1 |
QUENTIN HARRIS - Let’s Be Young (NRK) |
Moody and subtle in interview as well as on the vibe this deep house burner gave off. The 2005 No.1 hype track by some distance. |
2 |
BLAZE PRES UDAUL FEAT BARBARA TUCKER - Most Precious Love (Defected/King Street) |
One of our fave vocalists with Martin Solveig & Dennis Ferrer taking the reins on this fierce production. Spotted in January and settled in for some time. |
3 |
JAKATTA - Scattering Stars (Z Records) |
Dave Lee got the piano inversions going and built on that with some chants and layers. Engaging for late-night hands-in-the-air shenanigans. |
4 |
LIQUID PEOPLE PRES HEIDI LEVO - Inside My Soul (MN2S) |
Smooth Rhodes grooves and ‘Precious Love’-type strings. A splendid Morten Trust dub bolted on to the sublime original helped us fall in love. |
5 |
RASMUS FABER FEAT MELO - Get Over Here (Azuli) |
Groove Armada’s Andy Cato strips down as Axwell and The Sunloverz took charge. |
6 |
SHAPESHIFTERS - Back To Basics (Nocturnal Groove/Positiva) |
Follow ‘Lola’s Theme’? Antoine Clamaran, Steve Lawler and The Beginerz had a hell of a go. |
7 |
FREEMASONS - Love On My Mind (Loaded) |
Full Intention, BN3, Coburn, ATFC, Sharp Boys and King Unique got the request from Pig City to bring down more lubrication. Floorfiller in the truest sense. |
8 |
STEAL VYBE FEAT STEPHANIE RENEE - It’s Real (Z) |
Smooth glossy production made just that little bit sweeter with a sprinkling of Quentin Harris and Joey Negro magic. Hard for the sweet tooths to resist. |
9 |
SIR PIERS & LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES FEAT SHAUN ESCOFFREY - She’s Gone Away (Curious) |
The inclusion of a South American six-piece nodded in the direction of MAW. Hardsoul remixes tempted us into part 2. |
10 |
AKABU FEAT DAVE CLARKE - Phuture Bound (Interface) |
Medusa, Swirl and Rodox mixes accompanied acapellas aplenty. Back to the future, Chicago-style. |
11 |
JON CUTLER FEAT MICHAEL WATFORD - What You Gonna Do (MN2S) |
US garage tag team combination that was tougher than a brand new pair of steelcaps. Booker T’s Kings Of Soul set the pace. |
12 |
BODYROCKERS - I Like The Way (Manifesto) |
From the Coloursound producers an invite to Herd & Fritz, Junior Jack, Bimbo Jones, Linus Loves, King Unique and Tom Neville. Big on all floors. |
13 |
EMJAY - Hola Pappy (Clubsole Trax) |
Electro funk houser that lifted the Turntable Orchestra up to a Nu Yorican vibe. Ola to the retro selecto from Barabas. |
14 |
JUPITER ACE - 1000 Years (Just Leave Me Now) (Manifesto/Oxyd) |
Straddled between Eric Prydz and Pete Heller’s ‘Big Love’. Paul Masterson, Full Intention and Richard F versions gave Belfast something else to chew on. |
15 |
COPYRIGHT PRES ONE TRACK MIND - Essence Of Life (Copyright) |
Tantric mixes, frenzy-inducing synth hook with sax licks, hypnotic house... K-Klass took on Watanabe & Bobby Brown. Seconds out... |
16 |
DEEP DISH - Say Hello (Yoshitoshi) |
Lennon & McCartney, Strummer & Jones, Rodgers & Hammerstein - the boys continued to follow in the footsteps of ground-breaking partnerships. |
17 |
MARTIN SOLVEIG - Jealousy (Mixture/Defected) |
It was the air guitar humdinger with a touch of the James Browns about it that had us hooked in this year. |
18 |
RON HALL & THE MUTHAFUNKERS FEAT MARK EVANS - The Way You Love Me (Hustle) |
Spen and The Muthafunkas didn’t hang around. Big one for Southport this year. |
19 |
PARADISE SOUL - Moscow Rendezvous/Searchin For Paradise (Kinky Vinyl) |
Mike Monday & Stretch Silvester kept it strictly rhythm. |
20 |
RULERS OF THE DEEP - Last Survivor (NRK) |
Polished off another good year for NRKists. Consistency and credibility intact. |