The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 81 - THAT WAS 2013 - Part 2

THAT WAS 2013 – PART 2

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast returns this week to give you another slice of the year's finest. Part 2 of 3 - we are once again giving 2013 a metaphorical high five.

A shorter blog this week where, other than my detailed ramblings about the content of our 2 hour review set, I give you my personal 'awards' for the year. This is a bit of a legacy of my now defunct Last.fm journal, now with a firm annual home here at TPHP.

Note, Animals apparently reaching the UK number one spot has not prevented me from recognising it here. Its massiveness as a tune is completely independent of the masses' bizarre and inexplicable swings in taste. As previously mentioned, this kind of music will feature less and less in the podcast, but that has nothing to do with a sudden pretentious reaction against it.

And here they are...

THE BEST OF 2013

Best ‘House’ Tunes Of 2013
3. Mell Tierra - Glazer

2. Martin Garrix - Animals
1. Showtek & Noisecontrollers - Get Loose (Tiesto Remix)

Best Trance/Progressive Producer Of 2013
3. Photographer
2. Harry Square
1. Darren Porter

Best Trance/Progressive Label Of 2013
3. Monster Tunes
2. Interstate Recordings
1. Blue Soho Recordings

Best DJ Of 2013

3. Aly & Fila

2. Bryan Kearney

1. Jordan Suckley

Best Podcast/Radio Show Of 2013
3. Mainstage with W&W
2. Global DJ Broadcast with Markus Schulz
1. The Ben Gold Podcast with Ben Gold

Best Set Of 2013

3. Bryan Kearney @ The Energy Box, London (February)
2. Jordan Suckley @ Ministry Of Sound, London (April)
1. Infected Mushroom @ Global Gathering (July)

Clubbing/DJing Highlights Of 2013
3. Infected Mushroom playing Cities Of The Future @ Global Gathering (July)

2. Playing Fisherman & Hawkins – Apache at the Hildreth farewell house party (September)
1. Playing Ferry Corsten – Brain Box @ Transcend, Cube Bar (January)

Personal Highlight Of 2013

Doing my first ever public DJing gig, for Transcend in Brighton

“One To Watch” In 2014

Adam Ellis

And here comes the music. This leg of our annual review contains my 'Tune Of The Year' for 2013. And what a headf*cking mind bender it is!!

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST 081 – THAT WAS 2013 – PART 2

1. Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Vocal Remix)

[February / Spinnin' Records]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 55

This remix first emerged midway through 2012 and was played numerous times by Markus Schulz on Global DJ Broadcast and then repeatedly on Above & Beyond’s radio show. After finally being released in February on Spinnin’ Records, it didn't come to the public’s attention until well into the summer of this year. There is something unique and slightly hypnotic about Lana De Rey’s voice, her talent as a vocalist and songwriter stands out head and shoulders above the rest of the ‘X-Factor saturated’ crowd. Meanwhile, Cedric Gervais’ success in 2012 with the ‘tongue-in-check’ Molly, made this rework an inevitable commercial hit.

2. Julie Thompson with Super8 & Tab - Your Secret's Safe

[June / Magik Muzik]

Chosen By: Steve McDonald

This was definitely the ‘grower’ of 2013. Really wasn't taken with this at first, to the extent that it never made it into a podcast episode. But it eventually made its impact. Absolutely love Julie Thompson’s voice and it suits Super8 & Tab’s production style perfectly. This is actually one of Julie’s best written songs.

3. Eximinds - Revolved

[January / Anjunabeats]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 48 (with Ben Collier)

Position in Top 40: #27

One that landed at the very start of the year, my main memory of this one is it aural assaulting me at Ministry of Sound during my birthday outing. Dark, aggressive stabs and a bizarre eerie melody, on the Ministry soundsystem it was like being hit in the face with a bag full of bricks … in not at all an unpleasant way. Another one from the TPHP vs. Room 1ne sessions collaboration.

4. Maison & Dragen feat. Toni Nielson - Immortal Love

[September / Captivating Sounds]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 76

From aggressive stabs to something wholly more uplifting. A really rich, full track this one, at a very modest pace. A very simple melody that repeats and repeats behind a hugely infectious vocal. In the words Mr. AP, ‘lovely stuff’.

