It's been a while, but I'm restarting my blog with a sole focus on music. To start, I've compiled a list of my favourite 50 songs of 2013, counting down from 50 to number 31:
50/ Gold Panda - Trust
A change of style for the eclectic English producer, the title track from his underrated 'Trust-EP' demonstrates his virtuosity, suggesting a similar sonic transition Bonobo made a few years ago which would be a promising career move for Gold Panda.
49/ Run The Jewels - Get It
An interesting collaboration between EL-P and Killer Mike, this song is an aggressive in your face march towards the masses, played to a thumping and arrogant beat, reminiscent of TNGHT, it could well be the soundtrack to a Fight Club-esque struggle against the machine.
48/ Local Natives - Bowery
Essentially, this song shows what the band do best. A calm and careful song which progresses into a powerful and passionate conclusion, it revelas their finely developed understanding between
dichotomous sounds, which constantly changes yet never loses its power.
47/ Parquet Courts - Stoned and Starving
A simple yet catchy song, think of Sonic Youth just, well stoned really. As its title indicates it follows the troublesome dilemma of being high and hungry in New York, a universal message that many of its fans can relate to.
46/ Dusky - Words Later On
One of the most out there deep house duos at the moment, these guys have a great year in the clubbing scene, with constantly changing sounds and styles, 'Words Later On' ends their year on a great high. Whilst it is fairly minimal, their productions skills are ever present here, demonstrating that this genre is also about musical ability, and not just creating a good beat.
45/ Vampire Weekend - Step
Constantly evolving, band VP's third effort is a stripped down yet wholesome album, revealing their knack at combing a variety of genres to create something truly unique, epitomised here with 'Step'.
44/ Celcius - Incoming
A great find by SubSoul, this song takes its time, but when that triplet bass kicks in, you know you're going to have a good time for the rest of it. Bouncy, cocky and a change from your run of the mill house tracks, its incredible riff catches any listener by presence and surely brings a smile to their face.
43/ Foals - Late Night (Solomun Remix)
Took me a while to fully appreciate this remix's value, it gradually won me over with a few listens. A complete change of direction from the original, Solomun here creates a truly mesmerising version, whose filtered spacey synths will echo in your mind for a long time after. A brilliant producer, who without the lyrics you'd think is one of his originals, this is definitely one of the most imaginative interpretations of a song in quite a while.
42/ Earl Sweatshirt - Molasses
One of the most stand-out tracks from his latest album, it definitely feels as though Earl had been watching Django Unchained for a while. A badass cowboy beat if that makes sense, it's another example of his great use of language and the multiplicity of meanings one can create out of one word. If only RZA had a bigger involvement in the song, would be higher on the list.
41/ Andrea - Your Morning
One of the most innovative producers out there, Paris based artist Andrea continues to be an important figure of the future-garage genre. Mellifluous, intricate, and intimate are just some of the terms one can use to describe him. Horribly understated, this artist was in my Best New Artist section last year, and has shown in this year alone, how much he has matured as an artist.
40/ Vampire Weekend - Hanna Hunt
Another one from the New York outfit, it's not one of the most musically complex songs they've written yet its arguably their most touching. A slow but gentle buildup captivates the listener throughout the song, eventually arriving to a very emotional ending. A feel-good song without the cliches.
39/ Sampha - Without
A rising star who has already collaborated with the likes of Drake, Sampha follows in James Blake's footsteps in amalgamating between soul and electronica, simultaneously bringing fresh life into both genres. A cluster of erratic yet seemingly controlled noises permeate throughout the song, this is another hopeful example of a promising singer-songwriter generation that has been lacking in recent years.
38/ Pascäal - Drowning In You
Ok, this song is on Majestic Casual so it looks like I didn't put much effort into actually finding this song, but without trying to sound too much like a hipster it's not how I first found it. But then again, there is a niche in the market that unfortunately, can only be described as 'Majestic Casual' music. I realize I haven't said anything about the song itself, but do give a listen, a catchy one which hopefully foreshadows the future of pop.
37/ Dream Koala - Odyssey
It's been coming for a while. You could hear much potential in his first Blur - EP yet with the release of 'Odyssey', Dream Koala has written one of the most enthralling and adventuring sonic experiences in years. The parallels with 'Spanish Sahara' are uncanny, and you can view as an ode to Foals's masterpiece, yet this shouldn't undermine DK's beautiful song, fittingly titled as an 'odyssey'.
36/ Nils Frahm - Spaces
The link I've posted it to is a live version he did at KEXP, and it is one of the most captivating live moments of this year. Similar to the great work of the almost unknown Jurgen Muller, its minimalist beauty combined with his meticulous playing, creates a sonic arena of almost pure perfection which will surely give you shudders throughout.
35/ M.I.A. - Double Bubble Trouble
M.I.A has come back with a hard-hitting, in-your-face and haughty album, that doesn't seem to care what you think about it. Whilst most artists who do this are generally perceived as assholes (Kanye West anyone?), M.I.A. manages to pull it off, ironically making her fans adore her even more. The drop unleashes an incredibly badass beat, that is only beaten by the second drop's, let's say, moment of madness, where you're not quite sure what's going on, but all you know is that it sounds awesome.
34/ Deerhunter - Monomania
I have to say, I've been disappointed with the state of indie music this year, with a series of lacklustre new releases from old and new alike. Deerhunter however, prove once again why they are such a highly regarded band. Gritty, dirty and a bit all over the place, Bradford Cox is one of the last remaining rockstars out there, and Deerhunter are a band who are still committed to a sound that got them adoration in the first place, whilst somehow still sounding fresh.
33/ Action Bronson - Strictly 4 My Jeeps
One of the most recognisable faces in the hip/hop world, 'Strictly' feels like a massive throwback to the work of Beastie Boys, in its lyrics, production and even music video, which makes it such a standout track in today's rap world. It's good to know that every few rappers still has a place in their heart for 90's hip/hop, especially in a world dominated by the likes of Danny Brown and A$ap Rocky.
32/ Mark Knight - Your Love
Now, I'm not such a Kylie Minogue fan, but evidently Mark Knight is. Fortunately for us he is, because he's released one of the best remixes of the year. Another great moment for contemporary deep house, it's a guaranteed dance-floor filler that will undoubtedly get you moving. Juxtaposed between moments of pulsating bass lines and euphoric chords progressions, Mark Knight seems to have understood everything about the clubbing scene in one song.
31/ Jamie XX - Sleep Sound
I'm always excited whenever Jamie XX releases new music, especially when he gives it away for free. This is his most promising attempt yet, divided into three distinct movements that scream originality making it impossible to be described as dull. Whilst I feel the xx have stagnated since their first album, Jamie continues to push the boundaries of what is expected from him and repeatedly produces new and invigorating music. With a string of new releases to come, Jamie XX will surely be one of the most sought-after artists in 2014.
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