In some ways I’m too young to talk about the first half of this time period, but in others I was young enough that some of these tracks really made their mark.
I don’t know if I can make a list, certainly not one song per year, but the single most important “dance oriented” song released in the last 25 years, to me, is Kings of Tomorrow - Finally, which came out in 2001. That really did change everything for me.
Still does the business.
started the thread thinking it might be interesting to see if there is any consensus, but it’s probably very unlikely. could obv never be definitive but forums have done polls in the past by putting out longlists (perhaps based on end of year polls and cult + huge tunes from over 25 years) and then voting out the least popular in successive rounds. It could maybe be done by selecting a sample from all sorts of different genres. Dunno, just thinking out loud here. I don’t know if it is too big a task without somehow narrowing the criteria?
I’m coming at it from a very personal perspective. Some possibly oddball, not very TP, things that defined these years for me, rather than tracks that I feel were emblematic of the times in general. Definitely not trying to pronounce on classics.
Also, I’m being a bit loosey goosey in that some of my choices are more about the albums rather than specific tracks. I was doing very little partying for a big chunk of those years. And in many moments, my music consumption was influenced by circumstances and company. All of which meant that LPs were often what I listened to.
As for consensus, Oli, there’s at least one track on both our lists (and will be on others’ I suspect) so who knows?
I think it would be disingenuous to not come at it from a personal perspective. I just went back and saw what records I had as my records of the year and left it at that. I could’ve written a bit about where I was in the world and why that record was chosen but I figured I’d save you all the time.
Totally. And on the time thing, I’m a bit worried mine is going to clock in at about 5000 words 
Same! (Again).
Go for it.
i’ve got nothing but time, please feel to pontificate and espouse.
This has been interesting. A weird kind of autobiographical research. What was I listening to in, say, 2003? I first had to figure out what was going on in my life at that point.
It was a little easier this way because, in a sense, I was doing much less. I’d checked out of “the life” - paying close attention to new music, playing records out and general partying - in the latter 1990s in order to adult better. It took me a very long time to discover that you can adult best when you do the things that make you happy. More of that later.
Even if I wasn’t partying during much of this time, I was still listening to music in the office, at home, in the car. With colleagues, with family. On CD, on the radio and on vinyl.
This is what sticks in my memory:
So, adulting: having made the blindingly obvious discovery that you can adult best when you do the things that make you happy, a few years back I started re-engaging with music, with dancing, with going out to parties. I’m currently in the process of backfilling music I missed during the years that I was checked out. Making up for lost time. I’m happy to report that I’m feeling much better for it. In fact, the last few years have been so full of music - lots of new new but mostly new old - that I struggle to pinpoint anything specific. Hence the last two on the list are both from 2022.
This forum is my main source of inspiration in that process of catching up. I’ve discovered so much great music here. A huge thank you to all of you who share.
Here’s to the next 25!
Seconded!
We’ve got 2 records in common.
I’ve written whole paragraphs about each record. Some are about the music and some are just explanations about how they fitted into my life. It’s completely autobiographical. I might complete it and just keep it as a journal.
Like most of us here, records and music are completely central to my life. The music, the experiences and the people connected to them have shaped my life. It’s all so deeply personal.
It might just be easier if I list them with zero blurb.
Other than me, no one really cares, right?
i fucking care
Quite happy to read any accompanying waffle about records. What else am i going to do ? Work?
Ditto. Do it!
I love reading about the records people choose and how it’s moved or influenced them it’s so interesting. I wish I could do the same but I’m shit at typing and wording stuff. I’m glued to this site because of the records people talk about. My record buying has rocketed since coming on here and it won’t stop thanks to folk on here so never for one second have any doubt mate cos there’s loads waiting to read. 
Also, I should point out that mine wasn’t the 5k I threatened earlier lol. Still working on that. Sounds like it’ll be a bit like yours.
25x25.
The Juan McLean - Give Me Every Little Thing [DFA] 2003. Represents all the DFA, Rapture, Metro Area type NY vibe which I loved.
Lindstrom - Er Bestemor Paa Moten [Bear] 2004. I remember a Piccadilly review saying something like listening to this was akin to seeing colour for the first time. I bought every Lindstrom thing I could find.
Teddy Pendergrass - You Can’t Hide From Yourself (Dimitri From Paris Special Disco Version) [BBE] 2010. This is on the vinyl sampler 3/4 which is now listed as £511 on Discogs! Played this one to death.
Various - Dark & Lovely series 2005 onwards. The whole Pilooski vibe was big for me at Disque in Islington. Also represents the cosmic disco revival.
The Revenge - Night Flight [Jisco Music] 2008. Represents so many good Jisco records and that whole edit vibe. MEGA! Make Edits Great Again (definitely putting that on a cap/t shirt!)
JV - Edit Channel XXX 2012. The sound of many Croatia/Lowlife/Bill sessions. Represents that whole Golf Channel vibe which I loved.
Soft Rocks - Talking Jungle (Justin Vandervolgen remix) [ESP Institute] 2012. Simply a great remix. JV features heavily for me in this period.
Todd Terje - Mjondalen Diskoklubb [Full Pupp] 2005. Scandi disco era was big for me.
Quiet Village Project - Can’t Be Beat [Whatever We Want] 2005. Loved the WWW vibe and this represents many great releases.
Studio - West Coast [Information] 2006. Huge record for me. Still a big favourite.
Caravan - Croisette [Planet Trip] 2019. First release on this label and represents everything on Ken Oath, Planet Trip and that whole Aussie scene.
Greg Wilson - Credit To The Edit [Tirk] 2005. Before GW entered parody territory
Froid Dub - An Iceberg Cruising The Jamaican Coast [Delodio] 2021. Represents all the Froid Dub, Om Unit modern dub vibe which I love.
