gui boratto / arquipelago / kompakt
maetrik / cologne & back / treibstoff
alex smoke / snider / soma
sten / back four / dial
pantha du prince / lichten / dial
adam kroll / stalker / traum
minisystem / eat the house / unreleased
sami koivikko / pientare / ghostly
thomas schumacher / mad robot / spiel-zeug schallplatten
lars wickinger / gleitflug / traum
scsi-9 / railway one / k2
theodor zox / extruder (maetrik remix) / tic tac toe
alex smoke / make my day (lusine mix) / soma
andy stott / florence / modern love
lawrence / off the line / dial
dublee / route / mule
antonio bruno / blaetterwind / eintakt
junior boys / in the morning (alex smoke remix) / domino
kangding ray / nn/peaks / raster noton
ezekiel honig / more human than human (ezekiel & friends still human mix) / microcosm music
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*Thanks to minisystem for making this mix possible. All feedback is welcome and appreciated. e-mail: basic_sounds@yahoo.ca

>>>>>>>best of 2006<<<<<<<

Another year in review, and what a year. Here's my collection of the top 10 albums I've listened to this year, in no particular order (comparing Alex Smoke to Cat Power seems impossible).

Alex Smoke, a newbie from Scotland who has gained huge success in minimal techno with his textural, driven beats, delivers a brilliant album with Paradolia. His voice has definitely developed since his previous album, which suffered from a lack of consistency as it featured tracks prepared over a five year time span. Paradolia, his second release, is more concise and solid in comparison, and sets a standard that's basically impossible to top. Now on to a completely different artist and genre: Cat Power. Her passionate voice and musical sincerity are both gorgeous and enthralling. She gained tremendous acclaim with her latest offering, The Greatest, and the title says it all. This album appears to be a little lighter emotionally than her previous releases, and a little more complete when it comes to the variety of songs. I've also been blessed with seeing her perform live twice this year and her shows are always very personable. She performs as if she is in a living room singing for close friends, and you can't help but fall in love with her intimacy and beauty. Minisystem, a low-key fellow Torontonian, pops out of the woodwork with his brilliant, nostalgic synth-pop on Madingley. His gorgeous melodies are delicate and driven, and win over the hearts of those with varied tastes in music. Maetrik was new to me this year, although this talented 26 year-old appears to have extensive 12" releases. He surprised me with his texturally complex tech-house on the brilliant Casi Profundo. Kangding Ray sets an improved standard for the Raster Noton label. The clicky techno minimalism on Stabil is amazingly cutting edge, and the superb packaging completes this gorgeous piece of art. Ezekiel Honig from New York City creates deep chord washes and a delicate wet minimal ambience that radiates organic warmth on Scattered Practices. Tokyo-based Chihei Hatakeyama creates charming, tranquil bliss with Minima Moralia, an ambient delight that only gets better with each listen. Thom Yorke from Radiohead goes solo with his release The Eraser; produced with Nigel Godrich, he delivers intensely beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional lyrics while including more electronic elements. Thomas Schumacher's Home CD is an exquisite 12 track mix of minimal, funky, raw techno. Junior Boys, So This Is Goodbye, tops their first release Last Exit. Jeremy Greenspan's captivating waspy sexy voice, synthlines and guitar create warm-hearted, 80's sounding, synth-pop.

It was hard to narrow the list down, and these 10 were selected because each album has consistent quality from start to finish. It's rare that I love an album in its entirety, and I often find myself going straight to my favourite tracks and cringing over some of the others. These 10 albums have passed the cringe test and are worthy of repeat listens this year and for years to come. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

alex smoke / paradolia / soma


download

maetrik / casi profundo / treibstoff


download

thomas schumacher / home / spiel-zeug


download

junior boys / so this is goodbye / domino


download in the morning
download double shadow
download count souvenirs
download fm

minisystem / madingley / noise factory


download madingley
download what about me
download we'll be ok

kangding ray / stabil / raster noton


download

ezekiel honig / scattered practices / microcosm music



chihei hatakeyama / minima moralia / kranky


download
pass: touchmenot.net

cat power / the greatest / matador records


download the greatest
download could we

thom yorke / the eraser / xl recordings


download atoms for peace

tor lundvall / yule / strange fortune



The most gorgeous holiday music, and I hate themed seasonal music. Discovering this has made my day, something unexpected!
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pass: touchmenot.net

antonio bruno / bleep / dreiton
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hylozoists / music gallery, toronto / dec. 1


