To begin our series of reviews for this truly epic year for electronic music, we begin with our top five events over the year that we've had the pleasure of attending. For both of us, 2010 has been a year almost dedicated to the weekends, and we've certainly made the most of them. To come up with 5 of the best was never going to be an easy task, with so many memorable nights, stretching all the way from early January and our first (and probably last) night at the great Matter, all the way to the mesmeric one-man show which was John Digweed at fabric just a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, we've had to look over certain nights that could have so easily found a place in the Top 5, such as Ed Banger's 7th Birthday party at the Coronet in March, Matthias Tanzmann's incredible debut performance at fabric, Erol Alkan at Bristol's Thekla or Simian Mobile Disco's Delicatessen at Motion Skate Park, and so many more. All of these gave me a serious problem in choosing just five, but ultimately the selection I've come up with were nothing short of magnificent and thoroughly deserve to be given all the credit they receive. Remember, this is purely on personal experiences- unfortunately we weren't able to attend every great event this year, as much as we would have liked to, so I expect there will be many who disagree with my selection.

5. Ricardo Villalobos @ fabric, London (20.03.2010)
This particular night inaugurated me to the unadulterated extremities of a classic techno rave, and perhaps more importantly, to the glory of Saturday nights at fabric. At this time, I was only just beginning to fully appreciate minimal, and almost inevitably the figurehead responsible for this new-found fascination was Ricardo Villalobos. I had listened to his fabric 36 mix over and over and was left speechless by his debut album, Alcachofa, which fast became probably my favourite LP of all time. I had read about him, seen pictures of him, but as anyone who understands Ricardo Villalobos will know, there is still precious little out there about him. The only way to get to know the real Ricardo Villalobos, in all his sonic-bending beauty is to witness a set at his mercy for yourself, and more specifically at fabric where the guy grew from a little known minimal-jock, to the greatest DJ of all time. That's exactly what I did and to say I was blown away by the whole thing would be an understatement. It was my first real endurance test to begin with, the night ultimately lasted over 12 hours, but I had never seen a DJ have such an infectious effect on a dancefloor. I fell in love with Ricardo Villalobos that night, and I will be forever thankful for it.

4. Planet Turbo @ The Coronet, London (1.05.2010)
There was simply no way Turbo Recording's Planet Turbo episode at London's Coronet was not going to make it into this selection. The venue was excellent and the show was nothing short of breathtaking, with Tiga, Boys Noize and Erol Alkan delivering mind-blowing sets of the finest acid, techno and electro to a packed crowd. What made Planet Turbo so utterly awesome however, was the dazzling light-show that had been designed by Andreas Nilsson, the man responsible for The Knife and Fever Ray's famously spectacular live performances. Rainbow lasers, psychedelic visuals, strobes, it was all there and together it transformed a very good rave, into something totally amazing. The music, of course, was quite a treat too. For the first time we got a taste of ZZT's ZZafrika, which subsequently caused quite a stir as to its identity, and also Boys Noize's massive house banger Yeah. But what capped off one of the most explosive events of the year for me was one Tiga's concluding selections to his brilliant set sandwiched between Erol and Boys Noize. Proxy was never going to make it to London's edition of Planet Turbo due to visa isssues, but there was no better way to pay tribute to the Russian than to unleash his rampant remix of Tiga's own What You Need. To this day it still remains one of my favourite tracks of all time, and I won't forget the moment it came crashing down at Planet Turbo...

3. fabric's 11th Birthday Weekend @ fabric, London (16.10.2010-18.10.2010)
When the line-up to fabric's 11th birthday weekend was announced, it had many, including myself, fall to their knees in child-like excitement. The occasion not only marked 11 years of existence for the world's greatest and most influential nightclub, but also a year since fabric first tested their experimental (and originally ridiculous) concept of a 30 hour long rave, starting on the Saturday and not concluding until Monday morning. Their 10th birthday christened the event which would become known as On & On...& On, and after two more events throughout the year, the 11th birthday was the perfect way to round the sequence off. Despite Ricardo Villalobos's no-show, which was initially a huge blow, the weekend was everything I expected and a bit more. We drifted through night, day, into night and back into day again, absorbing all the weird and wonderful delights of such a party. Luciano, who remarkably filled in for the absent Ricardo, entertained us on Sunday afternoon with a wild, deliriously hedonistic four hour set, but undoubtedly the best came towards the end of Sunday, when Tyrant, Dixon and Damian Lazarus destroyed the disco with utterly captivating sets as the sun set and proceedings in Room One got all the more fascinating, right into the early hours of Monday morning.

2. Decked Out 10th Anniversary @ The Coronet, London (05.02.2010)
It's hard to believe Decked Out's 10th Anniversary party was over 10 months ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Tickets for the extravaganza sold within days, something I anticipated, leading to me setting my alarm for the second they became available and as it turns out, that was not at all OTT. Dubbed 'The Party of The Decade', it certainly had a lot to live up to, but the line-up went some way in making that statement possible, with Busy P, Erol Alkan, DJ Mehdi, Boys Noize, Brodinski, Feadz, Dave Clarke, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo of the Bloody Beetroots, Aeroplane, The Glimmers, Crookers and Xavier de Rosnay of Justice all billed at The Coronet in what promised to be something quite incredible. With such a line-up, disappointment was never going to be on the menu, but it sure was something of a party. The highlight of the action-packed night had to have been Erol Alkan and Xavier de Rosnay's 2 hour tag-team session, which toured all those brilliant distorted electro sounds we associate with Justice, with a few surprised thrown in, such as Erol's (and Boys Noize's) own Lemonade, which was dropped to devastating effect. Add to that a ridiculously wasted Feadz, a stage-diving Bob Rifo, loads of free vodka, loads of glitter and surprise appearances from Uffie, SebastiAn and Gaspard Augé (the other half of Justice), who along with many of the DJ's who performed earlier joined those dancing in Room 2 for a little groove, and we had a serious challenger for the greatest event of 2010. As for the greatest party of the decade, only time will tell...

