dance / electronic music EOY 2012 picks

i am not exactly a huge stan for this track, mind you, but i always viewed it as a hip-hop producer's first, rough-take at turning a sugary soulful string sample into something a bit more uptempo and housey. it's definitely weird to talk about it as the foremost shining example of dance music in 2012 but i feel like it never had any pretenses as such, and it works for completely different reasons than something like a parrish or moodymann track (despite obvious stylistic similarities).

the "track of the year" is often like this, really, a sort of recognisable and more downtempo break from more structured or quintessential tracks. which by the end of the year becomes a kind of symbol for good vibe or happiness, with nobody actually really listening any more. don't mean that to criticise the andres track either, it's a bit like a "mumblin' yeah" or something of its time.

Yeah that's a good comparison, though "mumblin' yeah" felt more zeitgeisty I feel.

I never heard Mumblin' Yeah out at the time and I was similarly nonplussed to see it topping lists in 2007 or whenever it was. Without having been there for it I just couldn't understand the love.

I still haven't actually heard the Andres tune.

definitely I can see how both tunes win you over by constantly emerging out of other tunes in the mix.

"Mumblin' Yeah" had that whole longform damaged psychedelic house looseness that was really in back in 2007.

i completely forgot about "mumbling yeah"

records that top lists that you haven't heard yet feel like someone coming round your house at 8.30 in the morning when you just woke up and insisting you listen to The Clash

with the dance lists i usually end up shouting WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS EARLIER. i still can't believe how late i was to maya jane coles in general, eg

balcazar & sordo's "obsession" is FANTASTIC too

definitely I can see how both tunes win you over by constantly emerging out of other tunes in the mix.

It's a weird thing, I remember with Mumblin' Yeah when it was first out I was in Berlin, and it was played heavily, a few times a night, with big reactions each time. It really has that "taking a break" feel to it that New For U has.

I haven't really been to clubs much this year but I've heard New For U in loads of sets from quite a range of DJs. I sort of feel that a lot of big tracks like this are just more recognisable than the tracks that surround them in sets, without necessarily being better, though I think it takes a DJ or fanatic to get really excited about a particularly well done groove or functional thing.

I agree that with Mumblin' Yeah, at the time, it was the zeitgeist thing that Tim mentions, which made it quite exciting and the kind of thing you really back for a #1.

What I find weird and impressive about Inspector Norse, is how it seems to refuse to become just a symbolic "yay" tune, every time I hear it out I feel caught up by the quality of the groove, and I sense that around me. I've never known a hit to endure so stubbornly.

i can actually see it being underwhelming in the context of it being named BEST TRACK OF THE YEAR as opposed to it being some track you heard in mixes a lot over the summer that kept growing on you and never stopped.

the amazing music in 2012 that fits this description a lot more excitingly

i'm sure you mean jackin house or something far different than what i'm thinking of, but i'm not arguing it's the best of the music that would fit this description. that loop is just plainly likable in a sorta nonpartisan way and thus it tops these lists easily. i'm a sucker for the track but i doubt many voters had it as their actual #1

I sort of feel that a lot of big tracks like this are just more recognisable than the tracks that surround them in sets, without necessarily being better

otm

i can actually see it being underwhelming in the context of it being named BEST TRACK OF THE YEAR as opposed to it being some track you heard in mixes a lot over the summer that kept growing on you and never stopped.

otm. I only found it what it was by October or so, and that's not for want of hearing it. I knew it every time I heard it and can remember back in June or July thinking "what is this" and knowing it was obviously a really big tune as I'd heard it so often. it doesn't demand you to go and find out.

the amazing music in 2012 that fits this description a lot more excitingly

well yeah everyone's own favs whatever they might be fit that description better of course

would think tim means the double standard of being like "oh yeah but it's pop moodyman" and then being "ugh this just x" for everything else rather than whats best

The FACT list was kind of all over the place and their #2 was a Julia Holter album track so it's perfectly plausible there was very little in the way of consensus. The record that lots of people kinda like that is no one's #1 tends to do well in that sort of scenario.

Really surprised by the level of love for the Andrés 12". His '97-'03 releases do much more for me.

i am getting the feeling that "howling" is going to place pretty high on the RA list, and i hope i'm wrong. i just don't get that track.

like why would you want to make a second-tier coldplay song last for eight minutes

with the dance lists i usually end up shouting WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS EARLIER. i still can't believe how late i was to maya jane coles in general, eg

― lex pretend, Monday, 17 December 2012 12:38 (12 minutes ago) Bookmark

just for future ref what is it you imagine "telling you" involves if reading ilm is apparently too abstruse? standard-bearing emissary ringing your doorbell?

ilm doesn't really talk about the BIG dance trax of the year though

would think tim means the double standard of being like "oh yeah but it's pop moodyman" and then being "ugh this just x" for everything else rather than whats best

― r|t|c, Monday, December 17, 2012 12:50 PM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This.

i am getting the feeling that "howling" is going to place pretty high on the RA list, and i hope i'm wrong. i just don't get that track.

agree completely.

lol i'm not trying to say that it's 'pop moodyman', and even if i were that wouldn't be a particularly exciting conceit for an eoy pick. i'm saying it works for different reasons

sux 4 u cos i was kinda sold on pop moodymann!

i'm kinda surprised "horizon" seems to be the consensus ejeca pick, its definitely effective, but i think they're better at the deeper stuff.

