Great writing, got lost in that whilst eating my tea
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That Plant Life tune is so good…
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The one advantage of having a sizeable internet presence is that it isn’t hard to find what I thought was number one through the years. Doing an actual 25 records would mean that 2005-2008 would have easily 90% of them.
I did find this, which seems like olden times now. https://kumomusic.blogspot.com/
The amount of nonsense I’ve spewed off is actually quite mindboggling.
Wish I’d added Henrik Schwartz “Marvin” to the list above.
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Nice call on Hayling, I loved that one too. Kahuna’s Glitterball was also a massive record for me at a messy weekly Sunday night party I was resident at 2001 to 2003. Banger.
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every list has been outstanding! Joe in particular really nailed the early century big party tunes I was into (I’ll let you off Coma Cat though 
)
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3 of my faves mentioned by others Do it Now, He Not In and Life I thought were late 90s!
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I really enjoyed your nonsense. Well done on just putting it out there. I got the fear and reined mine in. Still planning to do something longer but putting it to one side for now, otherwise it’ll take up days - like Joe’s 48 hours on Discogs! - that I can’t afford right now.
Typing now. See you next week. 
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Hope you’re coping with whatever life’s throwing at you.
Loved this list. I’d completely forgotten that the first Little Dragon LP was huge for me. And I’d never seen that Erik Blood video. What fantastic storytelling.
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Yeah, only flaw in my list is that it doesn’t reflect the stuff that was REALLY important to me during these years but was produced earlier. I went through a huge Ben Folds Five patch - those first three albums are just the most lyrically and melodically perfect pop.
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Alive Smith - Love Endeavour - Maurice Fulton not being mentioned so far seems criminal.
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Have enjoyed reading through all of these and trying to jog my own memory.
2000 was the year I left school, bought turntables and started clubbing, so the following 10 years was quite a voyage of discovery. I went through a few definite phases (which all kind of overlapped), so it made sense to split my picks up in that way rather than strictly chronological.
The hip hop years (2000-2004)
Roots Manuva – Witness (2001) The big tune at the hip hop nights I was going to (along with stuff like Simon Says and Alphabet Aerobics which both came out in 99).
Danny Breaks - The Jellyfish (2003). I was also very into all the instrumental hip hop/beats stuff coming out at the time (Dabrye, Prefuse 73 etc.). This is the one I played to death, and sounded great in a club.
Madvillian - Accordian (2004) - probably the best post 2000 hip hop album (?) and the highlight of all the backpacker/Stones Throw stuff I was buying up until then.
The Broken Beat via “nu jazz” years (2004-2006)
Quantic - Life in the rain (2001) - This (and probably some Mr Scruff tunes) were a stepping stone from hip hop to broken beat/new jazzy stuff. A staple of my bar gigs, often played in and around the Max Sedgley tune a few of you mentioned.
Detroit Experiment - Think Twice (2002) – played to death via the Electric Chair sampler, and heard out and about so many times over the years since.
Jazztronik – Samurai (2003) – remember first hearing it via the Nightlark at a pub we both used to DJ at in Aberdeen.
Son of Scientist - Solution (Dutty Church mix) (2005) - Was tempted to include Afronaut - Transcend me, or Dego and Keidi – Got me Puzzled, which are the best of the Broken Beat/Co-Op scene for me. However, they had come out a few years before I got into it. This one was super fresh and a big tune at a club night I started with some friends that year where we had 4 Hero, Domu, Quanitc, Benji B and a few others guest.
Status IV – You ain’t really down (jazzanova remix) (2005) – As above, this came out just as that club night we were doing was at its peak and felt like a bit of an anthem for us.
The properly getting into House, Techno, Disco years (2006-infinity)
Alice Smith - Love Endeavour (Maurice Fulton) (2006) – remember rushing to buy this after hearing Dixon and Benji B both playing it in very different sets. Also heard on my first Croatian boat party that year.
Iz and Diz – Mouth (Pepe Bradock remix) (2002). It had come out for a few years earlier, but this, Deep Burnt, Life and 4 were all big Pepe favorites as I was getting more into the electronic stuff.
Omar – Feeling You (Henrik Schwarz) (2009) – Henrik was my favorite producer for a short spell, this one was getting played everywhere I went for a few years, Garden Festival, Big Chill etc.
Floating Points - Love me like this (2009) – Floaty P quickly became my favorite producer and had a great run for a few years. Could have also picked Vacuum Boogie or Marilyn, but this is the one that started it.
Oni Ayhun – OAR-003b (2009) – remember hearing this in the sub-club, sounded so good.
Todd Terje – Inspector Norse (2011) – discogs is saying 2014 for this, but my memories are telling me that just isn’t right, which has been confirmed by the sleeve.
