The Beat! - Best of 2010

It's been a year of ups and downs (aren't they all?!) but what cannot be denied is that there has been some fantastic music! Here are our individual highlights of 2010, roll on 2011...

Best Track:
Andy: Ray Mang - Look Into My Eyes
Didn't even make the a-side but this track still creates a buzz everywhere I play it.

Danny: Games - Everything is Working
like listening to Magic FM on Valium when 10cc comes on

Marcus: Woolfy - Looking Glass
DFA do it again.

Simon: Pupajim - I Am A Robot
The most infectious rythmn and vocal pairing for eons.

Stephen: James Chance & The Contortions - Incorrigible (Liv Spencer & DJ Spun Remix)
Short and Potent.

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Best Album:
Andy: Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
The best thing Beck has ever done.

Danny: Caribou - Odessa
the only album I can recommend to everyone interested in music.

Marcus: Zola Jesus - Stridulum
Not even a full album but musically jaw dropping.

Simon: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Where others fall DH keep the pop fuzz quality on this, their fourth LP.

Stephen: Gil Scott Heron - I'm New Here
Everything a great album should be.

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Best Band
Andy: Darkstar
We thought "Aidy's Girl Is A Computer" was a one off. We were proven very, very wrong.

Danny: Zombie Zombie
2 people, drums and a load of vintage synths.

Marcus: Caribou
The most consistent of the year.

Simon: Wooden Shjips
'Groove merchants.'

Stephen: Tame Impala
Gutted I missed them live. Twice.

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Best New Act:
Andy: Factory Floor
The most exhilarating band of recent memory.

Danny: Games
One oh trix point never chops & screws AOR.

Marcus: Lazer Sword
Finally doing what all those mixtapes promised.

Simon: Tame Impala
Destined for mass success?

Stephen: Darkstar
Thought they were gonna be another shite dubstep band. They weren't.

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Best Gig/Live Act:
Andy: Factory Floor
Seen them 4 times this year and every time is as brutal as the first. Go see.

Danny: Carl Craig, Moritz von Ozwald, Francesco Tristano - Royal Festival Hall
Techno went to RFH with nothing to prove, but proved it anyway.

Marcus: Primal Scream doing Screamadelica
How could it be any better?

Simon: Iggy & The Stooges/Suicide
The man, the myth, exceeds expectations and puts us all to shame... with a good dollop of Suicide.

Stephen: Darkstar/Matthew Dear
Matthew Dear and his Bowie-esque techno was amazing but the support act Darkstar stole the limelight. Deep, melodic, brooding, vocally magnificent, incredible!

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Best Dj:
Andy: Veronica Vasicka
Minimal Wave really was the sound of 2010.

Danny: Magda
Magda's RA mix shows what the fuss is about by stepping to the left.

Marcus: Andrew Weatherall
'Nuf said.

Simon: Andy Blake
Knowledge and vinyl collection wins over.

Stephen: Simon Miller
Elusive bloke that Miller. Not that well known but he wears his pants very low.

Honourable mentions must also go to Andy Blake, JD Twitch, Joe Hart, Photonz, Jamie Paton, ZNTN, Simon A Carr, Offset/Circles, Mystic Rock, Discodrone, Fromage Disco, Mo Morris, Erik Davis and David Stubbs - all of whom have contributed to a fantastic 2010 for The Beat!. Thank-you all!!

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Best Club:
Andy: Optimo
The only club I'd travel the length of the country to visit.

Danny: Optimo
Optimo is dead, long live Optimo.

Marcus: Zone
Musically the best by a very long way.

Simon: Bad Passion
How to do it right.

Stephen: The Beat!/Defunkt/The Visitation
Obviously.

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Best Blog/Website:
Andy: XXJFG
As always, they've been at the forefront of everything and lovely chaps to boot.

Danny: I Love Music
Everything from Springsteen bootlegs to Dark disco re-rubs. talked about 247.