1. EXIT Festival 2010 @ Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad, Serbia (08.07 - 11.07.2010)
To call a festival an 'event' maybe pushing it slightly, but to call EXIT a festival is a bit of an understatement. It's a celebration of everything good there is about music. Freedom, great weather, endless nights and the invitation to dance and dance and dance... Well at least that was what it was like in the famous Dance Arena, each of the four days the festival lasted. Four day festivals aren't in great supply, especially when the music on offer is of such high standard as it was at EXIT this year, which in the end was why we picked it over many of the other very appealing European festivals. The line-up had everything to offer, from the kings of maximal in Boys Noize and Erol Alkan on the Thursday, to the dons of techno in Josh Wink and Ricardo Villalobos on the Friday. Even the Ed Banger crew were in on the act, finishing off the Sunday with DJ Mehdi, Busy P and one of the most outrageously exciting, yet daring sets I've ever experienced from SebastiAn who made mine and Chris's dreams come true when he said 'fuck off' to those who felt playing the full-length version of Threnody was a bit too much... Chemical Brothers, LCD Soundsystem, Crystal Castles and Brodinski also made memorable appearances, as did so many others in what was one of the most cryptic schedules to balance. Setting wasn't too bad either- a 17th century fortress with around a dozen arenas, built at the peak of Novi Sad, offering stunning views across the city from one of the many beautifully designed and conceived chill-out zones at the festival site. As with any festival though, what made EXIT so special was the trememdous amount of memories it made. From seeing Villalobos send the entire Dance Arena into a frenzy of grooves and moves with Butch's massive re-cut of No Worries, to our eccentric Northern campsite neighbours, or even Chris's infamous night on 50% vodka, there was no shortage of great moments both music related and non-music related. That is why EXIT 2010 is our favourite event of the year.

Oh December, what a month it has been. More music coming my way in every direction, weekends in my diary packed to levels I've never experienced before, and enough end-of-year charts and polls to make any music follower slightly dizzy. But I've done my very best to cope with it all, while of course balancing it all out with some much needed studying and other festive delights.

Of the hundreds of tracks I've acquired over this busy month I can confidently declare some simply fantastic tracks among them. Some of these may not have been necessarily released this month but they have soundtracked it for me personally. The style spectrum is fairly wide, with several less familiar sounds represented, such as SBTRKT's dark and bassy Hide and Seek, as well as a tragically rare Ed Banger inclusion, this time from Feadz and his recently released T.U.F.F EP. As for techno & house, as always there are some magnificent beats in here, worthy of my favourite month of the year.


Delano Smith was one of Room 3's interesting additions at fabric back in November, when Âme took control of things downstairs in Room 1. My brief spell in Room 3 was genuinely very entertaining, coinciding with Smith's set. His ability to mix deep house and techno was obvious for all there that night and to my delight, his productions skills are just as good. Dee's Gruv is an intensely slick deep house affair, simmering with all the underground bass and rhythm you would find in his sets.

Delano Smith - Dee's Gruv


Carl Bee's Crashold is tech house at it's most free and fun. Teeming with so many playful sonics and other percussive flavours, it's guaranteed to get bodies moving wherever it's dropped. It's just a shame I'm yet to hear it out yet.

Carl Bee - Crashold


House music is such a wonderfully open, unrestricted, style of music. This couldn't be better demonstrated in Gregori Klosman's Rendez-vous, a tune that has kept me smiling all throughout this month. Pianos, sunny synths, massive crescendos and a thumping house beat make this a truly stand-out crowd pleaser from this month. It even has a slight Balearic essence to it, which isn't always a bad thing...

Gregori Klosman - Rendez-Vous


Ever since I had the pleasure of experiencing Matthias Tanzmann's incredible debut performance at fabric last month I have been all but obsessed with the German's every movement. Production wise it's been a fairly quiet year for him, but I recently unearthed Slingshot, a dazzling tune of his that is every bit as brilliant as the name suggests. This is Tanzmann doing what he does best, and on this evidence you could be forgiven thinking there are few that do it better than him. Groovy, tribal, percussive tech house, strutting with all that dancefloor worthy wisdom that Tanzmann always invests in his music.

Matthias Tanzmann - Slingshot


Anders Trentemøller has had an enigmatic year. His album, Into The Great Wide Yonder saw him distance himself from the synthetic world of music, something I worried about initially. However, he hasn't completely lost faith in the sonic template. 2010 has seen several productions of his return to the fascinating confines of his cold and sharp brand of minimal techno that we witnessed in his previous album, The Trentemøller Chronicles. Recently I got hold of Sunstroke, a daring, mysterious fusion of minimalism, house and strokes of eerie synths, the Trentemøller I like best.