AMAZING! Talented tight musicians that deliver orchestral compositions with indie post-rock melodies. This band will go far. View a clip from the show here.

va / soma 2006 compilation / soma
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*only cd 1 available

va / copenhagen label collaboration
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pass: iRis

thomas brinkmann / klick revolution / max ernst
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pass: iRis

gas / gas / mille plateaux
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pass: touchmenot.net

daniel stefanik / starless reshapes / statik
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pass: touchmenot.net

va / unhappy anniversary v.2 / unfoundsound netlabel

01. omar salgado / escarcha en el cesped [7:08]
02. den / stagdoodledoo [6:45]
03. so inagawa / kada [5:13]
04. mark-henning / motorrad da douche [6:12]
05. [a]pendics.shuffle / secret dummy [6:24]
06. david last / halitosis rockers [6:18]
07. barem / fridrill [6:44]
08. dot / emergency [5:46]
09. pheek + agnes / aube [6:37]
10. max brannslokker / raimonds pauls [5:02]
11. ben parris / juju werewolf [6:55]
12. fusiphorm / the minidisc in the sink [5:45]
13. jamespatrick / boomisland (drunk edit) [7:46]
14. fidget / suburban station [5:22]
15. franco bianco / sueno raro [5:25]
16. dilo vs. gurtz / submarina [8:11]
17. franco cinelli / gamma [7:51]
18. tufan demir / haydut [9:56]
19. mike uzzi & ben recht / reclaiming the 120s [6:33]
20. agaric / guard your home [5:23]
21. bruce logan / it's just worse [7:10]
22. massi dl / mensoda [5:38]
23. someone else / soap putty [5:07]
24. ditch / yack [6:54]
25. ryo miyashita houjou [6:11]
26. tleilaxu / communal [8:23]
27. ezekiel honig / office of destruction [4:51]
28. butane / time to burn [5:16]
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Check out Zach Schrock's portfolio.


i:eye, a site of all things cool.

deadbeat / salem's loft, toronto / nov. 25



Deadbeat created a dub-techno party on Saturday. The crowd digested and rocked out to his heavy swaggering bass-lines. It never fails, I always have a great time at Salem's loft.

va / pop ambient 2007 / kompakt


boomkat review
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pass: touchmenot.net

noze / how to dance / circus company
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pass: touchmenot.net

farben / featuring the dramatics / klang
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pass: touchmenot.net

gillsans / mixes / 2006
download somewhere down in royston
download deep beats from royston

geoff white / nevertheless / background


boomkat review
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pass: touchmenot.net

theodor zox / crystallized / morris audio citysport edition
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pass: touchmenot.net

theodor zox / extruder (maetrik remix) / tic tac toe
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pass: touchmenot.net

sten / tv / dial
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pass: touchmenot.net

va / stadtmusik buenos aires / onitor
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pass: touchmenot.net

mikael stavostrand / no turning back / mo's ferry productions
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pass: touchmenot.net

my my / songs for the gentle / playhouse
boomkat review
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pass: iRis

Check out Honey Eat Your Salad a quality on-line art magazine.

keinzweiter / mounted mars / plex records


download
download digital barbecue dj mix
download solaris dj mix

t. raumschmiere / random noize sessions vol. 01 / shitkatapult


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pass: touchmenot.net

marek hemman / live sets / 2006

download deepmix, moscow
download triptyque mix, paris

daze maxim / live set / may 2006
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*coming to toronto feb. 24

Check out Peter Jaworowski, a superbly polished designer.

