Zomby – One Foot Ahead Of The Other
August 24, 2009
Ramp
Ras G – Brotha From Another Planet
April 7, 2009
Brainfeeder / Alpha Pup
Shitmat – One Foot In the Rave
May 18, 2009
Planet Mu
Dam Funk – Toeachizown
October 20, 2009
Stones Throw
Falty DL – Love Is a Liability
June 15, 2009
Planet Mu
Onra – 1.0.8
April 24, 2009
Favorite
Exile – Exile Radio
January 13, 2009
Plug Research
Tortoise – Beacons of Ancestorship
June 23, 2009
Thrill Jockey
This selection has made it to the top of my 2009 list not just because of the really great music (of which there is plenty) but more importantly for its completeness. It has been a while since I’ve been able to enjoy an album as an album, something coherent and best enjoyed from start to finish, rather than just a collection of songs you skip through. Of course long hours on the road with nothing else to distract is a slight bias, nevertheless this album stood out amongst many heard this way. Trend makers XLR8R have nailed the description of Machinedrum’s sound, “pop-drenched hip-hop that’s been run through the synthesizer a few dozen times and given a finishing touch by someone like Daft Punk”. For me it was the pop aesthetics that kept me coming back. Below are some highlights off the album and the video for Roll and Feel. Do yourself a favor, use that itunes gift card you got in your stocking and buy this record.
Late Night Operation featuring Theophilus London
Stay tuned for the follow up album Want to 3 4? out on Normex later in 2010. Here is the video for the first single.
Wax Treatment Podcast #003 – Shed
18.10.09 – Tracklist:
01. Cornel Campbell: Natural Fact – Attack Gold 015
02. Earl Sixteen: Gold Of Sheba – Merge 10-04
03. Elemental: Talk – Runtime LP 001
04. Aardvarck: A1 – Bloom 03
05. Neil Landstrumm: 6 At Le Mans – Planet µ 246
06. Kryptic Minds: 768 – Tectonic 032
07. Hyetal: Pixel Rainbow Sequence (Peverelist Remix) – RDCTN 003
08. Zomby: Godzilla – Ramp Recordings 022
09. Joy Orbison: Hyph Mngo – Hotflush HFT 009
10. 2562 – Flashback – Tectonic 034
11. ID: Nine Tree Hill – Mata-Syn 005
12. RSD: Green Hill – Punch Drunk 012
13. Distance: V (Pinch Remix) – Chestplate 007
14. F & Headhunter: Dedale – Transistor 001
Runner up:
03.11.09 – Tracklist:
Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says (Slugabed Remix)
EPROM – Shoplifter
Nasty Nasty – No Names
Low Limit – Trapperkeeper
Lokid – Kick The K
Akira Kiteshi – Pinball
Zomby – Strange Fruit
Dyno – Sosismas
Slugabed – Titans
Slugabed – Take OFF
Busta Rhymes – Everybody Rise
Cupp Cave – Breech This Trust
Mark Pritchard – Wind It Up
Scuba – Twicth (Jamie Vexd Remix)
Rustie – Response
Rustie – Bad Science
Nasty Nasty – Necking
Kingfisherg – Rubicon
Machine Drum Ft. Melo – Let It (Lazer Sword Remix)
Loops Haunt – Impact Omnihammer
Boss Kite – ??
Dyno – Fuh Real Inst.
Last Poets – Long Enough
Slugabed – The System
Slugabed – Beer
Rabbi Bananas – Cat_Eat
Slugabed – Ultra Heat Treated
Nasty Nasty – This Kills
EPROM – Humanoid
AK Kids – A Soft Touch
AK Kids – Donk
Powell – Toyz Like Soup
?? – ??