Trentemøller - Sunstroke

Azari & III have had an excellent year without question. Several of their EP's have been a massive hit with the underground, and having been released on Turbo, it comes as no surprise. Their divine disco house style is so seductive and Reckless For Your Love is arguably their finest production yet. The original is almost unbeatable, but the Manuel Tur remix is a definite challenger.

Azari & III - Reckless With Your Love (Manuel Tur Remix)


There are few words of praise for Dutch Techno prodigy Egbert that I haven't already used. After his hammering techno A-bomb Open comes the far more minimally-inclined Groots Uitpakken. A surging, shadowy turn from his usual brand of massive-room techno. This track illustrates Egbert's ability to veer away from that field and into the tighter underground vortexes of techno.

Egbert - Groots Uitpakken


2010 has been the year of the return of acid. Producers from all ends of the spectrum, in techno, house, electro, even dubstep have all dabbled in a bit of squelch at times and there's a very good reason why: it sounds incredible. The acid bassline in the Alden Tyrell's remix of It's The Music by Murphy Jax fizzes with all that sonic pleasure that the acid synth provides. Craig Richards has used this in his Saturday night sets at fabric to devastating effect.

Murphy Jax feat. Mike Dunn - It's The Music (Alden Tyrell Remix)


Steve Rachmad rarely disappoints with his bassy, tripped-out style of house and once again he flexes his muscles together Ignacio to create the deep, imposing, progressive Virton Upgraded.

Steve Rachmad & Ignacio - Virton Upgraded


Another captivating Tiefschwarz remix, this time of Ruede Hagelstein's Embezzle Me. Tiefschwarz's deep house style is perfectly tuned for these types of remixes, the vocals from Maggy who features on the original elegantly infuse with the layers of sonics and synths melded in by the German duo.

Ruede Hagelstein (feat. Maggy) - Embezzle Me (Tiefschwarz Remix)


The first of two inclusions from Marc Romboy and Stephen Bodzin's recent Drei Monde EP. Gui Boratto's Atlas remix is magnificent at so many levels. It's not prime-time dancefloor material, but that's never been Gui's style. This is the Brazilian at his best; taking the original and making it every bit more satisfying. Whether it's the delicious little synthetic string-hook or the progressive feel to the beat, you'll find something in this remix to like.

Marc Romboy & Stephen Bodzin - Atlas (Gui Boratto Remix)


Joris Voorn's remix of Castillo, the second track taken from Romboy & Bodzin's Drei Monde EP, takes a good few minutes to become seriously good, but that is exactly what it becomes. Of all the tracks posted here, this one I'm undeniably addicted to most. Joris Voorn has shape-shifted the original into a blistering all-out big room house banger. Full of yet more progression (something which seems to be the flavour of the month), crescendos and climaxes, it sends shivers down my spine listening to it. At around 4:20 is the first major drop and it's serious hands-in-the-air stuff. There's nothing remotely minimal, trippy or dark about this, just house music at its party-driven greatest. Hats off to Joris.

Marc Romboy & Stephen Bodzin - Castillo (Joris Voorn Remix)


I was going to do a separate post on Feadz's new EP, T.U.F.F, as I intend to do for all Ed Banger related news, considering it's so rare these days. Unfortunately I didn't get round to it, which is a shame for so many reasons but mostly because it's actually a really good EP. So I thought I would include the best track in the EP in this post, and Boys Noize in on the act you can expect a devilish outing of ear-ringing maximal, although this is more reminiscent of his recent house favourite, Yeah, which is only a good thing of course.

Feadz & Boys Noize - The Ultimate


And finally, SBTRKT's Hide and Seek. Yes, it's bassy but not quite the SBTRKT you might expect after listening to his older work. This is what we saw of at Modeselektion in his set, where he seemed to veer away somewhat from his old space-step style and into a more house-orientated session, while still keeping all that floor-shaking sub-bass.

SBTRKT - Hide & Seek

I distinctly remember last new years ever being possibly the most tormenting, most frustrating event I've ever experienced, for the simple fact being I couldn't do anything or go anywhere. That's the price of being a barman, but I recall the number of simply staggering parties so lavish and attractive that I think I even considered it as some kind of conspiracy against me at one point. The one that stands out most has to have been at the o2 Arena, where Justice, deadmau5 and Plump DJs among others made for what looked like a ridiculous night.

This time I've avoided working at all costs in a desperate attempt to make up for last year. I can't say I'm as blown away by the choice this time around, but there is one party that does stand out head and shoulders above the rest, and we are going. Well we had to end this incredible year on a high, didn't we? It may have set us back over £40, but Eastern Electric's NYE boasts a line-up to rival any on the planet this year, the obvious reason for their unprecedented sale speeds. The pick of the bunch spinning is arguably 2010's most exciting pair, Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler, while one of the year's most active labels, Crosstown Rebels, sees it's charismatic leader, Damian Lazarus line up alongside them. Also billed is Instra:mental, Drum and Bass's metaphorical breath of fresh air, the genre-spanning American, Matthew Dear, dubstep producer and DJ, Joker, and various other exciting acts.

Unfortunately, all tickets are now sold out but people are selling them if you look in the right places. This feature is to give you the heads up on a few of the parties we've seen and liked the look of. With the 31st just round the corner, many tickets are now on their final release so you probably won't find a bargain for the best nights, but that shouldn't put you off. The January sales can make up what you've lost out!

