Paul's Best of 2015

Paul's Best of 2012

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1. Amon Tobin

"Dropped From The Sky (Live - ISAM 2.0 Tour)"
 [ISAM Live]

Just simply epic in every sense of the word.


Pro Tip:  If you set your player to fade these first 2 live tracks together, it'll make it seem like its the same show!  Neat!

 

2. Orbital
"Impact (Live in Australia)"
[Wonky - Bonus Disc]

I know, 19 minutes for a compilation is a bit obnoxious, but this is a live version of a classic track that must be heard.

3. Blockhead
 "Tools of the Industry"
[Interludes After Midnight]  

Samples, toe-tapping beat, crunchy bass - what else do you want.

4. Fairmont
 "Creatures of Night"
 [Automaton]

Canadian!  Album has a new wave vibe.  Good tunes.

5. Anders Ilar  
"The Iron Door"
 [Elva]

"Layering different sounds on top of each other".

6. Burial
 "Truant"
 [Truant / Rough Sleeper EP]

A bit of an odd release since this track seems to be a mix of several different snippets of different tracks, but hey, it works just the same.


 

7. Andy Stott
 "Lost and Found"
 [Luxury Problems]

Deep, dark, groaning, brooding, fun!




 

8. Com Truise
 "Dreambender"
 [In Decay]

Another solid release from Com Truise this year, however, I would like to see him mix it up a little bit for the next release.  Keep the 80's synth alive, but just throw in some new flavours, etc.

9. Blawan
 "His Money"
 [His He She and She]

Nonsensical sample on repeat with a catchy beat - approved.

10. Photek
  "Pyramid"
 [KU:PALM]

Very well put together track by Mr. Parkes.  Head-nod shit yo.

11. Ryan Davis
 "Beluga"
 [Particles Of Bliss]

This track is taken from my album of the year for 2012.  Solid tracks from start to finish.  Being that its his first full length album, I look forward to a bright future with this man.

12. The Field
 "Looping State of Mind (Junior Boys Remix)"
 [Looping State of Mind Remixe EP]

New take on an already great track - well done "boys".




 

13. Machinedrum
 "Whatnot"
 [Ouroboros - Lazer Sword Compilation]

Machinedrum is one of those dudes who I wish would just stick to what works and relax with the experimentation.  This track he does it right by creating an easy listening sound with just the right amount of edginess.

14. Deadbeat
 "Lazy Jane"
 [Eight]

Dub club!




 

 15. Four Tet
 "Jupiters (Happa Remix)"
 [Jupiters / Lion Remixes]

Four Tet's release this year entitled Pink was solid all around I'll admit, but no track stood out enough for any to make my list.  However, this remix is just fun to listen to so here it is.

16. Philip Glass
  "Warda's Whorehouse (Amon Tobin Rework)"
 [Rework]

Good year for Amon Tobin who like Machinedrum, can be frustrating with his experimentation at times, but here he does it right with a lesson in drum programming and infectious rhythms.  I didn't find much else on this remix album, but it's probably worth a look just the same.

17. Stumbleine
 "Ember"
 [Ghosting]

Beautiful track and great for sleepy time.




 

18. The Hundred In The Hands
  "Faded"
 [Red Night]

Great vocals by Eleanore Everdell on this track and throughout the album.  Definitely worth a further look if you like this one.

19. Miike Snow
 "God Help This Divorce"
 [Happy To You]

Miike Snow once again a solid album from start to finish with Happy To You in 2012.  Listening to these guys just makes me "happy".

20. Teen Daze
 "Discipleship"
 [The Inner Mansions]

Great lounge-y track for your ears and brain.  Nothing wrong with it.



 

21. Komonazmuk
 "Theorem"
 [Komonazmuk]

Solid "dubstep-y" sounds throughout this album, however, on this track he takes a bit of a departure and creates something a little different.  Takes a bit for the beat to drop, but once it does, its fantastic.

22. Fish Go Deep
 "All Change"
 [Draw The Line]

I honestly don't know what it is about this song that I love so much.  Is it the inspirational message?  The crackling record noise?  Or is it just plain funky and easy to enjoy? 

23. Clams Casino
 "Leaf"
 [Instrumental Mixtape 2]

Round 2 for Clams and his instrumentals.  Probably not as good as Mixtape 1, but still contains some gems like this one.

24. Calyx and Teebee
 "Back & Forth"
 [All Or Nothing]

This song reminds me of the Teebee of the early 2000's and I love it.  Sadly, this album doesn't contain much else like it.  :(

25. DeepChord
 "Cruising Towards Dawn"
 [Sommer]

Hypnotizing. 




 

26. Yeasayer
 "Blue Paper"
 [Fragrant World]

I find Yeasayer to be the type of band where if they get it right, they get it really right.  Just wish there was more right more often, but oh well, enjoy.

27. Aesop Rock
 "BMX (feat. Blueprint and Rob Sonic)"
 [Skelethon - Bonus Disc]

Solid hip-hop anonymous containing a couple of samples that are simply amazing. 

