SOVIETPANDA

A scene too big and undisciplined to be recognized as one, New York’s electronic music had a great 2011 anyway | Capital New York

11:51 am • 2 January 2012

NYE

TONIGHT - I’ll be running down some of my very favorites from the past year. Info here.

7:22 pm • 31 December 2011 • 1 note

Winter 2011 Charts

December

Factory Floor, “Two Different Ways” [DFA]
Storm Queen, “It Goes On (Vox)” [Environ]
Maurice Donovan, “Call My Name” [white label]
Levon Vincent, “Impressions of a Rainstorm” [Novel Sound]
Daphni, “Ahora” [Amazing Sounds]
KiNK & Neville Watson feat. Kim Ann Foxman, “A Saturday in November” [HOUR House is Your RUSH]
Canyons, “See Blind Through (DJ Harvey remix)” [Modular]
DVS1, “Submerge” [Hush]
Mosca, “Orange Jack” [3024]
Hackman, “Sunburst” [PTN]

November

Paul Woolford & Psycatron, “Stolen” [Hotflush]
Four Tet, “Pyramid” [TEXT]
Mark E, “Call Me (Tensnake remix)” [MERC]
Axel Boman, “Naomi” [Glass Table]
Boddika, “Acid Battery” [!K7]
Tanner Ross (feat. Flo Night), “4 U” [No. 19]
In Flagranti, “Aspiration” [Codek]
M83, “Midnight City” [Mute]
Miguel Campbell, “Something Special” [Hot Creations]
Octo Octa, “Coldwaves” [100% Silk]

4:51 pm • 30 December 2011 • 42 notes

Favorite Labels 2011

5. 100% Silk

Home-made, American dance music. Self-produced and ready for the floor. Hopefully the start of something big.

Key releases:
Octo Octa, Let Me See You
Maria Minerva, Sacred & Profane Love
Ital, Ital’s Theme

4. 4AD

So, the label that used to put out Bauhaus, the Cocteau Twins, and the Pixies, now releases Joker, Atlas Sound, and Gang Gang Dance? Fucking COOL.

Key releases:
Zomby, Dedication
Gang Gang Dance, Eye Contact
Inc., 3

3. Running Back

An expertly curated, truly unique voice in a world (house music) that often likes to take the easy way out. Thank Gerd for Running Back.

Key releases:
Todd Terje, Ragysh
Matthew Styles, Sample and Hold
Tiger & Woods, Through The Green

2. Rush Hour

Pretty much everything on Rush Hour is crazy good. Not much else to say. I get a tiny rush (oops) of excitement every time I see that font.

Key releases:
The Oliverwho Factory, Galactic Transit
Braile, The Year 3000
various, Amsterdam All-Stars
KiNK & Neville Watson feat. Kim Ann Foxman, A Saturday In November
BNJMN, Plastic World
Virgo Four, It’s A Crime
etc…

1. 3024

In 2010, by chance, I caught Martyn’s DJ set at Movement Detroit. Playing music that sounded like a hybrid of UK funky and straight-up techno, it gave me and many of my friends a rare moment of true “what IS this?” It proved to be a pivotal point for me musically, a real foreshadowing of what was to come, and Martyn’s 3024 label holds a special place in my DJ heart.

3024 only put out five twelve-inches in 2011, but each one was a thing. Done by easily some of the most important producers of the year, each came in a meticulously splattered, psychedelic sleeve, and edged dance music into wonderful new worlds of sound. Addison Groove pushed his hyperactive sampling into funk-filled, addictive house; Mosca mutated his well-honed UK funky into (gasp) techno; Instra:mental and Trevino took their nasty, stone-aged electro to the year 3000 and back; and Jon Convex and Julio Bashmore produced some of my absolute favorite tracks of the year. There really is something to be said for quality over quantity.

Other favorites: Planet Mu, Hotflush, Local Action, Planet E, Numbers, Throne of Blood, NonPlus+, R&S

4:44 pm • 30 December 2011 • 108 notes