The final installment of our 2009 chart series (and definitely the most intricate of them all) is the top-10 long playing records category. The list features some familiar faces, as well as some undoubtedly controversial surprises, but this is what we came up with, and we’re standing by it. Enjoy music fans.
Top Ten:
01 | Zombielicious
Artist: Zombie Nation
Label: UKW
Cat #: UKW12
Beatport
As much as we’d like to describe this album in words, we’re painfully limited. There is no combination of genres that can realistically convey Florian Senfter’s (aka Zombie Nation) work — but a startling mix of minimal, house, techno, disco and chaotic sampling, is a good place to start. Anthems such as Forza and Worth It shattered dancefloors across Europe, while experimental efforts such as Shottieville and Mystery Meat Affair laid the foundation for some of the years biggest remixes.
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02 | Ciao!
Artist: Tiga
Label: Different, [Pias] Recordings
Cat #: DIFB 1210 CDX
Beatport
Leave it Turbo Recording’s lead-man, Tiga James Sontag, to somehow fuse the world of techno, into the realm of disco, adding the universal appeal of pop-inspired vocals. The album’s procession of hits included the likes of Mind Dimension, Shoes, What You Need and Beep Beep Beep — all of which inspired timeless remix EPs. Where Tiga truly shows his versatility is in low-bpm pop tunes like Gentle Giant and the openings bars of Love Don’t Dance Here Anymore.
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03 | Power
Artist: Boys Noize
Label: Boys Noize Records
Cat #: BNR037
Beatport
This album was everything that it was expected to be. A classic display of Boys Noize’s thrashing, high-energy brand of electronic music, combined with a number of creative kinks. The anticipation began with the release of both Jeffer and Starter (in EP form), and only skyrocketed from there when the Kontact Me videos began to circulate the blogosphere. Add tracks like Gax and Nerve, and a truly impressive musical compilation is born.
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04 | Golden Traxe
Artist: Shadow Dancer
Label: Boys Noize Records
Cat #: BNR030
Beatport
Chopped-up techno, Acid house and electro-punctuated disco — does that even make any sense? — brothers Paul and Alan Farrier, the dynamic duo that make up Shadow Dancer, certainly think so. Their album, Golden Traxe, has a piercingly distinct sound, and yet it offers something new with each track. The track Lower Left is another top-ranking original production of the year.
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05 | Shh
Artist: Phil Kieran
Label: Cocoon Recordings
Cat #: COR LP 022
Beatport
This album represents the purest form of techno that you will find on this list, and ended up being one of the darkest LPs that we listened to all year. Kieran pulled no punches when he assembled this appealing combination of minimal tech with the traditional big-room sound. Tracks like ESP, Past The Present Future and Dirt may not appeal to all, but the sheer quality of these, and other productions on the LP, cannot be denied.
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06 | What Do You Do If You Don’t
Artist: Jesse Rose
Label: Dubsided
Cat #: DSDCD001
Beatport
Jesse Rose is a wide-known favorite of us here at electroTO, both for his work in putting together a very promising Made To Play record label, as well as his production prowess on “What Do You Do If You Don’t”. The album’s claim to fame was its ability to make house music mainstream — either by way of catchy Hot Chip collaborations, groovy hip-hop samples, or addictive vocal hooks.
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07 | Brash & Vulgar
Artist: In Flagranti
Label: Codek Records Europe
Cat #: CRE002CD
Beatport
The widespread resurgence of disco or nu-disco was one of the most compelling plots in electronic music this past year. In Flagranti’s Brash & Vulgar may have been the most unique and important chapter of this disco renaissance. This being said, the album is in no way one dimensional, combining a historic sound with critical experimental elements.
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08 | Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do
Artist: Major Lazer
Label: Downtown Music, Mad Decent
Cat #: DTW70088
Beatport
The Diplo & Switch duo, Major Lazer, is one of those musical topics that has been operating well over capacity for the better part of ’09. The dancehall-infused record Guns Don’t Kill People … Lazers Do shocked musical circles, both underground, and in the mainstream. Tracks like Pon De Floor and Hold The Line are arguably some of the most identifiable tunes of the year, and justify this albums position.
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09 | Bird Brain
Artist: Claude Von Stroke
Label: Dirtybird
Cat #: DB030
Beatport
San Francisco’s Claude Von Stroke puts his personal stamp on the genre of house music with his work on Bird Brain, transfiguring European tech house into something far more timid. Certainly, the LP has its share of thick & juicy house tunes, but for the most part, the easy-going Bay-Area feel permeates the very vinyl on which this album was pressed.
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10 | Take My Breath Away
Artist: Gui Boratto
Label: Kompact
Cat #: KOM190
Beatport
This was an album that was brought to our attention much later than it should have been, and are we ever glad that it appeared. Take My Breath Away is Tech House at its finest — sometimes dark and mysterious, other times lucid and inspiring, all times deep. A melodic sound resonates throughout the entire work, making for some emotionally charged production.
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