#75: Cloverdale & OSOTYT - Funky Junky
Where disco was the biggest riser in my listening habits in 2017, that title goes to funk in 2018. That said, house is still my bread and butter, so the combination of the two here is an obvious fit. The drops are solid to say the least (with some special stank on the second), but for me it's the sections around the drops that propel this track into the countdown. The funky scratching in the conclusion nails my tastes so much so that I had to include it in my new intro for the 8th season of Bump In The Hump.
#74: Moullinex ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow - Say It Slow (Wild & Free Remix)
A bright and beautifully bouncy number right from the get-go, but once those shimmering synths join the action, I'm hooked. Add in some slick little solos and flourishes and you've got a truly divine disco number. It is fabulously full of life and brilliantly buoyant, and while it's supposedly slow, it hits on all cylinders pumping out one of the more pleasurable pieces you'll hear all year.
#73: Hoodboi - True Colors
Hoodboi showed us a new side of his artistic abilities with Breathing Room, and that title track could very well have been in this spot. However, "True Colors" makes the cut as a result of its restrained, uber smooth roll out. It is like waking up to the world with new eyes, seeing shapes and colours with a renewed, childlike wonder. Full of heart and feeling it may not dazzle with banging bass or an overwrought melody, but rather it kind of floats down into your consciousness like a feather in the wind.
#72: RealMind - Actif (ft. Billboard)
Some tracks leave you speechless, and I knew this one was going to do this to me, but I could not let it go uncovered. So here's my go at it. The levels or acts as "Actif" progresses are incredible, and the fact that these two have tied them together so seamlessly is even more so. The opening build is beautiful, but boy is the punchy push into the second section some kind of special. And really that's the key for me. The way it kind of clicks and stomps and wobbles is stunning, especially as it kicks back in following the obsidian third section. And yes, if you're getting deadmau5 vibes you're not alone.
#71: Chromeo - One Track Mind
With Head Over Heels firmly in the running for album of the year, I think back to the first time hearing it in full and the laughter and joy it brought me as I drove to that night's baseball game. I'll say that this isn't the only album cut on this list, and for a bit this was the one. Actually I still go back and forth, but here we are at forth. Smooth grooves, cool call and response, and one hell of a build towards the triumphant final frame that is sure to send shivers down your spine. I can't help myself, I'm obsessed.
#70: Benny Bridges - Are You Okay?
As a part of Justin Jay's Fantastic Voyage Facebook group I got an early copy of Benny Bridges' EP and this came on in my car without proper attribution. I had to know who it was because it bumped so good. The drums and bass combine brilliantly, but it wouldn't be half as good without the extra little effects further punctuating the already punchy affair. Simple yet strong, there's no denying this delivers.
#69: TroyBoi - Frustrated (ft. Destiny)
No one does it quite like TroyBoi. Sick with strings, wicked with wobbles, vicious with vocals and top notch with twists, he really does it all. And it's all here in perhaps his best work to date. The intro teases perfectly and you know you're in for something special, but like "Do One," his other single released on that very same day, there's no way of predicting the warped genius in store. Scary good stuff.
#68: Charli XCX - Lucky (Ö Remix)
The original, produced by A.G. Cook and himself, is brilliant in its own right, but this 'acoustic choral' version is simply stunning. How Charli's voice can be both incredibly effected yet oh so human is mind-blowing. It speaks to the power not just of her words but of Ö's production ability, especially as he's backed it with Coco Bans. Gorgeous, heavenly, divine, and pure, it is all of these and more.
#67: Chali 2na - Change The World
Very few tracks this year, or ever, had me as hooked as this one. Of course Chali has a dope delivery but it's not just about that. He's not just spitting the same word on repeat, he's actually got content, and positive content at that. So as you nod along to his flow you're actually doing something good. And speaking of good let's take our hats off to the producers for supplying such a catchy musical bed.
#66: MAP - Rewr
First, let's give props to this trio for a brilliant beginning to their project with Grant Ave, whose title track is an undeniable floor filling weapon; I absolutely loved mixing it every time I got the chance. That said, "Rewr" is a sensation. Without a doubt one of the coolest house tracks of the year, the rolling groove and wild samples pick you up and spit you into a rain-forest rave. A fantastic freebie.
#65: Robotaki ft. Jamie Fine & falcxne - Butterscotch (Allen French Remix)
Better than Despacito. Yes it has Latin guitar but let's move past that. It also has steel pans, and yes those may be my favourite instrument. So yeah, this obviously holds a special place in my heart, but there's no denying the quality Allen French has brought to the table with this mix. It is incredibly smooth and oh so sweet, like margarita in a hammock on your own personal island. A beautiful dream.
#64: Armand Van Helden vs Butter Rush - I Need A Painkiller (MK Remix)
MK had another year atop countless playlists, but as soon as I heard this one I knew I'd be taking it with me for a long time. It feels like a dance classic right out of the gates and our suspicions are confirmed as the fog breaks and everyone is doing their thing to the brilliant beat. Repetitive enough to easily get into the groove, but more than progressive enough to keep you entertained.
#63: Silicon Scally - Rift
After rolling with this one since April, all it took was hearing one bar to play through the potent progression of this fantastic affair in my head. This is really my kind of techno, it thumps and also pumps, as in a heart, because nothing beats humanity arising out of something entirely electronic. And now we've got the two tiers of this tremendous track, head and heart. Head in the incredibly effective design and heart in the pulsating groove and genius delivery. There's a lot of tracks in this list that have shockingly low play counts, but this one really has me raising a Spockian eyebrow.
