Top 100 Tracks Of 2018: 25-1

Continuation of the list started Friday: from 100-76, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. The middle sections can be found here: from 75-51 & 50-26. Soundcloud playlist here and at the bottom.

#25: Bicep - Opal (Four Tet Remix)
A match made in heaven and speaking of heaven, this may be its soundtrack. It is epic resounding resplendence, brilliant bleepy beauty, a sweep you off your feet soaring success. Like a journey deeper into your unconscious mind, things get both more murky and more clear at the same time. If there's any track in this list that is best suited for a spiritual awakening it is this. Turn off all your lights, lie on the floor and let Four Tet transport you to his higher plane of existence.

#24: Bunji Garlin & Busta Rhymes - Drop It
(As featured on EFYE) I can't think of any track that can quite compare to the dueling fire flows in this, except for the other time these two locked horns on "Differentology." As I said the first time I wrote about this, it's as though Bunji and Busta both go super saiyan at the same time murdering everything in sight. That said you cannot leave out 1st Klase who's production is pure perfection, doing not just the big things right, but paying attention to the little details in the bed squeak, panning and more.

#23: The Night - Set Me Free
No, this is not Nero, but I don't care, it's genuinely gorgeous, funky fun. I'm not sure I'll ever properly get over Alana Watson's voice, she is an absolute sensation, especially atop this dazzling display. The whole track flows like a fantastic voyage aboard the world's most luxurious yacht with a continuous, never ending party. It is flashing lights and flights of fancy, free of fear and devoid of despair. It doesn't get any more upbeat or outrageously uplifting than this ringing resplendence.

#22: Planningtorock - Beulah Loves Dancing
I cannot help but 1) grin ear to ear and 2) sing along to the lyrics, whenever this one comes on. It is exceedingly catchy, heavenly, heartening and brilliantly built. The way the strings play is gorgeous and groovy and the way the electronic bits slide around them is truly sensational. Add in the story elements, and their roles in Powerhouse, and you've got the best track on one of the best albums of the year.

#21: Kevin de Vries - Aratak
Apart from perhaps #7 in this list, there may be no more powerful track released this year. Seeing Monika Kruse drop it with the Eiffel Tower in the background only adds to this incredible intensity, as does the way she played with it. That Cercle set is when I really fell for it, but there's no discounting the unreal alien design and fantastical flare of the studio version. Afterlife as a whole had a fantastic year, but this big build and even more epic release makes for one of the best tracks of the year.

Catz 'n Dogz - The Choice (BETON Tribute To The Classics Mix)

Belgian boss BETON continues to amaze with his latest room rattling record, a remix of Catz 'n Dogz "The Choice." A giant godly groove leads the track, after the drum line opening, calling everyone to the dance-floor in a kind of ritualistic rave riot. The energy keeps leveling up as BETON constantly brings more elements to this spellbinding ceremony, often times brilliantly re-purposing the drum line. The big and beefy bass hits hypnotic levels thumping along thunderously with the crackling percussion. At the peak of "The Choice" the energy is utterly electric, as all the elements play perfectly together. The hi-hats lay right in the pocket of the enormous groove. The punctuating ticks, clicks, clacks and empty rattle punches, not only keep you entertained but draw you further into BETON's mind-control. Finally, as the title suggests this is no normal mix, but a 'tribute to the classics' which arises through Miss Bunty's soulful sermon, which ironically is about the freedom of choice, something BETON's beat off with his hypnotic production, leaving you a mere member of the masses on the dance-floor. Open your eyes, open your ears, open your heart, and get "The Choice" from Bandcamp here.FOLLOW BETON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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ABSOLUTE. - Harmony

Going back to the first week of the year, and Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong, it was clear Turbo had some serious power up its sleeves. Alongside the bump and grind genius of BETON's "Directions" there was further fire forthcoming on Turbo. I'm talking here about ABSOLUTE., and the two tracks we heard in the above-mentioned mix. This Friday marks the release of "Harmony" and "Not Tonight" along with a remix of the latter, from veteran Vakkuum. Pre-order the EP here and stream below.The lead track "Harmony" is pure power and pomp. Its breaky percussion sets up the sensational, spiraling and spacious synth perfectly. The consummate coordination makes it ever so magically satisfying, especially as it ushers in and out elements and layers. It is as though ABSOLUTE. has harnessed the heft of heaven to build this brilliant banger.

