And there goes another year in which I've totally failed to get into the sounds of today.
The top 100 songs I listened to in 2007
1.
G.A.N.G. -
KKK (Club Mix) (1983)
Another year, another best of and yet again, a track from 1983 made by an acronym from Italy takes the top spot! It was even harder this time to pick the number one, but in the end this sublime gem of floaty electronic disco won out. It's just perfect, there isn't a single element that could be improved. My favourite bit is the bell-like sequence that first makes an appearance at 1:33. It's anyone's guess why it's named KKK, as the sounds emanating from the speakers are as far from cross-burning dimwits as you could possibly get. As per usual with this sort of stuff, there is virtually no info around about the people who made it or where it came from. But there's a spot-on comment by a user named restless on
its Discogs page that nicely summarises the mood of the piece: "Too slow to really dance to it, too floating to be a radio hit, this record sounds like a reverie that was made only for pleasure, and you can hear it." As this is the track that gave birth to the idea of making a slowdisco mix, I feel it is only fitting that I should use this opportunity to shamelessly plug my
A Gentle Sway in the Intergalactic Breeze mix, in my humble opinion the best mix I did so far.
2.
The Hasbeens -
Make The World Go Away (2006)
Having grabbed the top spot of last year's CBS Top 100, this track didn't make all that much of an impression on me initially. But it grew and grew and grew and now feels like one of those timeless classics that I will never be able to get tired of. I don't know what it is, there's nothing about this track that jumps out at you, but it's dripping with a magic, melancholic and slightly fragile feel, beautifully complemented by the sparse vocals yearning to "take this weight off my shoulders". It's the work of
Mr. Pauli and
DJ Overdose, and even though it was produced in 2006 it still hasn't seen an official release, but is scheduled to appear on
a 12" on Clone sometime soon along with fantastic new track
Keep Fooling Yourself and the deep cosmic-sounding
Ain't the same as before. Just now when doing some research, I discovered they have some other new tracks up on their MySpace page that sound excellent as well. Expect some of those to show up in next year's list!
3.
Sally Shapiro -
Skating In The Moonshine (2007)
Another perfect pop tune from Sally Shapiro, this comes complete with all the elements that make me love Johan and Sally's music so much. An amazingly sweet chord sequence as always, ice crystal synths, a leisurely tempo, minor key melodies and a wistful vocal about love and longing. Still entirely based on the
Valerie Dore blueprint, but why complain when it's this good. It gives you that same feeling you got when hearing a fantastic new song on the radio as a kid and it made you want to run to the record shop, buy the 7", the badge and the poster and felt tip "Sally Shapiro" onto your backpack. :)
4.
Squadra Blanco -
The Night Must Fall (2002)
I made an effort this year to track down and listen to all of
Legowelt's (one of whose aliases this is) prolific output, and while I far from like it all, there are enough hidden treasures to be uncovered to make the exercise worthwhile. The Night Must Fall is a supremely moody and doom-laden soundtrackesque jackathon that has you firmly in its spell from the start. It builds in layers, and there's some great moments: 2:00 when the melody line comes in and 3:25 when the bass changes gear are particularly good. I'm not a fan of horror films, but if they all had soundtracks like this, I'd watch more of them.
5.
Sally Shapiro -
My Fantasy (2008)
As of yet unreleased, this is a slightly unexpected departure for the Shapiro sound. My Fantasy takes its cue from very early 90s trance (before it was even known as such) by the likes of
Age of Love,
Cosmic Baby,
Virtual Symmetry and the early
Eye Q sound in general, and proceeds to layer a typically Sallyesque vocal on top of it. It works surprisingly well and has been on constant repeat in my playlist since I first heard it a few weeks ago. As the pre-release version contains some cheeky little stolen snatches, the track will be reworked before release and might for all I know be a completely different piece of music by then.
6.
