My year end poll with f**k all jazz

First off, I don’t really mind making end of year lists as it gives me something to mull over on a quiet night-shift in work and every year there are always records that stand out for me, so it’s not the most painful thing to do. I stopped buying records a couple of weeks ago due to monetary reasons, but I think that for the most part my favourites of the year were already within my possession – bar a couple which may have made it, if i’d managed to get a hold of them; Reggie Dokes’ on Philpot and the Rob Hood/The Black Dog 12″. But that’s part and parcel of collecting music, you just can’t always get everything you want.

I’ve bought more music this year than ever before, but at the same time there was the odd disappointing element to the year. A lot of new techno didn’t do much for me, lauded labels like Ostgut Ton and Sandwell District didn’t excite me as much as I thought they would. Far too many people shit their pants over the Shed album too. There was nothing wrong with it, but I didn’t think it was a massive step up from some very impressive releases he’d put out in previous years, on his own Solo Action label. But that’s hype for ya. I definitely bought more house, disco and Italo flavoured records,  this  was simply taste evolving and branching out along with a much healthier bank balance allowing me to indulge more in these styles.

It’s been a haphazard year for me outside of music, and this is most certainly reflected in my choices below. There may have been some more aesthetically impressive releases to have appeared over the year, but it doesn’t really matter if they do little to you emotionally. This list is probably not definitive, but it’s fairly close and though it runs 10 to 1, most of these could be interchangeable with each other.

Finally, Happy Christmas to everyone who’s contributed or read ISM. Special thanks to Tom for letting me waffle on here too. I’ve enjoyed all of it.

10. Omar S – Psychotic Photosynthesis (FXHE)

Ok, so it actually came out at the arse end of last year, to cancel it out next year I’ll stick up something that came out this December in next year’s list (maybe). It doesn’t matter; an awesome record that could go on forever.  One record that proves Detroit Techno still matters.

9. Casionova – Shoreham Harbour Blues  – Ali Renault Rmx (Dissident)

Renault may be at the epicentre of the rather ugly London/Shoreditch hipster fondness for all things Cosmic and Italo but this is still an epic piece of modern, melancholic Italo disco.

8. Ragtyme – I Can’t Stay Away (Clone Classic Cuts)

Two out of three records now that weren’t even released this year!? I’m obviously not very good at this, but looking back on 2008 and ignoring what Clone Classic Cuts reissued would just be plain rude.  And this is possibly the highlight. 21 years on, it hasn’t lost even the tiniest bit of it’s magic. Play this and the crowd will go nuts. If they don’t, switch the decks off.

7. Motor City Drum Ensemble – Raw Cuts (MCDE)

I pretty much ignored the 2nd side of this record for about 6 months, the first more direct house “cut” proved irresistible for quite a long time. Then when I finally gave the flipside a chance, I couldn’t stop playing it either. Mightn’t change your life, but will make you dance like a crazy thing. And sometimes wiggin’ out is the best therapy there is.

6. Alden Tyrell feat. Fred Ventura – Memories (Moustache Records)

Alden Tyrell may be the most sickening man in dance music. He sits on tracks forever like they don’t matter, gives out about having to play live and freely admits to finding producing not-very-hard-at-all. Yet time after time he drops hammers on your head. A massive improvement on his update of Love Explosion with Ventura from a couple of years ago, he barely crawls above 105bpm this time, while Fred croons about a love lost. Rarely has such  histrionic, synthetic pop music been so touching.

5. Volk – The Day We Met Again (Lifeworld)

Previously only known for a couple of releases on Jeff Mill’s 6277 off-shoot, Volk returned with his own imprint, Lifeworld, earlier in the year and gave techno a good swift kick in the balls. No washes of dub nothingness, no hi hats stolen from Phylyps Traks, instead a busier sound than many go for these days, all adding to the tension and excitment contained within. His latest is just dropping now, so maybe it will be my December 08 release I’ll rave about next year, ’cause it sounds even better than this.

4. Redshape – Blood into Dust (Styrax Leaves)

I talked about this a couple of weeks ago. Both Redshape’s and Styrax’s best effort in far too long. Along with Volk, he’s not afraid to wear his influences without making it seem like a pointless exercise in retro posturing.

3. Sascha Dive – Deepest America – Moodymann Rmx (Ornaments)

The best remix of the year, the first half stomps along like house music’s going out of fashion before KDJ turns everything on it’s head with the meanest bass riff this side of, well….a big fucking bag of bad ass, mean bass riffs.

2. Theo Parrish – Chemisty/Untitled One (Sound Signature)

This has been mentioned more on the blog than any other record in the last month or two. With good reason too. I’m not afraid to admit Theo doesn’t do it for me all the time, but when he does he’s nearly untouchable.

1. The Hasbeens – Keep Fooling Yourself (Clone)

Another Tyrell tag team effort, this time with fellow Dutchman, Dj Overdose. Released in January this record took on a life of it’s own for me over the last 12 months.  Actually the b-side,  “Keep Fooling Youreslf” was yet another over the top modern italo floor filler, which even by Tyrells standards was ludicrously good. The A side cuts “Make the World Go Away” (which first appeared in ’06, unawares to myself) and “Ain’t The Same As Before” are the true stars of this record though. Their robotic, vocodered vocals coupled with more reflective music connected with me more than any other release this year.