the album leaf / lee's palace, toronto / november 9


I was just recently introduced to The Album Leaf and catching their live show only made me want to learn more. They have Boards of Canada-esque drum programming with Sigur Ros and Mum-like nostalgic elements, but then they also veer towards some indie pop that can be compared to Morr label's The Go Find. Why did it take me so long to learn about these San Diego guys? Watch a clip from the show here.

hammock / raising your voice...trying to stop an echo / darla

Gorgeous shoegazer ambient post-rock bliss. I'm in love. Thanks to my friend Ben for introducing me to this. Recommended.
hammock interview
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marc houle / bay of figs / m_nus

Not my favourite, but I'm sure some of my blog vistors would be interested in hearing this. Restore is so much better.
download
pass: iRis

michael mayer / beats in space mix / october 24, 2006

01 Dj Koze / Stompin At The Clubfoot / Kompakt
02 Terre Thaemlitz / Fatt Jazz / Mule
03 Skatebard / Digitalo Enterprises
04 Kontrast / Grey Sky's / Kompakt
05 Fallout / The Morning After / Fourth Floor
06 Forgemasters / Stress / Network
07 Herve Au / The Closer / K2
08 Pantha du Prince / Lichten / Kompakt
09 Justus Kohncke / Faults & FX / Kompakt
10 Unknownmi X / The Siren (Losoul's Hot Edit) / Playhouse
11 Super Mayer / The Art Of Letting Go / Kompakt
12 Thomas Mayer / Sweet Harmony / Kompakt
13 Patrick Cowley / Sea
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Check out Trevor Brady's latest series called "At Home."

Eduardo Recife

fairmont / hotel deauville / playmade

Fairmont aka Jacob Fairley's latest release Hotel Deauville is a reflection on his stay in Cuba with his girlfriend. Not as good as "I Want To See The Sun Come Up," but deserves a listening none the less.
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pass: touchmenot.net

marat hussein / magnetic breath

paul kalkbrenner - since 77
cosmic sandwich - battle twig
jeff samuel - night ride
anja schneider & sebo k - rancho relaxo (pan-pot remix)
alejandro lopez - bigudi
ricardo villalobos - fizheuer zieheuer
someone else - water in mexico (marek hemmann remix)
phage & daniel dreier - chewing gum
sami koivikko - dore
larsson - spreemelodie
luciano - bla bla bla
rekleiner - shall we
download

console / mono / disko b



Console aka Notwist's latest album is drastically different than anything I'd expect under his Notwist alias. Mono takes his listeners through cinematic delicate ambience. At first I dismissed this album, but it has grown on me and has now become one of my repeat morning listens.
download

DJ's living in Germany

Check out the gorgeous photography of Dorothee Smith. I'm a fan. Her blog brings me regular happiness.

michael mayer / immer 2 / kompakt
boomkat review
pitchfork review
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ricardo villalobos / what's wrong my friends? / perlon
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pass: touchmenot.net

Check out the photography of Mia Mala McDonald.

various / collectors series pt.1: popular songs mixed by the modernist / faith recordings

The end of this set is cheesy, but overall worth it.
01. closer music / 1-2-3 no gravity / 03:22
02. mikkel metal / microho / 03:24
03. repair / late night moves / 02:03
04. triola / freifeld / 01:18
05. autosundmodchen / alltag / 04:00
06. telepopmusik / breathe / 03:49
07. d'ntel / (this is) the dream of evan and chan (superpitcher mix) / 05:17
08. dj koze / bobby / 02:30
09. erlend oye / ghost trains / 03:46
10. richard davis / world disappears / 04:38
11. autobianchi / stay / 02:03
12. ada / livedriver (b. movement rmx) / 04:25
13. the modernist / protest song / 04:43
14. superpitcher / mushroom angels (burger mash-up) / 04:27
15. repair / never forgive & forget / 02:55
16. round two / new day / 05:33
17. scritti politti / the boom boom bap / 04:12
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pass: iRis

m.a.n.d.y. / at the controls / resist music
download 1
*only part 1 available.

paul kalkbrenner / reworks / bpitch


boomkat review
download
pass: hypnoticbreak

fraktion (aka jon gaiser) / fraktion / resopal red
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pass: touchmenot.net


Check out local Toronto talent, Stephen Crowhurst.