August – I randomly find myself amongst hazed out throbbing mass in living room across the alley. Live raw energy you will never get from no dj, 5 guys screaming at you, thrashing about, mogwai melody into tremendous breakdowns, sticks smashed to bits on the ride, Marshall wall of sound.
calgary hardcore from Bat Country
Bat Country – Bombinate EP
no secret this was one of my favorite labels of 2009. management showed an ear for talent and genre pushing production, seeking out artists from the UK (slugabed, zomby, shortstuff) and from across the pond (falty dl, ras g, samiyam), all the while maintaining the allure of a low-key label (bare bones myspace page, release info distributed through second hand sources only). so what can we expect in 2010 from ramp recordings? its anyone’s guess, but expect the goods! a new 12 from desto in january is all that has been confirmed (red bull music academy 2008 graduate). if the desto release is anything to gauge, ramp will be continuing with post-garage bass music (yes!) and i wouldn’t be surprised to see further releases from west coast beat makers with choice remix selections on the flip. if one may speculate, Tokimonsta (so hot!) and LA based P.U.D.G.E were part of a ramp party in November so perhaps we will be hearing something from them in 2010? i’m one to hope.
a few ramp related selections…
Desto Feat. Wild Bill Ricketts – Phase2
and a soundtrack for bike touring September 2009… Tlell to Skidegate: east facing beaches, empty highway, towering pines and light rain. Tom@Ramp, a prescription for vibe on Haida Qwaii
for whatever reason 12/19, early morning walk to retrieve abandoned vehicle triggered this particle of memory.
all these artists are available for purchase, if you like them buy them.
i did and was justly rewarded.
10.Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do
Just because this album sounded the end of all the sounds that influenced it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t awesome. We all know the story of Diplo and Switch in Kingston any artist at their disposal (please someone make a documentary), the world was their vagina. Which brings me to the next point, this album is extremely x-rated.
What u like feat. Amanda Blank & Einsten
9. the Big Pink – a Brief History of Love 
It’s no secret I rocked out more than once to this pure blast of awesome. If it wasn’t so derivative it would be way higher on the list. I love how raw and manufactured it is at the same time. I love how the live drums match up to the synths. I love the Velvet Underground chic cool. I love the random guitar feedback that breaks into clear crisp drum machine breakdowns. And I love the vocals. Runners up include Cold Cave and the Crocodiles.
The Trees Grew Emotions and Died – Cold Cave
8. Dub Tractor – Sorry
Initially the name seems like a cheap trick (sic) then you just spend the rest of your listen wishing boards of canada had been more poppy. This is post-sex music at 3am.
7. the Temper Trap – Conditions 
When I first heard the Temper I thought Antony Hegarty had turned his delicate falsetto to emo-rock, (and damn that should still happen). You can sing this shit in your head anywhere. And I do mean at Army and Navy off Hastings (but only if you’re shopping for a hibachi for your outdoor emo camping trip)
6. Falty DL – Love is a Liability/Bravery
Dubstep is undeniably a mighty fine genre, perhaps one of the best, and whether you agree that it has lost its way or not Falty are the artists that took it back to where I love it most – deep. melodic. off beat. and romantic. (and hands down the best cover art of the year)
5. Mavado – Mr. Brooks a Better Tomorrow
I clearly have no emotional connect to a Kingston gansta finding god (small caps), but damn if the middle sequence of this album doesn’t rule cinematographic heavy, absolute genius narrative beat dub.
4. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
The high value attached to this album is how much it resonated with me sonically and emotionally. I first heard this album when I was doing a stint in Laos and living in a wicker hut. It was the soundtrack to my time there. It both tethered me and freaked the shit out of me. Listening to post-modern music in a pre-modern world will do that do you.
3. King Midas Sound – Waiting For You 
When the first deep soft drum kick hits over the breathless Bristol vocal your fucking hooked. The comparisons are endless. I’m just tickled priceless that this sound is back.
2. XX by XX
a 
band of and for their time. I listened and loved this album over all others this year. It speaks volumes to the power of music when some kids barely out of high school and a minimal grasp of their instruments or their own voices can make a record this affecting.
1. Matias Aguayo – Ay Ay Ay 
a techno bobby mcferin this guy has more layers of groove vocal melody all synthed out (I really wish at this point in the review that I hadn’t used “this guy has more”.) I have no more adjectives. I was stunned.
I am going to deviate from the traditional letanque music style to introduce Adam VW – a super talented guitarist/singer/songwriter/poet general awesome guy. over the last year he has really started to find his style and I am excited for what 2010 will bring him. if you want to learn more about him, check out his myspace page http://www.myspace.com/adamvwmusic
here are a bunch of his music videos to cheer you up before the work week!
this track is huge. doesnt help that i have a massive crush on the drummer,