Man Friday -
Winners (Larry Levan Demo Mix) (1986)
At first listen I was convinced this was from the 70s as it has a raw funk-like feel to it, but there's some distinctly 8-bit-sounding aliasing on the bassline which made me suspect it must be a later production. And indeed, it turned out to be from 1986, presumably just before the first house records started coming out of Chicago. Nevertheless, it's a powerful testament to the "less is more" principle. A very lo-fi and stripped down bass and drums groove accompanied by staccato guitar chops picking out the chord progression underpin an emotional soul vocal. Tight, visceral and super funky whilst still maintaining a plaintive, melancholic mood, it's quite unlike most other stuff out there. Watch out for the cool dub-like delay effects at 3:22.
7.
Angie Care -
Your Mind (1984)
Time for the first proper italo track of this countdown (or is it countup). Your Mind, is to my mind (sorry) the best example of the swooning, romantic sound characteristic of the productions by the Nicolosi brothers. This is just as good (if not better) as Valerie Dore's trio of Nicolosi-produced hits from the same period. Favourite bit here has got to be the synth cascades from 5:17 onwards. If you like this sort of stuff, be sure to check out the
Tribute to Nicolosi mix composed strictly of tracks with this sound.
8.
Para One -
Ski Lesson Blues (2006)
I have always been a sucker for grandiose chord progressions and this track has them in joyful pseudo-classical abundance! Super-regimented and stiff, all arpeggiated 16th notes and 4/4 patterns, this is almost Bach-like until the mournful melody comes in at the 2-minute mark. Utterly beautiful.
9.
Legowelt -
Congo Zombie (2005)
The second Danny Wolfers production within the top 10, this is the shit. Seriously. You might even feel tempted to spell it "da shit", but it would probably be advisable not to. This track combines all the elements that make Legowelt such a unique artist. Jacking hammer beats, deep sub-surface bass, spooky atmospherics, cute little melodies and a deranged spoken vocal about zombies in Congo. Amazing.
10.
Rupesh Cartel -
Ghost White (Ralf and Iza Remix) (2007)
This is all about the breakdown at 2:53 and the absolutely angelic pad sequence that takes off from there on. For added enjoyment, there's even little subdued distorted
Hardfloor-esque 303 licks in the background. Mmm. The original is a good, competent electropop track from a good, competent electropop band from Sweden, but it's the remix that really makes it shine.
11.
Squarepusher -
Planetarium (2006)
Squarepusher has always been another good source of those twisting, turning, heavenly chord progressions that I crave so much, and this track off his latest album is one of his best so far. Some of these harmonies and melody lines almost have a
Mad Mike-like feel, it's that same electronic jazz quality as in tracks like
Inspiration and
High-Tech Jazz.
12.
Above & Beyond -
Alone Tonight (2006)
And while we're on the subject, here's another chord progression. Firmly on the trance side of things production-wise, but in reality a magnificent pop song in disguise. It comes with all the hallmarks of the genre, swirling synth riffs, atmospheric breakdown, uptempo 4/4 beats but with a great male vocal, and a certain classiness that a lot of other producers don't reach.
13.
EMAK -
Tanz In Den Himmel (1982)
Part of the so-called minimal synth genre, this is a really gorgeous and full-bodied little instrumental with the saddest melody line the cosmos has heard for a very long time. EMAK (short for Elektronische Musik aus Köln) produced three whole albums in the early 80s but none of their other material reaches the fragile beauty of this number.
14.
Sophie Rimheden feat. Annika Holmberg -
Can You Save Me? (Mont Ventoux Remix) (2007)
On paper, all Mont Ventoux remixes are pretty run-of-the-mill electropop-by-numbers, but there is always something in their productions that lift the tracks from the swamp of mediocrity into the realm of great pop music. Here's an even better example of a song completely rescued by its remix. The arrangement of the original totally fails to capitulate on the slinky vocal melody and feels rather ham-fisted, but Mont Ventoux succeed in elegantly harmonising the song to squeeze the maximum bittersweet pop essence out of it. It's quite reminiscent of
Saint Etienne at their mid-90s best.
15.
