You'll notice the thread of disco/funk continues to run through these year-end lists, while DnB and breaks appear more than ever before. Another trend continues as we see a further diminishing amount of club-type tracks included, primarily as circumstances changed consumption and led to the vast majority of my musical enjoyment coming on my many escapist bike rides. That said, the power of some of these tracks is unavoidable as they will assuredly kill when clubs come back.
Finally, I will once again say that this is by no means an exhaustive list; there are without a doubt exceptional tunes that somehow failed to make the cut. However, onward and, in this case, downward, from tracks 100 to 76 we go. Find the Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.
#100: Weiss & Harry Romero - Where Do We Go?
Finally, I will once again say that this is by no means an exhaustive list; there are without a doubt exceptional tunes that somehow failed to make the cut. However, onward and, in this case, downward, from tracks 100 to 76 we go. Find the Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.
#100: Weiss & Harry Romero - Where Do We Go?
An early summer earworm. Makes masterful use of the sample from Alan Parsons Project "Games People Play." Not overly inventive or banging, but rather slick, smooth and altogether enjoyable. The first of many house tracks in this list that captured my heart this year, even if only for a moment.
#99: HAIM - I Know Alone
While it's been half a decade since I spent day after day with HAIM and Days Are Gone, the sisters and their work with Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij remain close to my heart. A toss-up as both this and "Now I'm In It" are perfect for 2020, I landed on this garage joint thanks to its catchy, crisp and crackling production and overall atmosphere.
#98: MERCER - Lemonade
Fabulous French filter disco house. Almost too slick. Undeniably good and groovy. The kind of track that has you tapping your toes uncontrollably and later leaves you humming its magnificent melody.
#97: Nikki Nair - 3XL
An acid-induced fever dream. Propelled by Nair's potent percussion and scintillating synths. Like so many of the tracks in this year's list, "3XL" is all about the journey. There's no skipping ahead to a dope drop or sick section, rather one has to ride out this rolling wave of resplendence.
#96: SBK. - One Man
Perhaps the most ominous and irksome track in this list. Spine-tingling strings, all kinds of ingenious percussive hits and of course the equally screwface and shiver-inducing sub-bass. Truly diabolic dubstep.
Among the year's most fun and funky productions. I know nothing about Soda State, nor had I ever heard them before this, however their inclusion in Magic Tape 98 made for an incredible introduction. An awesome mix of pop sensibilities alongside retro dance resplendence.
#94: SOSA - The Sax
A track so infectious that I can turn a blind eye to its misleading moniker. The trumpet (not sax) top-line is awesome, as are its babbling vocal bits, but it is the way those two elements play with the rollicking percussion that makes this track one of the year's best house offerings. Like many on this list, I expect this would have ranked much higher were clubbing possible in 2020.
From the strange pre-COVID era of 2020, which feels like a year of its own. Took a bit for me to realize its similarities to the Wolfgang Gartner remix of "I Will Be Here," which certainly accounts for its immediacy to my heart. Fabulous vocals atop an incredibly warm, bouncy and beautiful bed.
Overflowing with funkiness. It gets better with every listen, especially as more elements are revealed through its progression. Of course, the guitars are godly, but it doesn't make this list without the flute, onslaught of electro effects and punchy percussion. An explosion of enthusiastic energy.
A sneaky strong track that could easily be skipped thanks to its slow-burning intro. However, those that know stay for the two tremendous payoffs in which obli excites the senses with a wonderfully whipped up bassline and a sprinkling of rainbow-bright synths swells and squelches.
A breathtaking and beautiful b-side. A hefty and heavenly homage to house. Another example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, especially as it would not appear on this list were it not for the whirling solo in its midsection. Dombresky sure knows how to make groovy house joints and we get a couple glimpses into his genius here.
