SLEEPARCHIVE - Elephant Island

"Elephant Island" is bleepy hypnotic techno at its best. Sleeparchive's work has been criticised a lot because his tracks are almost unplayable and they sound like they're cut out of a longer session. Critics say his releases are loops that barely seem to evolve and sound airless if you don't listen to them closely. I think his loops are pressed together so tight that they sound different on every listen. It's fascinating to listen to his productions. His approach on techno is unique. "Elephant Island" is outrageously expressive, twice the length of his other tracks and his only track with a vocal. The bleeping hypnotic melody slowly evolves into something that'll mess with your mind if played in the right setting and time. "Elephant Island" is a 5AM club nightmare that will drive you crazy on a proper sound system. 

LEVON VINCENT - ???

Levon Vincent has been in the electronic music scene for ages and is widely regarded by colleagues and fans as one of the greatest. His productions compositions and DJ skills are unmatched. Whether it's house or techno, Levon Vincent has made legendary tracks for both. 

"???" is a stripped back, raw and funky house track that is sexy and elegant in its musical spirit. If you listen to the melody here you might think your twelve year old kid brother could create something similar on the trumpet. I agree. But Vincent lays it on the track in a way that it feels boss and powerful like hell. 

The only complaint I have is that "???" ends too quickly.

SOULPHICTION - When Radio Was Boss (Jackmate Remix)

"When Radio Was Boss" is a killer track with an old school touch. Incredibly funky bassline that just bounces up and down continuously and progresses in the most groovy way imageable. The track only has a few short breaks and because of that it feels unstoppable. A killer release by Pampa Records.

MAHER DANIEL, JON CHARNIS - Lonely Stars In Open Skies (Luca Bacchetti Endless remix)

Summer is approaching and everybody wants to produce the next summer jam (read:"Gotham"). If anything, this has to be the biggest contender yet. Luca Bacchetti made one hell of a remix. Gently building for about three-and-a-half minutes, then there's a humongous break which reminds me of Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal. Hopkins created an unexpected shift in the melody there and Bacchetti did the same here during the break. This is exciting stuff. 

I'm psyched because this isn't your typical feel good summer jam. "Lonely Stars In Open Skies" isn't dripping with happiness and joyful feelings. Instead, It'll put a dirty smile on your face and you'd wanna dance your ass off. 

JOY ORBISON - Big Room Tech House DJ Tool

Straight up dirty stuff. I haven't heard anything like this in a long while. Found "Big Room Tech House DJ Tool" in one of Midland's sets and was blown away by Orbison's creativity. Would love to see a floor react to this kind of magic.

PVS - Arsenal (Ctrls remix)

Ctrls with a sharp edged techno track released on M_Rec. "Arsenal" has a 3/4 beat which gives the track a drum and bass feeling and makes it attack from a different corner then what you might expect. The distinctive electronic sounds make this the perfect dancefloor monster.

LITERON - Freak Function

Literon, Gerd's techno disguise, created a raw beastlike sound that has a shit load of solid funk and is designed for dancing. "Freak Funktion" sounds ridiculously cool.

TRIPEO - Untitled #1

Hypnotic techno. As soon as you think you've figured "Untitled #1" out, it just sidesteps on you. You're always one step behind, whether you like it or not. Those seven minutes of playtime are definitely worth it because you can never predict the direction Tripeo's going with his track. 

MY #1 TRACK FOR 2013

Almost ten months ago I posted "Siglum" as the second track ever on the Muziekbeer. For me, this remix by Duyster has never lost it's magic. Every time I listen to it I'm stupefied by the synthesisers. They scream and shout so loud it's ridiculous yet Duyster finds room to let them sound peaceful and serene. 

The other tracks of my list:
- #2
- #3
- #4
- #5

MY #2 TRACK FOR 2013

Max Cooper is one of the most influential deejays at this moment. With his experimental electronica he either hits an emotional snare or he just blows you away. And when I first listened to "Walls" I was blown away.

The other tracks of my list:

- #3

- #4

- #5

MARCEL DETTMANN - Lightworks

In an old interview with Ben Klock I learned how fascinated Dettmann and him are with the whole idea of minimalism. I suddenly understood why Klock titled his album One and Marcel named his I. Putting as little as possible in your tracks and still make them sound challenging and fascinating is an interesting process. How much, or how little, is needed to grab your attention? Only Marcel Dettmann knows the answer to that question.

TREVINO - Juan Two Five

Heard Steffi play this on the mix CD Panorama Bar 05. Which is the most recent release from Ostgut Ton.

Trevino produces both house and techno. I didn't realise at first how different he sounds when you compare his stuff. "Forged", for example, is one-hundred percent techno and  "Juan Two Five" is more peaceful, spacious and houselike. And guess what? Both are released in 2012 and both are spot on.

JOSH WINK - Sprung Minimism

End your year with a bang. End your year with "Sprung Minimism". It's the biggest bang that I've ever heard. It's so big that Josh Wink almost self-destructs it after three minutes.

