An End To 2010 (mixed by Etch)

An End to 2010 (Mixed by Etch)

So this is my first post on the new site and I am using it as a sort of introduction as well as a my fav’s of 2010 compilation, which should be giving people an idea of what to expect from me in the future (in terms of the sort of music I’ll be reviewing and writing about). I have prepared a mix for you guys, clocking in at around an hour, it features some of my favorite tracks heard throughout 2010. The tracklist, along with a brief review of each selection and any significant impact it has had on my year in music, is posted below.

01 Untold - Dante
Hemlock label head Jack ‘Untold‘ Dunning is known for his weighty often house influenced productions. Dante sees him taking on a more garage vibed sound, and naturally he pulls it off beautifully.

02  Sharmaji – Break Your Heart Feat. Maggie Horn
A relatively unknown artist here, once again falling into the garage sound which has been a big influence on the UK Bass scene this year. Released on small Bristol label “Soul Motive” which has featured some pretty big names such as garage legend El-B and grime/dubstep super duo Rossi B & Luca.

03 Jill Scott - Gettin’ In The Way (MJ Cole Remix)
With UK Garage taking hold of the UK again after artists such as Burial and Synkro bringing new elements to the sound and citing it as influence, I myself had to discover some of this old stuff for myself. Released in 2000, a few years before Garage mutated into dubstep, this is a perfect example of classic garage with female vocal’s echoed through the mix and skittering swing beats bouncing along the bassline.

04 XXXY – Turn
Probably one of the most underrated producers in 2010, XXXY takes a Joy Orbison-esque sound and turns it into something far more epic and electronically fronted. I feel 2011 could be a big year for XXXY

05 Dark Sky – Drowned City
Dark Sky have intrigued me since their first release on Black Acre, but their EP released early 2010 “Frames” which this track is lifted from was leaps ahead of their previous productions, along with their remix  for extremely hyped indie band The XX, it was undoubtedly a big big year for the trio.

06 Loefah – The Goat Stare
I have been following Loefah and the DMZ sound since 2007, but I only heard this tune this year and I feel it is one of Loefah’s deepest, darkest beats out there. Incorporating his trademark spacious sound design and rib cage rattling sub bass, on a big system it is definitely a pants shitter.

07 Gongon & Bad Autopsy – MAG
Released just before 2010 ended on my hometown (Brighton) based label Well Rounded on the Cash Antics Vol.2 EP,  home to many shining lights in the current UK Funky/Bass scene such as Deadboy and Doc Daneeka, taking the garage format and slowing it into a more housey vibed sound Gongon & Bad Autopsy create a vibe filled dancefloor filler utilizing bright synths and reverberated diva vocals.

08 Ashanti – Call (Etches ‘Lighthouse’ Mix)
Cheeky here, this is a remix from myself, started reflecting my more garage/deep house influences in my productions here, rather than my typical deep depressing sound check more of my tunes on soundcloud.

09 Endgames – Ecstasy (Jam City Refix)
This tune has received endless amounts of praise from all corners of the music blogosphere this year, released as a whitelabel on the now massive UK Bass/House label Night Slugs. Captures euphoric booty popping vibes perfectly.

10 SBTRKT – 2020
Lifted from SBTRKT’s EP 2020 released on Ramp Recordings sister label Brainmath early 2010, it is a perfect example of SBTRKTS trademark garage/house influenced soulful sound. If any of you get the chance to see SBTRKT live take it. He was definitely the highlight of 2010′s Bestival for me.

11 Slaves Incorporated – Baby ’97
Another golden oldy as it were here. a Deep house bordering on garage track released in 1997, absolutely gold dust to find on vinyl, making it feel even more special than it already is, a prime example of what current UK Bass and dubstep producers are taking influence from.

12 Martyn – Megadrive Generation
Martyn has definitely secured himself as one of the most forward thinking electronic pioneers at the moment, this, released on Hyperdub‘s 5 year anniversary compilation is a perfect example of Martyn’s twisted garage influenced bass heavy sound.

13 Breach – Fatherless
If you didn’t hear this in 2010, you really need to get out more. This was the staple of almost every DJ’s set I saw in 2010 from Joy Orbison to 2562. With good reason too, vibing purely off of big tribal beats and an ethnic flute loop, its heavy simplicity gets the dancefloor going absolutely crazy

14 Cosmin TRG – See Other People
It has to be said, I don’t really know anything about Cosmin TRG, but I was given this track by a friend and it instantly stuck with me, hard to pin down in a particular scene/genre, it takes the vocal elements from garage and beats from the LA Beat scene and house but twisting them all together in a beautifully confusing way.