Fatima Yamaha - what’s a girl to do (2004 but I discovered later, a few years before the Dekmantel reissue)
The Other People Place – Sorrow and a cup of joe (came out 2002 but discovered it later when I was catching up on all the Detroit stuff)
Space Dimension Controller - Journey to the core of the unknown sphere (2010). Could also be filed in the upcoming bass music years as kind of associate it with that time…
The post dub step/bass years (2008-2011)
TRG – Broken Heart (Martyn mix) (2008) – This may be the only time I was following a brand new genre/scene as it was developing, there was loads of new stuff coming out every week and no set formula. Hyph Mngo would be the big dancefloor anthem, but this and Silkie Purple Love were among my favorites.
Mount Kimbie – Carbonated (2010) – not that fussed about it now, but their Crooks and Lovers album must have been my most played LP of that year.
Daphni – Ye-Ye (2011) – could also be filed under house/techno years as not really part of this scene, but it was those nights/mixes that I kept hearing it so still associate it with that time. Same with Burial & Four Tet- Moth.
The rest. Can’t tie these to any of those phases, but they were picked up along the way or since and have their own memories attached.
Squarepusher - Red hot car (2001) – played this at various house parties over the years. Including the only time I can remember doing a triple rewind (or any rewind for that matter).
Amadou and Mariam – Bara (Joaquin’s Sacred Rhythm Dance) (2009) – for most of those 25 years I have also been getting into music from around the world, mainly old stuff. This is the standout new record that springs to mind, remember hearing it for the first time in the sunshine at Dimensions.
Suzanne Kraft – Flat Iron (2015) – throwing this in to represent my shift to getting older, staying in more and listening to more ambient stuff. Also reminds me of being in the hospital when my daughter was born, and my wife demanding I play some “spa music” as she calls it, which she usually hates but desperately needed at the time.
CCFX - One to wait (2017) – I guess my final phase has been getting into more post-punk, indie, guitar stuff. Mostly old stuff, except for this and a few others.
Alex Kassian - Spirit of Eden / Strings of Eden (2021/2022) – had to include something from the past 8 years.
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Right folks here goes. This has been super tough the first fiive years there is just a ridiculous amount to choose from. It’s taken me this long looking through my discogs collection to get to 25. I could easily do three lots for 2001 and 2005 and 3 or 4 for different genres but i’ve whittled it down to tracks that have meant alot to me over this period.
I never heard this out and it was never a big record but whoever’s house we where back at for the crack on i remember this getting played all the time.
Kenny on the re-edit duties, a match made in heaven. This used to sound so good at Plastic People. Doesnt really do much but doesnt need too.
This one is guilty of clearing many a dance floor but revered by DJ’s. This is a cheat as its strictly late 2001 but i remember the buzz for all thing metro area around that period so felt i had to include one of their tracks. For me this is the one. So beautiful.
2003 was exceptionally difficult to pick just one record. But i went for this as i remember Timmy playing it at shelter and being transported to another world. Stone cold sober all night leaving in daylight walking up 5th avenue towards Central Park thinking did that just really happen.
This changed the whole course of Hip Hop. Monster LP
Underrated remix from Louie here that went under the radar a little. Such a beautifully crafted song. Love it.
Maurice doing what he does best here this always gets a reaction on the floor. I think its pretty unique like most of Maurice’s work. I remember this pressing on BBE changing hands for big sums back then.
Can Radiohead get any better yes they can. In Rainbows was an absolute masterpiece and Weird Fishes completely spellbinding for me. I remember seeing them at Victoria Park and the sound was nigh on perfect.
2008 was the year I lost my father. I remember this quite fondly it was a foggy time for me.
Such a great uplifting record that will get the floor swamped. An absolute riot.
This piece of music is simply mesmerising i will never tire of listening to it. Everything about it is just incredible. Big goose bumps for me on this one.
With the help of his peers Jamie delivers a great remix here. I loved the original LP Gil did. His last swangsong as it were. The remix LP is equally as good. I think my record buying was at an all time low around this period but this really sticks out.
Love the groove to this, the rough bass line and the infectious Rhodes.
Particularly the Inner Sense track but ive always been a fan of Jeremy Underground and the ethos of his Label. A Nod to Chicago and New Jersey.
Well under the radar at that time but this LP is fantastic. Especially for Get Up they were destined for great things and are!
I love every track on this 12 but if i had to choose one it would be the title track.
This defines the word Remix. A tall order but executed magnificently. Guns are out and flexed.
I remember hearing this on the radio at the time and thinking WOW. Possibly Gilles more than certainly Gilles. I had to see this Live and got my wish a year later in Brighton. Kamasi didnt disappoint. Completly transfixed.
I play this record alot still. So uplifting to see young raw talent like this emerge. The youtube clip is done in one take and well worth a watch.
Such a wonderful feel good remix more like re-edit.
I remember seeing this in the shops and kept wondering what it was that face looking down on me on the shelf so i bought it blind. If any voice can melt you its Cleo’s.
I felt i had to include one track from her as a solo artist shes just exceptionally brilliant.
I think this is such a fitting tribute to Weatherall.
Moody but yet so incredibly delicate and wondrous. From the Yield EP this chap is a real talent. I could listen to this for hours.