A mainstay on my year-end lists, Kölsch had another great year. His Now Here No Where had to be represented and for my money, this is its most moving production. It's got everything you'd expect from Kölsch - squelchy synths, beautiful organic instrumentation and intertwining melodies. Yet, it's not his best of the year. More to come...
#88: Jive Talk - UK Gary
Another artist I'd never encountered prior to this track. One of the best rollouts of the year and one of many built around breaks to appear in this list. Undeniably infectious and indeed genius, especially as it levels up as though being supercharged with a star on Super Mario.
#87: Botnek - Gamma Jack
I've gushed about Botnek all year and while they could certainly have appeared with "On Planet Z," I cannot get enough of the energy in this. The horns are awesome, especially as they're allowed to really swing, but as always Botnek's genius shows itself in their throbbing sub-bass, precise percussion and intoxicating atmosphere. Above all, it is a shame this didn't get the floor-filling time in the clubs it deserves.
Both scoring tracks in the top 20 last year, this combination of David Penn and The Shapeshifters is as solid as they come. Adding Billy Porter to the mix makes this a can't miss affair. A gorgeous groove that won't wow necessarily wow, but will certainly speak to your soul. Fabulous and feel-good.
In rare air. That is the theme of both ATTLAS' year at large and this track more specifically. For my money, Out Here With You is his magnum opus and this, its soul. Like an album mini-mix, it delivers waves of wonder and resplendence, buoying spirits with each listening. It needs no club (although it ought to incredible to experience there, especially with accompanying visuals), rather a tranquil meadow or secluded beach offers the best listening environment. But as its title suggests (and as Chris McCandless highlighted) "happiness is only real when shared," something we can hope for in 2020.
Like Kölsch above, this is not the last we're going to see of either Qrion or TSHA in this list. The original is very nice, but TSHA takes this version to new heights. The blend of her spellbinding percussion with Qrion's captivating atmosphere makes this one magical affair.
#82: Overmono - Verbosa
It seems everything Overmono touched this year was gold. While I struggled to decide which of their exceptional offerings ought to represent them here, "Verbosa" stood out through its immense gravity. We often speak of world-building in music and that's just what we have here: the soundtrack to a vast, lonely planet.
#81: Koan - The Neverhood
Another record that seems to float in space, however unlike "Verbosa," there's a brightness and hope in the very essence of this track. Equal parts soaring and sailing, this is quite the ride. And quite the fuel for a bike ride, too; seven and a half minutes of pedalling never felt so easy.
At the risk of becoming too focused on biking (something that's happened in my real life), I had heard this as part of the album and liked it, but of course, it was on a bike ride that I really fell in love with this. It delivers the same kind of dazzling instrumentals and captivating sonic craftsmanship that made Machinedrum's Human Energy an all-time favourite, while saving space for more tender and thoughtful breaks. Simply brilliant stuff.
Propulsive and percussion-driven. That might as well be the theme for this whole list. A marvellous and majestic atmosphere that radiates warmth. But really, it's almost all about the plethora of percussion. The way it pops off against the scintillating synths is something to behold. You won't find many (radio) edits on this list and clearly, you can't go wrong with this kind of extended excellence.
Classic vibes all over this one. Its brisk breaks and awesome electro energy will have you heaving. A real shame this wasn't able to tear up dancefloors the way its epic get-down was designed. The kind of track that turns the DJ into a puppetmaster.
#77: Robby East - Trouble
An all-time classic sample with a fresh and fun rollout. While I've largely grown apart from these kinds of house tracks, there's just something about the rollicking, rapid-fire sound that plays so perfectly with the "Natural Blues/Trouble So Hard" sample. The drops and releases are so incredibly uplifting. Yes, another track perfect for pounding it over the top of a hill on a bike ride.
This both creates its own life and fills its listeners with it. Ever evolving and constantly changing, it is like a star going supernova. There's something unique and fleeting about it; despite drawing you in with its catchiness, I would be unable to describe it to you any further than with its title. Another track that is more about the journey than the destination.