London

Warm/Phonica NYE with Mathew Jonson (live), Âme (live), Move D, Mark E, Gerd Janson & Tim Goldsworthy- The City Arts & Music Project, 70-74 City Road, Shoreditch. 3rd Release Tickets: £25.
Rivaling Eastern Electrics as London's top night, Warm/Phonica, one of the Europe's most respected promoters, presents 10 hours of what promises to be an exceptionally good night. The experimental techno/house Canadian producer, Mathew Jonson will be one of two very exciting live performances on the night, German deep house duo, Âme being the other. While tickets are still available this could very easily be one of 2010's memorable events.

Trouble Vision & Deadly Rhythm present Four Tet & James Holden- Corsica Studios, 5 Elephant Road, SE1 7 1LB - Tickets available on door
Although advance tickets are sold out, of you're going to chance it in the capital this year then this may be the one you should go for. Any party with Four Tet and James Holden will be something a bit special, but add to that Jamie XX, Nathan Fake and a host of other top spinners and it may all be going down at Corsica Studios...

fabric NYE with Steve Bug, Jay Haze (live), Paco Osuna, Cassy, Heartthrob (live), Carsten Klemann, Alex Delano, Matt Tolfrey, Craig Richards, Terry Francis, Jozif +- fabric, 77a Charterhouse Street, Ec1M 3HN - £35.
The expectations for any fabric NYE are always going to be monumental, so don't listen to the cynics who expected a festival line-up. It may be a dear one but there's no doubt that fabric will deliver a stunning show. The line-up in any other club in the country would make your average raver weak at the knees, and with fabric's soundsystem you can expect Steve Bug, Cassy, Paco Osuna and the rest to be on top form, while a precious live performance from Jay Haze will most likely be the night's highlight. Oh, and I can't fail to mention Craig Richards' contribution. Just because he's there every week doesn't make him any less than one of the very best attractions down at EC1 this NYE.

Southwest

Bristol In:Motion NYE with Jamie Jones, Joker, Friendly Fires (DJ Set), Tayo.... - Motion Skate Park, Bristol, 74-78 Avon Street, BS2 OPX - £30
Inevitably, the pick of the bunch in the southwest takes place in Bristol, and in the city's hub of underground music, Motion Skate Park. In a similar vein to last year when Simian Mobile Disco among others rampaged the warehouse hanger in what was one of last NYE's finest shows, In:Motion welcomes back the Friendly Fires for another one of their highly exciting DJ sets before they shoot off east to London's XOYO for Bugged Out! NYE. Jamie Jones, the night's main attraction also will most likely be heading to the capital after his appearance, as will Joker. Both DJs of course will be playing at the Eastern Electrics NYE where me and Chris will be. If you're staying southern this NYE but want to avoid London, as always In:Motion is your best bet for a proper rave, how they should be.

Midlands

Q-Fest Presents Global Underground NYE - Nic Fanciulli, James Zabiela, Derrick Carter, Audio Bully's (live)... - Q Club, Birmingham, B4 6QB - £25
Nic Fanciulli and James Zabiela undoubtedly make Q Club the hottest place to be in Birmingham this NYE. Fabric 56 man, Derrick Carter, should also add some Chicago house soul to the party, while the Audio Bully's live will surely provide for many a welcome break from relentless house beats otherwise on the bill.

North

Sankeys NYE - Reboot, The Martinez Brothers, Lee Foss... - Sankeys, Manchester, M4 6JG - £29
With a mission to become the worlds greatest nightclub, Sankeys would have to stand out above the rest on NYE, at least up north if not the entire country. Luckily for Mancunians they haven't disappointed, building an event fit for the grandest of occasions thanks to sets from minimal techno heavyweight Reboot, energetic duo of the moment, The Martinez Brothers, and Lee Foss who not only broke into RA's top 100 DJ poll this year, but astonishingly landed in at number 38. Tickets are still available for the princely sum of £29 (+booking fees), so if you're in the country's northern region this Friday we definitely advise hitting Sankeys.

This Is Filth! NYE with Hugo & Pleasurekraft - Mint, Leeds, 8a Harrison Street, LS1 - £13
This could be one the surprise hits of NYE, and definitely worth having a look at if you're still unsure where to go or on a budget. At only £13 and at one of the North's best clubs, it's a snippet of the majority of NYE's events at the country's top clubs and are fortunate enough to host UK Tech House duo Pleasurekraft for the first time here. One of 2010's most exciting acts, there is something both appropriate and modest about Mint's booking of Pleasurekraft, and with various other exciting sets lined up over the ten-and-a-half hour rave, Mint could well be where it's all happening.

I've been quite slack with this 'Classics" feature, which is why this one is truly a techno antique.




I am assuming that Ricardo Villalobos is a name that is fairly familiar. If it isn't, I suggest taking a look at this. How about the name Richard Wolsdorf? Maybe not? Well we'll come to that. If you are fairly well informed about Villalobos' many works, then I am also quite sure you will be aware of the single MDMA, a track from the mid 90's that is still garnering appreciation all these years on.

In reality it turns out that, contrary to popular belief, the release 'MDMA - Ricardo Villalobos' is complete fiction, and instead was released under an alias of his: Richard Wolfsdorf. Not only that, but the track that everyone believes to be MDMA is actually the B-Side of the release, with the track that the techno population knowing and loving actually christened as Bosch. And now you know.