5. Beat Service ‎– Aurora

[April / Beat Service Audio]

Chosen By: Max Derkson

A track typical of Beat Service’s high quality output these days. This one transports me back to one of the Trance Sanctuary parties we attended earlier this year. As we all returned from the venue trying to work out what his track was. We knew it was Beat Service, god damn it, but which one. We worked it out in the end. I had forgotten about this one until Max suggested it for That Was 2013. A top pick.

6. Andy Moor & Betsie Larkin - Love Again (Andrew Rayel Remix)

[February / AVA Recordings]

Chosen By: Sam Derks

Rising superstar Andrew Rayel gave Andy Moor’s collaboration with Betsie Larkin an extra shot in the arm. Vaguely remember Andrew playing this at Global Gathering if my memory serves.

7. Skytech - Out Of Nowhere

[January / Coldharbour Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 49

Coming out just a couple of days before my birthday, this was absolutely one of the best Coldharbour releases in 2013. Very powerful build and a great GDJB-esque riff. Exactly what the doctor order – if that doctor is Dr. Schulz.

8. Heatbeat - Game Over

[March / Mainstage Music]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 51

Still being one of my favourite acts in electronic music, Heatbeat always have a part to play in counting down the best tunes of the year. With Game Over the duo further pushed their sound into headf*ck territory. Savage glitchy electro-ness, picked up by W&W’s Mainstage.

9. Armin Van Buuren & Markus Schulz - The Expedition (A State Of Trance 600 Anthem)

[January / Armada]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 49

Position in Top 40: #20

When you see Armin Van Buuren and Markus Schulz appear as collaborating artists you know something is about to occur. You can definitely hear both artists in this track – Markus more in the build, Armin more in the break. Love how that riff sounds when it fully drops in the break.

10. Hardwell & W&W - Jumper

[August / Revealed Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 70

Position in Top 40: #40
Chosen By: Sam Hind

A very sharp change of direction for some of that big room ‘EDM’ sound – a term I promise you will stop seeing in my blog in 2014. Hardwell and W&W are two acts that have gradually started to mirror each other and I suppose it was only a matter of time before they collaborated. The riff in this one is a big win!

11. W&W & Ummet Ozcan - The Code

[February / Revealed Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 49

This record played a huge part in the early part of my 2013 and reminds me inescapably of some hazy Fridays in January and February. I practically had it on repeat for 2 months as soon as it was played in Hardwell’s On Air. That riff is a hair-raiser every time, and I love the way it wobbles in pitch slightly.

12. Orjan Nilsen – Violetta

[May / Armind]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 61

Chosen By: Sam Hind

Despite a relatively average year of producing by his very very high standards, Orjan pulled this little beaut out the bag in early summertime. I remember hearing this on GDJB at Chester train station heading home after a wedding in very early June and instantly tweeting about its massiveness. Probably the most powerful tune Orjan has done at that kind of tempo.

13. Max Graham - The Evil ID

[June /  Re*Brand]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 65

Chosen By: Steve McDonald

Unequivocal proof that in trance music there are no substitutes for mood and atmosphere in a track. So simple, yet so effective. My main memory from Oakenfold’s MoS set in October. One of those ones where if you don’t recognise it by the first drop, damn, you’ll recognise it by the break. Unmistakeable.

14. AYDA – Magic

[July / Arisa Audio]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 68

Position in Top 40: #35

One of those lesser known tracks that I occasionally latch onto. I originally put this into Episode 68 purely because it had an Intro Mix. After listening back to that episode 3 or 4 times, I realised this actually has one of the best, most striking riffs of the year. Really really good. Nice piano line also. One that will be going in my digital 'record box' for future gigs.

15. Arisen Flame - All The Way

[February / Arisa Audio]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 51 (Tune Of The Episode)

Position in Top 40: #28

The second of an Arisa Audio back-to-back double. One I discovered through Global DJ Broadcast. Quite an understated tune actually, but love the way the riff builds. A surprising choice for Tune Of The Episode in my very first 1 hour podcast.

