teshno

i included compilations in my top 20 albums list last year. that was lazy. given that it’s been a vintage year for the (ever dying, apparently) things, i thought i’d do a separate list this year. first couple are firm favourites and after that it’s pretty hard to decide. obviously i haven’t heard every compilation that was in 2011, and have probably forgotten some i did, but here they come… oh, and look out for albums of the year ~ 2011 some time in the coming days.

prosumer, panoramabar 03, ostgut ton

read the full review here, but suffice it to say, this mix has pretty much defined the sort of music i’ve mostly been feeling all year long. bumping, faster paced than 2010′s average and as influenced by days gone by as the contemporary scene. amazing stuff of the sort i was delighted to find out the man also manages to recreate live, in a club environment, when i caught him at louche, leeds recently.

four tet, fabriclive 59, fabric

completing his turn around from weird left-field electronica chap to full on club darling, four tet didn’t just serve up a good mix here, but rather educated us all on the forgotten history of ukg in the first half of his decidedly two part fabric mix. the second part (after some atmosphere setting live recordings of general crowd noise/banter from the club) focussed on oddball house and techno sounds including a gem from stl amongst many other things.  it’s a rude bwoy, slicker-than-average mix which grabs your attention with every tantalising turn. instant classic.

james priestley/giles smith, ten years of secretsundaze, secretsundaze

again, you can read the full review of this one here, but this mix was one of many crowns in secretsundaze’s year. not only have jame sand giles developed their dj agency, but so too have they continued to host some of the best deep house parties in london (no mean feat) as well as kicking off their label with some great sounds from brawther and latterly ethyl & flori.  this timeless two disc mix touches on everything great about house from all ages (including some bassier stuff and more surging, dusty techno styles) and does so with a deft mixing hand.

global communication, back in the box, nrk

i’m not afraid to admit i didn’t actually know most of the records on this mix, though i have been reliably informed they are all stone cold rave classics. whatever, when mixed together as seamlessly as they have been here, they sound brilliant, whoever made them.  this double cd effort is one i reach for when i want something raw, unadulterated and… not angry, but certainly more amped up than a lot of the modern house you hear.  well worth checking (as is most of pritchard and middleton’s stuff, to be fair)

various artists, inertia: resisting routine, ann aimee

this collection of brand new and unreleased tracks from the finest artists associated with the label (ann aimee, a dark dance floor off-shoot of delsin) basically goes boom-boom-boom for its entirety. it’s loopy techno of the finest order, the key to which is the brillaince of said loops, with each one differing enough to keep you locked, but at the same time sharing a most hypnotic quality which – if listened to loud enough on the right system or in decent headphones – cannot fail to totally drag you in and wholly melt your mind.  skudge, cosmin, sigha, redshape, marcelus, lucy and more all contribute their wares.

wolf & lamb vs soul clap, dj kicks, k7

as i understand it, this mix was the product of a few intensive weeks working together early this year in miami.   the results are not just a mix which segues seamlessly from deep house to vocal pop via deconstructed bass and more, but one which highlighted just how talented a crew the wolf & lamb/soul clap dudes and their associates are.  most of the tracks were pulled from close associates of the two twosomes, but that didn’t mean the quality levels waned. instead, endless new creative partnerships and inter-group collabs seem to have been born out of that session in miami, with some of the most boutique, bespoke and beguiling results all year.  magic.

trentemoller, late night tales, late night tales

this mix confirms another grand musical transformation… that of dane anders trentemoller who has slowly converted himself from dancefloor minimalist (for poker flat, moon harbour etcetera) into a much lauded studio wizard, indie licked live performer and general musical genius. the man’s late night tales is a chilly, gothic wander into some frosty, blacked out woods late at night, only to find various gregorian chanters, impish spirits and emo vocalists singing, playing grand strings and generally having a bloody good time.  a fantastic listen well away from the norm.

various artists, ines, clown & sunset

this clown & sunset showcase preceded nico jaar’s full length on the same label (his own) by just a few weeks. it gave a great taste of what to come with its broken down hip-hop, abstract ambiances and experimental pop sounds. the whole thing was drenched in influences as far and wide as ethiopian jazz and world music, but always retained its own sense of space and texture. arty, for sure, and defiantly not for everyone, but ines still sounds liek little else out there this year.

mcde, dj kicks, k7

at the time i kinda glossed over this one.  since its release back whenever it was, though, i’ve played it more and more often. reaching outside the usual confines of commercial mixes (as it this series’ want) there are gorgeous dub tracks, pure soul gems and plenty of dusty and forgotten classics all beautifully juggled with mcde’s own easily identifiable cuts and much more.  classy, considered, far ranging stuff.

marcel dettmann, conducted, music man records

if you’ve written off the techno which emanates from berghain – or more specifically from the record bag and studio gear of the club’s resident marcel dettmann – as all too uncompromising, grey scale and concrete up until now, this may be the mix which changes your mind. it’s still techno, but techno with a certain emotional charm and late-night colour which makes it all the more appealing. drawing on all eras for his tools, there are two efforts from friend shed, a typically standout redshape cut as well as a dash of raw house from analogue cops and some intense emotronica from morphosis all nicely nestled next to each other.  though a lot is achieved over the course of seventy minutes, tight mixing and cute programming mean your head never stops nodding.

the next 5…

notable mentions go to soul clap for their social experiment 2, scuba for his dj kicks, nicholas for his back on track nu groove compilation, lawrence for his debut mix effort on cocoon and fengler for his wild berghain 05 mix. would have written about all these but dont really have the time, soz…