Be blown away by the Dzark Design bureau.

philip sherburne / live dj set at raum, barcelona / july 2006.
download

dj little mike / live at redmonkey / nov. 2005.

01. closer musik / one, two, three / kompakt
02. lindstrom / i feel space (m.a.n.d.y. rmx) / playhouse
03. ? / ? / plastic city
04. triola / leuchturm (wighnomy brothers rmx) / kompakt
05. pan/tone / thrill/ho/ mule
06. pablo bolivar / next player / regular
07. daso / t.anders / my best friend
08. bern / retro / toys for boys
09. robert babicz / weekend / treibstoff
10. someone else / picture perfect / founsound
11. onur ozer / envy / vakant
12. sweet n candy / die nackte hand am brotbeutel des bahwaerters / raum
13. tigerskin / yeah yeah / morris audio
14. kirk degiorgio / alcyone / freerance
15. soda inc / flight su118 / plastic city
16. the mfa / difference it makes (superpitcher rmx) / kompakt
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alex smoke / sci fi hi fi vol 3 / soma

01 porn sword tobacco / najat library card / city centre offices
02 burial / gutted / hyperdub
03 basic channel / radiance1 / basic channel
04 model 500 / m69 starlight / r & s
05 rythmn & sound / see mi version (basic reshape) / burial mix
06 troy pierce - 25 bitches (gaiser remix / minus
07 stewart walker vs theorem - minor explosions / minus
08 add noise - loose wire (ac version) / earsugar
09 aril brikha - aqua [art of vengeance
10 the vision - detroit: one circle / metroplex
11 thomas brinkmann / xenia / max ernst
12 claro intelecto / peace of mind / claro intelecto
13 musica charlista / juan & alex / apnea
14 epy / faktum / trust
15 alex smoke / pingu / vakant
16 quixote / squat / unreleased
17 alex smoke / always & forever (vapid mix) / seventh sign
18 2000 & one / fokus / evolute
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pass: iRis

dj peter pace / das erste mini-mal / n/a



01 loco dice / seeing through shadow
02 jeremias werner / five woodpeckers
03 italoboyz / bubble and click
04 moritz piske / ein känguruh im clubraum
05 pan-pot / schuss aus der hüfte
06 david keno / heech
07 paul woolford / erotic discourse
08 extrawelt / titelheld
09 anthony rother / don't worry
10 ben block / point-blank
11 thomas schumacher / red purple
12 pier bucci / l'nuit (dominik eulberg remix)
13 sweet n candy / tackywakeup (dominik eulberg remix)
14 dominik eulberg / basstölpel
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va / von uns / onitor compilation
download
*click on "Download for free with FileFactory Basic"

jenny lewis and the watson twins / trinity st. paul's church, toronto / oct. 7




Sparkling voice wearing a sparkling sequin dress, Jenny Lewis shone tonight. Her vocal harmonies with the Watson Twins could impress the pants off anyone and hearing them in a church setting made for a superb experience.
now article

matmos / music gallery, toronto / oct. 9




Matmos was amazing! An unforgettable unique performance of absurd experimentation creating the ultimate contemporary art experience.
eye article

noah pred / nuit blanche dj mix live at tempo, toronto
download

aus / sonorapid / music related



Yasuhiko Fukuzono aka Aus is a Tokyo-based artist, that creates lovely sounds, similar to that of Telefon Tel Aviv, yet mixed with shoe-gazer soft morr label dreamscapes and Mum-like vocals.
download
pass: touchmenot.net

phantom ghost / relax it's only a ghost / ladomat 2000


download pantha du prince remix mp3

fourcolor / letter of sounds / 12k


download 02 mp3
download season mp3
download fountain mp3
*yousendit links die in a week


Check out Toronto artist Nicholas Di Genova