Every year we countdown the Most Rated records of the year in the Defected Radio show, with host Sam Divine running through the cuts that have made the most impact from a year in house.
Last year we covered 50 records, but with so much incredible music released over the last 12 months we've increased the countdown to 60 this year, 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 2014.
Following on from Part 1 and Part 2, here we run through the final section of the coundtown from numbers 20 to 1.
20. Richy Ahmed & Kevin Knapp - The Drums
As a resident of Jamie Jones’ party Paradise at DC10 Ibiza, ‘The Drums’ was one of the tracks that made Richy Ahmed’s sets.
19. The Juan Maclean - A Simple Design (Deetron Remix)
The quirky sounds of The Juan Maclean with his electro-infused dance music is remixed by Swiss producer Deetron, who is known for producing techno with the real soul of Detroit.
18. Shiba San - Okay
With a background in Hip Hop, Shiba San’s more recent releases with their ‘G-House’ influenced style have created a new interest in his productions, and ‘Okay’ was the centerpiece of the Dirtybird BBQ compilation.
17. Secondcity - I Wanna Feel
Topping the UK singles charts, it was the blend of Chicago inspired Deep House and UK Garage beats from Secondcity that made ‘I Wanna Feel’ a hit that secured his position as one of the popular producers of 2014.
16. Josh Milan - Electro Dreams
With a career spanning over three decades Josh Milan had the innate ability to convey emotion through music from a young age, his repertoire of work spans across multiple genres, with ‘Electro Dreams’ inarguably one of his very finest moments.
15. Borrowed Identity - Searching Forever
Borrowed Identity’s name says a lot about his mentality toward music, taking inspiration from every genre his musical education came from a wide variety of sources. The same goes for him music, ‘Searching Forever’ has atmospheric strings, a deep baseline and a faint yet soulful vocal to create a truly unique record.
14. Breach feat. Andreya Triana - Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)
Since the release of ‘Jack’ in 2013 Breach (aka Ben Westbeach) has soared to success, ‘Everything You Never Had’ dominated dancefloors earlier this year as well as having chart success.
13. Rodriguez Jr. - Persistence Of Vision
Rodriguez Jr. is the latest alias of Oliver Mateu that creates an outlet for all the different inspirations Mateu receives, from deep techno to glossy electronica. Released on Mobilee, ‘Persistence of Vision’ was a huge track at their weekly pool parties this summer in Spain.
12.Traumer - Hoodlum
Released on Hot Since 82’s label Knee Deep In Sound, Parisian producer Traumer’s track ‘Hoodlum’ is an example of the bass-lead techno being heard at clubs internationally at the moment.
11. Gerd feat. Macoradi - Still Believe
Released on Defected’s sister label DFTD ‘Still Believe’ stays true to the core style of the DFTD and was one of the defining tracks of the 2014 Ibiza season.
10. Route 94 & Jess Glynn - My Love
‘My Love’ was the track that brought Route 94 into the mainstream success. With Jess Glynne delivering a soulful vocal the track has a real catchiness and uplifting quality.
09. Hercules & Love Affair - Do You Feel The Same?
The powerful vocal and baseline makes this track from Hercules & Love Affair truly unforgettable, Andy Butler (founder of the group) perfectly combines both House and Disco to create a huge dancefloor track.
08. Rufus - Desert Night (Jesse Rose Remix)
With London based DJ and producer Jesse Rose on the remix of Australian indie-dance band RUFUS, this track is simply beautiful.
07. London Grammar - Sights (Dennis Ferrer Remix)
London Grammar have swiftly become one of the biggest dance acts in the UK with their album If You Wait going platinum both in the UK and Australia. Remix of the track ‘Sights’ coming from House heavyweight and Defected favorite Dennis Ferrer is an ethereal club track.
06. Patrick Topping - Forget
With this track being listed as one of Mixmag’s top ten tracks of the Ibiza season it is just one factor toward the huge year Patrick Topping has had, with three number ones in the Beatport Tech-House chart (including ‘Forget’), a residency at DC10 and two DJ Mag awards he is a favorite of the Hot Creations label.
05. Chus & Ceballos vs Leonardo Gonnelli - Soledad
Spanish duo Chus & Ceballos have established themselves as creators of the benchmark Iberican sound with their innate way of blending house with techno, pairing up with Italian DJ/producer Leonardo Gonnelli they create this hypnotic dance track.
04. Oliver Dollar & Jimmi Jules - Pushing On
Probably the defining track of the Defected parties in Ibiza this summer was ‘Pushing On’ from Berlin born producer Oliver $ and Swiss producer Jimi Jules, already household names in their own countries the track solidified them as internationally recognized acts.
03. Ten Walls - Walking With Elephants
2014 was a big year for Lithuanian producer Mario Basanov aka Ten Walls, ‘Walking With Elephants’ was a real crossover track that emerged from the underground scene that reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart.
02. Julio Bashmore feat. J’Danna - Rhythm of Auld
Bristol born producer Julio Bashmore came onto the scene with the help of Claude VonStroke’s label dirtybird, since that first EP he’s found his success with clubbers and labels alike with this disco and soul infused track being warmly received.
01. Caribou - Can’t Do Without You (Tales Of Us & Mano Le Tough Remix)
The first track released from Carbiou’s 2014 album Our Love was ‘Can’t Do Without You’, a simply stunning track that pretty much everyone adored. This remix translated the track to the dancefloor, becoming one of the defining tracks of this summer.
Defected presents Most Rated 2015 is out now - order from iTunes