"Not Tonight" takes a more slowed left-field approach, although imbued with the same warmth, power and propulsive percussion. As its name suggests it's also darker, and more menacing than its predecessor. But then comes Vakkuum, who takes the tempo back up a notch, and flips the switch back to bright and bouncy. His recast chords are cool and compelling.  Whereas the original offers a desolate landscape, Vakkuum eviscerates that and energizes the floor.

All in all this EP exemplifies not only Turbo's terrific taste, but also their strength in mixing techno and house together. Be sure to follow ABSOLUTE. for more magic and grab the EP Friday, here.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: CFCF - Cell Site In Somerset

A couple weeks back we had the title track of CFCF's Self Service EP, and with its full release this past weekend I'm excited to open Bump In The Hump with its epic A-side "Cell Site In Somerset." Once again we're treated to CFCF's enigmatic and exceptional production style, one that earned him a Grammy nomination for his remix of "Berlin By Overnight." In this EP, and track more specifically, we get a taste of his delightfully diverse sounds ranging from stringed orchestral elements to stinging acid whips. And while you may think these two couldn't be more polar opposites, it is CFCF's genius that seamlessly sews them together. Its grandeur reminds me of Pete Tong and Jules Buckley's Ibiza Classics/Classic House albums which too curry the cachet of an orchestra with the unvarnished vivacity of electronic dance music. Stream "Cell Site In Somerset" and purchase the EP via Bandcamp below.After this epic opening number, Bump In The Hump continues with more of the best in new Canadian dance and electronic including funky cuts from Robotaki and Verzache, as well as the seemingly weekly dose of disco delights from Spacedisco Records. Another Canadian label also comes up big with BETON's "Directions" on Turbo Recordings, which kicks off the decidedly darker second hour of the show. There's some banging bass house and more DnB, including man of the moment Rene LaVice. Finally the fire finale sees the likes of Feed Me's "Blood Red" getting a reboot before Black Tiger Sex Machine tears the place down. All this and more live from 7-9 PM EST on Radio Humber or via Mixcloud after the fact.

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Enlightened Listening for February 16

The last few Fridays I've been compiling playlists of new music for the weekend, so today I've decided to give it a name and make it a routine. I present the first proper edition of Enlightened Listening. The name is a simple tie to the blog itself, which features all dance and electronic genres under the sun, as does this list and the others ahead of its naming today. I should also state that while I use the term enlightened, I'm not suggesting that each of these are the pinnacle of production but rather some creative cultivations on the endless road to musical enlightenment. So once again here we go, find the tracks in no particular order, note the free downloads marked by asterisk and reviews at the bottom.

ATLiens - Interstellar (ft. Sara Skinner)
Fantastic mix of fearsome fire in the incredibly twisted trap drops countering Skinner's savory vocals.

Madeaux - The Wave (ft. BRUX)
Another captivating creation from Madeaux that fits its title to a tee. I can't quite put my finger on what this reminds me of most, but certainly the likes of Jack Beats, Mr. Oizo, Boys Noize and others.

NuKid - Hustlin'*
The more I hear from NuKid the more convinced I am that he sits atop the crowded crossroads of deep, g-, and bass house. The combination of grit, drive, and bounce of this track is mindblowing.

AOTA - D Sides*
Five classics (or soon to be classics) twisted to fit AOTA's particular brand of deep house. Likely your eyes are drawn to "Satisfaction" or "Bodak Yellow" and while they all deliver a good groove get your feet going, I'm most struck by the Borgore remix, which like the original goes ridiculously hard.

BETON - Directions (ft. Wevie Stonder)
My most anticipated track of the year. I've gushed about it following Tiga's New Names Mix and again when the B-Side was released (here). Crank it to up 11 and shake the whole house. MASSIVE!

