In 2009, Phoenix (a BLISS favorite back to their first record, United, and our very first event in 2000) made the indie album of the year, pulling heartstrings of bloggers and Madison Avenue (Cadillac commercials) alike.
Producers were the heroes of 2009. They took dance floors to new levels of insanity and beauty. Favorites of the year are Classixx, Doorly, Harvard Bass, Laidback Luke, Nadastrom, and Riva Starr. Classixx’s remixes roll subtly and gently, never revealing more than needed. Their remixes of Phoenix and Holy Ghost! and anthemic original, “I’ll Get You,” featuring Jeppe of dearly departed Junior Senior/“Move Your Feet” fame, count among the year’s finest.
Classixx feat Jeppe – I’ll Get you (mp3)
Whereas Classixx and The Twelves dominated electropop, Electro House and Tech House propelled dance floors. Nadastrom were in my best of list last year for their debut ep. This year’s follow up, The Saved ep gained them wide-spread recognition, sending the guys around the world. We can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!!! It’s simply a pleasure watching these guys work a floor and each new production is like a Christmas present.
This year, local producers and DJs stepped up in a big way, a fantastically welcomed new trend that was one of the most exciting things of the year. I hope it continues to pick up speed in 2010. Gave a lot of stuff by locals a work out in the club in ’09: Tittsworth, Nadastrom, Outputmessage, Micah Vellian, Steve Starks, Nacey, Gavin Holland, AutoRock, and the list goes on.
Tittsworth (ft. The Federation) – Drunk as F*ck (Top Billin remix) (mp3)
A few of my other favorite producers of the year were: Holy Ghost!, AC Slater, Fred Falke, Fake Blood, Jack Beats, Chavy Boys, Afrojack, BeatauCue, Jesse Rose, and I couldn’t get enough of the aforementioned Riva Starr.
I don’t believe it’s possible to quantify the “best” of any art form and year in lists typically leave me unsatisfied, therefore, in no particular order, with no particular, easily rounded number, here are some of my favorite tracks and remixes of 2009. I probably inadvertently left out a bunch. It’s all good. There’ll be more.
Eli Escobar – Glass House
Holy Ghost! – I Will Come Back (mp3)
Nacey – Work For This (mp3)
Lykke Li – Dance Dance Dance (Buraka Som Sistema Remix) (mp3)
The xx – Islands
Miike Snow – Silvia
Miike Snow – Animal (mp3)
Mikael Simpson – Slaar Skaar (mp3)
Jack Penate – Pull My Heart Away
Outputmessage – Glintz (Vocal) (mp3)
Outputmessage – Resurface (Vocal Version)
Little Boots – Earthquake
Little Boots – New In Town (Fred Falke remix vocal) (mp3)
Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone
Calvin Harris – Ready For The Weekend (Fake Blood Remix)
Passion Pit – The Reeling (Calvin Harris Remix)
La Roux – Bulletproof
La Roux – In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Mix) (mp3)
La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix)
Junior Boys – Parallel Lines (mp3)
Junior Boys – Hazel
Miami Horror – Make You Mine (Cassian Remix) (mp3)
Gui Boratto – No Turning Back
The Glass – Wanna Be Dancin’
The Juan MacLean – One Day
AC Slater – BanGer (Tittsworth Remix)
Major Lazer – Pon de Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel)
Chavy Boys – Friday Night Flu
Rye Rye – Bang feat. M.I.A. (mp3)
Say Wut – Streets of Baltimore (mp3)
Steve Starks – You Don’t Want None (mp3)
James Nasty – Dance MuthaFucka (mp3)
Drake feat. Trey Songz & Lil Wayne – Successful
Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)
UCB ft. Wale – Pat Your Weave
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix) (mp3)
Tiga – Shoes (Mr Oizo Remix) (mp3)
Fake Blood – Fix Your Accent
Gramophonedzie – Why Don’t You
French Fries – Coconut
Gucci Vump – The Boogieman (Downtown Remix)
Noob & Brodinski – Peanuts Club (BeatauCue Remix)
Cirez D – On Off
Sidney Samson – Riverside
Skunk Anansie – Squander (Matta Remix)
Jesse Rose – Well Now
Jesse Rose – Touch My Horn
Michel Cleis – La Mezcla
Have a safe and or wild/peaceful New Year’s celebration, everyone, and see you in TWENTY TEN!
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