Anyone who comes to URB should know, we cover an extensive amount of music from every genre and subgenre. Things aren’t always easily to compile in lists, especially putting together “top ten” lists. Now try doing that with the generalization of a genre called “electronic music.” Some people still don’t know what the difference between techno and house is, and of course we’re here to provide the difference. But, we’re also here to show our appreciation to the tracks that have made us move, groove, bop, boom, and, most importantly, enjoy every second from the first beat to the last. It wasn’t easy, but it sure as hell was a journey. Welcome to my top ten electronic tracks of the year. Take a seat and crank the speakers to eleven: it’s a doozy of a read.

10. Daedelus – “LA Nocturn”

Alfred Darlington has provided some fantastic music with his previous work under the Daedelus moniker as well as his joint effort with wife Laura Darlington as the Long Lost; however, this track totally bridged the gap between the two projects. The realm of Daedelus is usually surrounded by sweeping soul, swing, jazz and string samples with claps and reverse-funk basslines. With the Long Lost, it’s sweet, soulful and absolutely ethereal on all levels. This track, perfectly mashes delicately strung guitar lines with a fantastic build-up of percussion and strings. It’s a track that finds solace in its state of tranquility. It never builds-up to a point of ultimate ascension, instead it glimmers at its peak and fades away eloquently. Considering that this came out early in the year and still has that same effect of audible glorification, it gets on the list. Well done, Mr. Darlington.

9. Duck Sauce – aNYway

Earlier this year, I started hearing whispers of URB favorite and horse-owner A-Trak working on a project with house legend and beard enthusiast Armand Van Helden and I thought, “Hm,that sounds cool.” Then my friend texted me from L.A. and told me heard he a track that sounded like nu-French house. I scratched my head and beard and said “Hm, that sounds cool.” Then I found out it was this track…and went “WOW.” Afterwards, I found out the track above was the result of the aforementioned A-Trak/Armand collab and it would be called Duck Sauce. DOUBLE WOW. The intention of the project, according to the masterminds themselves, was to bring back the good vibes via ‘95-98 French/filter house and combine it with modern production punch. Well, it sounds about right. This is pretty much a bang’d-out Roule record, and I cannot lie, it makes me dance anyway I want to.

8. Simian Mobile Disco – Synthesise

Simian Mobile Disco came back big in 2009, debuting their near-minimal extravaganza with one of the better videos and tracks of the year. “Synthesise” was a monumental achievement in audio and visual culture; one fact being that they sampled icon Todd Rundgren’s “Born To Synthesise” for the vocals, and visually being a video that was pretty much minimal rave mayhem. Directed by graphical visionary Kate Moross and blogger/visual artist/DJ/producer Alex Sushon (aka Bok Bok), the intensity of each blip, beat and filter sweep are impeccably matched to visuals that will never cease to amaze. The track itself is all-dancefloor-no-screwing-around. Just dance and be happy.

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