16. Simon Patterson & Jordan Suckley ‎– Vanilla

[April / Reset Records]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 56 (Tune Of The Episode)

Position in Top 40: #15

What do you get when a legend of the harder edged scene going down a new psy trance path collaborates with a young upstart with rapidly improving production skills? You get this funky little monster, a record which nails that balance between psy and more 'traditional' uplifting trance perfectly. Epic.

17. Davey Asprey - Chimera

[August / Monster Digital]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 71

Position in Top 40: #34

Well into our more banging trance by this point in the set and here we begin to replicate a 3 track combination that worked an absolute treat in my personal favourite episode of 2013, Episode 71, albeit in a slightly different order. First of them is this rounded uplifter from Davey Asprey on Monster. Sensational melody on this one. A stunning and, in my opinion, quite underrated tune.

18. Adam Ellis - Napalm Poet

[July / Kearnage Recordings]

***PHIL’S TUNE OF 2013***

Featured In TPHP: Episode 71

Chosen By: Ben Dursley, Douglas Archibald

It's difficult to put into words just how special this one is, but I will have a go anyway. This isn't just the best tune I've heard this year. After much reflection over the last 6 months, I think it might be the best trance track released in the last 5-6 years. Maybe even a decade. With trance getting so formulaic these days it can be difficult for even the top tunes to really stand out. And Napalm Poet is formulaic; it doesn't do anything out of the ordinary in terms of structure, tempo or style. All it does is take all the traditional elements and absolutely nail them, with a degree of precision and execution that is borderline astonishing. It has a perfect melodic riff, an extra layer of power that makes that riff truly shine and, in that plaintive vocal wail, that distant war cry, it has a signature element that endures and holds you - transfixed.

And I'm not alone in my appreciation either. Whenever myself and Ben Dursley have played B2B this year we have had to discuss beforehand who gets to play it. I remember those sets fondly because of this tune. And from July right through till September (and even later) my housemates had this on repeat. Another great memory carved out by this track came from SW4 in late August courtesy of Aly & Fila. I had told people beforehand (gleefully and hopefully) how much I'd love to hear it and, as I approached the trance tent having just been to the toilets, I heard that vocal rising in the distance from across the mud. I ran (or squelched) as fast as I could back into the tent. Adam Ellis - take a bow, Sir.

19. Armin Van Buuren – Who’s Afraid of 138? (Jordan Suckley Remix)

[August / Who's Afraid Of 138?]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 71

Chosen By: Douglas Archibald

The first release on Armin's new 'Who's Afraid of 138?' imprint. In all honesty, I'm starting  to find this WAO138 movement a bit of a pretentious bore - accentuated by those who spend far too much time obsessing about the influence of Americanised EDM on the trance scene. (The same goes for #Team140.) How about who's afraid of 145?... or 150? BPM is not a badge of honour and 138 is not remotely scary. However, I digress. This was another fantastic example of Jordan Suckley's developing production skills. Love the contrast between how beautiful the breakdown is compared to the aggression of the drop.

20. Photographer - Tic Tac

[April / Monster Tunes]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 56

Just pure bassline-age from, without doubt, one of the most consistent trance acts in the scene at the moment.

21. Tasso - Live Rounds

[August / D.Max Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 73 (Tune Of The Episode)

Position in Top 40: #22

A harder edged feel to this melodic monster from Episode 73. Absolutely stunning breakdown with some neat little movie sampling in it from a harrowing scene in Full Metal Jacket. "Seven-six-two millimeter! Full metal jacket!"

22. Abstract Vision & Philippe El Sisi - Aerobatics

[September / Tytanium Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 77 (Tune Of The Episode)

Position in Top 40: #24

Hyper uplifting banger on Sean Tyas' label Tytanium with some great acid lines in the build. Surprised this one wasn't on FSOE.

23. Andres Sanchez- Ganymede

[May / Blue Soho Recordings]

Featured In TPHP: Episode 61

Another fine example of what has been so outstanding about Blue Soho in 2013. A fond memory from Trance Sanctuary this year, featuring in North & Sanchez's main room set in July - that epic mid-summer Trance Sanctuary where the weather was as hot as the music. 

Only one more part to come and that will arrive during the last weekend of 2013. With all this fantastic music, what more could we possibly have in store? Believe me, we are not done yet. Have a very Merry Xmas, everyone!