Top Top Music: The best track from each Top 10 Things I Heard in [Insert Year] since starting Ceefax Of Life

I'm getting bang back into making YouTube playlists after doing one for the Top 10 Things I Heard in 2020. 

So here's another one.

Every top track from every end of year rundown I've done since starting this blog in 2009.

2020 = Carli - Lights & Strobes

2019 = Tyler, the Creator - EARFQUAKE

2018 = Andre 3000 - Me & My (To Bury Your Parents)

2017 = 1010 Benja SL - Boofiness

2015 and 2016 = Didn't do a list IDK

2014 = Robert Palmer - Johnny & Mary

2013 = Chance The Rapper - Paranoia

2012 = Breakbot - By Your Side (feat. Pacific!) [Part 1 & 2] (as James Pants' Boiler Room Mix isn't on YouTube)

2011 = TEETH - This Time

2010 = Telex - Moskow Diskow

2009 = Danny Boy & The Serious Gods - Castro Boy (Somewhat Normal)

Maybe I should go through the archives and pick some tracks for 2015 and 2016.

Top 10 Things I Heard in 2020

What a shit year. 

COVID and Cummings. 

Andrew Weatherall and MF DOOM. 

My dad. 

Fuck.

I was tempted not to bother. But we can heal through routine. 

As with previous years, this list isn't the best music to come out in 2020, it's the best stuff I heard for the first time this year. In fact, most of the following didn't come out in 2020. It was a year to forget after all.

[Also, I thought I'd do a playlist instead of post individually - bite me]

10. Special Request - Spectral Frequency

9. Sonic Youth - I Love You Golden Blue

8. Polli Ji - Meant To Be (Original Mix)

7. Bustin

6. No_4mat - 1992

5. Tyler, the Creator - Best Interest

4. iamamiwhoami - Good Worker

3. Oneohtrix Point Never - Chrome Country

2. (K)NoW_NAME - Night SURFING

1. Carli - Lights and Strobes 

Bonus round:

News of the year: COVID vaccines or Wales not playing Ireland again in World Cup Qualifying. Too close to call.

YouTube Channel/stream of the year: 🇯🇵 Japanese 70s 80s New Music Soul Funk Disco Fusion City Pop Kayou Reggae 和モノ ニューミュージック🗼from New J Channel. Also, shout out to William Maranci for the mash-ups and belly laughs.

Mix of the year: “TEKI AND NICK’S MIXTAPE QUEST ADVENTURE” (テキとニックのUミクステップクイエスト大冒険).

Also, I want to give special thanks to NTS Radio, especially Charlie Bones on the breakfast show for helping me get through working from home this year. 

Related post: Top 10 Things I Heard in 2019

Endless Europe

And that's the Transition period done.

Hopefully, we'll be back as the Republic of Wales.

6 in 1 (5)

There's always time for a list. Here are a few cuts I've been enjoying amongst the Christmas crackers...

Vito Ricci – I'm At That Party Right Now

Lo-fi AF house music, with a jokey video that's thematically close to Call on Me by Eric Prydz. A proper roller.

Bicep - Apricots

Bicep are back, sounding like Bicep. Apricots is off Isles, out on Ninja Tune 22 January 2021.

Against All Logic - Fantasy

Crunchy weirdness with a warped Beyonce sample? 100% up my street.

Bagarre - Lemonsweet (1985 Album Version)

This is from a compilation called "I-Robots - Turin Dancefloor Express - 70's - 80's Piedmont Area Italo Rare Grooves, Disco + Not Disco Sounds - Vol. 1". Which I bought immediately.

Desire - Under Your Spell

As featured on this bizarre but brilliant Arsenal x Adidas Originals advert (I would do anything to be in the back of that car with David Seamen and Steve Bould). Under Your Spell has got over 50m views on YouTube, likely due to it featuring on the Drive OST.

Lennie De Ice - We Are I.E. [Original Mix] (1991)

Before everything fractured and splintered, rave was just rave. You can hear hoover, hardcore and jungle elements are in here, but ultimately it's all about the rave.

I saw this on UK Rave Comments, which shared the awesome fact that the Dark Destroyer himself, Nigel Benn used it as ring entrance music. Yes mate.

Original image: Sérgio Valle Duarte Wikidata has entry Q16269994 with data related to this item., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Christmas Crackers 2020

Guys, there won't be a Xmas Mix this year. I know, how could 2020 get any worse, right? Still, you can catch up on my old Christmas mixes of hip-hop, electronica and festive weirdness below and over on my MixCloud.

• Xmas Mix 2016 (Rothfink's Merry Rustmas)
• Xmas Mix 2014
• Xmas Mix 2012
• Xmas Mix 2011
• Xmas Mix 2010

But just because there's no new mix, that doesn't mean I haven't been keeping my ear to the ground for the coldest Christmas cuts. Here's my pick so far...

SNL - Stu

I genuinely laugh out loud every time at "Bitch Tits".

Chilly Gonzales & Toddla T - A Very Chilly Mixtape: The Coldest Christmas

I missed out on reviewing this for Buzz, but no matter, it can go here. Here we go. 

This slaps - *****

Radiohead - Creep But It's All I Want For Christmas Is You By Mariah Carey (2020 Mix)

Welcome to hell/2020.

Nadolig Llawen.