocal fragments are spread across the first minute of the track before abruptly dropping into some crisp, snapping 2-step wrapped in warm organ bass. Dark Sky had a big year with highly acclaimed releases on Black Acre and Pictures Music, be sure to keep your eye on them in 2011.
8. Solomun – Hypnotize (Tobi Neumann feat Ilhem Remix)
The opening riff sets the scene, a moody and tantalising guitar leads into a powerful house beat, and when the beat does come it hits hard, a vigorous smack of snares, reminiscent of the more rugged beats of 90s house. That said, it’s a silky smooth production – much less craggy than Solomun’s 2009 original – here positively dripping in sensuous disco funk. There’s a tasty, slightly muted 303 acid line nestled away in there somewhere too.
9. Azari & III – Reckless With Your Love (Tensnake Remix)
The original is a blinding piece of nostalgic vocal house, almost cartoonish in its insistence on screaming ‘Chicago throwback’. And in the downright fun, sing-along diva house department, it can’t really be bettered. But Tensnake’s remix, if possible, retro-fits it even further. Add big chunky cow bells, crashing hi-hats, brash hands-in-the-air breakdowns… and maybe it is an improvement on the original. Who cares, second only to Tensnake’s very own ‘Coma Cat’, it was the ultimate 2010 festival anthem.
10. Ideal - Schöne Frau mit Geld (LoSoul Remix)
Latin conga percussion, marimbas and a thudding bongo kick undescore a laidback, exotic vibe on the LoSoul remix of Ideal’s 1982 gem. It lollops along in a hazy, languid fashion, the exotic melody interrupted occasionally by a clucking marimba and a string of lethargic German lyrics ( that translate as: “I want nothing more than a beautiful woman”). A weird and wonderful track, deliciously carefree and upbeat. And if the German vocals aren’t for you, there’s an extended instrumental mix to boot.
11. Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Arrow and Bow (Marek Hemmann Remix)
12. Zero 7 – Everything Up (Zizou Debruit Remix)
13. Homework – I Got One (You’re It) (Mercury Remix)
14. Soul Clap – Dreams/Bakerman/Wicked Games
15. Markus Nikolai – Bushes (Archie Hamilton’s Innocent Understatement)
16. Maceo Plex – Gravy Train (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
17. Mock and Toof – Shoeshine Boogie (Wolf + Lamb Remix)
18. Ben Watt, Stimming, Julia Biel – Bright Star (Sunset Mix)
19. Fet et Moi – Paris Is For Lovers
20. Nicolas Jarr – Mini Calcutta
21. James Fox – Put it Back (Ramadanman Refix)
22. Ray Okpara feat Nikki – Brainows (Lauhaus & Boris Werner Remix)
23. Buraka Som Sistema – Restless (Julio Bashmore Remix)
24. Destiny’s Child – Bills Bills Bills (Harmonimix Remix)
25. Bibio – Lover’s Carvings (Catz n Dogz Re-edit)
26. Andreas Saag – People Say (Pol_On Remix)
27. N/A featuring Rosina – Fables And Fairytales (Deniz Kurtel Remix)
28. Marc Romboy vs Blake Baxter – Muzik (Kink Remix)
29. The XX – Shelter (John Talabot’s Feel It Too Remix)
30. Grinderman – Heathen Child (Weatherall Remix)
31. Round Table Knights – Belly Dance (Solo (UK) Remix)
32. Lewie Day – That’s The Thing (Lee Curtiss Remix)
33. Brandy – Angel In Disguise (Fantastic Mr Fox Remix)
34. Caribou – Sun (Midland Edit)
35. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Jacques Renault Remix)
36. Mount Kimbie - Maybes (James Blake Remix)
37. Gold Panda – Snow & Taxis (Throwing Snow Remix)
38. Caribou – Jamelia (Dj Koze’s Alarmclock Remix)
39. Mano Le Tough – Baby Let’s Love (Iron Curtis Remix)
40. Alex Moments & Matt Brown – Odette (H.O.S.H. Remix)
41. Gadi Mizrahi & Soul Clap - She's Bad (Remix Of Bad Rabbits)
42. Glimpse – If I Was Your Girl (Simon Baker’s Piano Workout Mix)
43. Zarif – Box Of Secrets (Midland Remix)
44. SLG – Feeling 4 U (Catz n Dogz Remix)
45. Rox – No Going Back (Guido Remix)
46. Tiga – Love Don’t Dance Here Anymore (Carl Craig C2 Remix1)
47. Rodriguez Jr. - Hypotango (Vincenzos Phantom Image Remix)
48. Appleblim, Al Tourettes – Lipsmacker (Deadboy Remix)
49. The XX – VCR (Mathew Dear Remix)
50. De Signer – Suicide Girl (Robin Porter & Subb-An Remix)