I just had to include one of their tracks from the last 5-6 years. Their body of work has been incredible. So many tracks to choose from. Would love to see them live one day.
Played this to death at home last year which lead me on to Gigi Masin’s body of work and stuff hes done with Greg Foat. Both sides a fab.
- Still very early but i have Yokai or the Payfone 12 up for this one so far but who knows.
I could do this again and again there is so many to choose from. its intersting to look back at my buying habits and what life has thrown at me and how they correlate.
just noticed peeps posting about alice smith but im just too slow to type
x
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and then two come along at once!
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Remember Nancy Noise playing Mykonos early in the morning at one of the Lowlife festies. Was feeling ‘fragile’ and it sounded perfect across the field.
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Great list. I missed that Amber Mark record - really good. Your story exemplifies why Body and Soul is such a great party, the three DJs complement each other so well and the way they weave in and out of different vibes is very special.
Was just having another look and here are some I left out criminally.
Hardsoul feat. Ron Carroll - Back Together - the anthem in Taipei when the “ambient DJ’s” got to play in the backroom at LUXY.
Fabrice Lig - Meet U In Brooklyn - Just a fantastic piece of house music. Was labeled nu-disco at the time but it has truly held up. Still sounds incredibly fresh.
Clyde feat. Capitol A - Serve It Up - Brooks HipHouse mix - Just a barnstormer of a record. Gets everyone’s attention and inspires shapes on the dancefloor.
Cobblestone Jazz - Dump Truck - minimal jazz? Was the one record that rose above all the ploddy 2005 minimal nonsense.
Osunlade - Everything In Its RIght Place - an incredible cover of Radiohead that is neither fawning nor twee. A great soul record really, and even today when I play it I get offered money for it.
Common - Go! - Jazzanova remix! - one of the Jazzanova DJ’s played at Eyes Down and this was the first record. Cue an absolute throng of sweaty men trying desperately to peer over the decks to see what it was. Seemed to unite the hip hip and the house heads.
Beastie Boys - New York City! - Rub 'n Tug remix - rough as balls, and a magic piece of music. Impossible to find a record before or after it.
M. Craft - She Sells Sanctuary! - I don’t think anything needs to be said about this. Was a staple on my Unity Radio days.
Metalchicks - Conspiracy - a Japanese heavy metal/downtempo band made probably the synth house record of whatever year you care to mention. Vocals float over an incredible groove and the perfect skippy drums make this an instant classic. If you haven’t heard it, don’t sleep on this.
Lionel Hampton - Vibramatic - Joakim remix - big, big, big at Precious Hall and Womb. Just makes me think of great soundsystems and Japanese crowds just having the time of their lives.
Hird - Keep You Kimi - just a wonderful record. So lush (no other word to describe it) and is instantly uplifting no matter where you hear it.
Others worth listening to again…
Annie - Greatest Hit
Diddy - Get Off
Phil France - The Swimmer
Fat Freddy’s Drop - Wandering Eye
Dennis Ferrer - Son of Raw
Hugh Masakela - The Boy’s Doing It - Carl Craig remix
Isolee - Schrapnell
Bent - Always - Ashley Beedle’s Mahavishnu Remix
Shaun Escoffery - Days Like This - Ticklah remix
Underground Resistance - Transition
…and that’s all pre-2007.
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My tuppence worth - apologies for zero blurb:
Metro Area - Miura (2001)
Iz & Diz - Mouth (Brad Peep’s Remix for Friends) (2002)
Theo Parrish - Solitary Flight (2002)
Cesaria Evora - Angola (Carl Craig Mix) (2003)
Hanna - You and Me (2003)
Luomo – Tessio (2003)
Lindstrom - I Feel Space (2005)
Owusu & Hannibal - Lonnie’s Secret (2006)
Mountaineer - A Town Called Ivanhoe (2006)
Alice Smith - Love Endeavour (Maurice Fulton Remix) (2006)
Reverso 68 - Piece Together - Part 2 (2007)
Still Going - Still Going Theme (2007)
Quixote - Before I Started to Dance (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) (2008)
Motor City Drum Ensemble - Raw Cuts #3 (2008)
Chromatics - In the City (2010)
Todd Terje – Ragysh (2011)
The White Lamp - It’s You (Ron Basejam Remix) (2012)
Andres - New For U (2012)
Fatima Yamaha - What’s a Girl to Do (2015)
Lord Echo - Just Do You (2016)
Mildlife - The Magnificent Moon (2017)
Amir Alexander - Blessed are the Meek (2017)
Begin - Day Pulse (2018)
Harks and Mudd - Susta (Ron Trent Remix) (2021
Quiet Village - Reunion (2024)
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Hanna - You and Me (2003)
Luomo – Tessio (2003)
Owusu & Hannibal - Lonnie’s Secret (2006)
Mountaineer - A Town Called Ivanhoe (2006)
Fantastic shouts with these!
One of the guys from Owusu & Hannibal went on to form Rhye with Milosh.
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So many killer records in these lists.
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