Joe Yellow -
Lover to Lover (1983)
So italo it hurts! Opens with the immortal line "Sandy, dance with me, I'm your big lover" it's a perfect example of what makes italo disco so irresistible. Happy-sad little synth riffs, crap English, cheap production and lots of drama. The main synth riff is so catchy it's impossible to get out of your head.
16.
Alba -
Only Music Survives (1985)
Super-sentimental, soaked in syrup and raised on Eurovision, but oh so wonderful!
17.
Red White Rose -
No One Puts Baby in the Corner (2003)
Refreshingly unique neo-italo from Gothenburg producer
Rutherford with a totally gorgeous vocal. I like how it starts out with a plain 8th note octave bass that then gradually becomes more intense by adding one note at a time first at 1:07 and then again at 2:06.
18.
Din Stalker -
Herr reporter (2007)
This one's shamelessly melodic and crammed absolutely chockful of chord changes and harmonic frolics, and you're probably aware by now that I am quite fond of those. Din stalker is a solo project by one of the guys from
Slagsmålsklubben, making music with a definite Amiga demo scene feel to it.
19.
Legowelt -
Hazy City Nights (2004)
A deep, hypnotic track with a title that describes it perfectly and an amazingly emotive delay-heavy riff starting at 0:48. Watch out for the key change at 5:09. Spellbinding.
20.
Triola -
Leuchtturm (Wighnomys Polarzip) (2005)
I'm not normally a fan of
Kompakt, too minimal and not enough music in their music, but this one certainly has a very healthy dose of music in it. A deep and dubby modern production with beautifully moody and atmospheric pads. Evokes very much the same late night mood as Burial's music.
21.
Komatrohn -
Statist 2.0 (2005)
Komatrohn is a criminally under-acknowledged Swedish producer who's been making tracks for quite a few years, released a few EPs, but is currently releasing his music for free on
his website. This one is a banging little number with a sad melody on top, just how I like it.
22.
Venise -
Roissy (1988)
Venise and the rest of the recently resurrected
Superradio Records stable are part of a rare breed of artists seemingly completely without pretense and self-awareness. When you first set eyes on their promo pictures and record sleeves (check out
Venise's incredible MySpace page for a taster), you might think that someone is having a laugh, and listening to their music will probably do little to dispel that impression. But the more you dig, you realise that these people are for real, that they love what they do and still to this day produce this incredibly naive and amateurish but wonderfully charming and captivating music. What it lacks in technical proficiency, it more than makes up for in charm. What's so refreshing is that even the tracks produced today sound like they've been made on a 4-track porta with only the cheapest of synths, a big old reverb and a very rudimentary understanding of how to program the things. Roissy is my favourite from their catalogue, and yet again I find that restless has been there before me and left a spot-on description of this track on its Discogs page (who is this guy?): "...by some kind of magic manages to reach something very special, with its heartbreaking melody and approximative girl voice that sounds like a japanese schoolgirl lost in an airport, trying to sing in English in some kind of retro-futuristic karaoke."
23.
Sally Shapiro -
Jackie Jackie (Spend This Winter With Me) (Dyylan's Subzero Nocturne) (2008)
I still think this track went a little too far on the syrup allowance, I struggle with that spoken section for example, but the fact remains that it's a spectacularly well-crafted composition and this remix really brings out the best in it with its elegant and sparse arrangement.
24.
Blank & Jones -
Perfect Silence (Martin Roth Hardtrance Remix) (2004)
Did you really think you'd get a top 100 without some banging euphoric trance? Well, think again, because here it is. Totally maximalist and heavy on the air-punching quotient, this one never fails to arouse.
25.
Zombi -
Sapphire (2006)
Synth prog revivalists with their finest effort, a 9-minute epic of mesmerising synthesizer work.
26.
Bloc Party -
Where Is Home? (Burial Remix) (2007)
I don't really have that much time for the indie rock of the original artist here, but this remix is in my opinion the best piece of work Burial's done so far. His trademark dark and moody atmospherics are given a boost by the addition of a proper song structure.
