As the world slowly turns, people choosing to sleep and slumber after the seasonal holidays and expensive end of year celebrations, hibernating animals go back to work, businesses regretfully open their doors once more, students go back to exams they haven’t revised for, the Royal Mail calms down from its tumult of packages (usually the only time of year it does business anymore), and you start to think… man, who does New Year’s resolutions anymore?
With the quietest part of the year now in effect, just before we gear up to the next hyped commercialisation, single forever, self-pitying teary moment that is Valentine’s Day, we are left reflecting on 2014… and on every single website, blog, TV channel and radio station are those muscle flexing we’re right, you’re wrong “end of year best-of lists”.
Yet with everyone doing it and being oh so opinionated, how did nearly all of them miss the mark? It’s been an unbelievable year for music, and I can’t believe the irrelevancy that’s prevalent in nearly all but a few lists. Music is and should be emotive, often progressive, compelling and maybe even controversial… It’s sex for the mind, but it shouldn’t be ear rape.
With everyone in a rush to produce the most differentiating and tepid list before the other websites do, some people forgot to wait for the year to end, and seeing as influence through music transcends the year it’s released, why not wait until the year IS ACTUALLY FINISHED to bring out the lists? I don’t know – maybe people are doing it all prematurely because attention spans are dropping like the longevity in everyone’s Dryathlons?
Whichever way the cold wind currently blows, The Noise Gate teamed up with The Gentry to give you a selection of what is hopefully a little more of a poignant top 5 for 2014.
Artist of 2014: Sango
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7jUfkcUiWo
Since the beginning of 2014 a storm was caused, when Sango released ‘Da Rocinha 2’, everyone went fiendish for it, particularly for the track ‘Me de Amor’, the rumbling vocals and snip tight production, and we aren’t even on to his remix game yet – which is off the chain.
It’s not just been about his solo material though, a big part of his year has seen energy being spent working tirelessly with artists that are established in their own right, but when they join forces with Sango, what’s created is something special. To name a few he’s worked with are Kaytranada, Tinashe, Mr. Carmack and Boi1da, not forgetting the fact he’s been crafting some awesome glitchy and innovative new hip hop with exciting people like Little Simz, Waldo and Goldlink.
Furthermore as a member of the tribe that is Soulection, what they’ve been doing is completely undeniable, and one of the many reasons Sango has taken the artist of the year for 2014. Soulection is a movement, a genre, a new cultural phenomenon, and for some it’s starting to become a way of life, and Sango is a big part of it all, smashing shows all over the world, contributing with music and even dibbing in some artwork.
If that wasn’t enough, the guy hasn’t graduated university yet… and you thought your internship was a good idea? Sango you take our artist of the year.
Album of 2014: Tycho – ‘Awake’
By the time March had come around, the frost of winter had long gone in the UK, and in the glow of all the magic of music that happened in 2014, ‘Awake’ had the best moments of it all epitomized and neatly wrapped up in its sultry vibes.
Tycho literally nailed it with this, and shout outs to Ghostly International for releasing it, a true centrepiece of the ambient music that is grabbing everyone again, warm hues and rifts flow throughout the whole album, could it be any better? I mean it’s only 37 minutes long, but it’s ours, it’s ours and you can’t have it, but I suppose it should be shared.
When you release an album like ‘Awake’, where every song is magnificent, you might have had the worst day, but by the time ‘Dye’ is playing you’ve been melted away into bliss. Repeated listens and return visits, again and again, have only deepened fans love for this work of art.
In placing ‘Awake’ as the album of the year, not only is it very much deserved, but it stands for all that the other websites missed the mark with terribly, music when done right can be positively valenced and say more than words can explain.
Track of 2014: Leon Vynehall – ‘Butterflies’
Many people were jealous of the prolific year Leon Vynehall had after releasing his debut album at the beginning of the year on Martyn’s 3024 imprint to widespread critical acclaim, he could have easily hung his coat up and just chilled out.
Instead, when Leon teased everyone with a certain unreleased track in his earlier sets of the year, everyone went nuts when they finally heard it in his FACT mix, but still to no avail had we been gifted anything tangible. Then FINALLY, out on Royal Oak was ‘Butterflies/This Is The Place’, Leon was on fire! He knew exactly what he was doing.
You can’t have not heard ‘Butterflies’, uplifting, melodic, euphoric, that drop, such melancholic nostalgia of summer, it was everywhere, in everyone’s mixes, and it meant everything.
Leon Vynehall bags the top track of the year.
Remix of 2014: Tunnels (Bicep Remix)
The Northern Irish duo of Matthew McBriar and Andrew Ferguson, had a huge year… bigger than Arnie’s slow-pumped bicep? Shhhttaaaaaap! Enough of the cheese, Bicep did have a big 2014 though – their schedule consisted of loads of world class clubs and renowned festivals all over the world.
So you’d hope they had a few sure-fire belters to tear up dance floors with right? Right! Not only did they have beast after beast in releases this year, both on their own imprint and on Aus Music, their remix of Tunnels was the cream of the crop.
The original was a great track, lofty with a beaut rhythm, but Bicep took it and flipped it on its head, powerfully changing their style up with a bold, brashy and huge statement, we’re here, this is our unique sound… and heard everywhere on their many escapades.
Hats off to the lads, Bicep get the nod for remix of the year.
Mix of 2014: DJ Tennis
It’s always Essential Mixes that get the nods when it comes to mixes, granted they can be epic, but my God are they ruined by all the garbage that get’s waffled over them… “THIS IS PETE TONG AND YOU’RE…” I know who you are mate, I’m trying to listen to the mix for Allah’s sake!
Moving swiftly forward, it’s not an essential mix that bags it this time, Manfredi Romano aka DJ Tennis, if anything… can safely smile at the year Life and Death and its artists had, I think it goes without saying which roster smashed 2014 each way till Sunday.
As if that wasn’t enough, not only is he one of the most sought after DJ’s to get for an unbelievable night, but Tennis also whipped up one of the most mesmerising mixes this year period, let alone at Burning Man.
High up on the same stage where label mates Tale of Us saved the day from the travesty which was Skrillex and Diplo getting booed off stage, it seems the Robot Heart and the Burning Man crowd take things seriously.
The mix that Tennis smashed out was impressive to say the least, shifting the mood and tempos to constantly be on the edge of the moment, at times haunting, at others vivid, this was short of no nonsense, the moment Wilkie kicks in you just can’t believe what you’re listening to.
DJ Tennis gets our final nod, for the mix of 2014.
That’s all until next year, but hey you might just get the other website end of year lists in June this year right?
Peace
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