Top 100 Tracks of 2017: 75-51

Continuation of the list started yesterday: from 100-76, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. Soundcloud playlist here and at the bottom.

#75: WRLD - Everything (ft. Ashdown)
One of only two DnB tracks on this list. It is delightful and spectacular sci-fi fun. The groove and its subsequent glitches are genius. It reminds me of Fred V & Grafix, which is saying something, and boy oh boy could I get into a set of this kind of liquid lusciousness.

#74: Falcons - Want Your Body
I can't count how many times I've heard this track, yet I still feel like it eludes my ability to properly characterize its quality. It's kind of sneaky, yet once it kicks in there's no avoiding its allure. The drum work is absolutely ingenious, propelling the production into a stratosphere unrivaled by any other tracks released this year. It is original and excellent, truly in a class of its own, but that's standard for Falcons.

#73: Ayo - Name Game
(As featured on EFYE) When a track doesn't need quality speakers to sound massive you know you've got something special. The bass Ayo's dropped here is quite simply the biggest thing in this whole list. In fact I'm fairly certain that if you play this on a big system, a hole in the time-space continuum is ripped open. Heed his advice and "play that shit again" and again and again.

#72: OAKS - Vibrations
Another almost old-school style track that takes me back to my early days exploring electronic music. It's got a great club churning groove that plays so perfectly with the synths and overall atmosphere. It's both wild yet some how still tempered in its tech house delivery. I swear I hadn't realized it until I played it live on Bump In The Hump, but I stand by my comparison to Boy 8-Bit, my favourite electronic artist.

#71: Jaxx Da Fishworks - Round Em Up
The typically house heavy BADLQQK crew had a huge year, and while there were several standouts, (particularly their RQQKIES) it was actually this breaks track that most caught my attention. Of course drums are the most important aspect of breaks, and boy do they ever do damage here. It's wobbly, warped and wicked good fun. And it's not just BADLQQK who had a big year, expect to see another track from Jaxx work its way into this list.

#70: Bicep - Aura
(As featured on EFYE) The unreleased Bicep track finally got its release after more than a year of magical teasing, and while it'll be remembered by most as a delirium-inducing demo, there's little better than having a full official release to play when and where we want. While I'll always be a sucker for their remix of "Tears I Can Afford," this may be Bicep at their best, navigating the line between a knock you off your feet, wall of sound and a feather-like tickling of your senses. Simply sublime.

A November To Remember

I've spoken/written about it being club season ad nauseam lately, so I'm here put an end to that with one fell swoop. This November is going to be one to remember; as you can see above, there are at least a dozen artists I'll be making my way to the clubs to see. So read along below as I do a quick detailing of the 5 Ws, setting up the massive month of music ahead. I'll include links to tickets, Facebook event pages and most importantly, music to whet your appetite. Hope to see you out!

NOV 3 - Trippy Turtle w/ Henrik The Artist @ Velvet Underground
November starts off with a bang, with perhaps my most anticipated show of the whole month. I've been waiting for Trippy Turtle to come for years and even more so for Henrik The Artist, who I've gushed over several times on this blog. In my eyes there is no better Jersey Club bootleg artist than Trippy Turtle nor is there a more kawaii chiptune composer than Henrik. Over the past while, I've found my feet more glued to the floor than ever, but I'm confident the craziness that these two will conjure from the speakers will have me back bouncing up and down like I were a teenager again. The Velvet Underground is perhaps the perfect venue for such a wild and wacky show (RSVP/Tickets).

NOV 4 - Great Good Fine OK @ The Garrison
To be honest I can't remember where/when I first heard GGFO, but I do know that the song I first heard, "By My Side," immediately gripped me. Jon Sandler's falsetto vocals are stunningly beautiful and play perfectly with the sublime synth pop construction of their songs. They're funky and groovy and I can't wait for their vibes to wash over me in the comfy confines of The Garrison (RSVP/Tickets).

NOV 11 - RL Grime w/ graves & Kittens @ Danforth Music Hall
Trap titan RL Grime brings his Nova Tour to the big stage, with support from graves and Kittens. Other than TNGHT, no one has made a bigger or longer lasting effect on trap than RL. All evidence (his most recent releases "Era" and Halloween VI) suggests this is going to be absolute madness. Add to the bill rising stars and badasses in their own right, graves and Kittens, and you can see why this is a can't miss event for those that demand the best booty and brain shaking bass (RSVP/Tickets).

NOV 17 - Pete Tong @ UNIUN
Now most people know Pete Tong as the inimitable voice behind BBC Radio One's Essential Mix, but less know about his mixing and production abilities. While he skews more towards baleric, which doesn't really suit Toronto mid-November, he is of course incredibly versatile, dabbling in all things electronic and dance. Even if he breaks out just one of his Classic House orchestral pieces, the trip to UNIUN is well warranted. Expect the atmosphere to be warm, friendly and fun (RSVP/Tickets).

NOV 18 - Mura Masa w/ Lunice @ Danforth Music Hall
Both of these amazing artists dropped their debut albums this year, and both are incredibly well respected in the music sphere, just take a look at the long list of features on either album. While both craft incredibly infectious club tunes, the mix of dirty dusters from Lunice and clean crisp cuts from Mura Masa makes for one of the most magical nights in recent memory. Even though this will be the 3rd time seeing Mura Masa in around a year, this is without a doubt one of my most anticipated shows in that same time frame. These a truly two legends, and an absolute can't miss event (RSVP/Tickets).