27.
Popular Computer -
Next Level Pope (2006)
A quite cosmic-sounding (in the cosmic disco sense) modern production with a stunning melancholic feel. Stay with it until the end and you'll be rewarded with a great big parping electronic accordion.
28.
Covenant -
The Men (2006)
Oh Covenant. They're one of those bands (like
VNV Nation) you're not really supposed to like but there's something about their pompous and doom-laden synth anthems that gets under my skin. They're also a great live act. I've seen them twice this year and it's been a thoroughly enjoyable experience both times (even though the style sensibilities of the audiences leave a lot to be desired, that cybergoth gear... what on Earth are they thinking?); they present themselves well and the singer has a very amiable stage persona unlike many other bands in the EBM/futurepop genre. This one is my favourite from the
Skyshaper album and isn't actually a million miles from
Underworld come to think of it. Their lyrics are almost uniformly bad however. But who cares about lyrics?
29.
Decadance -
On And On (Fears Keep On) (Dub Version) (1983)
1983. What a year. It just keeps on bringing the goods. This is a really great track on the border between dark synthpop and italo, and now that I'm listening to it again, makes me wonder if it didn't deserve a higher placement in this top 100. A CBS mainstay, it's a grower and it took me a good few listens to appreciate its greatness, but once there, it's not letting go. I prefer the Dub Version to the original because it emphasises the piano part more. Listen to the break at 3:03 where the piano chords come in. Heavenly.
30.
Thanya -
Freedom (1982)
I have
Casco's
amazing DJ set down at Cosmobar in October to thank for coming to properly appreciate this one. One of the very first
Il Discotto releases, it was included on
I-F's
Mixed Up In The Hague Vol. 2, but never really caught my attention until I heard it played in a club environment. It's pretty dry and stripped down for an italo track, not a reverb in sight, but works its magic in subtle and devious ways. It also features an unusually accomplished vocal for italo, sung by an American vocalist by the sounds of it.
31.
Den Harrow -
Future Brain (1985)
If there is such a thing as the stereotypical italo track, this is probably it. It's got it all, the hooks, the synths, the handclaps, the backing vocalists going "waoh waoh", the pretty frontman who doesn't actually sing on the record, bonkers lyrics about a "future brain" of whom it's asked whether it's "sane to make a sample of my love" eventually reaching the conclusion that "you're to blame cause you don't know how stupid you are" and most important of all, the feelgood factor to make everyone jump around and sing along if you play it towards the end of the night. As such, it was the perfect choice to give name to the club where I've had some of my most fun nights out this year.
32.
Squarepusher -
Tommib Help Buss (2004)
It is a rare honour only bestowed upon a select few to get more than one track featured in the hallowed sharevari top 50. Squarepusher qualified by writing this quiet and understated little melody of unusual beauty.
33.
Kleerup feat. Robyn -
With Every Heartbeat (2007)
In a musical climate where most pop music is utterly devoid of merit, it made me happy to see such a great song reach number one in the charts. This really is perfect pop.
34.
Miss Kittin & The Hacker -
Hometown (2007)
A very strong comeback track for electroclash's finest. As always, it's the chords that grab me. They appear at 2:11 in case you're interested.
35.
Sophie -
Broken Tale (1986)
An example of the over-produced, over-the-top style of italo disco more aimed at the pop charts than the dancefloor that became prominent after about 1985. Great track nevertheless, saxophone solo and all.
36.
Annie -
Heartbeat (2004)
OK, I know it's highly likely that I was the last person on Earth to discover this modern classic, but at the time it came out, all I had heard by Annie was
The Greatest Hit, which I didn't like at all, so never bothered with checking out anything else with her name on it. And although I'm still not too keen on most of her material, this is an amazing song that deserves the same pop stardom as Robyn's similarly-titled ditty.
37.
Klapto -
Mister Game (Alden Tyrell Vocal Remix) (2006)
Another one that I have Casco to thank for. It says 2006 because that's the year the
Alden Tyrell remix (which treats the original with respect but takes it one notch higher on the universal scale of goodness) came out but the original is yet again a track from the magic year 1983. What's going on here: smooth, sensual synth stabs counteract a female chorus more defined by its rhythm than its melody.
38.
Burial -
Distant Lights (2006)
Best track from Burial's debut album that I was a bit slow to pick up on. Beats the follow up by a wide stretch in my opinion. And that's all that needs to be said as you've all read more than enough about Burial this year as it is.
39.
Ryuichi Sakamoto -
The End Of Europe (1981)
I discovered this through
Dave Clarke's mix CD
World Service 2 on which he overlays it with an acapella of
Underground Resistance's
Transition underpinned by a
Technasia track to devastating effect. (May I take this opportunity to say how amazing Dave Clarke is, his set at Sonar was by far the best of everything I saw and heard there.) I was astounded when I found out that this was made in 1981 as it has a very modern, visceral feel to it. Music for the apocalypse without doubt.
40.
Time -
Holding on to Love (1986)
Reverb-drenched and juicy italo cut of the same ilk as the Sophie track above.
41.
DC Pöbeln med Guggi & 17 -
Bettan står i baren, baren är mitt mål, Bettan är baren (1985)
Incredibly cool and totally misguided all at once. You can't appreciate the full appeal of this track unless you know Swedish and understand what he's talking about in the Närke accent he's doing his best to hide but which nevertheless shines through. It is pretty hilarious. Pleasantly surprised to see this gain a place in the top 20 of this year's CBS Top 100. It was none of my doing, I didn't vote this year!
42.
Simian Mobile Disco -
It's the Beat (The Teenagers Remix) (2007)
Amazing organ- and string-led remix of one of the year's biggest hits.
43.
Clio -
Faces (1985)
Wistful and hyper-melodic italo gem.
44.
Dennis Parker -
Like an Eagle (1979)
Epic NY disco workout from 1979. Grandiose and sweeping, I can't help but thinking that this would be Big Gay Al from South Park's favourite song. Cheesiness aside, it really manages to capture some sort of very urban New-York-in-the-70s-at-night kind of feel, but seeing as I've never even visited the place, I am of course horrendously unqualified to make such a statement. But still. Oh, and don't miss
the magnificent video whatever you do (I wish I had an outfit like that for the next time I DJ).
45.
Pascal F.E.O.S. -
Synaptic (2006)
Relentlessly driving, can't stop won't stop modern tech house. Most of this stuff tend to bore me these days, but on his
Synaptic album, Pascal manages to get all the parameters set to bootyshaking.
46.
Change -
The End (1980)
More NY disco, although this one floats several hundred thousand feet above the city, deep in space. Brilliantly ethereal space disco reminiscent of
Giorgio Moroder and
The Droids and undoubtedly a source of inspiration for the likes of
Maximilian Skiba and
Lindstrøm.
47.
Heartbreak -
We're Back (2007)
Heartbreak is local London italo bod
Ali Renault (heavily featured in last year's countdown) with suave Errol Flynn lookalike Sebastian Muravchik on vocals. This is the standout track from the
Disco Fright EP they released together with
The Revolving Eyes and at the release party of which the previously mentioned Casco gig took place. These guys are criminally underrated and deserve to be global pop stars. All together now: "But we're back, from the disco to the radio!"
48.
Cellophane -
Music Colours (1984)
Slightly annoying intro but just wait for the glorious release that arrives at 0:40! Masterful vocal and a joyous chorus too.
49.
Johan Agebjörn -
Mega man II re-mix (2007)
Sally Shapiro man let loose on the Mega Man theme tune makes for glorious chord change mayhem. Best bit is at 2:31.
50.
Polarius -
Fallin Snow (2003)
This track snatching 50th takes the total Danny Wolfers count within the top 50 up to four. A pretty amazing achievement, but also reflected in the fact that Legowelt did take over the top spot of my overall artist chart this year. Fallin Snow is a lo-fi heads-down affair which makes for a wonderful mix tool with an infectious groove and the best humming ever to be committed to vinyl at 2:03.
