Counting down the top 20 compilations and mixes that rocked my world this year.
- 20. Simian Mobile Disco – Fabric Mix
Number 41 in the Fabric mix series from SMD was predictably dancefloor-orientated with tunes from Metro Area, Hercules and Love Affair, Shit Robot and DeadMau5 culminating in a classic Green Velvet track and eh, The Walker Brothers. - 19. Amplive – RainyDayz remixes
Amplive’s superb 8-track remix compilation of Radiohead’s In Rainbows almost didn’t see the light of day. I’m pretty happy it did though. It features Zion-I and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. Download it here. - 18. Arabian Prince – Innovative Life
Stones Throw released the anthology of 80s electro-funk rapper Arabian Prince. Like Egyptian Lover except for this guy used to be in NWA. - 17. Jeff Martin – Spoons
The Halfset guitarist released a lovely remix album of his solo work earlier this year featuring reworkings from Minotaur Shock, Decal, The High Llamas, John Parrish, John McEntire and more. - 16. Buraka Som Sistema – Mixtape
Portugal’s BSS released this 20 minute mix to promote their debut album Black Diamond. It’s full of banging ghettotech tunes and never lets up. - 15. Dancehall (Soul Jazz Records)
As with all other Soul Jazz record releases, an aural journey which throws up hits and essential cuts from a genre. In this case, Jamaican Dancehall culture of the 1980s with superb liner notes on each track. - 14. Noble Society Live from the Frontline mixtape
Fans of Diplo’s global soundclash will love this dub/hip-hop/dancehall hybrid from Brooklyn. Downloaded from eMusic. Myspace. - 13. Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues, 1970-76
A fascinating document of Nigeria in these six years in the 1970s, a fertile time for Nigerian afrobeat, blues and highlife songs. - 12. Flying Lotus – Essential Mix
A extremely chilled out two hour mix taking in Alice Coltrane, Samiyam, Burial, Baron Zen, an abundance of Fly Lo tracks and loads more. Pretty aptly titled and since it’s appeared a few weeks ago, widely hailed. - 11. The Very Best mixtape
Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit team up for an Malawi meets UK via France and Sweden pan-global explosion. Download the zipped mixtape. Myspace page.
The Very Best – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - 10. An England Story (Soul Jazz Records)
Another Soul Jazz release charting the culture of the MC in the UK from 1984-2008 including luminaries such as Roots Manuva, Wiley, Papa Levi, Tippa Irie, Warrior Queen and more. More info. - 9. The Vinny Club – State mix
Mental mix of “early to mid 1980s pop slash rock” taking in loads of scary German music. Tracklisting. - 8. SEBP – Appetite for Reconstruction
16 track free download reimagining of SEBP’s debut by the likes of Decal, Jape, The Vinny Club, Cadence Weapon, T-Woc and loads more. Download in a variety of lossy and lossless formats from Bandcamp. - 7. DJ Halfdutch – State mix
Another State mix which took a hammering from me throughout the year. Halfdutch is a talented lady. Tracklisting. - 6. Keb Darge / Cut Chemist -Lost and Found
A suberb two-disc collection of jumping, jiving, rockabilly, blues and rock and roll. - 5. Neon Neon Mixtape
Weird songs from Neil Young, Goblin and Paul McCartney clash with songs from Janet Jackson, Prince and Kraftwerk. Bizarre. Download with left click. - 4. DJ /Rupture – Uproot
A much more relaxed, vibey mix of dubstep, global rhythms and ambient electronica from the king of world DJs. - 3. Benga Breezeblock
The most exhilarating 30 minutes of dubstep in 2008. - 2. El-P – We Are All Going to Burn in Hell Megamix 2
Leftover ideas in the form of a tour CD from last year’s I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead album which are just as vital as its predecessor. Free download from the Def Jux Store as long as you sign up first. - 1. Santogold & Diplo – Top Ranking mixtape
Simply the most fun mixtape of 2008 with some old stuff like B52s and Aretha Franklin, some dubstep and Santogold finally coming good on her considerable promise.
More 2008 goodness to follow this week.