NOV 23 - Ekali w/ josh pan & Y2K @ Velvet Underground
This month of madness gets capped off with perhaps the most mayhem one bill can handle. By now you better know about Ekali, and to be fair, I've covered just as much josh pan and Y2K as Ekali on this blog. It is however Ekali's Babylon tour and he's got his own stage production set up, although it will likely have to be scaled back to fit Velvet's smaller stage. And while it's a shame (visually), the intimate atmosphere will only improve the onslaught of energy. Each of these three have dabbled in a diverse range of sounds/styles, so I'm not sure what to expect, except the unexpected (RSVP/Tickets).

As above, I'm aiming to attend each of these six shows (health permitting, as my body often fights me following back to back late nights), and as usual I'll likely be live tweeting. Follow me @OggieJames, catch coverage here and on Bump In The Hump, and perhaps I'll see you in the clubs!

M.I.A. - Paper Planes (Y2K Remix)

Monday Y2K declared that he was going to make the "sickest paper planes remix of all time." The next day he qualified that by saying it was "pop punk" but also "the most ridiculous thing" he'd ever made. Now approximately 100 hours later, we've got just that, a "Paper Planes" remix like no other. Its certainly got Y2K written all over it (and I don't mean his producer tag), its got his usual loon call, amidst his strong drum work. But there's not just that, its got his a great emo guitar riff that sends the 2007 track nearly a decade back to the likes of Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy. It's hard not to be in awe of Y2K's musical ability and production prowess. The man can take just about any track and transform it into something else entirely, and what makes that even better is that the original essence somehow remains. Taking the downtempo rap ballad and turning it into pop punk is actually genius, as it brings The Clash "Straight To Hell" sample back to its 'roots'. Download Y2K's rework free via Stereoload.FOLLOW Y2K: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

A$AP Rocky - Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (Y2K Remix)

Self proclaimed "professional sellout," Y2K has finally made good on his tweet from July, claiming that he was almost done remixing A$AP Rocky's "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2." Months later it's finally out, and as you might expect it's full on flames. Of course the original oozed with atmosphere, particularly through its scorching synths, but this new bent from Y2K brings bigger bass and more often at that. In typical Y2K style, he's also added effects throughout, including beepers, loons and subtle sirens. While the flow and arc of the original remains mostly intact, Y2K has indeed pushed this mix further towards the dancefloor with a rise and release of tension, culminating at about 1:50. Download this repackaging of "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2" for free via Stereoload here, and check his latest original, "Porcelain."FOLLOW Y2K: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW A$AP ROCKY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

blackbear - do re mi (Y2K Remix)

Yesterday afternoon Y2K teased us by wondering aloud on Twitter whether he should "drop a new song tomorrow," but after some convincing, he decided "k im doing it." With his first tweet of the day, he delivered his resplendent remix of blackbear's "do re mi."

If you know anything about Y2K (other than his twitter persona), you know how well he works around vocals, and the emotions he's able to amplify through them. This is not to say that blackbear's vocals are without emotion, but the way Y2K has built around them shows off his godly skill, as though the music bed grew organically out of nature. There's rattles, loon calls and just an all around incredibly palpable atmosphere. The design around the strident strings at the centre of the action grabs at your heart without remorse, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

In my mind, this is what makes Y2K's productions can't miss, he walks the line between lifeless electronic productions and living breathing, acoustic organisms. If you're afraid of feeling things from music, this track is not for you, otherwise enjoy the undeniable heart of "do re mi." At the point of writing this no download has been made available, but check back and as I'll update if and when it does. FOLLOW Y2K: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW BLACKBEAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Photay - Sadie EP

There really is nothing like waking up to new music in your inbox, especially when that music is so bright, sparkling, uplifting and like nothing you've ever heard. That is the case when I opened up Photay's latest release, Sadie, a four track EP on Astro Nautico. Light hearted and full of joy, Sadie's collection of tracks sail smoothly along with vibes reminiscent of SBTRKT, Danny L Harle and Ryan Hemsworth. Just last night, on my way home from Keys N Krates, I found myself clamoring for more midrange music (not downtempo or bangers), so I immediately went to my go to tracks Henrik The Artist's remix of Mark Redito's "So Many Things To Tell You," Y2K's remix of Noonie Bao's "Pyramids," and Tennyson's "Slipperz." It's the immense creativity and playfulness of these tracks, that you find front and centre in Photay's productions.

Each of the tracks has incredible progression and movement, alongside a wide array of instrumentation. While building the tracks in a way that injects familiarity, each track boasts a creative freshness that is incredibly alluring. There are no weak spots, or even ordinary or middling tracks in Sadie; it would be impossible to choose one as my favourite. The lead track "Zeitgebers" performs its function perfectly, building its playful repertoire piece by piece with the utmost intelligence. "Monday," the track featuring himself as vocalist, shows incredible, subdued beauty, so much so that you'll never be able to view Mondays the same way. "Trophy" may be the most boisterous of the bunch, and excels with triumphant synth work, worthy of a victory parade. The final, double track, "Wipe The Sleep From You Eyes," is both the most restrained yet free flowing musical track, finding room for an incredibly funky and playful sax solo. Sadie will find its way into many of my playlists and should quickly become one of my most played albums. SUPPORT PHOTAY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER