BEST OF 2011 : MAKING THE IRONMONGER GRADE

It's here! Yes it's May, but it's nice to reminisce so here's my favourite 25 tracks from 2011. I'm going to try and work this list from ambient through to throbbing dance-floor fillers. Here we go:

Jamie XX - Far Nearer (Numbers)

Steel drums never sounded so good.

Jamie Woon - Spirits (Universal)

First Katie Tunstall and now Jamie, this songs makes a good argument for buying a loop pedal.

Adele - Someone Like You (XL Records)

With vocal chords like Adele's, it'd be a crime not to make the top 25 list. Love her or hate her (tax-evasion arguments aside) she's certainly caused a stir in 2011, even if it's the same issues she sang about in '19'.

Saturday Night Gym Club - The Ballroom Scene (Music Cuisine)

Four lovely chaps from Cambridge, producing tasty slow-mo electronica. I would recommend seeing them live - expect electric violins and more midi controllers than you can shake a stick at. If you enjoy their sound, have a listen to 'I Know', which did very well in 2010.

Isolee - Taktell (Pampa Records)

From the album 'Well Spent Youth' - a journey through ambient techno, overplayed in my bedroom every week.

Maya Jane Coles - Nobody Else (Hypercolour)

2011 has been a mindblowingly fantastic year for Maya Jane Coles, seeing her collect a host of accolades - 'Breathrough DJ of the Year' and 'Star of 2011' according to Mixmag, 'Number 1 DJ to watch for in 2012' by Time Out, and 'Best Producer of 2011' by DJ Mag. Wow. Her trademark underwater house sound has finally permeated the dance music scene and left us all the better for it. If you want to hear more of her, head straight for the Louche podcast, Essential Mix or 'What They Say'. All are very, very easy on the ears.

James What - About Love (Crosstown Rebels)
Fresh-faced London producer James What, taking you so deep into the house you come out the back door. It also strangely reminds me of the Spyro The Dragon music when you're chilling in the home world.. haha. Good times.

Felix Da Housecat - I Just Want To Be The One (Mixmag)
Absolute synthgasm. Also, very kindly released as a free album when buying Mixmag, so here's the download for you.

Bowski - Poppies (Blood Music)
Fake Blood's label 'Blood Music' has had an astonishing first year, have a listen to Menace's 'Hz & Tones' or Clouds' 'Mauful' and you'll see what I mean. Bowski is a very promising Bristolian, and a newish signing to the label.

Julio Bashmore - Battle For Middle You (PMR)
Good gosh, one of the biggest anthems of 2011 undoubtedly! wub wub wub YES.

Hot Natured ft. Ali Love - Forward Motion (Hot Creations)
Hot Natured is where Lee Foss' and Jamie Jones' minds meet.. need I say more?

Alexis Raphael - Kitchens and Bedrooms (Lower East)
Yeah, it just wouldn't be fair to put Jamie Jones and Lee Foss on this list without letting Alexis get a look in! Go listen to Hot Waves if you like this :).

Mosca - Bax (Numbers)

Don't confuse Mosca with Roska, Rusko, or Mos Def! "Bax' is a classic chilled garage tune, wubbing its way into the top 25 narrowly beating 'Jager' and 'Done Me Wrong'.

Marco Carola - The Method (Play It Loud!) 

Bit of an off-beat kilter beat to this - I really enjoy mixing it into a set. Good work Sir!

Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun Remix) (Noir Music) 

Miss Kittin dropped this at Melt Festival and sent us and all the Germans mad. God bless my friend Matt Howie for finding it when we returned to the UK, good work Matt! The Subb-An remix is a 2012'er but it's insanely good too...

Four Tet - Pyramid (Text Records)

I REMEMBER HOW YOU WALKED AWAY.

Siriusmo - High Together (Monkeytown Records)

In a word, 'uplifting'. But be prepared to be hit clean in the face with a Korg Trident when the drop comes.

Murk - Amame (Eats Everything Rebeef) (unreleased)

I'm not sure what's in the water in Bristol, but lately there have been a lot of excellent producers coming out of it! (Appleblim, Joker, Julio Bashmore, Bowski..and Eats Everything). This track is from the start of his excellent live essential mix (the atmosphere sounds explosive) - I'm dying for him to release this! Entrance Song was another close contender for this spot..  

  Eats Everything Essential Mix-SAT-11-26-2011 by EatsEverything

Boddika & Joy Orbison - Swims (Swamp 81)

SERVE. 

  Swims by Boddika

Azealia Banks - 212 (Universal)

If rapping was race, this girl would be Usain Bolt. It's produced by Lazy Jay, who also wrote Honk My Horn (which is in a similar vein, minus the cunt-filled lyrics).

Riva Starr & Major Lazer - Jump (Martin Bros Remix) (Snatch! Records) 

At long last! This only took about a year to be released, what a tease!

Siriusmo - Feromonikon (Monkeytown Records) 

In an interview with RA Siriusmo commented "I think the appeal of my music is that it sounds a bit old." This for me has been the continual appeal of Siriusmo's releases, and judging from the looks of his studio it's no surprise there's a gritty analogue feel to his sound. Also, well done  Siriusmo, being the only artist to get TWO songs in the top 25! 

Patrick Di Stefano - Underlight (DEBOX)

In my opinion this is by far the strongest track on Maya Jane Coles' Essential Mix. Much to my confusion, this Italian only has 312 followers on his soundcloud! What?! I suspect this chap will be big in 2012..

SCNTST - Globus (Boys Noize Records)

If you like Boys Noize Records, you'll love SCNTST. At only 17 I can only dream of what this chap is producing by the time he's 27.

Gesaffelstein - Hatred (Turbo Recordings)

Good bloody work Gesaffelstein, I'm giving you a gold star! In fact, you wrote Control Movement in 2011 too, so you get two gold stars and a large crown for being Techno King of 2011 :)

That's a rap!