Ross Allen - Best of 2010

- Jamie Blanco
- James Delay

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Ross Allen - Best of 2010

We have featured Ross Allen previously on the Russell Blog and you will see his name pop up regularly throughout our continuing musical endeavors as quite simply he is a man with records that you need to listen to. 2011 is looking to be a busy year for the well known man about town with the launch of his new label 'Meltdown Records', djing all over the world and his highly acclaimed Meltdown radio show.

Last week Ross presented the second part of his Best of 2010 special. This is a great chance to pick up on some hidden gems you may have missed from the year and may also feature some of your favourites that made it another great year in music.

Here are links to download both parts 1 and 2 with full track listings. Also below is a write up from Ross himself that is well worth a read.

You can catch Ross at his Meltdown residency each and every Friday night 7pm till late at the wonderful Heavenly Social on Little Portland Street W1

Download Ross Allen's Best of 2010 Part 1
and Part 2

Part 1 Track List - Hour 1

Steve Mason - Am I Just A Man (Studio Remix) - Domino
Kode 9 - Stung - Soul Jazz 12"
Digital Mystikz - Unexpected - DMZ LP (from the album Return II Space)
Addison Groove - Foot Crab - Swamp 81 12"
Mark Pritchard - Out In The Streets - Warp download
Andreya Triana - Darker Than Blue - Ninja Tune CD (from the album)
Cours Lapin - Ma Melodie - Fake Diamonds CD (from the album Cours Lapin)
Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell - Snake Song - V2 CD (from the album Hawk)
Jeff Bridges - Hold On You - New West CD - (from the album Crazy Heart OST)
Grinderman - Heathen Child - Mute 12"
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - She Ain't A Child No More - Daptone CD (from the album I Learned The Hard Way)
Kings Go Forth - Don't Take My Shadow - Luka Bop LP (from the album The Outsiders Are Back)
Syl Johnson - Try Me - Numero Box Set
Pastor T L Barratt - Like A Ship - Light In The Attic LP (from the album Like A Ship)
Lee Perry & The Upsetters - Dub Of The Lord - Pressure Sounds LP (from the album Sound System Scratch)

Part 1 Track List - Hour 2

Gappy Ranks - Put That Stereo On - Peckings 7"
Romain Virgo - Ghetto - Speaker Boxx 7"
Erykah Badu - Can't Turn Me Away (Get Munny) - Motown CD (from the album
The Game - Shake - download
Usher feat Nicki Minaj - Lil Freak - download
Wiley feat Rinse, Ice Kid & Mike Skinner - Don't Hide Away - ZIP Files download
Smiler - Enza - download
Ninja Sonick - Somebody Gonna Get Pregnant - download -(from the album Art School Girls)
Doc Daneeka - Hold On - Ramp download
Pretty Boy Haters ft 8th W1 - Body - download
T Williams - Afric - Local Action 12"
Black Coffee - Ju Ju - download
Konono No 1 - Wumbazanga - Crammed/SSR CD - (from the album Assume Crash Position)
Ize - Tronik du Mondo - Crammed/SSR CD - (from the album Radioclit presents Secousse)
Darkstarr - Gold (John Roberts Remix) - Hyperdub download

Best of 2010 Part 2 - Hour 1

Forest Swords - Glory Gongs - Olde English Spelling Be EP (from the EP Dagger Paths)
Bomba Estereo - Fuego - Polen CD (from the album Estrella)
Afrocubism - Djelimady Rumba - World Circuit CD (from the album Afrocubism)
Neil Cowley Trio - Monoface - Naim LP (from the album Radio Silence)
Monsters Of Folk - Dear GOD - Rough Trade CD (from the album Monsters Of Folk)
Conan Mockasin - Choade My Dear - Phantasy Sound CD (from the album
Bear In Heaven - Lovesick Teenager - Home Tapes LP (from the album Beast Rest Forth Mouth)
Tensnake - Comacat - Permanent Vacation 12"
Nick Catchdubs - Breakin' Bad - download
Caribou - Odessa (David Wrench's Drumapella) - Merge 12"
Gorillaz - Stylo - Parlophone CD - (from the album Plastic Beach)
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane - Warp CD (from the album Cosmagramma)
2 Bears - Church - Southern Fried 12"
Donaeo - I'm Fly - download