#62: HERO - Dirty Work
This tremendous talent stormed back into our ears with one hell return from hiatus. His unique VHS POP style is both what we need and what we want. And really there is no better place for it than Fool's Gold. The diversity of the label, and the sounds in "Dirty Work," are somehow both fresh and nostalgic. It's smoked out, after the party vibes at their best with smooth synths, buttery percussion and genius, gentle grooves. Part Daft Punk, part Chromeo, all amazing.
#61: Djedjotronic - H+
Djedjotronic continues to be both one of the coolest DJs and producers I've ever encountered. I often think back to his set at the Boys Noize/Tiga show at CODA several years ago. His ear and style isn't matched by many and his output this year even less so, with this track being the pinnacle. The first couple minutes are a strong set up with sci-fi bleeps, bloops, whistles and whirs leading the way. However nothing can compare to the climactic and genius shift at about 2:22. Amidst all the now synchronized effects is one of the best electro acid grooves you'll ever hear. Absolutely sensational.
#60: Gui Boratto - 618
Not just one of the best climaxes in a track this year, it's one of the best in any album, book-ending his brilliant Pentagram. As I imagine was the case for many of you I first came across this after seeing Kölsch play it out, especially effectively so with a dazzling light display. That said, the power and quality of this cut would likely result in the same kind of sensation if you were to listen with your eyes closed. Absolutely one of the most visceral, gut-wrenching productions you'll ever hear. True genius.
#59: Qrion - GAF
This whole GAF project, especially the just released opening track "Pending Matters," is brilliant. The chords and the way Qrion plays with them is sensational, sending you to a higher plane of consciousness. It is transformative through its swirling synths, sweeping you off your feet like The Beast turning back into The Prince in the 1991 version of Beauty And The Beast (visuals here). Saccharine sweet with a touch of sourness, this is one of the tastiest house tracks of the year.
#58: Mura Masa - Complicated (ft. Nao)
After a massive year with his eponymous debut album, this year saw far fewer releases, but the same quality we've come to expect from one of this world's greatest musical talents. Once again tapping the inimitable allure of Nao, we've got the spiritual successor to "Firefly," and like that, this one cannot be enjoyed enough. Crazy catchy and super slick, both the production and vocals please endlessly. If you're looking for any further insight into the genius of Mura Masa's production, check out Pusher's highly detailed breakdown of the Charli XCX joint "1 Night" here.
#57: Winston Surfshirt - When You're Ready (Karizma Remix)
I'm not sure any track in this countdown can quite match the mood of this one. It's dubby and upbeat, demure and eye-catching all at once. Both blunt in its chunky bass and poignant in its sharp strings. Beautiful and full of poise, its subtle strength is absolutely engrossing. Ultimately hypnotizing, the stripped back vocals may play the most important role in what is otherwise a dub mix. Crazy cool.
#56: Mat Zo - See It When I Believe It
2018 marked the return of Mat Zo to both DnB and Anjunabeats, and of the 3 tracks from his No Words EP, this one is his best. Brilliantly growing, golden production leads into one of the more inspired drops of the year. Whether you prefer to think of it as the floor falling out from under you or the tablecloth being snatched while all the dishes remain, the switch up in this drop will certainly leave your jaw agape. And of course this is where the true genius of Mat Zo shows up, as he's able to build us up to the point where the switch up doesn't feel disjointed, but rather like a sublime ecstasy.
#55: Ninetoes - Finder (Carl Cox Remix)
I'll out myself here as I can't say I've ever heard a Carl Cox set, let alone a Carl Cox production. That changed this year when he took on this classic and gave me one of my favourite kinds of tracks: a bleepy, steel-pan house affair. It is a massive mood, and his play with not just the steel drums but the rest of the percussion and sweeping backing synths is sensational. Equally enjoyable with simple head bobbing, the most elaborate shuffling or Carl's own classic dance as seen on Spicks And Specks here.
#54: Theophilus London - Only You (ft. Tame Impala)
Not the only track in this list that I first heard in The Magician's 85th installment of his Magic Tape series. It's great to get new Theophilus London, even if it is just a cover, but I will say these two acts absolutely nailed the 80s original. Big grooves, splashy drums, poignant piano and a heavenly heartbeat at the core make this new version a hit in its own right. Sublime space reggae that perfectly straddles the line between pop perfection and indie energy.
#53: AC Slater ft. Jamakabi - Big Riddim (Riddim Commission Remix)
Now that I've started watching People Just Do Nothing I can only hear Grindah saying the track's title. That said, Jamakabi's flow has not lost any of its allure, rather it's even more catchy. I can easily imagine a group of rowdy ravers imitating the Kurupt FM crew spitting lyrics while getting down and dirty to Riddim Commision's killer UK recasting. Big, ominous and banging, this is my kind of riddim.
#52: George Fitzgerald - Roll Back (ft. Lil Silva)
My favourite cut from one of my albums of the year, this is crisp sparkling magic; electronic musicianship at its best. It is a delicate dreamy delight thanks to those sensational synth builds and Lil Silva's gently guiding vocals. Its chords cut to the core, bringing a tear to your eye as you decide to roll back to sleep, refusing to leave this shimmering spectacle. Heartwarming and heartrending.
#51: Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
After first hearing about this track just over two weeks ago, I knew I might have to save a spot in this list in case it got released pre-new year's, and here we are. The original is good, really good, but I had no idea how good it could be. It's still strange to me how well country is blended into disco (see Todd Terje's "Jolene" for example), but there's no denying this is something special. It keeps the cutting emotional intensity of the original largely intact while upping the overall beauty and passion with those sensational strings and that provoking percussion. Do those bells ever ring resplendent, boy oh boy.
Continue to 50-26 here.
Note: #'s 95, 92, 64, 60, 54, 51, 48, 46, 38, 36, 27, 20 are not on Soundcloud.