15 Nausea – I Know That’s You On My Window Sill… Minerva
Produced by friend and local lad Niall Lancaster, a brilliant piece of music taking influence from Joy Orbison and emotional intensity of Burial, good things will be coming for this boy in 2011 I believe. Check more of his work here:

16 XXXY – Know You
Another track from XXXY here, showing his versatility and variation of production he uses a much more break influenced beat here and uses classic house synths over the top creating a slow garage vibed track that still manages to get your feet moving

17 Burial & Four Tet – Moth
An absolutely blinding tune, anything from Burial is astounding, but combined with the sonic and electronic experimentation of Four Tet something astounding is created. This release came from nowhere early 2009 and has remained one of my favorite releases from either artists to this day. Released on extremely limited vinyl only pressings with no art, just a black label.

18 Actress – Always Human
Actress (Darren Cunningham, owner of experimental label Werk Discs) is another artist who’s production is extremely varied dipping in and out of IDM, Dubstep, Garage and Detroit House. 2008′s Hazyville got me hooked on Actress’s electronic explorations  through the past, present and future of dance music. 2010′s Splazsh released on Honest Jon‘s was another astounding record from Actress  and this track lifted from it shows his bouncy experiment’s with the UK Garage sound.

19 Floating Points – Shangrila
Floating Points is another shining light in 2010, with tracks recently released on Ninja Tune‘s XX compilation it seems Floating Points is soaring into electronic underground superstardom, this is a good example of his almost off kilter dilla-style beats fused with garage and UK funky formats.

20 Flying Lotus – My Chippy
Flying Lotus is a household name these days. Cosmogramma was a superb album and was very successful in the right circles. However it is his LA LP and the LA EP’s released in 2008 that remain in my heart and this is one of my favorite tracks of his, combining his signature whirring filter sweeps, bleeps and off beat hand played rhythm’s, the future definitely has Steve Ellison written all over it

21 Hudson Mohawke – Come Get It
Released way back in 2008 before Hudson Mohawke was known for his wonky electronic experiments derived from hip hop, disco and funk. This EP featuring his take on big early 00′s pop song’s is a brilliant example of Hudson Mohawke’s use of big beats and glitch electronics

22 Loops Haunt – Impact Omnihammer
Released in early 2010 on relatively small UK label Black Acre, home to Fantastic Mr. Fox and Blue Daisy; Loops Haunt gives an extremely glitched out aggressive take on…. well I don’t even know what to call it, it’s around hip hop tempo.

23 Downliners Sekt – White Dawn
Released early December 2010, the EP “We Make Hits, Not The Public” has to be one of the most underrated releases of the year and definitely needs a lot more notification than it has received, this track in particular, featuring percussive experiments and pitch shifted female vocals. Based out in Barcelona, Downliners Sekt definitely has a bright future if they continue to produce tunes with such emotive quality and care, be on the look out in 2011.

24 Burial – Fostercare
Burial’s first solo track released for quite some time on the Hyperdub 5 year anniversary compilation. Evidence that Burial is neither a one trick pony or just worn out from his previous efforts. Without a doubt one of his greatest pieces, utilizing his female vocal editing and taking it further than before with an ever so prevalent sub bass. If this is what we can expect from the future of Burial. I am happy.

25 DJ Pulse – Stay Calm (Foul Play Remix)
Without a doubt one of the classics of the jungle/drum & bass generation. A combination of pure dancefloor energy and reminiscent, almost sad sounds of a by-gone generation of vinyl, pills, amen breaks and euphoria. Released on legendary UK imprint, the now defunct Moving Shadow, responsible for some of the most memorable and cult Rave, Jungle and Drum & Bass releases throughout the 90′s and early 00′s.

26 Omni Trio – Renegade Snares
To bring my mix to an end, I had to drop the track which will always make me feel something inside, feeling that I missed something in the 90′s and a feeling of why isn’t music like this made anymore? Omni Trio are possibly one of the true pioneers of jungle and drum & bass, this anthemic track is almost instantly recognizable by people who don’t even listen to this sort of music. Or people who remember it from Grand Theft Auto 3′s MSX radio. Once again released on legendary label, Moving Shadow, once home to artists such as Foul Play, Dead Dred, EZ Rollers, 2 Bad Mice and Flytronix.

Well that’s my introduction and 2010 fav’s, other notable mentions include Mount Kimbie‘s Crooks & Lovers, James Blake‘s Klavierwerke and CMYK EP, Airhead‘s Paper Street recently released on Brainmath and Fantastic Mr. Fox’s Evelyn EP released on Black Acre in November. Expect to be hearing from me more now I’ve managed to get out of the food and alcohol stupor which has kept me from doing anything productive over the festive season.