Androo - Sync Dancehall [Poly Dance Theatre] 2018. As above. Modern dub master. So much good stuff.
Prins Thomas - Diskomiks EP [Rong Promo Only] 2005. Represents all the NY disco edits, Rub n Tug, Prince Language etc.
Mudd & Pollard - Villa Stavros [Claremont 56] 2007. Bought so much good stuff on this label in its early days. Plus Leng. Plus the Originals comps.
Ciao - Trance Breaks (Dub Mix) [Mood Hut] 2019. Represents all the Mood Hut/Canadian stuff.
Dazion - A Bridge Between Lovers [Second Circle] 2019. Represents all the MfM and Second Circle
Finger Tracks - compilation [ESP Institute] 2019. Represents the Lovefingers website and ears being opened on a daily basis.
Pellegrino - Periplo [Early Sounds Recordings] 2016. Modern cosmic vibes.
Coral D - DR55 Dub [Tears] 2022. Could have listed any Coral D release.
Alek Lee - You [Antinote] 2023. A great collection of dubby/pop/balearic tunes. Big fan of Alek Lee stuff, all the edits too.
Various Artists - All Trades Vol I & II [Emotional] 2024. Representing the whole Emotional stable.
Mystery Tiime - Thank You Deeply [Vicious Charm] 2024. This sound really connected with me last year.
Danny Krivit - Grass Roots (Musical Influences and Inspirations) [Strut] 2001. Wore all six sides of this record out.
I’ve gone for one record per year based on a) what I can remember b) that record having a connection to a memorable moment c) and not on whether they were the best record that year d) although sometimes they might have been.
2000 - Hairy Diamond - Givin’ Up … bought and played this at a time when I was really bored and despondent with superstar DJ “club culture” and music, and was flailing around slightly in terms of where to go out and what to listen to, preferring bars and smaller venues with wide ranging music to four to the floor nights. No idea where I first heard it but I think I got it from Koobla or Vinyl Junkies or somewhere in Soho anyway. I was getting back into funk and disco in a big way around this time so it fitted perfectly into that.
2001 - Doctor Rockit - Cafe de Flore (Charles Webster Mix) … perfection and again had that slightly funky disco feel to it. So much House dross released around this time, so I had largely stopped bothering with it, but this …
2002 - Losing My Edge … instantly fell in love with this record and a few other electroclash era tunes. This scene was the beginning of much more eclectic DJing I think, as well as instrumental in the Italo revival.
2003 - Max Sedgley - Happy … Booooom. What a record. Became ubiquitous of course, but I remember the reaction to this upstairs at Low Life the night Greg Wilson warmed up for me and Matthew 
… life long memory.
2004 - Martin Brew - Galactico … another monster and a massive Low Life record, we were on fire around this time, the disco revival in full swing.
2005 - La Ritournelle - reminds me of some gig somewhere where Moonboots played it. Blown away.
2006 - Sly Mongoose - Snakes and Ladder … immense dance floor destroyer and actually the second record I played after midnight in 2007, Low Life New Years Eve party, the first being the Coldcut James Brown mega mix (think he died over Xmas that year?!)
2007 - DJ Disse - Walk On The Wildside … just reminds me of a messy gig at Rob J’s brilliant parties at the Rainbow (is that right?!) in Birmingham. Those parties were really really important to the whole Cosmic Disco revival.
2008 - Coyote - Going Out (Max Essa mix) … again reminds me of a gig, in Manchester with Moonboots called Lobo. The most Balearic night ever.
2009 - Originals Volume 4 … well I had to choose this right? Still proud of it today.
2010 - Cantoma - Out of Town … the year after my daughter was born, and going out became hard to impossible and I think the music I bought reflected more and more my staying in vibe. I listened to this a lot at home doing child care stuff.
2011 - A terrible year personally, and I can’t remember buying any new music or much caring about music at all.
2012 - Land of Light - Land of Light … hammered this record to death and had a very very fun night DJing at their live gig at Aficionado the following year. A real privilege to play.
2013 - Apiento - The Orange Place … fantastic record which ticks every one of my disco boxes. Takes me back to a great Low Life night.
2014 - Kenneth Bager - What’s My Name … Takes me back to Sunday afternoon Wild Life closing set, one of those times where every record you pick is the right one, for two hours.
2015 - Giorgio Tuma - Through Your Hands Love Can Shine … tremendous record, Balearic af. Sort of went under the radar a bit at the time?!
2016 - Soulwax - Heaven Scent … Dirty disco. Brilliant record.
2017 - Charlotte Gainsbourg - Deadly Valentine … see above.
2018 - Alex Kassian - Hidden Tropics … beautiful record, totally timeless and totally my kind of thing. Staying in music of a superior quality.
2019 - Scott Grooves - E2E4 … love the OG, really love this remake. Played it opening record last summer at Rotation. Just a fantastic bit of music.
2020 - Sven Wunder - Bamboo & Rocks … love this tune and played it endlessly.
2021 - Amanda Whiting - After Dark … such a beautiful record. Difficult year again but music like this gets you through.
2022 - Cleo Sol - 23 … As moving and wonderful as any Curtis Mayfield record, such talent, beautiful production, outstanding in every way.
2023 - Sewell & The Gong - Tonight We Fly EP … lovely record, played it to death.
2024 - Daisy Rickman - Howl … see above.
2025 - who knows …
Enjoying this thread, a lot of stuff i’ve never heard so i’ll be doing some digging on YT to see what i’ve been missing.
La Ritournelle seems to be doing well so far.
Any excuse LIVE