Best of 2010 Part 2 - Hour 2

James Blake - Limit To Your Love - Atlas 10"
Distance - Falling - Chest Plate CDR
MJ Cole & Wiley - From The Drop - Prolific CD
Ramadanman - Work Dem - Swamp 81 12"
L.V. feat Okmalumkoolkat - Boom Slang - Hyperdub download
M.I.A. - Born Free - XL LP (from the album Maya)
Gil Scott Heron - NY Kills Me - XL LP (from the album I'm New Here)
Jam City - Ecstasy (Refix) - Night Slugs 12"
Storm Queen - Look Right Through - Environ 12"
Dead Boy - If U Want Me - Numbers 12"
Nas & Damian Marley - Land Of Promise - Tuff Gong/Island (from the album Distant Relatives)
Kwes - Moonshining - CDR
DJ Shadow - I've Been Trying - The New Futility 12"
Cee Lo - I Want You (demo) - CDR
Janelle Monae - Wondaland - Arista CD (from the album The Arch Android)
Zinja Hlugwani - Nwagezani My Love - Honest Jons LP (from the album Shaangan Electro)
Kanye West - Hell Of A Life - Def Jam CD (from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)

Check out what Ross has to say about the year in music in his 'missive':

Here we are in 2011. A slightly delayed start to the year but we all need a rest and as the year starts to slowly get into swing I thought it would be timely for me to return to your in box and for you to do what ever you will with this. If ever you were going to check the shows out I would do it now. This selection is really what these emails and me are all about. The tracks and links below are the best of the best in a year which I thought was really good for music.

2010 was great fun and I think if you listen to the shows or just read the track lists (if you know all the tunes - i bet you don't ) then you will be in agreement that it is exciting times. If you ignore the mainstream there is always something good in all genres, you just need to do a bit of digging around and most genres will open up to you, and if you can't be bothered let me do it.

I was thinking of banging on about all the tracks individually but i do quite a bit of that in the shows - so it seems pointless to do it again in print - plus it takes longer and I am far better at talking than typing, writing, spelling, grammar and type setting - thanks to all those of you that have told me that I am crap at each and every one of those. Things can always get better, or worse.

Basically these two shows contain my favourites from all the genres and musics that we love on the show.

For your perusal i have split the music up into these very specific (?!) sections

(What do you call that new) UK Electronic/Dubstep/UK Funky stuff

What ever you call that music - like Grime before it had a name, and jungle before it became Drum and Bass and even house when it was an odd new form of electro from Chicago. A genre that hasn't formed into one yet, at the best time for all genres are - the styles of fusions that you can't put your finger on yet and can't fit in that box. This year it was the music which seemed to be, kind of, dub steppy but not - (confused ? Could it be any less clear ? - basically up tempo, bassy and different sounding). Well, it was a good year for that stuff !! Basically the bastard son/daughter of dubstep and UK house that is just new and undefined by anything. Which is probably why I like it.

People that made great records that fit this, rather vague bill, were Kode 9 and many of his Hyper Dub posse; Digital Mystikz - Mala/Coki DMZ, Deep Medi and the Digital Mystikz album; Addison Groove's Foot Crab, and Ramadanman's excellent - Work Dem on the same label - Loefah's excellent Swamp 81; Jam City, falls into this category though could also have gone into the house section but is possibly a bit too fast, it is also the best thing on the excellent Night Slugs label; Donaeo - originally a Grime vocalist now leader of the UK funky scene -his track 'I'm Fly' was a massive sing along, should have been a hit, type of track and in the 'box' from the day I got it to now - when will he break through ? he has had loads of those type of tracks.

Then there were the dubstep breakouts set to happen in 2011 - James Blake - well hyped as the dubstep songwriter and deservedly so and DJ Distance and his excellent vocal track 'Falling'. Yes, I should have played Magnetic Man but that got misplaced in the studio and time is tight when doing these shows - sorry chaps - you seem to be doing alright without another play from me though ! Anyway this area is probably the most exciting one right now as anything goes if it feels right the Ramadanman track being a fine example of that.There were tonnes of other interesting bits of music in this area that you can find detailed in other places - it's trendy you see ! These were my faves.