Marcus: Together We Kill
Art, Fashion and Disco.

Simon: Test Pressing
Unstoppable, unf**kable, no one comes close!

Stephen: Gawthorpe Maypole Committee
Can't get enough.

Sylvester - I Need Somebody To Love Tonight

Many thanks to our friend Mystic Rock for turning us onto this one, taken from the 1979 LP 'Stars' this hypnotic Patrick Cowley production marks the start of their working relationship that would shape Sylvester's later hi-NRG sound.

Sylvester - I Need Somebody To Love Tonight

Ashley Beedle - Space Program (Warbox Reggae Special) Edition No. 1

Sweet reggae mix from Ashley Beedle, adding a bit of warmth to things...

"Dedicated to all the singers and players off the king's music. A few of reggae musics great artists passed away this year. So bless past, present and future reggae artists that have brought and will bring upfullness to the earth."

Ashley Beedle's Space Program (Warbox Reggae Special) Edition No. 1 by ASHLEY BEEDLE

G.A.N.G. - Kkk

Blissed out Italo from 1983 by G.A.N.G., music for snow to fall to.

G.A.N.G. - Kkk

Coyote Howl - Drowning in a Sea of Love Mix

Protect yourself from the onslaught of the festive soundtracks by playing Coyote Howl's brilliant 'Drowning in a Sea of Love' mix on loop.

Coyote Howl - Drowning in a Sea of Love Mix



Tracklist:

1. John Martyn - Couldn’t Love You More
2. Nina - Love Song
3. Barclay James Harvest - Little Lapwing
4. Little River Band - Days on the Road
5. Bread - Everything I Own
6. Joan Armatrading - Love and Affection
7. Willow - Evening
8. Blue - Red Light Song
9. The Eagles - Try and Love Again
10. Michael Prophet - Love and Unity
11. Barclay James Harvest - Love on the Line
12. Force of Nature - Tansmute
13. Luther Vandross - The Rush (Morales Rush Dub)
14. Joe Roberts - Love is Energy(Stripped Down Mix)
15. The Adventures - Drowning In a Sea of Love

The Pipettes - In The Bleak Midwinter

Nothing warms the heart more than listening to the beautiful Rose Elinor Dougall of The Pipettes. Their soul-clap rendition of this traditional christmas carol is a lovely addition to anyone's xmas playlist.

The Pipettes - In The Bleak Midwinter

Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love (12-Inch Mix)

Pre-Gregory's Girl Clare Grogan leads the line on Altered Images' last big record.

Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love (12-Inch Mix)

Can - Moonshake

Released in 1973 and from their essential 'Future Days' album (the fourth Can LP and the last to feature Japanese vocalist Damo Suzuki) is shorter and poppier than some of the back catalogue. You can enjoy this and other moon-themed selections in Jon Savage's 'Savage Music' podcast available on Test Pressing.

Disco Discharge - Like An Eagle Mix

Wow, wow, WOW! We've just received promos of a fantastic set of compilations from Disco Discharge.

Hand-picked by disco affectionado Mr Prinks, Disco Discharge resonates with the disco-hungry aficionados, serious vinyl collectors, the disco curious and a younger generation of DJs, producers and music lovers who are beginning to appreciate the quality of the musicianship and production values of the vast repertoire that falls under the ‘disco’ umbrella.

