Party Tracks of the Week!

Le Youth - C O O L
#House #Funk #Cassie

A deep and seductive house tune based around an iconic R&B hook, taken from Cassie's "Me & You" and morphed into an androgynous and ethereal vocal, this track is Cyril Hahn meets Bondax, and just as "C O O L" and funky as either act.



John Newman - Love Me Again (Kove Remix)
#DrumAndBass #Rave #Soul

As catchy as "Love Me Again" is on it's own, for those who miss John's bluesy voice on a high octane track, Kove gives the singer's debut single a euphoric D&B rework, and true to form, John's voice suits the style so much you could be fooled into believing he'd hooked up with Rudimental again.



DJ Fresh & Diplo feat. Dominique Young Unique - Earthquake (Golden Boy Remix)
#House #90s #HipHop

From one dance trend to another, Golden Boy's early 90s house rave vibe miraculously transforms the trappy hip hop of the original "Earthquake" into something that brings to mind a grainy music video of boys and girls in dark glasses, tie-dye and platform shoes voguing round a psychadelically decorated room.

Party Tracks of the Week!

Avec - Disappearer (feat. Jake Shears)
#House #Disco

Two deep house DJs, Doorly & Shadow Child, come together to make something shamelessly camp and insanely addictive. 90s piano house, gibberish vocals and a whole load of glitter.




DJ Fresh vs Diplo - Earthquake (feat. Dominique Young Unique)
#HipHop #Trap

The distinct blitz sirens of "Earthquake" have made the rounds already this year. First heard as the backing track of Angel Haze's middling Azealia Banks diss, then Diplo starts dropping it as an instrumental during sets, and now the track finally officially drops with a more tribal feel, more drums, and the cheeky, energetic DYU providing MC duties without attempting to do battle with the track's unrelenting stomp.




T.E.E.D. - Your Love (Fake Blood Remix)
#House #Rave #Electro

One of the dance anthems of 2012 with a typically weird refix from electrohead Fake Blood. Vocal samples dance drunkenly around, kick drums stumble over each other and a series of filthy basslines battle it out. The track retains it's euphoria, but in an altogether darker, more apocalyptic context.

Party Tracks of the Week!

PSY - Gangnam Style (Diplo Remix feat. 2 Chainz & Tyga)
#Trap #HipHop #Swag

Diplo is probably the only producer in the world with the skills to make Gangnam Style credible. Probably because the token "what the fuck!?" trap beats are impossible to dance Gangnam Style to. 2 Chainz and Tyga sound like they wrote their raps in 5 minutes, but the whole thing's a lot of swaggy fun. 



Lulu James - Closer (Kidnap Kid Remix)
#House #Dance

Not a huge change from the original, but Kidnap Kid's beats are shaper and his bass is harder, giving the track a much needed Deep House punch.



TNGHT - Acrylics
#Trap #Electronic #Industrial

TNGHT really know how to drop a crazy tune. Industrial sized beats and an untameable lead synth, sounding like the soundtrack to a Power Rangers fight scene, with the occasional deceptive music box interlude, this is definitely "Lower and Filthier Ground".

Party Tracks of the Week!

Diplo & GTA - Boy Oh Boy
#Dancehall #Moombahton #HipHop #FREEDOWNLOAD

Typically bonkers electronic dancehall from Diplo and his Mad Decent signing GTA, this Missy Elliott-sampling number begins with thunderous tribal dancehall that M.I.A. wouldn't turn her nose up at, before dissolving into brain-melting moombahton.



Misha B - Here's To Everything (Bimbo Jones Remix)
#Dance #Pop #House

A guilty pleasure party track for once. Misha B's relatively flaccid new single "Here's To Everything" suddenly soars euphorically under Bimbo Jones' watchful euro-dance eye. Best to forget the original and let this one tear up the dancefloors of gay clubs.



Major Lazer - Watch Out For This (Bumaye) (feat. Busy Signal, The Flexican & FS Green)
#Dancehall #Reggae #Moombahton 

It is a joy to have Major Lazer back on the scene, and with their dancehall-reggae-moombahton hybrid sound sounding fresher than ever. Party-loving, tropical and utterly rave-tastic, "Watch Out For This" lives up to its title.