Hip Hop UK & US

Not a great year for Hip Hop on an overground level - I fear I need to dig deeper this year because it is out there if you look, and there is not so much of a difference in the styles any more. It seems the US has exhausted its supply of local scenes to plunder and unfortunately has now settled on going for Euro dance, thus forging the worst of all fusions Euro dance rap/RnB. The UK no longer so keen to ape the US, it could even be going the other way this year. with many a UK producer getting involved with Hip Hop legends new and old.

We occasionally blantantly have the better beats stand up Tinie Tempah (though we didn't get to feature that on the show - shame on me !) I loved it when Snoop did Pass Out with him at Glastonbury; We did get some great music from Wiley (with MJ Cole on the excellent 'From The Drop' and some gems on his online leaks that were the ZIP Files) why doesn't he just produce himself ?; My favourite UK newcomer was Smiler, we feature his excellent Enza track and I am keen to see what he comes up with this year too; there was a trend for sampling great and really old R n B which I loved and The Game smashed it with 'Shake'; Nicki Minaj had a great year and was easily the best female MC to arrive in years, her album was a bit crap (like so many Hip Hop records this year) but her guest appearances were many and amazing, here we play the excellent Lil Freak by Usher and she shows how good she really can be; Other great tracks which are Hip Hop but would not readily fall in to other peoples categories were the freaky Ninjasonick - like Spank Rock meets the Beastie Boys and Pretty Boy Haters Kenny Dope produced Hip House release - Body; The return of the original rapper Gil Scot Heron with his excellent I'm New Here, was a real treat early in the year, and I am looking forward to the Jamie XX versions that are due out soon; The obscure but excellent return of DJ Shadow shows great promise for his full album next year.

The there was my album of the year from Kanye West. Is it Hip Hop ? Is it over hyped ? Is it any good ? All questions which have been asked on forums, in magazines, on Facebook (see Trevor Jacksons page for some full on 'mass' debate). All I know is that it got me excited. I don't care who makes it, why they made it, what they say outside of the record. I just know what I hear and if it flicks my switches, and this did big time, the that is what I judge a record on. In years to come no one will care about all the tittle tattle and all that will be left is the work. This record will shine - it does now to me. Just watch. Overground and exciting - a challenge few rise to or deliver on. Well done Kanye you dick !

There were lots of other great Hip Hop tracks this year that we nearly played on this round up namely Big Boi and the excellent Shutterbug, some great new Diddy bits, Drake had a couple of belters and there were more old school sampling gems from Plugs Atoms and LLoyd feat Mystikal

A lot of the Uk MC's went pop which is a good thing for them and spreading the word but did nothing for me personally. Lets hope they can utilise their presence and get a bit more real and grimey now they have the paltform...

Singer/Songwriters, Country, Folk & Beyond

As ever they poured their little hearts out and some shone and others sounded dreary. The ones that I liked were a bit quirky or just plain good - lyrics and melodies make these artists - simple and classic. As ever with me it's a wonky selection but I really did like Andreya Trianna's Ninja debut - great voice, jazzy, folky, distinctive and some memorable songs. French act Cours Lapin delivered a great quirky sixties sounding album, immaculately produced and featuring several tracks that i could not stop playing. Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbells album from this year was great - like a modern Nancy & Lee they work so well together, especially when covering Townes Van Zandt's Snake Song; I am not a great one for the cinema but Crazy Heart was a really enjoyable film about a washed up Country Hero and I know a few of them - the soundtrack was great and Jeff Bridges can sing a good country song; The Monsters Of Folk album was a quality modern alternative country super group that worked for me, and got sampled by The Roots; Conan Mockasin appeared from NZ with a very distinctive vocal and guitar style, an odd ball production and made an interesting album for Erol Alkan's label. Another highlight was Laura Marling's 7" on Jack White's Third Man records, a label which is well worth checking out. Her version of the Needle & The Damage Done was sublime. Josephine Oniyama ditched her second name and finally released 'I Think It Was Love' which she has threatened to do for a bout 4 years ! Finally, the Steve Mason album was ace featuring his best songs to date with interesting production - he also receives my winner of remix of the year award for the Studio remix of Am I Just A Man - which is pure balearic bliss, and a great framing for an excellent song

