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Re: I was bored, so....
| quote: | Originally posted by Renegade
... I made a top 30. I put a fair bit of thought into this (I didn't just choose 30 tracks at random) so here goes:
30) Sasha Cloud Cuckoo (Luke Chable Remix)
Luke Chable Get a fair bit of hype on these boards and elsewhere, but this is the only thing he's done that I can genuinely say I've "loved" (with the exception of last year's Lo-Step - Roots). Take a beautiful melody and integrate it with some deep, pounding beats and you've got yourself a winner.
29) The Silencers Rollin and Controllin (Original Mix)
I like everything these guys do (even if it all does sound a bit samey) but this is the best of the 4-5 original productions these guys have put out so far. If "techy-breaks" were a real genre, these guys would be its kings.
28)Elisa Time (Planet Funk Remix)
Made famous on the Deep Dish - Toronto GU and an almost instant classic. Planet Funk (especially with their more recent stuff) have managed to acheive what most fail to do: acheive mainstream appeal while still maintaining anthemic, underground cred status (see also, "Who Said?"). This is a fairly simple track (a catchy vocal atop a grinding beat) but undeniably addictive.
27) Spork Freak Like Me (Sander Kleinenberg Remix)
No top 30 of anything prog would be complete without a mention of Sander K and - for me - this is the best thing he's put out this year (yes, that includes everything the 4 Seasons 3 EP). Funky and very catchy. Everybody now:
"Freak in the morning, freak in the evening, ain't no other freakin freak like me...."
26) Jamez Energy of Life (Humate Remix)
If only all trance tracks were this well made. Build-up of the year and good use of the vocal. Typical Humate.
25) Kris B Last Minute Flight (Original / Blackwatch)
Couldn't split between the two remixes, so I included them both. Original mix has that cool sounding synth thing going at the end, while the Blackwatch mix has a more spacey, laid-back feel to it. Both class mixes though.
24) Kenny Hawkes Play the Game (Mazi & Joshua Collins Remix)
The track that almost got me addicted to tech-house music. Bouncy, druggy beat and very cool female vox.
23) Dimas Signs and Portents (Original Mix)
A more recent candidate, but a worthy one nonetheless. What trance and tribal would sound like if they merged.
22) Panis Box Cest La Vie (Mechanique Fear Remix)
A very dark, techy-proggy track that - for some reason - I just can't get enough of. Won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I can't stop listening to it.
21) James Benitez Starchaser (Paranoid Jack Remix)
A melodic trance track with a very eerie, sinister feel to it. Has been caned by many of the big DJs.
20) Morjac Stars (Lee Cabrera Mix)
Big-room prog-house music. If this doesn't make you want to dance, you have no taste whatsoever. 
19) God Within Raincry (Vance Musgrove Mix)
A late candidate for most beautiful track of the year. Down-tempo breaks track that everyone here should appreciate.
18) Inkfish Acting Out (White Label Mix)
There were some other remixes of this released later on in the year, but this one (the one with possibly best vocal sample of the year) is clearly the best.
17) Ictus The Look (Chris Lake Dirty Breaks Remix)
If the year had ended much earlier, this may have been a candidate for number one. A very well produced, dubby, slightly melodic breaks track.
16) Momu The Dive
See description for number 19. Absolute class.
15) Futureshock Prides Paranoia (Eric Prydz Remix)
Arguably not a progressive track (definitely more on the housey side of things) but given that Futureshock produce kinda proggy music and that the other mixes were kinda proggy, it's good enough for me to include here. Great build-up with the Futureshock vocal, and the funkiest sound this side of Olav Basoski. If it isn't in any way progressive, then it is definitely, at least, the house track of the year.
14) Junkie XL Tennis
Possibly the best produced track that I've ever heard. All the elements fit so cleanly with each other that it is just a charm to listen to. Another track I just cannot stop listening to.
13) Massive Lust Never (Danny S Remix)
Another late contender. This is about as "phat and phunky" as they come and it uses a very cool vocal well as well. The other remixes of this track are good too, but - for me - this is the pick of the bunch.
12) UNKLE Eye For an Eye (Force Mass Motion vs Dylan Rhymes Remix)
In a good year for breaks, this track's probably the best of the lot. Tough as nails but with a nice build-up/interlude and the Silencer boys have another winner.
11) Agoria LOnzieme March
First caned by Danny Howells, but then adopted by many other big-name DJs, this is the track that first put Agoria on the map. Original sounds that verge on straight-up techno and a roof-lifting build-up make it work in so many different types of sets.
10) Prassay Kruisin
An unassuming late-night house track that has been caned by all the housier prog DJs. Takes a few listens, but definitely grows on you.
9) Simms Welt Disco Sucks (Original Mix)
If there was a track released with more dance-floor destroying potential than this one this year, I'd like to hear it. This is "massive" with a capital "fuck-off".
8) Salt Pervert 5AM Soho (Different Gear K Hole Mix)
The "coolest" track of the year. I love the vocal and the twisted, druggy beat (hence the "K Hole" reference) gives this one a real sinister edge. Great track to start a set with.
7) Dave Gahan Dirty Sticky Floors (Lexicon Ave Mix)
Another instant classic. This is the best and most dancable of the remixes.
6) Maurice and Noble Hoochie Koochie
Was released a long time after it was first played out, but it was worth the wait. A haunting guitar rift and an uplifting melody makes this one of the more instantly lovable tracks of 2003.
5) Steve Porter Definite Form 2 (Jumpin Dub)
Fairly simple track, but the beat makes it work so effectively. "Jumpin" Dub is right.
4) John Creamer Lift Up the Needle (Ellis Dee Remix)
First heard in Danny Howell's Redlight set, and it took even the GU lads a while to ID, but by then I was already in love with it. Don't know what it is about it - it's a fairly simple track with a fairly simple vocal - but it's real dancefloor material. Also served as the inspiration for my new Custom text.
3) Schatrax Mispent Years (Silicone Soul Remix)
More proof that the simple things in life are often the best (tm Kellogs). It's become staple fodder for late-night DJs everywhere, and if you've ever witnessed a progressive set, chances are you've heard this track as well.
2) The Greek Alive (G-Pal Remix)
I fell in love with this track straight away. I don't normally go for shmultzy vocals, but his manages to be uplifting and emotional without becoming even remotely cheesy or unbearable. Absolutely beautiful.
1) Kate Bush vs Infusion Running Up That Hill
First heard it in a Dave Seaman set back in March, took me two months to track down and it has instantly become one of my all time favourites. Uplifting and relentlessly driving - the classic big-room party tune. 'Nuff said. |
Great chart + analysis. I think this is what more TAs should do instead of just listing name of songs.
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Enjoying: Sasha - Live @ Zouk 06
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