The music time-line spans the 1970s right through to the mid 1980s balancing a perfect blend of well-known classics with more obscure gems, all in their full 12’ glory or long album versions sourced from the best quality master tapes some of which having to be baked in order to achieve the optimum sound quality. A host of tracks make their appearance on CD for the first time such as Patrick Juvet’s ‘Got A Feeling’, Voyage’s ‘Souverins’ Instrumental, Who’s Who ‘Hynodance’ (produced by Thomas Bangalter’s dad!) and Noel’s ‘Dancing Is Dangerous’ alongside a welter of hard-to-find rarities and ultra collectible gems. Some of the notable rarities include Disco Discharge exclusive and previously unreleased track by Adrian Baker, ‘Don’t Take The Night Away’, Gepy & Gepy’s Italian Disco rarity ‘Body To Body’, Dennis Parker’s cult classic ‘Fly Like An Eagle’, the rare Tom Moulton Mix of Claudja Barry’s ‘Why Must A Girl Like Me’, Raquel Welch’s Hi NRG classic ‘This Girl’s Back In Town’, Technique’s ‘(Looking For Someone To Love) Tonight’ and Jonny Mathis’ ‘Begin The Beguin’.

Totalling 88 tracks across 8 discs this series unashamedly takes in the classics the obscure and collectable, the cool and the camp, the afro, the gay and the euro…this disco sees no colour!

You see the full tracklistings and buy the CDs from their website at: www.disco-discharge.com.

Here's a small promo mix from Horse Meat Disco's Luke Howard for a small tase of what's on offer.

Disco Discharge 'Like An Eagle' promo mix by elninodiablo

Tracklist:
1. Technique - Looking for Someone To Love Tonight
2. Dennis Parker - Like An Eagle
3. John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Holler
4. Eruption - I Can't Stand The Rain
5. Who's Who - Hypno Dance
6. Richard T Bear - Sunshine Hotel

Kid 606 - Rebel Girl

Kathleen Hanna's Bikini Kill as you have NEVER heard them before. King of the glitch Kid 606 chops, screw, bends, mutates, samples, loops, breaks, pumps, rattles and rolls all over the original leaving the track in tatters then spews the inners of his laptop all over it just to make sure it's thoroughly dead.

Kid 606 - Rebel Girl

Beastie Boys - Egg Raid On Mojo

Brat-pack era Beasties. Taken from the 1982 'Polly Wog Stew EP' this is a slice of hardcore punk that would sound more at home in LA than Brooklyn.

Beastie Boys - Egg Raid On Mojo

Photonz - Shaboo (Andy's Edit)

Sounding like it's 1991 in the best possible way - here are two of our previous guests Lisbon's Photonz chopped up by Dissident's Andy Blake. Prefect warm-up for a cold Friday night on the town.

Photonz - Shaboo (Andy's Edit)



Buy the track here or listen to Photonz when they stormed The Beat.

New Order - MTO

'MTO' is the b-side of New Order's 'Run 2' single from 1989. The single is decidedly rare so credit to you if you own or chance upon a copy that isn't pushing triple figures. It's rarity was magnified when John Denver threatened the band with a lawsuit claiming the a-side bore similarities to his 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' - whut!?

New Order - MTO

Marianne Faithfull - Broken English

Marianne goes disco in 1978 with a corker of a rolling bassline! Edit people - where are you when we need you most?!

Women and Children - Hey Zeus!

'Witch House' eh? I've got to be honest all these slowed down sounds with mutated, 7th dimension vocals, meandering piano loops and abstract instrumentation just remind me of this yearning track by Women and Children. Proto-witch-house, anyone?

Women and Children - Hey Zeus!

Liquid Liquid - Eyes Sharp

There's not much we can write that has not already been written about the Optimo-inspiring New Yorkers Liquid Liquid. Suffice to say this is another percussive workout only marginally less frenetic than their usual menacing sound.

Liquid Liquid - Eyes Sharp

Warpaint - Undertow

I'm not too sure why the BBC have decided to include Warpaint in their 'Sound of 2011' list, after all 'The Fool' has been edging close to the top in several end of year roundups. There's nothing revolutionary here - it's a fairly basic drums/bass/guitar/vocal track but there's something in that vocal delivery, the sparsity of the sound and the way the track builds that lifts this head and shoulders above the majority of indie drivel the BBC will recommend for 2011.