Soul & Funk

I got very excited by Janelle Monae's 'Tightrope' early in the year and tried to see her when I was in SF before the album came out, and when it finally did, The Arch Android blew me away not because it was 100% the best album she could have made but because it took chances and is definitely the boldest soul record I have heard in years. So many different styles approached - country, jazz, show tunes, pop RnB and retro funk to name a few. Then there were the live shows - full on revue style when I saw her. A true star who I hear has been Grammy nominated - it pays to be bold kids ! Erykah's album was good if not as amazing as her last one but I do love her and her covering Sylvia Striplin is always going to be good. Neosoul is almost a dirty word but one she, and D'angelo, invented. When she makes records she puts the others in that genre to shame. Cee Lo went interstellar with Fuck You and the mixtape and album showed he is multifaceted, interesting and a great singer/songwriter. The album was pitched to break him out and did but the unreleased bits kept the soul a bit more and garnered cult status amongst the cognescenti - I Want You being one such example and a very, very good one ! The return of Sade is always good for us soul boy's and the single Soldier of Love's release was amazing, the rest of the album was a bit tamer but had a few less MOR cuts on it that were great too but her voice is soo good & I kept playing the single all year.

On a more retro tip Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings delivered again and Milwaukee based Kings Go Forth released became big hits with the real soul scene with there Northern/Modern sounding singles and album which got picked up by David Byrnes Luaka Bop label - you need to hear them.

As ever the sea of re issues grew deeper and deeper as more and more obscure gems were excavated by the likes of Jazzman, The Numero Group, Light In The Attic and a whole slew of others dug deep and exposed either unreleased albums or tracks and artists that time passed by for what ever reason. A couple of my favourites are featured in the show. The Syl Johnson box set is an amazing example of historical documentation, beautifully packaged and full of classic southern soul and funk, and his voice. The Pastor CL Barratt private press album from back in the day is one of those that never got a wider release, that it so obviously deserved

House, Garage & Techno

Those old chestnuts - this area blurred into the first category as DJing tempo parameters slid all over the place - to me this was one of the best things of the year. I almost felt vindicated having been all over the place for years but for the purposes of this section it is the music that fits that now classic feel of dance music. There did seem to be a return to some of the rawness of all these genre's early incarnations. No track better typified this than Morgan Geist's Storm Queen. 'Look Right Through' was definitely my house tune of the year - raw and funky with a soulful vocal that felt like an old classic the minute you heard it. Another stand out was House of Jezebel's 'Love & Happiness'. South Africa became the place to get your house/garage from as it's funked up, percussive rhythms typified by Black Coffee fitted a classic feel that was last seen in NY records from the early to mid 90's. It also inspired some fresh records from UK producers like the excellent LV, signed to Hyperdub their Boomslang cut was another exciting moment for the UK. Another producer tapping into the African vibe was the excellent T. Williams - everything he did I loved. Roska continued to be funky and fresh but we didn't play him as much as we did last year. Doc Daneeka was a new name that produced some brilliant tracks/remixes that again were classic, funky and fresh - 'Hold On' was my favourite and it's violin led groove worked on all dance floor's. 2 Bears played up the classic house garage feel on several great tracks but added an English sensibility to the songwriting and vocals making the tunes both hip and interesting.

The one thing I did notice was a divide between audiences - the disco/house thing seemed old, as the younger generation's seemed more excited by bass culture inspired house, if they were feeling it at all. As I stated before Bestival highlighted the generation gap - in the younger crowds loving dubstep, reggae and jungle and the older crowds there going for the disco inspired and classic house feel. A lot of house seemed tame and retreading old ground. However at the same time Tensnake had a huge hit with Comacat, a track that was slow and full of that 1986 house/disco feel. I suppose it's the exception that proves the rule, I have already heard the trendies slating it but I really liked it - it reminded me of being at school !

Talking of bass culture I did get very tired of the 'fidget' house sound as it seemed to lose the innovation and slide into big beat cliche's - wiggy basslines and tinny production that everyone and their dog was making. In that area a producer that I did love, on several tracks, was Nick Catchdubs. From NY, he has been around a while but his productions like 'Breakin Bad' and 'Motherfuckin'' took that Spank Rock/Switch style, and rather than make it more wiggy, made it deeper. He used breaks in a Baltimore style but gave them a classic feel. They were funky and the tracks went down a storm in the clubs for me. More like this please. The Crack house sound of Zinc and a few others was interesting, happening but not always for me as they often felt too hyper though when they were good I did really like them. His track with Ms Dynamite - Wile Out was good example - the more quirky ones from his EP's were great too.

