Best Of 2016: Singles
The 50 Best Albums of 2016
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Other websites such as RA, Fact etc have now switched to the 'Top tracks' chart where each track counts separately – perhaps more apt in these days of streaming and MP3s – but here at Phonica, we feature Singles – be they 7inch, 10inch or 12inch – there has to be a physical release for it to be included in our chart. It’s the hardest chart of all to compile. So, what can be said of the ‘sound’ of the 2016 single?
Many trends have passed through the shelves of the shop this year. The ‘lo-fi’ house aesthetic continues to remain strong, with stellar releases from DJ Seinfeld, Ross From Friends, DJ Wave and Mall Grab all featuring highly, and belying recent journalism on the ‘death of ideas’ in house music. Meanwhile, a new group of labels have emerged which are exploring 90s breakbeat and the classic ‘ambient mix’ in a new context: Fantastic Man’s mind-bending Rhythm Algorithm features highly, as does Extra-Terrestrials downtempo and break-heavy grooves on 1080p, whilst Mood Hut’s continually developing sound counts four high charting singles this year.
In the end, this year there were four records our staff pitched for the top spot, ranging from a mysterious Norwegian’s 15 minute post-rave epic, to a euphoric downtempo three-tracker, to a wonky (read: very wonky) bassline disco banger. Though there are some conventionally feel-good releases that feature highly this year (who can deny that Lapsley and Peggy Gou’s melodies don’t come from a special place), most of the singles that stood out for our staff cannot be said to have a traditional dancefloor sound or structure, they appear to be made for other spaces: the bedroom DJ, the illegal warehouse, some imagined place. We feel this is a reflection of a tumultuous year in dance music, which witnessed the rise of ‘eclecticism’ and the ‘collector’ as marketable to wider audiences, expanding the possibilities of what counts for ‘dance’ music, whilst DJs and punters alike witnessed increasing attacks of traditional club culture as a result of gentrification. These are the singles helped us deal creatively with a peculiar year…
From Newcastle to Berlin via Mexico, Man Power is a man on a mission this year to spread the gospel of house music. Two surefire Disco edits on Stamp, with unmistakable keys and excellent drum programming.
Mood Hut have had yet another wonderfully productive year in 2016, as you'll find out later in this chart. Music People's 'Always On' saw Future Time's Max D collaborate with a busy roster of Mood Hut collective members. It's a jazzier-than-usual affair (think Vancouver meets Eglo) - and if the sound of the organ in the Club Mix doesn't make you melt inside, you're only half human.
The past can make the future feel at home, and none more so than on this seminal release by a young Move D.
Smoked out dub vibes and ghetto tempo’d cuts, a juxtaposed eclectic nature from the Aiwo crew on this release.
Released back in August this year, it had summer firmly on its mind. Two powerhouse jams to warm you up this Winter.
Back this year with a huge record! Genius of Time explored the cosmos further with the aid of synthesizers, drum machines, otherwordly soundscapes and irresistible grooves.
A most welcome return from the OG mysterio Burial. Continuing from where he left off, it's the classic Burial sound, in widescreen, not to be missed.
Another good year for Berlin's Acting Press. PLO Man and co have once again tantilised heads with two more quasi-anonymous releases from Globex (PLO himself and Moodhut's Hashman Deejay) and Xali'p (Acting Press label partner C3DE). This is the one for us, just you wait for that 'DROP DA BASS' moment on the A side...
The E-Beamz label moved swiftly from on to EP number two this year, showcasing tracks from debutants DJ Boring and Magma.
Marea Stamper aka The Black Madonna wanted to make a record that returned to the 'core values of dance music’ and you can hear from minute one that she has created something extraordinary.
The mysterious Belgium production powerhouse returned with two more smashing slo-mo, new disco edits. As always not much info, but we can assure you these two have been fuelling many a dance-floor over the past year!
Second Circle’s first release of 2016 came in the form of an EP from Tornado Wallace aka Lewie Day. Wallace took a step to the left on this record, presenting a trio of oddball house excursions.
Braddock is dead, long live the Baby Craddock! Pepe Braddock was back some ten months on from the release of his inspired Le Fada EP, the veteran Parisian beat-maker delivered another sublime, six-track assault on the senses.
The first record of the year released on Whities coming from rising star Avalon Emerson. The release features two distinctive lead tracks with emotional synths underpinned by sturdy rolling basslines, alongside an ambient synthapella.
This year we had the privilege of releasing Will Lister’s production debut 'The Phantom EP’ through our main imprint. A young talent who will most definitely carry on doing great things in 2017.
Homesick #5 came as a welcome surprise excerpt from a tremendously funky DJ set by General Ludd. Three tracks were chosen by the Homesick team to reflect the intense disco inferno atmosphere of that unforgettable night. Wish we were there...
Soulwax teamed up with American actress Chloë Sevigny on this release, on which she reads a poem called Prayer To Saint Thérése over a percussion-led low down groove. A modern disco feel with a classic touch.
Dixon and Luke Abbott both put their respectively unique touch on Terje’s classic 'Snooze 4 Love'. Abbott adds his brush and easel to create an ambient, inventive and absorbing remix, with RA DJ of the year Dixon's juxtaposing take making it fit for his vision of the dancefloor.
Bicep continued to bolster their Feel My Bicep imprint this year with this classic reimagined. Their seventh addition to the catalogue, the Irish duo reworked the seminal recording ‘In Yer Face’ by 808 State, adding their own signature sense of euphoria.
A triple dose of NYC techno courtesy of Honey Soundsystem. Cudmore's debut 12" 'Crystal' is all acid hypnosis and bouncing grooves, coming backed by two remixes from Bunker’s Mike Servito, whose ‘730 Reshape’ teleports us back to the glory days of early 90s bleep, and L.I.E.S’ Gunnar Haslam, who spends 8 minutes strolling down Dekalb Avenue with his modular rig in tow.
This year Joy Orbison and Herron introduced us to their CO/R collaboration with three deadly rounds of tense, urgent, atmospheric, body-rocking techno.
We loved the tribal vibe present here. Keep it coming Astral Soda!
UK pioneer Skream on Crosstown Rebels. Who would have seen this coming a few years back? Well we're glad it did.
Successful launch of another new imprint with syncopated rhythms and a thunderous kick drum to lay the backbone of a killer EP.
Think 90s Inner City meets a DJ Sprinkles era Motor City Drum Ensemble. That's right. The series saw love from Leon Vynehall, Gerd Janson, Axel Boman, Palms Trax, Bonobo, Adesse Versions and a host of other luminaries.
