To pick 10 dance tracks from 2013 - a year when at least 4,395,860 awesome ones dropped - is a task of epic proportions. But, we’ve been told that it’s good to challenge yourself from time to time.
Ranging from house to drum and bass, dubstep, garage and whatever crazy sub-genres you may know or love, there’s no doubt that dance has been the rising force in mainstream music in recent years, while still dominating a host of thriving underground scenes.
The last 12 months produced a diverse selection of feet-moving, hip-shaking dance music, so a list of our favourite tunes is more than necessary. Get involved.
1. Break - Music Is Better
Break is without doubt one of the strongest producers drum and bass can boast, and Music Is Better is testament to that fact. It seems that every time something from Break hits our inbox we’re treated to a stomper, but this one is the frontrunner this time around.
2. Breach ft. Andreya Triana - Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)
House has long been dance’s mainstay, and has produced so many offshoots that even the most avid fans struggle to keep track. So, it’s all the more impressive when an artist is able to experiment with a load of those different sounds. Breach has managed to please the masses at each and every attempt and Everything You Never Had (We Had It All) ticked all the boxes.
We gave this album love when it hit shelves earlier this year, and it’s deservedly managed to find a way on to this list. Over 14 tracks, the Welshman weaves effortlessly from drum and bass and dubstep to sweet garage and house vibes, proving he’s got serious skill across the board. Each track has an emotive, addictive quality.
Changing the vibe drastically, we’ve got the VIP of Headroom, a track that Audio first released last year. The producer - who somehow didn’t pick up a gong at the Drum and Bass Arena Awards at the start of the month - blew the brains out of unsuspecting ravers with Headroom, and the VIP refix is almost overkill.
Deep dubstep has had a tough time of late, having grown from a new genre into one of the UK underground’s favourites only to be written off by its borderline unlistenable cousin, brostep. However, the UK will always have a penchant for bassy, 140bpm goodness and luckily we still have people working hard to keep it alive. Fresh-faced label Abyssal Audio struck gold when they released this track.
We imagine some of you hardcorechart-hatin’, underground dwellin’ readers just spat out your Red Stripe, but Disclosure are, like it or loathe it it, worthy of a spot here. An irresistible, shuffle-provoking beat coupled with the vocals of Aluna Francis, it’s no wonder the public downloaded White Noise all the way to #2 in the charts.
Whenever an established name like Hazard readies a new track, it instantly becomes currency on drum and bass forums, with mix cuts and rips of it shared around like chewing gum in a smoking area. Time Tripping, though, was easily one of the most hyped tracks of 2013 and with a bassline that could conquer Rome, it’s no wonder.
Though this is another radio-friendly entry on the list, it is a wicked track that proves that, although Simon Cowell and the rest of the suit-wearing music moguls have got a stranglehold on the charts, a young, unknown artist can still burst through and take pole position.
The second full-length record on the list, ‘Tides’ is more proof that Phaeleh is the king of easy-going electronica. Those that have already discovered him hold him close to their hearts and he’s even featured on this list already, having collaborated with Lung on ‘Wait Less Suspense’.
Another straight-up house selection. If you’ve been for a dance this year, you’ve 100% got down to a Dusky beat, and it’s more than likely you wiggled to Nobody Else the hardest. A worthy entry.
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