Defected In The House Zouk Out Singapore has made DMC's top albums of 2009. It's been an incredible year for music and we're very proud to have been recognised in this list.
Defected In The House Zouk out Singapore '10 is out now.
Check out the top 10 right here...
1. THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX MIXED BY AME, HENRIK SCHWARZ & DIXON (BBE)
This is one of the more unusual compilations you'll hear this or any other year, as the Innervisions trinity step outside to examine their influences, and influences on minimal techno in general. The track selection is extremely diverse, ranging from Steve Reich to Liquid Liquid, I:CUBE to John Carpenter. A collection that's deep, dark and incredibly chilled out, plus a history lesson into the bargain - what more could you want?
2. FABRIC 48: RADIO SLAVE (FABRIC)
This eagerly awaited mix delivered on all counts. Mixed in one take by Matt Edwards, the set is an organic, steadily building animal that lives and breathes percussion - put together with acute attention to detail on one hand, but allowed an instinctive room to breathe on the other. An outstanding mix, taking house music back to its first principles of rhythm - and one of the very best that Fabric have offered us in their compilation series.
3. DRUMPOEMS: VERSE 2 (DRUMPOET COMMUNITY)
Occupying the boundaries between house and techno, the second Drumpoet Community compilation is most definitely a thing of beauty. The Detroit influences are evident right from the off, with serious four to the floor talent from Hunch, DC, Lost Men and Johannes Lehner among the artists to impress. A winner for deep house heads and lovers of early techno.
4. DJ KICKS: CHROMEO (!K7)
Some funky excellence from the Canadians to continue the 'DJ Kicks' series, with what turns out to be a real feelgood selection. The vibe is mostly synth-pop with the 1980s stamped all over it, even if it's accomplished recent work from the likes of Chateau Marmont. Given their style of music and influences, this is everything you'd expect from Chromeo as DJs, and the fact they keep a tongue in cheek approach at times helps it no end. Feelgood bliss!
5. WARP 20: UNHEARD (WARP)
The Warp 20th birthday celebrations continued with what the label described as 'an eleven track collection of secret treasures rediscovered from the Warp vaults'. They weren't wrong - from Boards of Canada ambience to Broadcast beauty this collection reinforcing Warp to be one of electronic music's premier labels. A fine introduction for newcomers to the fold - or an essential purchase for Warp completists, of which there are rightly many.
6. DEFECTED IN THE HOUSE - ZOUK OUT SINGAPORE 2010 MIXED BY SIMON DUNMORE & DJ B (ITH/DEFECTED)
Defected's presentation is normally very good but they've really excelled themselves here, both visually and musically. Simon Dunmore delivers a vibrant first set, while DJ B's set is a touch more mellow to begin with, before the beats and basslines sharpen This is what Defected does best, seeing out the decade with a wide-eyed grin on its face.
7. LUFTKASTELLET VOL.6 COMPILED BY KENNETH BAGER (MUSIC FOR DREAMS)
It seems about time to recognise the quality of this increasingly high profile series, and celebrate Kenneth Bager's knack for spotting a good tune. Adding well known artists such as Grace Jones and Moby to the criminally overlooked Yoav, the warmth of Osunlade and the stimulating Mari Boine works in an original collection - chilled yet uplifting at the same time.
8. HARBOUR BOAT TRIPS 01: COPENHAGEN MIXED BY TRENTEMOLLER (POKER FLAT)
On the surface this is another after hours compilation, an addition to 'Late Night Tales' or 'Back To Mine' in all but name. Yet listen a bit more closely and it soon becomes clear that Andreas Trentemoller wants to do things his way, as chilled out material soon gives way to more beat driven stuff. We begin with whiffs of shoegaze and sublime textures and vocals, before Trentemoller injects some urgency into proceedings. It's all perfectly paced, makes a lot of musical sense and ought to introduce the listener to several good new acts along the way.
9. FABRIC 47: JAY HAZE (FABRIC)
For his contribution to the Fabric series Jay Haze has kept the music largely close to home, focussing on stuff from his Tuning Spork, Contexterrior and Future Dub labels. It's a carefully considered and well structured mix, quite slow in house tempo but gradually picking up as it progresses. If you like your house with added deepness and thought, this is a place you'll stop off regularly.
10. SIDETRACKED MIXED BY HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR (RENAISSANCE)
Andy Butler, the creative force behind Hercules & Love Affair, set himself a tough agenda when making 'Sidetracked' - to include his two signature styles of music, disco and house, but also to bring in music he listens to away from the dancefloor. So he's combined all three in a mix that strides out confidently on to the dancefloor, letting classics like Todd Terry's 'Weekend' rub shoulders with Daniel Wang's 'Zola Has Landed' and his own home listening. It's an original approach recreating the thrill of dancing in a warehouse in the late 1980s, but also bringing in more intimate, after hours listening.