LIZ - XTC

Now as much as I love Diplo's label Mad Decent, its dancehall, moombahton and trap based output never really had a place on a pop music blog like this. That is, until now. This will be, without doubt, a cheesy dated mess to many people, but it's an ultimate retro R&B guilty pleasure for me. A deep, langourous trap rhythm is sweetened no end by LIZ's (I'm assuming it's stylized in capitals) feathery, caramel croon and 80s-tastic grandiose keys. And yet, for me, it all comes together to make something quite gorgeous.

FOR FANS OF: Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Ashanti

Katy B - Danger EP

So out of nowhere Katy B releases a new EP, without warning, available to download for free (check the soundcloud link below). And names like Jessie Ware and Diplo come along for the ride. This has evidently been a masterclass in 'keeping a lid on it'.

Danger is essentially Katy B coming back to claim the crossover scene she pretty much solely occupied a couple of years ago, by summing up each current dance trend with a track each. "Aaliyah", a modern day 'Jolene' and surprising duet with Jessie Ware, could be a solo song for either singer, but together, Katy's silky tone is complimented by Jessie's husky one, in a sister's-from-the-underground-doing-it-for-themselves sort of way. Long time collaborator brings a Disclosure-esque sharp house beat, to which neither singer is a novice, and it's the best thing here.

Only just however. Diplo lends "Set it Off" from his bonkers moombahton EP Express Yourself to "Light As A Feather", and although it's not the best song Katy's ever written, it's a worthwhile endeavor, just to hear vocals on the drop. "Got Paid" is as grimy as it suggests, with terrible lyrics on paper, but Zinc's gritty bassline is so tasty that Katy somehow gets away with lyrics like "Friday never lets me down" and "new acrylics, liquid liner makes you wanna say oh my gosh". Yes, even that last one. "Danger" is the token downtempo one, with Jacques Greene bringing a seductive trap beat to what is probably Katy's best written song here, along the lines of gorgeous debut highlight "Go Away".

It's exciting that music of this calibre was considered disposable enough to be on a free EP. Welcome back Katy, it's been too long. "Oh my gosh!"

Monsta - Holdin' On

Even when a genre is on its way out of fashion, in this case the once colossal dubstep genre, truly great cuts will survive the recession, and Monsta's "Holdin' On" is one such cut. Nodding not-so-slying at Alex Clare's Major Lazer-co-produced "Too Close", "Holdin' On" pairs a thunderous growl of a bassline and a startling chipmunk vocal sample with a ravenous male vocal not dissimilar to Mr Clare. What sets Monsta apart from Alex Clare however, is that whilst Alex Clare pulls off the novelty singer/songwriter-produced-by-in-a-dubstep-style act, Monsta makes it sounds like a new genre entirely. The EP of the same name is out now, and is all of a high calibre, so if you want to give yourself one last dip into dub, now's your chance.

FOR FANS OF: Alex Clare, Skrillex, Chase & Status

Elliphant - TeKKno Scene (feat. Adam Kanyama)

Sweden is known for it's weird pop music scene, from The Knife's otherworldly squeals and blips to Robyn's androgynous ghetto princess persona. So it's no surprise to find that Elliphant is from Stockholm. First appearing over here in the UK in an "introducing" article in The Guardian, with an "Eye of the Tiger"-sampling, droning piece of Swede-lectro pop, "In The Jungle", that was a bit hard to swallow, but follow up release "TeKKno Scene" goes down a treat. A moombahton rhythm propels the track underneath Diplo-favoured synth sirens, and Elliphant's distorted rapping sounds like a call to arms and the dance-floor simultaneously. This isn't the last we've heard from her.

TOP 50 OF 2011: #40 - #31

Hello again! More amazing taste.


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#40
"Norgaard"
The Vaccines


The Vaccines' record was by far the simplest, most straight up indie  rock record of the year, and backed by the carefree, catchy teen-angst of the song writing, there was even something of the punk about it. Clocking in at a mere 1 minute 38 seconds, "Norgaard" sums up everything the band are about. It's short, it's sweet, its energy is mind-numbingly infectious and it's a crowd pleaser. Such is the onslaught of teenage hormones in this track that a second longer and the track would not be. Luckily, the Vaccines know what they're doing. And what they're doing is not much; they know they don't need to.



