Its around the December period when the music world pretty much slows to a gradual hault, usually as producers and artists take an educated breather in anticipation of making an impact in the new year. But where a fresh intake of music and mixtapes may otherwise be a downside, this gives us a rare and welcome opportunity to take a breather and look back on a year that changed the face and identity of electronic music not just on an national but International scale.
Largely through the ever increasing Blogosphere, Clubs, Radio DJ’s and gradual mainstream support, the demand for a new sound in the wake of the “Dubstep boom” actually birthed a new trend in itself, sub-styles initially proclaimed as ‘Post-Dubstep’. Revivalist house, UK Garage and Funky intricately measured with elements of jungle and Nu-Disco saw a wave of Producers emerge through 2011, and judging by the overwhelmingly positive response by club-goers who are ditching the wobbles in favour for 808 samples and analogue synths has ultimately been a winner for House producers all round.
Looking back over the past 12 months we’ve gone ahead and attempted the almighty challenge of ranking what we think are the biggest heavyweight tunes of 2011 and added a few words as to why the ten chosen are worthy. Drum roll please…
#10:Rustie – After Light
His album was described as “the most high-resolution, romantic expression of sheer musical freedom that you’ll hear this year” by senior mogul’s Fact Mag and in all honesty, like fellow Glaswegian and sparring partner Hudson Mohawke he has curated a sound incoparable with any of the scene’s leading stars and the result is something very special.
Imagine the best elements of dubstep mating with the soul of electro and if the resulting product somehow drew its influences from the legendary GTA San Andreas blockbuster, out comes Rustie. The fact is Russel Whyte dropped one of the albums of 2011 with ‘Glass Swords’ and although the album is listerally brimming with dancefloor destroyers, the track that kicked off all the fuss was ‘After Light’.
Back in the summer months fellow countryman Jackmaster would consistantly drop this and it would recieve the inevitable wheel up treatment everytime. Possibly the most euphoric track on this years best of countdown, its practically impossible to resist a wry smile throughout its duration.
RUSTIE After Light by Move In Silence
#9: Bodikka / Joy O – Swims
Originally flying the flag for the Drum & Bass hedonists as one half of Instra:Mental, Al Green opted for pastures new and has since become an almighty force to be reckoned with, having concocted a new and distinctly synth driven sound under the alias of Boddika. “Its electro, techno, house, all rolled into one, its everything I love personally” he recently remarked when asked about the style of his solo material, and under the guidance of Non+ Plus and Swamp81 his bass-heavy techno style is going down an absolute storm.
Taking into account how funky and uptempo Boddika’s productions are its hardly suprising that teaming up with Joy O was going to conjure up the track of the year through collaboration. And low and behold, thats exactly what happened. Peter O’Grady aka Joy Orbison (now Joy O) has proven since bursting on the scene with the unforgettable ‘Hyph Mngo‘ that he’s incapable of creating mediocracy. The man quite simply constructs immaculate records and has an unblemished CV thus far.
Described by Night Slugs don L-Vis as “a phenomenal club track – so simple but so effective”, the energy and arrangement is second to none, and to top it was the anthem of Outlook 2011.
An unforgettable collabo that in many ways sums of 2011.
#8: Adele – Rolling In The Deep ( The Jamie XX Shuffle)
As success goes it would be a formidable task to look beyond Jamie XX for the ‘Man of 2011′ award, at least in a commercial sense. It was this very month a year ago when we began to hype up Jamie Smith’s reworked interpretation on the late Jill Scott-Heron’s seminal ‘Im New Here’ , and the album itself has since gone on to ‘cult classic’ status. With masterful Boiler Room sets and Essential Mixes also under his belt, what makes the rise of this East Londoner’s profile so unusual is the fact The XX paved the way for the revolution in Electronic music we are now seeing today, but crucially it was orchestrated simply through word of mouth and without the need for major industry mogul’s to push either Jamie or the XX into the furore.
Since releasing his brilliant solo debut in May and producing “October’s Very Own” Drizzy Drake’s ‘Take Care’ to criticial acclaim in November, Jamie XX’s status has become International, which is probably not a bad thing considering The XX’s long awaited sophomore release is only round the corner.
Anyway, it was back in January when the subtle, slow-house reworking of this Adele classic dropped, and it was one of those moments where the electronic-sphere began gaining some serious attention. ‘Rolling In The Deep‘ became a floor-stamper of an anthem that DJ’s knew they could use as a surefire tip to success if they opted to drop it at any point.
Jamie, we salute you.
Adele – Rolling In The Deep (Jamie xx Shuffle) by hotfortheencore
#7: Joy Orbison – Sicko Cell
Okay well firstly, if you’re a producer with an inclination that you may have a beast of a record in your possession but you’re not quite sure how best to get it circulating – why not put it in the hands of some of the biggest DJ’s out there and sit back as it takes a life of its own? In all fairness it does beg the question could ‘Sicko Cell’ have been as big as it was if the producer was lesser-known? Probably not, but either way the six months of speculation that surrounded the unknown artist behind it helped make it undoubtedly the most hyped track of 2011.
The furore that initially began around this record was fairly instantaneous, and in no large part due to the calibre of DJ’s who vigorously supported it with Oneman, James Blake, Jackmaster and Loefah all supporting it from the get-go. But away from all the inference surrounding the curator’s identity we have a hypnotic record underlayed with an expert 808 rhythm and sampling so effective it became a dancefloor anthem that no one could deny.
Cutting the vocals together from Drake & NeYo records, its those initial bleeps, synths and the anticipation behind that hair-raising breakdown that makes it such addictive listening. And its narcotic references are as much on point as the records arrangement itself.
Minimal at its best.
Joy O – Sicko Cell (Vinyl) [Swamp 81] by frankyboy
#6: Two Inch Punch – Luv U Up
In terms of new artists that emerged on to the scene in 2011, one that immediately comes to mind is West Londoner Ben Ash, aka Two Inch Punch. The self-styled ‘LoveStep’ supremo burst onto the scene to monstrous acclaim back at the start of the year, as his perfected blend of fusing Electronic with R&B blew a lot of us away, quite simply (see our original verdict back in march here).
Having also brought out unquestionably one of the mixes of the year with the wholehearted InspHERational Mixx, T.I.P managed to create something entirely euphoric and in the same way ‘Sicko Cell’ lives up to its narcotic references, ‘Love You Up’ does exactly what it sets out to achieve, through a supreme combination of exhilarating synths, beautiful layered vocal and a devastating undertow blended to heartwarming effect.
Following the release of the emotively tasteful debut EP in October, the principal quandary T.I.P may find himself in is how exactly to better what he’s already released, with the quality of tracks like ‘Luv Luv’ and the Birdy Remix so delightfully high. Whatever 2012 holds, the man making his own brand of Digi-Soul left hearts aching with this future ballad.
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