28. Crystal Castles
 "Kerosene"
 [III]

Another well put together LP from the Crystal Castles duo.  Anyone else find the album cover super creepy?

29. Grimes
 "Nightmusic (feat. Majical Cloudz)"
 [Visions]

Enya + Bjork = Grimes.




 

30. DFRNT
"Our Little Secret"
[Fading]

Solid sample integration and dub-y - well played.

One of the best things I have ever seen.

Ott - Mir

Really interesting stuff here for you today. I've never heard of this dude until a few days ago and I'm really digging his stuff so far. Below is the full album from 2011 entitled Mir.

Respect:
Ott is no stranger to the studio, he has for the last 20 years been producing, arranging and recording for artists including Sinead O'Connor, The Orb, and Brian Eno. Working in a wide range of the best studios in the land from SARM East and West, Real World, and Ridge Farm to Foel in Wales. He has been interviewed in the producers/engineers bible Sound on Sound. -- Discogs.com

Bombtrack: Owl Stretching Time

Goldie Lookin Chain - Dubstep Christmas

Everything is a Remix, Part 1

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Bleep Bloop Pleasures

December 8th, 2009 was the last time I posted on this site.. I am a terrible human being and I apologize to my thousands and thousands of fans out there on the intertubes. Now, please accept these gifts!

Baby Monster - She Comes Alive (Jocks Remix)

Plushgun - Just Impolite

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby (Clock Opera Remix)

A Very Bootie Christmas

Good X-Mas music? Thats unpossible!! As you can tell, I'm not a huge fan of most Christmas tunes, but this is definitely an exception. What we have here is a couple of mashup albums released back in 2006 from a couple of chaps by the names of DJ Adrian & the Mysterious D – a.k.a. A PLUS D. Similar to Girl Talk in the mashup vibe, A Plus D take X-Mas and non-X-Mas tunes both new and old, throws them together, to create something different entirely. At first, I wasn't expecting much, but while listening to the albums, it was just one track after the other of music gold. If I were to throw a Christmas party, this would be playing and people would be having fun.

A Very Bootie Christmas - Volume 1

A Very Bootie Christmas - Volume 2

Voicedude - It's The Small Things


Edit: Volume 2 was released just this December. Thanks for the correction A+D! :)

DJ Spooky

DJ Spooky is a turntablist, a producer, an author, postmodern intellectual, among other things. He has been described as the king of 'illbient' which combines the hip hop slang term 'ill' (a positive expression: bad meaning good) and 'ambient'.

In 2007, Spooky made a film called "Terra Nova Sinfonia Antarctica" which really exemplifies how he uses his music to connect with nature and the world around us (in this case, specifically Antarctica). He actually ventured to Antarctica with a waterproof microphone and captured field recordings of the resonant frequencies of crystalline ice. Combining these recordings along with his trademark spinning and backed by live music creating quite an amazing live performance. Here's a clip.

Below are a couple of selections from his earlier work in the mid 90's. Both are from his first album released in 1996 called "Songs of a Dead Dreamer" and are definitely 2 of my favourites of his work. It certainly doesn't stop there however, as he has released 16 albums since then varying from ambient to hip hop to dub.

DJ Spooky - Hologrammic Dub

DJ Spooky - Galactic Funk

Natty!

Hello. How are you? I am fine. I have some drum and bass for your listening enjoyment. I hope you like it.

First up is "Bitemark" by Black Sun Empire. I can safely say that this is my favourite drum and bass track ever in the history of life. The build up and drops give me goosebumps every time.
Teebee's up next with a track from the album Black Science Labs released back in 2000 called "Fingerprints". Teebee is one of my top D&B producers that continues to pump out quality tunes year after year.
Finally, Goldie is still alive with a collaboration with Commix that was just released this year called "Envious". Wicked track with an old school flavour. You'll like this one Gregory.

Black Sun Empire - Bitemark

Teebee - Fingerprints

Goldie and Commix - Envious

Flight of the Conchords

Nothing new here, but I thought I'd post some of my favourites from the New Zealand comedy duo.

Flight of the Conchords - Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenocerous

Flight Of The Conchords - If Youre Into It.mp3

Flight of the Conchords - Think About the Epileptic Dogs

Flight of the Conchords - Business Time

Photek

Rupert Parkes, a.k.a. Photek, has always been one of my favourite drum and bass producers over the years. Though I haven't liked much his most recent material, his earlier work is the stuff of genius. Parkes usually relies on dark and paranoid sounds on top of incredibly intricate rythm programming, which may have you thinking, "well I need to be in the right mood for that" and for many of you, this is 100% true but not me, it works everytime.

Photek - Minotaur

Photek - Infinity

Photek - Terminus

Photek - Smoke Rings


Bonus!
Photek - Ni Ten Chi Ryu (Teebee Remix)

This site is seriously lacking bass and I am going to try my best to fix that. Some nasty dubstep should do the trick!