Warpaint - Undertow

Mystic Rock - Mystic Rock Volume 8

Mystic Rock Volume Eight by Mysticrock on Mixcloud

Following his DJ set for us at The Lock Tavern, Mr Mystic Rock continue's his psyke voyage with Volume 8 of his mix series.

"I was thinking of a house mix or high octane disco mix... but then I did this." He explains. "Guess I'm just too open minded."

Primal Scream - Inner Flight (Live At Olympia)

The word euphoric when used to describe music conjures up dreadful associations, but our Beat family excursion to see Primal Scream recreate the monumental Screamadelica was full of euphoria in it's purest form - this being the perfect example of why the gig was such a success, thanks as always to Test Pressing.

Matthew Burgess - Mystery Mix No.6

Appleblim & Ramadanman - Void 23 (Carl Craig Re-Edit)

Music for sweaty basements.

Casionova - Colder Than Steel Mix

Two mixes of funk-fuelled electro from Casionova to get you popping across your living room ahead of Arabian Prince (aka NWA's Professor X) headlining this month's Magic Waves Festival alongside I-F, Ali Renault, The Hacker, Alden Tyrell and a whole load of other people you really need to see.

BREAK.

Casionova - Colder Than Steel Mix Vol 1 by casionova

Tracklist:
1. MAGGOTRON CRUSHING CREW - Miami Bass Express
2. AQ & DJ LARCHE - And My Beat Goes On
3. MATRIX - It's Time To Rock
4. ARABIAN PRINCE - It Ain't Tough
5. DYNAMIX II - Bass Generator
6. B.O.S.E. - Rock The World
7. FREESTYLE - It's Automatic
8. EGYPTIAN LOVER - Girls
9. JAMIE JUPITOR - Computer Power
10. X-MEN - It's More Fun To Sample
11. PLANET DETROIT - Invasion From The Planet Detroit
12. RADIO CREW - Breaking And Entering
13. MC COOL ROCK & MC CHASZY CHESS - Boot The Booty
14. WORLD CLASS WRECKIN CRU - House Calls
15. EGYPTIAN LOVER - Egypt, Egypt
16. PROFESSOR X - Professor X (Saga)
17. FREESTYLE - The Party Has Begun

Casionova - Colder Than Steel Mix Vol 2 by casionova

Tracklist:
1. FACADE - The Groove (Drive To Hollywood Version)
2. UNKNOWN DJ - Let's Jam
3. CHRIS 'THE GLOVE' TAYLOR & DAVE STORRS - Reckless
4. FREESTYLE - Don't Stop The Rock
5. KING SPORTY - Fall Out
6. WORLD CLASS WRECKIN CRU - Juice
7. NWA - Panic Zone
8. SLEEZE BOYZ - Dance Till You Drop
9. EGYPTIAN LOVER - Dance (Long Drum Version)
10. UNKNOWN DJ - Breakdown (Dance Your Ass Off)
11. B.O.S.E. - Subway
12. UNKNOWN DJ - Basstronic
13. X-MEN - X-Men
14. EGYPTIAN LOVER - You're So Fine
15. SLEEZE BOYZ - Z-O-I-D-S
16. MAGGOTRON CRUSHING CREW - Miami's Rocking Baby
17. NOEL WILLIAMS & THE EXTRA FUNK FACTORY - Air Freshener
18. DEBBIE DEB - When I Hear Music
19. PRETTY TONY - Jam The Box

Simon & Garfunkel - Save The Life Of My Child

Taken from their 1968 album 'Bookends' the song veers away from Simon & Garfunkel's softer sounds favouring Smile-esque psychedelic sonics and distorted synths - we like!

Simon & Garfunkel - Save The Life Of My Child

Prince - The Future

Everyone and their mother's always searching for that rare, undiscovered Prince bootleg or b-side - to be honest they're all here. Anyway here's a gem from one of my fave purple LPs, no really it is, the 1989 Batman soundtrack.

Prince - The Future