On the Techno side of things my favourite new producer was Space Dimension Controller who made some amazing tracks in a classic style, Floating Points got better and better, other than that there were a few minimalistic moments that were good. Carl Craig was as reliable as ever. Moodyman and Theo Parrish did their thing and older blokes got very excited but apart from the odd tune I have always found these two slightly over hyped...

World Music

We do like a dabble in this area, not expert by any means but keen to see what is going on out there and the scope of this music is always endless - well there is quite a large area to draw from.

Africa is always a good source and people have explored and excavated the Motherland and beyond as never before, especially with regard to old music. Labels like Analog Africa and Soundway put out a heap of compilations focusing on different and unexplored areas releasing music outside of the local area for the first time. They covered specific regions (Angola, Nigeria, Siam, some of many), styles (funk, Psychedlics, Hi Life, Disco & Rock to name a few). Do check these labels if you are interested in quirky, funky musics that goes beyond Fela Kuti and the Bhundu Boys. African music continued to exert its influence over everything from Indie bands - Vampire Weekend delivered another excellent album and went into the stratosphere, to House - we have already mentioned the whole SA house thing but Radioclit did put together an excellent compilation of sounds from right across Africa that they dug deep for and played at their excellent Secousse night.

A more specific compilation was on the ever excellent Honest Jon's label - Shaangan Electro. Rounded up a Johannesburg based Township scene which took the simplest of technology and made amazing, super fast music that was both raw and emotive. From this compilation came Zinja Hlugwani's - Nwagezani My Love. Which has to be the tune that blew me away the most this year. I could not stop playing it, It amazed me. It felt like an old house record but at the wrong tempo - raw and soulful and super catchy. We also played it loads at the club and it became an end of night anthem.

Konono No1 released yet another album (plus their excellent remix compilation Tradi Mods vs Rockers) and played a killer gig that I caught in London, which was basically a night of relentless and warped percussion. Definitely ones to check at a festival, if you get the chance. Another great live band, who made an impact on me and put out a very excting/good record were Columbia's Bomba Estereo. I first heard about them after SXSW - thanks to my Nashville crew - and saw them in the summer. Definitely a find of 2010 and ones to watch over coming year/s.

In the classic World music style - The limited Guardian reading appeal of traditional sounds that used to define this term now seems truly outdated as a definition of this all encompassing genre, what with the records we have mentioned above - There were still some amazing music being made. The ever excellent World Circuit continued to produce great and classic LP's, highlights this year were Toumani Diabate & Ali Farka Toure (which we played last year), Cheikh Lo and the excellent Afrocubism project, the album that was meant to be what turned into the Buena Vista Social Club. It finally got recorded and fused the sound of Africa's north West coast - Mali basically - with Cuba's percussive rhythms. Lots of other labels and artists did great things but this labels quality control seems so high that as ever they deserve special mention

Not a 'world ' record more a jazz record but definitely my favourite in that area was the Neil Cowley Trio's Radio Silence. Interesting, different and listenable from beginning to end. We had to play something from it again and did so. Jazz for people who may not even like it, and definitely for those that do.

Reggae

I was disappointed with so much reggae/ragga this year but also found it difficult to get any exciting new rhythms from my regular trips to Dub Vendor, which got fewer as I was rewarded less. Apparently the culture is changing in JA they have stopped doing vinyl on ragga rhythms basically just sending out digital files to sound systems - I need a new source to dig deep into that well - but even Mr Rodigan told me it was hard work to find great reggae in 2010. Hopefully he'll help me in 2011 I want to find it.

My favourite new vocalist was Roman Virgo, and his album was great, Ghetto played was a great single on a classic rhythm. Gyptian, another great voice crossed over but my favourite cut of the year was from an interesting album with Nas & Damian Marley hooking up again. A good album but THE cut was Land Of Promise. A stand out from the start. It blew me away and by the time Glastonbury came it was booming out of any decent sound system - when the Congo Natty version dropped in time for carnival things got hyper too ! On a UK tip it was great to see former Suncycle Crew (always quality !) member Gappy Ranks come to the floor and get the recogntion that he rightly deserves. It was also good to see longtime London stalwart Curtis Lynch Junior keep building his excellent Necessary Mayhem label - always a good stable to check. My other favourite track this year was Vybz Cartel - Clarks, and yes it is about those classic Uk born shoes. On the reissue tip there was a plethora of oldies from all decades as reggae became the collectors genre of choice. Too many to mention and some good and lots a bit too deep for me. May be all the good ragga that is getting missed will be comped up in 20 years or more's time - or may be someone could do it now - now there is a challenge for me !

