From UK future-dub to Brooklyn indie to Candiana to Euro electro, 2009 was a good year. Here we go:
MODERAT - MODERAT (BPITCH CONTROL)
Hearing this for the first time really opened my ears to a whole other spectrum of electronic music that I had thus far neglected. The bassy melodic landscapes painted by this German trio remain a treat of utmost delight of my ears, and will be for a long time. Until the cows come home. Also the best live show I've had the pleasure of witnessing this year.
SLOW CLUB - YEAH SO (MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS)
Very little known outside of the UK, Slow Club has undoubtedly stolen my heart this summer. This boy-girl duo have written the best pop song's I've heard all year. There are no bells and whistles here folks, these songs are simple, clean and fun. He plays guitar, and she plays the drums (standing up!) while weaving intricate vocal harmonies.
THE FIELD - YESTERDAY AND TODAY (KOMPAKT)
This Swedish project kept evolving in an interesting direction as they unleashed Yesterday and Today in the spring of 2009. The Field offers a dynamic and visceral experience through the stories its layers of samples and loops tell over what is very dance-floor friendly techno rhythms. Somehow, Alex Willner can connect the dots on what could easily be a real messy cutting floor, over saturated and cluttered, and for that, we certainly are very very thankful. Also in my top 5 live shows this year.
PEVERELIST - JARVIK MINDSTATE (PUNCH DRUNK)
As this album enters it's first phase, we assume what we are getting into is another typical sounding future-bass album. But as the saxophone intro fades out on the first track Esperanto, we enter a realm where the artist really explores new ground, ignoring the trends set by his peers. Lovely.
DESIRE - II (ITALIANS DO IT BETTER)
Montreal based bilingual production from Italian's main man; Johnny Jewel, appropriately has him keep his creative streak of oldschool inspired space disco in the A+ category.
THE JUAN MACLEAN - THE FUTURE WILL COME (DFA)
Epic scale dancefloor disco inspired concoctions here. Great production and great live too (THEREMIN!!!!!!)
RJD2 - TIN FOIL HAT EP (RJ'S ELECTRICAL PRODUCTIONS)
Heeeee's back! After his experience with song writing , the turntablelist we grew up with is back doing what he does best. An amazing array of sampled goods are brilliantly organised into some of the funkiest hip-hop breaks I've had the pleasure of hearing in recent history.
JJ - No 2 (Secretely Yours)
the Swedes have a knack for making catchy pop music that doesn't sound lame. High instrumental production value and gorgeous vocals make this one of the year's best.
VARIOUS ARTISTS - 10 YEARS OF BPITCH CONTROL (BPITCH CONTROL)
My favorite compilation this year by far. Revisiting the 10 years of this now legendary German imprint made me wish I was born in Europe.
Favorite scene of 2009: LOW END THEORY CLUB
LA's Low End Theory club has attained mythical proportions in my mind as some of music's most forward thinking prophets converge there in weekly residencies. To Nosaj Thing, GLK, Flying Lotus, Daedalus, Jogger and the rest of the crew; live long and prosper my friends!
Labels of the year:
1. KOMPAKT
1. KOMPAKT
2. Moshi Moshi
3. Hyperdub
4. Paper Bag Records
5. Perlon
6. Bpitch Control
7. Labrador
8. Domino
9. Warp
10. DFA
yo Jess ! keep in mind that RJD2 is old material, I believe its unreleased studio material between deadringer / since we last spoke( which is why its likely so good ). On a different note be sure to track down the RJD2 Beta Lounge live set, a classic !
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