Richard Wolfsdorf - Bosch


Richard Wolfsdorf - MDMA

This post is outrageously delayed, and for that I apologise. However in keeping with the festive spirit we will be posting a huge amount over the coming season!



A brilliantly original synth accompanied by string chord stabs and a punchy bassline, this tune does nothing more than make you squirm in an incredibly delightful way. Not a fist puncher or a euphoric 'hands-in-the-air'er, this is something quite different indeed. It's Boy 8-Bit all over.

Lazy Jay - Float My Boat


In stark contrast to the previous tune, this one really does surprise you when the break comes in and practically forces your arms upwards. A belter in every sense of the word. It turns out it also seems to go down with a more commercial crowd, the main synth progression appearing to be quite 'chantable'. All together now...

The Martin Brothers - Steal Drums

Another song that echoes Boy 8-Bit, especially after his remix of La Roux featured a certain steel drum pattern. He's been playing this one out for a while and there are no surprises why. The crowd loved it.

As for a couple that have needed posting for quite a while now, first up is Mumbai Science's latest EP, Gold. Whilst only a shadow of their previous EP, it still does well to destroy the dancefloor. Also is the Justin Martin Remix of Radio 1's Rachel Barton. Whilst only being a small name on the Radio 1 scene for quite some time, Rachel has had some serious influence, and this EP really does her justice. Not to mention Justin Martin is on fire.

Mumbai Science - Gold


Rachel Barton - Goose Step (Justin Martin Remix)

As 2010 draws to a close, fabric is predictably still electronic music's most vital organ in terms of programming, innovation and integrity. There is quite honestly always something new and important to discuss about fabric at any time of the year, but at this particular time when the weather turns unforgivably bleak and we enter the festive period, it's also the time of reflection. We plan on piecing together some kind of end of year review soon, where notable nightclubs such as fabric will be acknowledged in more depth, but after what was most likely my final chapter for 2010 at EC1 on Saturday, where the legendary John Digweed blew my mind for over 5 hours, I can't help shed some premature appreciation for what has been a simply incredible year.

Starting with Saturday, an appearance by John Digweed at fabric is always going to pull a crowd. His name on a flyer carries a similar degree of celebration and fanfare as you would expect from Ricardo Villalobos, Sven Väth and the other serious heavyweights of underground electronic music. Despite the ominous weather forecasts, advance tickets sold out weeks ahead, always an indication of a particularly special night. But the rest of the names were not just mere decorations- Paul Kalkbrenner live in Room 2 would be a highlight for any night, as would Cari Lekebusch, who from experience I can guarantee is one of techno's genuinely gifted players. Unfortunately, both couldn't make it, a setback reasonably foreseeable for anyone considering the debilitating weather and the subsequent closure of Heathrow airport. Luckily this didn't effect John Digweed, who is conveniently domestic. Israel's Guy J, one of Digweed's frequent associates somehow managed to dodge the travel restrictions, but as usual our late arrival meant we missed his slot in Room One, where Diggers was already in command of that ruthless soundsystem. The night was as educational as it was utterly thrilling for me in that it opened my eyes to just how phenomenal a DJ John Digweed is. His almost mandatory top 10 residency in Resident Advisor's annual top 100 DJ poll now makes complete sense, not that I doubted his credentials before. What he did so well in Room One on Saturday was confidently ebb in and out of various styles of house and techno without the slightest whiff of confusion, indecision or uncertainly. Every record he selected worked perfectly. Despite his association with the progressive house sound he is so respected for shaping, his 6 hour session (at least) explored both dangerously maximal and microscopically minimal techno, as well as the occasional squelch of acid house and other abrasive, synth-heavy mutations. All of this was mixed in such a flawless, exciting, unpredictable way that it soon became clear to me why this 40-something bloke from Hastings is held in such high-esteem. The Room One soundsystem is so unique and impressive, unlike any other I've ever heard (or seen) before, that it so often isn't fully taken advantage of by those given the power to use it. The most acclaimed audiophile of all, Ricardo Villalobos is often cited to be the first one to really do this, but John Digweed showed remarkable appreciation of just how awesome this facility is. Many on the dancefloor cowered in overwhelm at some of the higher frequencies emitted from above, and the ground-quaking vibrations from below. By the time we made our way out at around 8:30am, I personally felt privileged to have experienced one of English dance music's most illustrious talents in the worlds best club. A gloriously fitting tribute to fabric, and a more than satisfying way to conclude my own 2010 love affair with the club.

December also brought us the 55th fabric mix, courtesy this time of the mysterious Shackleton, who has been causing quite a stir of late. Ever since his debut performance live in fabric's Room One all the way back in July of this year (a frighteningly long time ago considering it feels like it was only last week that I gave the heads-up on this blog when his appearance was announced), fabric, and more probably more specifically Craig Richards, the club's music programmer, have been utterly infatuated with the future-dubstepper. Not only did they book him again for Room 2 fairly soon after, but the real mark of fabric's respect is of course the offer of mixing fabric 55, a challenge Shackleton embraced gratefully, and delivered exceptionally.