#39
"Reunion"
M83

M83's "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming" was a whole new kind of 80s collosus, a record that wasn't afraid to be epic, it was afraid not to be, and this track (much like all the others to be frank) holds a strong argument for the most dramatic thing on here. On the life-affirmingly bright "Reunion", guitars clang and echo like U2 and the melody hits the Chesney Hawkes rock anthem nerve like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. Sound awful? Maybe it is, but by god I love it.

 M-83 Reunion by ProjectX1 

#38
"The Greatest Light is The Greatest Shade"
The Joy Formidable

TJF's debut, "The Big Roar" lived deliciously up to its grand title, rocking mid-tempo like it was the 90s, but the real treat lies at the end of the record with "The Greatest Light...". Battering ram guitars and a hypnotic hook give this track a truly euphoric stomp that is the perfect way to round off such a satisfying record.



#37
"Stay Away"
Charli XCX

Somewhat out of the blue, like a female Hurts, Charli XCX quietly flew the flag for romantic goth-pop in 2011, almost single handedly with this haunting track. Industrial beats and emotionally wrought vocals recall The Cure, and an eerie melody that nods towards Kate Bush, this girl has a lot to live up to after this debut single.



#36
"Que Que" (feat. Maluca & Diplo)Dillon Francis

One of the most enjoyable dance music EPs of the year, Dillon Francis' Moombahton EP "Westside" was fresh sounding and irresistible, honing down everything addictive about the genre. Female latin rapper Maluca lays down some sharp verses, and Diplo's presence is heard in the piercing synth sirens that ride a bass-heavy Reggaeton beat. Too quirky to make it mainstream, but this is a crying shame, as it's one of the best dance tracks of the year.

Don't do hallucinogens before watching the video by the way.



#35
"Wildfire" (feat. Yukimi Nagano)
SBTRKT

Unusual and understated, "Wildfire" is the classiest dubstep track of the year, in no small favour to Little Dragon singer Yukimi Nagano, who's shimmering, eerie tones provide this track with it's magic. Though this is not to discredit SBTRKT however, for the simple groove and niggling bass line prove to be slyly addictive.



#34
"Last Friday Night"
Katy Perry

Yes, it was released last year on "Teenage Dream" the album, but Last Friday Night really came into its own when it was released as a single, as it was always meant to be. Leaving it as a secret weapon for 2011 turned out to be a great idea, a moderately entertaining extended video only aiding its success, and reminding us why we loved Katy Perry's music in the first place. It's irresponsible-message pop, but Katy Perry's big doe eyes and sugary country-tinged belt make it all seem like good fun. Even when she vomits in a shoe in the video. But "such an epic fail" - still cringey.



#33
"Heaven"
Emeli Sande

Although it's string-laden drama-hop strongly recalls Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy", Emeli Sande's "Heaven" has an emotional urgency rather than a melancholy, in no small part down to Emeli's aching vocal. Emeli is only 24, but she sounds like a woman in conflict with herself, and she feels every word of phrases such as "Will you recognise me? When I'm lying on my back, something's gone inside me, and I can't get it back", and especially as she yelps "then I'm gone" repeatedly at the close of the song. As a singer, Sande has a maturity beyond her years, and especially beyond the expected abilities of a new talent. The melody is pretty beautiful too, which helps.



#32
"Lion's Share"
Wild Beasts

As opener's go, "Lion's Share" is hardly an attention grabber. But then again, none of "Smother" is. That's the beauty of it. Calming down slightly with every record since their debut, their third record opens with their most haunting song to date. It's dark and seductive as ever, a pulsing synth and romantic piano being the only needed backing for Hayden Thorpe's cabaret croon. His voice is delightfully toned down (comparatively), and the sheer beauty of the spiralling melody for "Boy, what you running from?" is all the more for it.



#31
"Call It What You Want"
Foster the People

Foster the People understood the need for party music in 2011, and although "Pumped Up Kicks" is the perfect teen anthem, there's something even more rebellious about "Call It What You Want". "What's your style and who do you listen to? WHO CARES." goes one lyric, quite possibly one of my favourite of the year. Piano led, funky and thoroughly catchy as always, Foster the People aren't 'cool' in the traditional sense (like floppy haired indie boys making dance music are ever cool, Friendly Fires being the exception) but on "CIWYW" they are telling you, very fleetingly mind, that they don't give a fuck, and they just want to dance. And when they make tracks like this, who can blame them?




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TOMORROW, #30-#21, Arrivederci!