"New For U" @ #2 in p.sherb's list:

http://www.spin.com/articles/best-electronic-tracks-2012

i like the elgato record

Me too, but i kind of like 'Luv Zombie' on other side of that record more, I've got a sweet tooth.

luv zombie > zone

i would add that elgato to my list

everyone on the RA comments to their EOY seems to be raving about the juju & jordash record. is it really that good?

on a personal note, very glad to see my friend pal +'s 'the forest' on the sherburne list...

i liked some of the juju & jordash album but it's all over the place and has never really gripped me.

i love 'new for you' & really dislike 'howling' fwiw. this thread is a goldmine thanks ilm! one of my fav tracks of the year that i don't think was mentioned yet is:

ajello - sabrer (hannulelauri version)

heard it on this incredible mix that someone posted earlier this year on here.

Yeah that's a good one. I liked "El Charro" by them too. If you're into goofy Italo disco (like I am)

been digging through more stuff to find more favourites

kink feat rachel row - handmade (big ame-style techno)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smAcSdKquO8

gusgus - add this song - like if they redid "david" and got bono on vocals. i know how terrible this description sounds, still can't help but enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9APOIBBpls8

bon and rau - morning funk - smallville is nothing new for anyone, was lucky enough to get to golden pudel in hamburg this year, absolutely amazing (and tiny) club - heard this at about 0530 on a wednesday morning, no bouncers, move d headlining, and support dj moved to working behind the bar after playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AmMsf48D20

ben sun and slow hands - love hotel - kind of stopped bothering with a lot of the wolf and lamb guys but this is a really beautiful record, so blissed out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw21QR_pmD4

maxxi soundsystem - regrets we have no use for (herbert mix) - forget if anyone mentioned this here yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPl4PV-ds-Y

whomadewho - never had the time (sashcienne mix) - vintage kompakt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiO8885M05k

iori - moon - meandering space techno, never heard anyone play this except tim sweeney, once, easily one of my favourites of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLCkVZDr4qs

xps the juju and jordash album was sorta baffling at first, there are a lot of stylistic jumps and it wasn't exactly the deep house full length i was expecting BUT once it clicked i started loving it. seems rare for house producers to even try to cover this broad of a spectrum in one album, and jj&j definitely avoid mungolian jetset-style high-pitched maximalist goofiness or novelty when they go from say a murky almost sun araw-type jam sesh into subtle acid techno into woozy balearic stuff or w/e. it's similar to the terrence dixon album in that it's not easy to unpack but it definitely rewards every attempt at doing so

also - wouldn't 'pop moodyman' just be yknow, a slum village track?

maxxi soundsystem - regrets we have no use for (herbert mix)

^ yah this is great

that iori track posted above is amazing. also quite like the kink one.

no love for moda black here?

nothing but love for moda here

was literally just debating whether to post the new maxxi with thomas gandey in fact, corny goth tiga jam tho it be

also - wouldn't 'pop moodyman' just be yknow, a slum village track?

― akadarbarijava (psychgawsple), Monday, 17 December 2012 22:44 (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

yeah ie like i said before! 'players' instro > andres now you mention it

The Moda Black comp is so good, esp. "Knee Deep In Louise", "How It Goes" and "Best In Show".

xps the juju and jordash album was sorta baffling at first, there are a lot of stylistic jumps and it wasn't exactly the deep house full length i was expecting BUT once it clicked i started loving it. seems rare for house producers to even try to cover this broad of a spectrum in one album, and jj&j definitely avoid mungolian jetset-style high-pitched maximalist goofiness or novelty when they go from say a murky almost sun araw-type jam sesh into subtle acid techno into woozy balearic stuff or w/e. it's similar to the terrence dixon album in that it's not easy to unpack but it definitely rewards every attempt at doing so

― akadarbarijava (psychgawsple), Monday, December 17, 2012 5:35 PM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i love the juju & jordash album, it traverses a lot of different genres really naturally and none of it seems tossed off like they're just including non-tracky interludes to try to make an "album." the terrence dixon was too dissonant for me for the most part on first listen, i'll come back to it b/c everyone seems to love it, though. have you heard the mungolian jetset album from this year, though? b/c i really dislike the whole goofy maximalist thing, too, but mungodelics really surprised me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCGB0zYbCI

if we wanna dovetail the discussions

kink feat rachel row - handmade (big ame-style techno)

holy shit this is great

xp: guess i'm gonna listen to the juju & jordash record, then. those sprawling albums are usually kinda off-putting with all those stylistic changes being used withour any kind of context or w/e - just for the sake of it with a smart-ass attitude or something? dunno...

karl otm about mungodelics. with the exception of 'revolving door' and 'people on strong stuff' the album is good to great - even if somewhat forgettable in the long run (ie 'picazzo')

yea i got a lot of mileage out of "toccata" and "smells like gasoline" and for some reason i haven't really given the rest of the album the same attention

guys guys, this is so top 50 material:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbaMfJssd3U

the kink track is amazing