Despite his categorization as a producer of dubstep in the strictest conceptual meaning of the word, Shackleton's sound is undoubtedly suited far more to a fabric Saturday night, rather than a Friday where dubstep is traditionally exhibited. His resounding appearances at Berlin's Berghain further demonstrated his adeptness in pleasing a crowd that wouldn't typically be receptive to dubstep, so recognition from fabric's Saturday night team was only a question of when. The breed of dubstep Shackleton is making is so interwoven with minimal techno influences that it could only ever be fascinating at the very least. His close relationship with Ricardo Villalobos is no secret; various remixes of the master's minimal grooves such as his Minimoonstar provide ample clues to Shackleton's stylistic tendencies, and the comparisons with Villalobos himself don't stop there. Fabric 55 is a mix consisting entirely of Shackleton's own material, in exactly the same way as Villalobos' inspirational fabric 34 mix. A dangerous and controversial concept yes, but like Villalobos, Shackleton has pulled it off with aplomb.

From start to finish the mix illustrates perfectly what Shackleton is about. Dark, claustrophobic and murky, it is every bit as atmospheric and compelling as his live performances deep underground in the club. Every drum pattern, every snap of a snare drum, every ghostly vocal is engulfed with enough floor-shaking sub-bass to become seismic, while the relentless clatter of bongos gives the work that seasoning of Villalobos making it all the more interesting. It's difficult to find fault in such a strikingly different mix, in both concept and execution. Every track is layered with so many strange, hypnotic, tribal sonics that at times it becomes disturbing, much in the same way as the mysterious but ingenious Burial's music. Evoking this kind of emotion in electronic music is not easy, but Shackleton's approach to music looks as if he produces to disturb as well as dance, something vividly evident live and in this outstanding mix.

Shackleton - Come Up


fabric 55: Shackleton is available now for £10 now on fabric's website

NEWS: Sources suggest that the next installment in the fabric series, fabric 56 will be mixed by American DJ and producer Derrick Carter.

Fabric's line-up for New Years Eve was announced in full some time ago, but I had to give it some acknowledgment here nonetheless, even though we won't be attending. Anyone expecting an all-star line up will be disappointed, for there's no Richie Hawtin, Luciano, Seth Troxler and like, but look a little deeper and it's a classically intelligent assembly or sounds and personalities by fabric. Forums and and networks etc. seem to tell me that many are indeed disappointed, but anyone doubting fabric's knowledge of what will make this NYE at Ec1 sizzle, or their ability to attract the biggest names are seriously mistaken. For starters, Steve Bug remains one of electronic music's most influential and revered DJs, as is Jay Haze and Cassy, while M-Nus's Heartthrob is regarded by many as one of minimal techno's brightest producers. Add to this Matt Tolfrey, Jozif, Paco Osuna and of course, the magnificent Craig Richards who will always make any night at fabric special and you've got the recipe for quite a good party. Fabric's music programming is always at least one step-ahead of every other club, that is simply a fact that I took time to discover, but since I have, I have never doubted it and never been disappointed.

fabric NYE: 9pm-9am, Tickets: £35/£20 (Students & FabricFirst Members)

To round up this rather extensive Fabric Watch installment, I thought I would give a brief summary of what's happening in January, where the full line-ups have now all been confirmed. As ever, it's predictably exciting, with the first Saturday featuring the return of French maestro Ivan Smagghe. The following week on the 15th, Sascha Dive is the pick of the bunch while Friday 21st welcomes back the Filthy Dukes and their eclectic mash-up night, Kill Em All, which is always fantastic. Just like last year, Erol Alkan is back in Room One for what promises again to be a packed out night. Paul Chambers joins him live, while in Room Two German electro/techno duo Hey Today! will no doubt have the place rocking with their searing beats. BNR's Shadow Dancer will also perform live. The following night, Lee Burridge is back, teaming up with Craig Richards for another epic Tyrant session. Concluding January on the 29th is a mouthwatering line-up which includes Tiefschwarz, Slam, MMM live and Maya Jane Coles in Room 3. Full listings and line-ups are up now on fabric's website.

Finally, I've managed to find enough time to finalise the fifth installment of Sorry I'm Minimal, something which has been on my mind for a while now. Firstly, I'll begin with some news regarding the familiar face pictured above. Villalobos is back with a new 2 track EP, Peculiar/Zuge. It's classic Villalobos is sound and style, and in musical philosophy as it's vinyl only for now. We'll be following its every movement of course, so as soon as we have an mp3, so can you.

In other minimal news, German producer, Isolée is back with his next pared-down LP Well Spent Youth, after is eponymous debut. It doesn't retain quite the same rhythmic dynamism this time, but it's still another delicately and elegantly composed piece of minimalism, bordering on ambient, the kind we've come to expect from Isolée. We've also snapped up a new Plastikman compilation- A Retrospektive Mix of Classic Plastikman. Although in content it's not entirely different from his mind-blowing Kompilation CD released earlier this year, it's yet another demonstration of Richie Hawtin's merciless stranglehold on the minimal techno world. An captivating journey of Plastikman's assent to becoming 2010's most original and inspiring producer and performer, through the eyes of the genius behind the project. Just for tracks like the brilliantly named Are Friends Electrik? and of course Plasticine, it's an automatic must have for any lover of minimal.

Anyway, as it has been some time since the last Sorry I'm Minimal, there's obviously quite a lot I want to share. Please enjoy responsibly- some of these I warn are deliriously trippy...