George Lenton is a yet unsigned dubstep producer from the UK that has recently started to make some "noise" on this thing we call the 'blogosphere'. Ranging from rugged dubstep to light-hearted electro to bass-heavy rollers, Lenton certainly has the skills to create crisp and well produced tunes. Strictly headphone/loud speaker type music, so prepare accordingly before listening.

George Lenton - Jungle Whomp

George Lenton - Cold Rocker

George Lenton - Beware

MGMT - Weekend Wars (George Lenton Remix)

The King Blues - Come Fi Di Youth (George Lenton Remix)

Ratatat have a very unique sound to say the least. Using a fusion of electronic beats and rock guitars and on occasion use samples to provide a theme throughout the tracks. Evan Mast's provides most of the twitchy beats (with the keyboards sounding like the machines that they were) and Mike Stroud's catchy riffs (with the guitar sounding like a synthesizer).

First caught these guys on their hip hop remix album Mixtape Vol. 1 back in 2004 and have been following their work ever since. Since then they've release 2 albums Classics and LP3 which really have shown their creativity for producing music.

Here we have some selected tracks of their work over the years followed with a remix thats somewhat of a guilty pleasure I guess you could say. The track is just plain catchy ok!? Kthxbye.

Ratatat - Mirando

Ratatat - Six

Ratatat - Dura

Ratatat - Brule

Ratatat - Kennedy

Ratatat - Wildcat

Ratatat - Black Heroes

Young Buck, T.I., and Ludacris - Stomp (Ratatat Remix)

Electronic Roots

Sorry for the húûj pöast, but I've been meaning to express my appreciation of the 4 artists that have influenced my musical taste the most over the years. They've definitely been 'signs' in my 'life' .. road.. ? ROOO-AD. Anyway, I'll never forget walking into Darcy's parents place back in the day and hearing Orbital emanating from his room (props brother!). Wow, was my mind blown. From there I never looked back, focusing full attention to this new found electronic sound and tossing my rap and metal cds to the wayside. So here they are, the 4 artists that I would consider to be the most influential in my life. Enjoy the classics my friends.

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Aphex Twin - Xtal

Aphex Twin - Ptolemy

Aphex Twin - We Are the Music Makers

Aphex Twin - Polynomial-C

Aphex Twin - Analogue Bubblebath

Aphex Twin - Fingerbib
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808 State - Cubik

808 State - Azura

808 State - Nimbus

808 State - Plan 9

808 State - Naphatiti
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Autechre - Eggshell

Autechre - Eutow

Autechre - Dael

Autechre - Silverside

Autechre - Vose In
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Orbital - Halcyon On + On

Orbital - P.E.T.R.O.L.

Orbital - Oolaa

Orbital - Sad But True
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Kraddy

Here we have 3 tracks from Kraddy's 2007 album "The Illegal Album" which I first heard on a live mix back in 2006 I believe. Kraddy can also be seen as one of the 4 members of The Glitch Mob which includes edIT, Boretta and Ooah. I must say, I'm a big fan of what these guys are doing and we'll continue to follow their work. Here's a description of Kraddy's sound from his myspace page:

"Kraddy's music implicates cybernetic breaks with asymmetrical dub delays and hip hop grooves with dark ethereal melodies. At times his music is technical and frenetic and calls to mind images of genetically mutated earthworms, poping and locking deep underground to sub atomic frequencies, causing minute shifts in the structure and alignment of the tectonic plates, that over millennia will alter the magnetic core of the planet and thus change its frequency field steering its evolution towards greater harmony and a more peaceful form.

Other times he weaves together webs of moody etheresque clouds akin to the sounds of alternate life forces manipulating hydrogen and carbon molecules into biomechanical nanobots that imperceptibly permeate the neuronets of sleeping subjects from light years away in a methodical attempt to preserve and record the neural, synaptic and chemical makeup of all matter." - haha whhaaa??


Dr. Dre & Eminem - Forgot About Dre (Kraddy Remix)

Dr. Dre - The Next Episode (Kraddy Remix)

Black Star - Bright As The Stars (Kraddy Remix)

Saturdays Wax

Two Fingers (Amon Tobin & Doubleclick) - 25 Minute Mix

Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (Thin White Duke Remix)

Annie - Anthonio (Fred Falke Remix)

The Prodigy - Warriors Dance

Fischerspooner - We Are Electric (Hot Chip Remix)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (RAC Remix)

Röyksopp: The Girl and the Robot [ft. Robyn]

Peter Schilling - Major Tom

I kept hearing this song on a Lincoln MKZ car commercial and could never figure out what the original track was. Finally decided to look it up and remembered that this was always a favourite 80's track of mine. Its one of those songs that has an alright verse but an amazing chorus, typical of a lot of tunes back then. Anyway, here's the original video of Peter Schillings rendition and a cover by a band called Shiny Toy Guns which I actually quite enjoy.


Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (Cover)