None the less the influence of reggae was as omnipresent as ever from dubstep to the re emergence of Jungle to samples galore in every dance/electronic genre. It's in British music's DNA and can never be underestimated. This year it seemed to be more accepted as that.

Rock/Indie

Everyone keeps announcing the end of the Rock Era - well I am not sure I care much about that but it's always interesting to hear these statements as it must reflect something going on in peoples heads even if it is just a passing phase. I do think that the classic 'rock' combo is a bit of a tired style but if you do write great songs and are inventive there is no reason why it should be. Anyway it can be good and taken to all sorts of places and when it is we will play it and love it - Grinderman returned with some great tracks none better than Heathen Child. The Black Keys one of my favourites, delivered another great record and as we mentioned before Vampire Weekend delivered again in that interesting world were great songs and interesting sounds from around the world collide. These New Puritans made a really great record that we played many times and didn't get on this show but was on the week before Xmas as a prelude. A mad fusion of so many styles it was dark and brooding, serious but very good. If you missed it do give it a listen. The Crocodiles album was another winner - sounding like the Stone Roses meets My Bloody Valentine or something else in a different but familiar way. On a more electronic/80's tip I really loved Bear In Heaven and am definitely looking forward to what they do next as I am with Toro y Moi. Whose album was very enjoyable if not a little over processed. New comer Kid Adrift fitted some great songs into a twisted and contorted electronic rock framework ona couple of singles. All 3 of these are definitely my tips of ones to watch this year

Electronic

A bit of a dumping bin for music that I couldn't fit into any other genre but hopefully you know what I mean when I put Flying Lotus, Mark Pritchard, Caribou, Darkstarr, Gold Panda, Forest Swords and Kwes in it. Sort of Techno, ambient or just interesting sounds that you don't necessarily dance to but are made on synths.

Anyway the Fly Lo album was his best yet - bigger and better than his debut he truly did consolidate his place at the forefront of new sounds and beats. I still don't get the over hype on him but do think that a lot of that is to do with the fact that I am now old and have heard a lot of it before albeit in a slightly different guise. He did a great 'live' set a Bestival which warmed me to him more as he tore the place up playing all genres to a huge crowd. I have heard him previously be plain odd and though that excites the beards it doesn't do that much for me.

Talking of Beards it was great to see Ninja celebrate their 20 anniversary in such great style and be so on point this year. Always interesting if not always spot on, they are a truly great label and long may they continue to bring us music from the left of all persuasions. The Seiji Remix of Coldcut's Timber was inspired and my favourite out all the remixes they put together this year.

Caribou's album was refreshing, interesting, different and a huge hit around the world in the 'electronic' area. It was good to see him embracing more dancey style and realising his long time latent potential. The same could be said for Fourtet, who's album gained lots of plaudits. I liked it but didn't think it was as amazing as everyone else. I think this is the problem I have with this music. I do, and am not being bitchy, find a lot of it to be 'emperors new clothes'. I either like music to blow me away from a dance floor side of things, or emotionally take me somewhere. Things like Fourtet and Flying Lotus - are undoubtedly interesting and good and as soundscapes are good music that in the right enviroment will get me but from the get go don't blow me away. Then you get that feeling versus the hype and I feel a bit like I am being over hyped and in turn I feel disappointed. Mark Pritchard is always difficult to pigeon hole and continues to make fresh and emotive music even if they take ages to come out. His dabbling in the Footwork/Juke sound - much hyped this year and promoted by the excellent Planet Mu label - was outstanding - taking the energy of that raw, harsh sound and fusing it with a Detroit sensiblity, Out In The Streets should open you up to a whole new hyper active tempo. Darkstarr did a great job in the 'deepness area. I don't have the album but loved the John Roberts mix of Gold for its pure electronic emotion. One of my favourites of the year was by South Londoner Kwes - a producer who has been bubbling around for a while, though still undergorund, and is very unpredictable but amazing when he gets it right. On Moonshining he did just that - a heavy Dilla esque beat that goes AWOL in all the right ways definitely one of the most exciting things I have heard all year ! I think Dels is going to be using that beat on his album but hope they release the dub. His EP on Young Turks was great too.

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