Anja Schneider - Strong Way


Jules & Moss - Bonbons


Liviu Groza - Coconut Level One


Someone Else & Mark Henning - Little Helper 11.2


Alex Kork - Blankoff


Digitaline feat. Tigerlilly - Say So


Lopezhouse - Cadillacs & Dinosaurs


Continue to keep checking SOTW over the next few weeks where we will be posting some special features compulsory for every music orientated website, so expect top 10's and 20's for everything, including tracks, DJs, parties and record labels. There will be download links for the very best of 2010 so nobody can miss out on reviewing what has been yet again another explosive year for electronic music.

Another Sunday of sleep, mild depression and reflection, something I'm sure you are all well familiar with, but worth every spent brain cell, penny and lost hour of sleep after what was another utterly fascinating weekend. I say 'fascinating' as opposed to using an adjective more definitively positive because much like last weekend,this was much more left-field again, especially with regards to the Friday. Granted, fabric Saturday isn't at all a fresh experience, but I had never seen Radio Slave or Shackleton before, both significant attractions for me.

On Friday I made my way out of London, west-bound. A journey to Bristol usually only can mean one thing- Motion, the undisputed heavyweight of the Southwest, and now a regular stomping ground for Bristol-based Chris. Unfortunately, I am confined only to 'special' visits, such as October's Delicatessen, one of my most memorable nights to date. Now I realise that night was a mere shadow of Motion's true character. Modeselektion- the night launched by German duo Modeselektor, touched down for what promised to be an explosive night by the river Avon. Unlike SMD's night which throbbed in only 'The Tunnel' and 'The Cave', Modeselektion would utilize Motion's Warehouse Room- a vast hanger that is also Motion's skateboarding site. It's a quite indescribable feeling entering such a venue. It is literally just a massive steel box with a stage at one end and two bars at the other- one serving drinks, the other serving laughing gas, a clue to Motion's typical clientele. But obviously this is why Motion is so popular, especially in Bristol, a city with a thriving underground music scene and an appetite for the slightly scruffy.

We arrived too late to catch Suriusmo, one of the most underrated producers around, but it wasn't before long that the main attraction stood just feet away from us. I won't bore you with more superlatives regarding Moderat's eponymous debut album, and it's certainly no secret that their live performances rival any other for aural and visual excitement. This is something we discovered for ourselves at EXIT in the summer, but this was in a very, very different environment. As we wrestled to keep ourselves at the front during their set, we were sent into a frenzy of movement as the trio blew us all away with old favourites such as New Error, Seamonkey, Rusty Nails and Les Grand Marches. Although the odd technical glitch caused momentary panic for the trio, on the whole the performance was otherwise faultless. The sound was as formidable as the venue, but it was the lighting that made it so memorable. Every bassy thump was accompanied by an amalgamation of strobes, lasers and spotlights that blinded those at the front, but made the experience utterly euphoric. There's no question that this eclipsed their performance over in Serbia. Motion is the perfect venue for an act like Moderat, which needs a big room, but craves the intimacy a festival can't provide.

Masked SBTRKT followed after with a claustrophobic hour of bassy, futuristic post-dubstep which was surprisingly very good, setting up Modeselektor who concluded the night with two more hours of a similar breed of beats, mashing up more bass-heavy cross-breeds of dubstep, electro and techno. It wasn't a particularly groovy affair by any means, and there was certainly no eloquence about the sonics that shuddered from the warehouse all night, but impressive it certainly was. Whatever sound Modeselektion represent, and I'm still not entirely sure what to call it, they know how to exploit its crude, rave-worthy credentials to its full ear-splitting potential.

Saturday and it was back to London, and back to fabric. With little sleep under my belt from the night before and still suffering the inevitable side-affects of a wildly hedonistic outing, for the very first time ever I believe, I wasn't in the most spirited of moods before I headed down to fabric, a prospect I thought could heal any ailment. Nonetheless we descended underground once more for another long-haul groove in the abyss where Craig Richards was finishing off one of his superb warm-up sets before Israel's finest, Guy Gerber took the helm on the stage for 2 hours live. As it turned out, his set was the highlight in an otherwise far from memorable fabric Saturday night, and there aren't many of them. Seductively rhythmic, Gerber kept bodies moving from start to finish, particularly when he unleashed his most prominent release to date, the massive Hate/Love which had myself among others singing along feverishly. Over in Room 2 I managed to catch a good chunk of Shackleton's live set, which was as I expected pulsed with all that murky, floor-shaking sub-bass that we have come to expect from both him and fabric's second room. By the time Radio Slave took the ropes in Room 1, the dancefloor had thinned out considerably, and those that were left didn't really look the type to appreciate Slave's elegance on the decks, seamlessly flowing through snappy minimal techno and slightly mellower house. Despite the line-up's considerable promise, this unfortunately doesn't rank among some of EC1's finest, but lets all remember, this is fabric, so it does have its own ranking system of course....

The immense diversity of London’s nightlife causes problems for anyone looking for a genuinely exceptional party in the capital. Of course the famed musical institutions such as fabric, Ministry of Sound and several others scattered across the city will always offer parties of distinction, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg in this wonderful, trend-setting metropolis for electronic music. All over the city from Shoreditch to Smithfield, every Saturday by 10pm London is a teeming celebration of the best underground vibes, rivaled perhaps only by Berlin, another city with a similar appetite for the daring and the unexpected. With such a collection of great venues offering such captivating open-endedness, knowing what party to choose is often what I and presumably many others have great difficulty with. However, every so often something curiously different approaches that is just destined to be a success, even if it is off the beaten track.