Robotaki - Limbo (ft. SHOR)
Seems like every new production from Robotaki raises the bar further and further. It's the perfect mix of T.E.E.D., SBKTRKT, Chet Faker and future bass when it was fresh coming out of Australia. Beyond beautiful, fantastically funky, smooth and sublime. Oh my days, might just have a little cry.

Max Olsen - Sub Zero (ft. JC)*
Expect to be moved by this one. Deep bass bonks and sweeping grooves. And how about those lyrics?

SAKIMA - Death Is In The Air
Maybe it's just the album art but I can't get The Cure out of my head. There may be nothing I enjoy more than dark lyrics with bright uplifting grooves. This is gives new meaning to scary good.

Minnesota - Hilow (Charlesthefirst Remix)*
Serious get down with these drops. This is atmospheric bass brilliance with all kinds of crazy elements.

BETON - Keep Breathin (ft. DJ Deeon)

I'm not much for hype, and I have a hard time keeping it up, but in the case of BETON's track "Directions" I've been coming back to Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong for weeks now. Not only is "Directions" a crazy cool track, the mix itself exemplifies the genius of Tiga's tastemaking abilities. Now as we wait (impatiently on my part) for the 16th of February to roll around, we get a taste of the b-side of BETON's Twin Turbo debut.

"Keep Breathin" featuring DJ Deeon again offers a driving techno tune that feels like a race car revving up. As each layer is added the energy and speed of the vehicle jumps another gear. Further, the vocal sample reminds us to "Keep Breathin" as the acceleration and anticipation of the track becomes more than we can bear. As I've said before with techno tracks, that's the key; you've got to come as close to redlining or overdosing before pulling back, and this track does that perfectly. Even the way the synths are designed exudes a propellant energy, further combining with the bass bonks and percussive clanks to illustrate a roaring drive.

The flawless movements or gear shifts, if you will, allow "Keep Breathin" and BETON to cruise competently through our rear-view mirrors and right off into the horizon. This EP certainly confirms BETON as one to watch in 2018. Stream below and pre-order from your preferred outlet here.FOLLOW BETON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong

With any new year comes a renewed sense of purpose and optimism for the future. Many outlets present lists of who to watch; even the mighty BBC and Pete Tong have joined the onslaught of augury by welcoming in well known names to provide their own picks of potential. One of those trusted sources tapped was Tiga who provided a mix of the likes of Avalon Emerson, Justin Cudmore, and Dimitri Veimar, among others. This list of "New Names" speaks to Tiga's desire for edgier, more dangerous and risk-taking productions, as opposed to the conservative tilt he's noticed over the last few years.

While even Tiga admits Avalon Emerson is not necessarily new, she does provide much of what he's looking for in the progression of trance music. The break elements may not be overwhelming in her track "One More Fluorescent Rush," but they certainly are present and continue to run through the mix, as perhaps the single common thread. Following Dimitri Veimar's title track from the most recent Turbo Recordings release, comes Tiga's "favourite track," Beton "Directions," which can only be found in this mix and will be sure to have you coming back for more. It really is one of those special tracks whose strange, uniqueness is instantly captivating, taking me back to Tiga's own productions "Bugatti," "Mind Dimension" and Erol Alkan's "Move My Body."

As the mix moves on we get another "favourite track" in the "techno breaks" of Lo Shea's "Tundish." Not only is this a supremely cool and groovy track, but it's mixed with new Justin Cudmore, and man is it magical. Even in a mix meant to show off tracks, Tiga can't resist but show off his brilliance behind the decks. The theme of breaks only seems to get stronger in this final third of the mix, bringing in ABSOLUTE. and undeniable upstart Billy Turner whose not only released with Turbo, but alongside Skream. Wrapping things up Tiga announced his own name as one to watch, with particular attention to be paid to an upcoming collaboration with Kölsch. I'm salivating at the mere thought of such a matching of minds and cannot wait. If this mix was meant to whet our appetites for 2018, it was a rousing success. Stream the mix below via BBC's iPlayer until February the 4th and find the full show via Mixcloud here.

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