Thursday, January 13, 2011

A type of top 10 for 2010

*****update; added a few more that i promised myself i wouldnt forget
‘BRAVE NEW DIRECTION’ OF THE YEAR – well I agree with the frothing journos on Darkstar’s North album. I would have taken an album of Need Yous and Aidy’s Girls happily but history will be kind to their decision to dump the formula and the beats to let the synths (and the new vocalist) emote. A lonely but lovely listen. The League cover was seen as genius too, and we all liked the industrial pipes on the cover.

MIX OF THE YEAR – how many mixes do you download? Did u bite on Wiley’s free mega Zip? Are you the type to say hell to your laptop’s storage and happily chew up 60-120MB on the latest hot mix? Not me, the days of regular computer dumps are still fresh in my mind so I pick and choose. But there was none better than the Black Dog and Regis’ High-Rise Living 78-86 with their great selection of typical and not-so-typical synth excursions from the era.

MOST PANT-WETTINGLY HILARIOUS STADIUM-INDIE ABORTION - actually last year wasnt too bad in terms of keane/foldclay etc but we were all worried when Super Hands said 'I just wanna mong out with a tuna sandwich and some Snow Patrol'. It's still out there, kids, so stay vigilant! But maybe the Cardle-Clyro has done for it for good.

VANITY TRIP OF THE YEAR - yes 2010 was when i finally convinced myself that i must press a few of the low-fi and low-grade tracks i make onto vinyl (a few, Hardcore Downroar and The Rattle, are here). But to be fair, it's only £50 at the Carvery for the basic package, fifty quid for a quirky topic of conversation with people who dont really give a shit about my music, or vinyl, or independent spirit etc etc.

BEST CHEESY DUBSTEP-TRANCE WITH A GOOD MEASURE OF AIR THROWN IN OF THE YEAR - that'll be Magnetic's I Need Air {somewhat obviously}. Kids love it too, which brings me on to...

LEAST HATED TRACK THAT MY KIDS LIKE - they've taken a strong liking to M.I.A's cod-reggae with funny voice It Takes a Muscle (but i bet they wouldnt like Pearson Sound's further infantilisation). I've also been singing all the tunes from the nursery nativity play, so chuffed was I with their contributions. Altogether now ... 'No rooms left, all the other rooms are full etc etc christian indoctrination'.

MUSICAL CONVERSATION OF THE YEAR - there was a short but enjoyable bond of selective insider knowledge with the girls doing Electrik in Chorlton over their playing Pretty Things' Baron Saturday.

NEW GENRES OF THE YEAR I CHECKED OUT BUT THEN LARGELY AVOIDED - footwork (one Dj Roc tune aside), witch house (I like reverb and haze as much as the next man but...), synthwave (cheap and old stuff desperately repackaged), electro-swing, I could go on.

80S POP-GOTH REFERENCES OF THE YEAR - dead heat between The Drums' Me and the Moon and The Soft Moon's Circles, oh and Castles with Robert Smith wasn't bad either. But it's disqualified as they didnt have 'moon' in the title or act.

POTENTIAL MATE-IN-A-BAND BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR - The Pre-New (go on sticksman George!).

CORKYESQUE TRACK OF THE YEAR (even though it was probably released in 2009) - Factory Floor's Lying.

FAVOURITE TRAD-HOUSE TRACK OF THE YEAR (even though it was probably released in 2009) - WBeeza's Hurricane. 808s, bouncing Detroit bass, then the synth-rushes, ja danke! the female vocalist could be singing anything by the time she comes in, such is the track's hold, and she pretty much is.

BOARDS OF CANADA TRACK MAKING MOST DELICIOUSLY UNCANNY IMPRESSION OF THE YEAR - 1969.

EX-ARTIST WHO MADE MOST OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO OUR INFOSTAINMENT THIS YEAR - yep, it's our Shaun and his attack of the snake.

MOST ALGERIAN CLUB RIDDIM OF THE YEAR - Breach's Fatherless (Doc Daneeka mix).

MOST CHECKED ARTISTS OF THE YEAR - if 09 was Instra:Mental and Untold, then Actress grabbed my post-techno attention early in the year and I'd say Falty DL has consistently impressed with a range of styles.

LOSS OF THE YEAR - Guru Keith E.

LATE DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR -got to be Jam City's 2 Hot off his Night Slugs ep, lovely slice of film-score industrial noir. Where are we headed on our nightdrive? To Babylon, mate!

FEAR FOR THE NEW YEAR - a fucking Britpap revival.
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2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope it won't be misconstrued as bad manners for me to say that I warmed to none of these, all of which sound derivative and/or tuneless, but then I am so damnably conventional!

best
dave

8:51 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

I love you

Corky
x

10:08 pm  

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