Exstatic Sounds has a history of putting on some excellent events in the capital. The warehouse parties, often in spaces kept secret until shortly before the event have been an undisputed success of theirs, proving appreciation for the fundamentals of a rave- the music and the atmosphere- remains undiminished, despite the wealth of more polished underground clubs around the city. September saw Jozif and Violett take to the subterranean labyrinth beneath the surface of London’s Aldgate district, this time it was Sven Tasnadi and Tigerskin who headlined what turned out to be an exceptionally good event.

My first impressions were everything I expected. The venue had a delightfully crude, industrial aesthetic; something nightclub royalty proves is the true heart of any rave setting. Down a flight of steel steps lay the imposing infrastructure of the warehouse where two rooms of pounding techno and house swelled as the night progressed. The layout and operation of the place was generally very good; the bar was well positioned and well attended, as were the toilets, which were within a large, simply furnished room for those wanting to take a breather away from the music.

By around 2am, the party was in full swing, both rooms bustling with a feverish excitement, especially in the main room where Tigerskin would soon be performing a highly anticipated live set. His hour was predictably groovy, melding together his deliciously seductive house sound with the occasional sprinkling of more frantic techno flavours. It was a beguiling set, and one that set the tone perfectly for Sven Tasnadi, the real treat of the night, who followed with two hours of funky, ebbing tech-house.

The newly installed Martin Audio sound system promised a thumping aural experience, but in reality was slightly disappointing. As we stood with our ears right next to the speakers in the main room, it was pointed out to me that one of the units didn’t seem to be working, which would explain the obvious lack of rich, low frequencies that would have made Tasnadi’s set that more resounding. Despite this, he used all his spinning experience to work the crowd effortlessly, stitching his all-vinyl set together seamlessly and playfully. Tasnadi stayed consciously within the hip confines of tech-house for the duration of his set. The basslines relentlessly shuffled with all the rhythmic energy this crossbred style gestures, and his ability to leave us in front of him lapping up every sub-drop, every snare, every percussive flavour was really quite impressive. Undoubtedly the highlight of his set was towards the end when Audiojack’s champion remix of H.O.S.H’s Cash The Chord was delicately slipped in to a fizzing reception. It was the star that the set needed, a climax of good, nourishing musical bliss that underpinned both Tasnadi’s talent when pleasing his audience, and the gripping magic of the warehouse rave.

Finally the weekend has arrived. I'm resorting to using a horrible cliche but over the last couple of months I have literally been 'living for the weekend'. Cringeworthiness aside, I have had nothing short of a string of incredible Saturdays, with the odd Friday mash-up tossed in occasionally. The depressing routine of a weeks worth of lectures and seminars and multiple other hours spent reading Noam Chomsky among other crusty academics really has restored my faith in the splendour of le weekend. This weekend is no different in terms of general itinerary but it will provide my kicks on excitingly unfamiliar territory. No fabric this time for me (at time of writing), despite an awe-inspiring line-up that includes Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, M.A.N.D.Y (live) and Art Department- is I've previously mentioned, Chris and I will be heading further East of the capital for another Exstatic Sounds warehouse party featuring Sven Tasnadi and Tigerskin (live) among others for what promises to be a fantastic event. Tonight I head to Old Street's reputable new club XOYO for the first time for an irresistible B2B set from Joy Orbison and Ramadanman, who's recent Void 23 EP has been causing shockwaves of late. The night will lean slightly away from my usual musical periphery but I'm really looking forward to seeing if XOYO is worth all the fuss.

So before I crack open first Kronenbourg I have in my fridge and engage in usual pre-night activity, I thought I would put together a little weekend pack with links, parties, tunes and even a little mix thrown in to get you jigging. Don't let the icy conditions out there keep you inside, there are some serious parties being thrown both tonight and tomorrow, especially here in London. It's not to late to get down here....

As always, your first port of call for any unplanned weekend should be RA's event pages, which list hundreds of events in all regions of the country. If you're looking for a little more refined guidance however, here's SOTW's weekend picks in London:

Friday December 3rd

Süd Electronic Yule with Levon Vincent, Steffi, Tama Sumo at The Camp Basement, London
11pm-8am, £13

Laurent Garnier presents Live Booth Sessions at Village Underground, London
Laurent Garnier DJ/Live, Benjamin Rippert, Scan X. 10pm-6am, £15

Fact at XOYO, London
Joy Orbison/Ramadanman B2B + more, 10pm-3am, £8

Saturday December 4th

Exstatic Sounds Warehouse Party with Sven Tasnadi and Tigerskin (Live), London
10pm-6am, £12

fabric: Dirty Bird, Get Physical & Art Department at fabric, London
11pm-8am, £18

Shake It! feat. Layo & Bushwacka!& Omri H at Village Underground, London
11pm-6:30am, £13

Now for a few great weekend worthy beats!

Alen Sforzina - Rhinoceros (Pig & Dan Remix)


Naph - Frozen Feelings (Maetrik Remix)


Someone Else & Mark Henning - Little Helper 11.2


Affani - Yuma (James Harcourt Remix)


Solo - Afreaka (Renaissance Man Remix)


And finally my own little Weekend Mix, featuring some of the best new tracks and maybe one old dinosaur melded in for good measure. Track listings are available on my personal Soundcloud account.

Weekend Package Mix by SweatOnTheWalls-Dom