51.
Mark Tower -
You Aren't Fall In Love (1983)
52.
The Field -
Over the Ice (2007)
53.
Oppenheimer Analysis -
The Devil's Dancers (1982)
54.
The Unknown Soldier -
Babylon's Gifts (2006)
55.
Blotnik Brothers -
Love Song (2007)
56.
Katy Gray -
Hold me tight (1985)
57.
Proceed -
Laut (2007)
58.
Papa Dance -
W 40 Dni Dookola Swiata (1984)
59.
Purple Flash -
We Can Make It (1984 Instrumental) (1984)
60.
Glass Candy -
Miss Broadway (2007)
61.
Junesex -
Fast Food Messiahs (Carl A. Finlow mix) (2004)
62.
Daniel Wang -
All Flowers Must Fade (2007)
63.
Trilogy -
Not Love (1982)
64.
Para One -
Liege (2006)
65.
Covenant -
Ritual Noise (2006)
66.
Mike Mareen -
Dancing In The Dark (Galactica Remix) (1985)
67.
Umo Vogue -
Just My Love (1984)
68.
Ferry Corsten -
Kyoto (2004)
69.
Rhythm Talk -
Groovin' (Active Club) (1984)
70.
O'Gar -
Playback Fantasy (1983)
71.
Para One -
Midnight Swim (2006)
72.
Discomania -
Everybody Wants To Be Me (2004)
73.
Mr. White -
The Sun Can't Compare (2006)
74.
Angel City -
I Won't Let You Down (2005)
75.
Cloetta Paris -
Broken Heart Tango (2007)
76.
Paul Hartnoll -
Patchwork Guilt (2007)
77.
Smith n Hack -
Falling Stars (2007)
78.
The Teenagers -
Homecoming (2007)
79.
New Baccara -
Fantasy Boy (1988)
80.
Above & Beyond -
Tri-state (2006)
81.
L.E.B. Harmony -
Feeling Love (1978)
82.
Vince Watson -
MidiSensual (2006)
83.
Covenant -
Brave New World (2006)
84.
Klaxons -
Magick (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) (2007)
85.
Squarepusher -
Welcome to Europe (2006)
86.
Above & Beyond -
Hope (2006)
87.
Wanexa -
The Man From Colours (1982)
88.
Antena -
Camino Del Sol (Joakim Remix) (2006)
89.
Mikado -
Romance (1982)
90.
Fox the Fox -
Precious Little Diamond (1984)
91.
LCD Soundsystem -
Someone Great (2007)
92.
Enter Shikari -
Stand Your Ground; This Is Ancient Land (2007)
93.
Coco Bill -
Evita (1984)
94.
Aril Brikha -
Last One (2007)
95.
Ivan -
Fotonovela (1984)
96.
Prism -
The White Shadow (1980)
97.
Glass Candy -
Rolling Down The Hills (Spring Demo) (2007)
98.
Air France -
Karibien (2006)
99.
DJ Hell -
Hot On The Heels Of Love (Dave Clarke Remix) (1994)
100.
Kai Del Noi -
The Dream (Club Mix) (2005)
And as an added attraction to our album the Chicken Soup Mix of Join... eehmm,
top 10 gigs of 2007:
1. Everything and everyone at It's Automatic, Macbeth, London
2. Front 242 at Gothic Festival, Waregem, Belgium
3. Casco at Cosmobar, London
4. Dave Clarke at Sonar, Barcelona
5. Covenant at Electric Ballroom, London
6. Duracell at Old Blue Last, London
7. Nitzer Ebb at Gothic Festival, Waregem, Belgium
8. Boris Divider at Sonar, Barcelona
9. Alexander Robotnick at Plastic People, London
10. Proceed at Islington Academy, London
(I just did a word count on this post and it's 5,384 words, i.e. half of what goes for a 3rd year dissertation at a British university. Maybe I got a bit too carried away.)
I-F
