TOP REMIXES OF 2012

2012 has had some serious tunes and some seriously exciting producers coming to the forefront.  I've particularly enjoyed the British contingent; producers like Huxley and Julio Bashmore and labels like Hypercolour and Wolf Music have crossed over and brought the British bass scene to new listeners.  I'm throwing in a few end of year lists throughout the month, which highlight the tracks I couldn't get enough of this year. 

 

TOP 5 REMIXES

1.  STORM QUEEN - Look Right Through (MK DON'T TALK TO ME DUB) Released - February
Quite simply, a TUNE. Released on Defected at the start of the year, MK worked his magic and produced his best work of the year IMO.  Old school, distinctive, and classy.  MK is the house master.


2. Jessie Ware - Running (DISCLOSURE REMIX)  Released - April
A massive remix that made 2012 Disclosure's year.  Uplifting and unique; the throwback chords and funked up rhythm make the track impossible not to enjoy. 


3. Maxxi Soundsystem - Stella's Way (HUXLEY REMIX)  Released - October
A bad-ass descending bass-line, subtle chords and a touch of class from Huxley.



4. JUSTIN MARTIN - Don't Go (DUSKY REMIX) Released - October
Dusky transforms the delicate, twinkly original with a deep, pulsating bass-line that fuses house and garage to maximum affect.

5.  JESSIE WARE - No To Love (GEORGE FITZGERALD MIX)
Released - November
Driving, peak time techno tinged bomb

Runner's Up

Lana Del Ray - Video Games (Joy Orbison Remix)
Kim-Ann Foxman - Return It (Populette Remix)

Shenoda - Moments (Huxley Remix)

Justin Martin - Ghetto's and Gardens (Bachelors of Science D&B Remix)
Justin Martin/Leroy Peppers - Riding Spaceships (Shadow Child 'In Search of 94' Mix)
Lana Del Ray - Ride (Photek Remix)

FRIDAY FLAVOURS. CLEAN BANDIT. SHADOW CHILD

CLEAN BANDIT A&E EP

Clean Bandit are a DIY electronic, instrumental group from London with a really fresh, unique sound.  A&E is fantastic swagger-pop; completely British sounding and delightfully eccentric.  All the instruments are played by REAL MUSICIANS (saywhat?!), there is no Ableton or Logic as far as I know and the vocalists are members of a community singing group who the core band members found.  Oh, and they also made this brilliant video themselves.  Lovely.

Out on December 9th, on the excellent BLACK BUTTER RECORDS

ZINC feat. SASHA KEABLE - ONLY FOR TONIGHT

Proving once again, why Zinc is still at the top of his game in providing dance-floor fillers, Only For Tonight is just that.  Although Zinc has his detractors for his slightly more commercial tracks, you can't deny the catchiness and simple joy gained from his wobbly, dance-floor bombs.  Sure to be everywhere; proper festive banger.

JUSTIN MARTIN/LEROY PEPPERS - RIDING SPACESHIPS (SHADOW CHILD 'IN SEARCH OF 94' MIX

If you've not listened to Justin Martin's Ghetto's & Garden's album yet, then please get on it.  It's a unique fun-filled journey through booty-bass, dn'b, dubstep, deep house and everything in between.  A remix album dropped in  October, which I featured on here.  It included the bumpin' house remix of Don't Go by Dusky which has topped a few charts recently.  Well, Justin Martin is set to drop another remix album pretty soon.   This remix by Shadow Child is going to be on there, but we will have to wait for the full track because this is only a snippet. The original was a slow booty bass burner, but Shadow Child has gloriously dropped a HUGE breakbeat line throughout, giving the whole track a mad, atmospheric old skool sound

JUSTIN MARTIN - GHETTOS & GARDENS REMIXES VOL.1

Dirtybird release Ghettos & Gardens received a lot of hype over the summer, and deservedly so.      Justin Martin's ability to twist through different styles in such a playful way, has led to this first remix instalment, with big names in house, bass and dn'b chomping at the bit to put their own stamp on  Martin's eclectic tracks.
Dusky gives the gorgeous, stripped back "Don't Go" more bass and bite, and Danny Daze is on hand to give standout deep house track "The Gurner" a mean bassline.  Elsewhere, title track "Ghettos & Gardens" gets an excellent dn'b makeover from Bachelors of Science, who utilise that big, big bassline drop to maximum effect.  Dirtybird release Ghettos & Gardens Remixes Vol.1 on Oct 16th.

JUSTIN MARTIN

Ghetto's and Garden's (dirtybird) is officially amazing.  A full-length album worth listening to, all the way through; the soundtrack to your summer.  The way Martin combines twee little harmonies and melodies, with bad-ass booty bass is killer.  The sheer range of styles is so refreshing; from the excellent dub-step n' string infused remix of Goldie's classic Kemistry, to the classic hip-hop sound of Lezgo VIP, to the deep-funk vibes of The Gurner, a collab with ultra-cool VisionQuest dudes PillowTalk. 



This cool bundle complete with 40oz liquor bag, only available in America.  Damn!

JUSTIN MARTIN. DIRTYBIRD US

22/05/2012.  The release date of 'Ghetto's & Garden's' from San Fran label Dirtybird's most exciting producer, Justin Martin.  He has tantalised with the dubstep infused 'Ghetto's & Garden's' and his latest release has only wet the appetite further.  'Don't Go' is a sugary, sweet, melodic house number that sticks like glue.  Adorable. 



The album is going to be Dirtybird's biggest release to date, with 2012 already a great year for label owner Claude VonStroke who has a string of great releases under his belt such as Shadow Child's  'Shadow Chill' EP, OUT NOW, which fuses spacious, garage-infused beats with intricate house sensibilities.