MY #3 TRACK FOR 2013

Makson's "Oeuvre" is a masterpiece. One of the most impressive tracks I've heard this year. Nine minutes of experimental electronic music with crazy synthesizers and some Max Cooper-like glitches. 

This is what a modern-day Beethoven would sound like. 

The other tracks of my list:
- #4
- #5

ROD - Hux

ROD has a keen eye for techno. His dj-sets are filled with literally anything. Whether it's deep and more dubby or droning and dark as hell. ROD has a wicked taste for music. 

"Hux" is a more deep and slow acid techno track then "Anindica" which is the other tune by ROD on Klockworks 11. The acid groove isn't very present and just lurks in the background for quite a while. If you listen to "Anindica" you'll notice these tracks are complete opposites of one another. I really like the sharp hihats and loud snares with their ever-changing rhythms. They never interfere with anything else on the track. It's all perfectly balanced. 

You can listen to the other track on Klockworks 11 here.

ROD - Anindica

ROD has been using "Anindica" in his sets for quite some time before finally releasing it to the public. Both tracks on Klockworks 11 are strong acid tracks, but "Anindica" is one you can use to peak for on the dance floor. Its acid groove is volatile and heavy but in combination with the bassline it sounds a lot more playful and groovy. When ROD uses it in his latest Boiler Room set the room explodes. 

You can find "Hux" the second track on Klockworks 11 here.

MARCUS WORGULL & PETER PARDEIKE - Blythe

Daunting and challenging is what this is. "Blythe" is the newest release from Innervisions, which is one of the best labels at this moment. If you like slightly weird and incredibly deep house music of course. Deejays who spin this will have their nasty-face on and head bang like a true gangster. Because holy fuck is this epic or what?

MY #4 TRACK FOR 2013

Holden changed the way I listen to music when he released his album, The Inheritors, in 2013. If you've read my blog it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of James Holden. I am positive Holden could fill this list by himself and it's not easy picking just one track. Listening to "Gone Feral", "The Inheritors", "The Caterpillar's Intervention" and "Renata" made me realize that James can do anything when making music and he's the only musician that gives me that feeling. 

I gave his album another listen and realized that "Blackpool Late Eighties" is where The Inheritors all come together. The entire album builds up to this one track. "Blackpool Late Eighties" is peaceful, majestic and intriguing. With eight-and-a-half minutes in length it is also the longest track on the record and that means something coming from James Holden. 

Holden doesn't only make very special music. He is also an inspiration to others. If I'd do a quick summary of Holden I would say he's an influencer, an innovator and a guide for other deejays. Whenever he releases an album people start to think different about music and the way they produce music. James Holden changes the way people listen to music. 

You can find my #5 track for 2013 here.

MY #5 TRACK FOR 2013

If I look back at 2013 I'd say the deep side of house is getting more and more sophisticated. That's a good thing, because it sure as hell needed to get more sophisticated. Players like Tale Of Us, Dixon, Âme and Mano Le Tough are paving a path for other deejays to follow. The strength of their dj-sets and releases made them top of the food chain in 2013. Dixon was voted no. 1 DJ on Resident Advisor, everything Âme and him released on their label Innervisions turns into gold and Tale Of Us has released some spectacular tracks like "Concor" and "Primative People" this year. 

One of the tracks they all play is "Wek" from Fango. Fango combines samples of the Peruvian jungle with loud percussion and hard-hitting drums. He doesn't have a lot of followers on Soundcloud or plays on Youtube but there's something about his tracks that I haven't heard before. It sounds playful and yet it would smash a dance floor right open. Keep an eye on Fango for 2014.

BEARLY SESSION #2 - DENNIS WILLIAMS

Dennis Williams was high on my list to do one of the BEARLY SESSIONS because I love watching him play live and listening to his sets at home. I believe that because Dennis is a little older then most DJs, his taste in music is more refined. When you talk to Dennis about music you clearly hear that he's got a huge passion for it which transfers to his sets. The tracks he picks have something special, but sometimes you have to listen closely to be able to hear it. Lucky for Dennis, I love to listen a little more closely. 

Take the track with the African vocal at 17:45 mins called Adesse - Baayi for example. It's incredibly deep and soulful and is one of the highlights in the entire podcast for me. 

The other highlight (read: jaw dropping moment) was Mano Le Tough - Inside Animal Minds. Because it's played this late into the set it feels like a reward just listening to it. It's played after 54 minutes and I rewinded the set three times just to listen to it again. I just couldn't figure out the melody, it's insanely powerful, sinister and unpredictable. 

Dennis' closing track, Rebelski - The Rift Valley (Luciano remix), is such a sunny and joyful tracks, the vocal is incredibly powerful and enchanting. The perfect pick to close a two hour musical journey with. It made me realise that I had so much fun listening to this podcast that I can't even imagine how much fun Dennis must have had while making it.