Every year we countdown the 50 Most Rated records of the year in the Defected Radio show, with hosts Copyright running through the cuts that have made the most impact from a year in house.
With so much incredible music released over the last 12 months it’s almost an impossible task to boil the list down to a mere 50, and while we’re in no way saying that this is a definitive list, we hope that it’s at least representative of house music in 2013.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be running an on-site feature to accompany the radio show countdown. First up, numbers 50 to 34.
50. Cajmere & Dajae – Satisfy (Original Mix)
Cajmere and Dajae have maintained a solid partnership for two decades and are still capable of creating some of today’s finest anthems. ‘Satisfy’ was released on the Cajmere’s ‘Too Underground For The Main Stage’ album earlier this summer and was an instant underground hit.
49. Claude Von Stroke – Can’t Wait
Taken from Dirtybird head honcho ClaudeVon Stroke’s Urban Animal LP – which was full of odd sounds and snippets from his weird and wonderful life – ‘Can’t Wait’ engages the producer’s deeper approach.
48. George Morel – Let’s Groove (Claptone Remix)
Berlin producer Claptone has had a stellar couple of years and his remix of ‘Let’s Groove’ is one of his strongest remixes. George Morel’s original version was – as still is – a hard record to improve upon, but Claptone sculpts it into an exciting new model.
47. Tuccillo – City Lights (Original Mix)
The Ibiza resident has a habit of making understated yet devastatingly effective house, and this cut is another prime example. Taught and lean with a killer bass groove, there’s barely a house dancefloor in the world that this wouldn’t work on.
46. Wallflower – Say You Won’t Ever (Larry Heard Club Mix)
Larry Heard absolutely nailed his remix of Wallflower’s laid-back original, chopping the piano into an enchanting hook with the throbbing bassline maintaining a strong sense of purpose.
45. Paul C, Paolo Martini – We Repeat
Paul C and Paolo Martini have earned their stripes over the decades and since pairing up in 2009 their production output has graced leading imprints. Released on Nick Curly and Marc Scholl’s Cécille Records, ‘We Repeat’ is a bouncy track regularly played at festivals, clubs and even featured on the trailer of "Love Family Park 2013".
44. Paolo Rocco – People Say
This catchy cut was one of the trippier numbers to tear up dancefloors this year with its acid breaks and infectious vocals. It was released on Saved Records alongside a remix by the labels founder Nic Fanciulli, both of which featured in the sets of many of the scene’s most prolific DJs.
43. David Keno – A Compliment (Gorge Remix)
Danish house stalwart Noir is known for being a reputable tastemaker within the industry and ‘A Compliment’ demonstrates why. Gorge is a producer who likes to think outside the box and this trait is reflected in his tribal spin of David Keno’s deep and soulful original.
42. Alex Niggemann feat. John Rydell – Lovers (Andre Lodemann Remix)
Dark, deep and delicious, it’s the vocal performance from John Rydell that makes this stand out, perfectly complimented by Lodemann’s restrained and subtle production. One for late night and early mornings.
41. Adam Port, Here Is Why – Our Fate (AP Club Version)
A collaboration coming out of Berlin’s exciting Keinemusik imprint between techno maestro Adam Port and German group Here Is Why. Port lays his hands on the track adapting it from a playful vocal number into a thudding techy thumper.
40. Yousef feat Charli Taft – I See (Shadow Child Remix)
‘I See’ is a further display of Yousef’s consistency and Shadow Child’s remix saw the breakthrough fashion Taft’s vocals around his signature sound; a massive track which will undoubtedly continue its momentum into next year.
39. Rachel Row – Follow The Step (KiNK Beat Mix)
Defected picked up this melodic masterpiece by Rachel Row just in time for the Ibiza season where it soon became one of the islands most seminal vocal anthems. Later remixed by Justin Martin, Trikk, FCL, Breach and KiNK himself who all gave the track their signature spin, it was the original version - also produced by KiNK - that deserves most of the attention.
38. Movement – Feel Real (Morgan Geist Remix)
Morgan Geist has seen immense and well-documented commercial success of late, however Geist has always been regarded as an underground producer, evident in his feel-good remix of ‘Feel Real’ which has seen a great deal of support from the likes of Tensnake, Digitalism and Crazy P.
37. Jon Cutler feat E-Man – It’s Yours (Nice7 Remix)
Jon Cutler released the upbeat original in 2001 where it reached the #1 spot in DJ Magazine’s Hype Chart and #29 in the UK Charts. A decade later and Italian duo NiCe7 have transformed it into a deeper and darker renovation, a remix that was destined never to see the light of day until Noir finally managed to clear the vocal sample.
36. Huxley & Shenoda – Premier
‘Premier’ was released on the duo’s colossal Chatsworth Sound EP in September. The darker of the two cuts, this track directs itself towards subterranean depth and hypnotic vocals to reach a stunning conclusion from a brilliant collaboration.
35. Detroit Swindle – That Freak Stuff
Released on Tsuba at the start of summer ‘That Freak Stuff’ has been cooking up a storm in the underground ever since, successfully capturing that elusive warehouse feel with its rhythmic percussion and subtle grooves.
34. Dinky – Falling Angel
The term multi-faceted is an often hackneyed one when describing electronic artists, but the talented Dinky is someone who epitomizes the phrase. Released on Visionquest, ‘Falling Angel’ illustrates the inimitable sound of the Chilean DJ-producer-vocalist as she creates an immersive, eerie and hugely well-received cut.
