Recap of 2006

Our introduction will be a bit more pessimistic than usual, because nothing of much importance took place in the world of electronic music in 2006. This doesn’t mean that there was a lack of good releases; it’s just that we didn’t witness the birth of anything new. Instead, we watched and listened as recent trends were exploited.

Minimal is still on the soft side as far as its sound is concerned, and the genre continues to lure more and more producers to its very characteristic vibe. The same is true for electro, which unfortunately has become unbearable to listen to for us in its “humming” form. Not to mention electro house, which has spread its way into pretty much every club (well, in Poland at least). Although I must admit that when funky and vocal house were replaced by electro house as the default sound in clubs, I was fairly content with this turn of events. But I quickly changed my mind after hearing a remix of ‘Walking Away’ for the millionth time at a popular shopping center.

Dub step seems to have popped out of nowhere, but it is unlikely that the genre will become a major trendsetter like progressive, minimal and electro have in recent years. But there’s no reason to worry. After all, it’d seem to be too good to be true if we had a reason to cry “Eureka” each and every year. [LN]

The best of 2006 has been collectively chosen by Sebastian & Lukasz Napora, Adam Slowinski, Lukasz Zareba. English version by [b]Adam Slowinski.

Best Artist Album
	It’s difficult to tell whether this is a new tradition here at Sound Revolt or not, but the fact of the matter is that this is the second year in a row that the artist that produced the best album is also awarded top spot in the Best Producer category. However, this year we should be using the plural form of producer. Thanks to Ellen Allien & Apparat, there wasn’t much to argue about in this category. ‘Orchestra of Bubbles’ is a mature, diverse, and at times explorative album on which two highly respected artists created a truly extraordinary synergy. What’s more, a synergy which eclipsed all of their solo efforts to date. Despite becoming more and more common, minimal fared very well in this category. Guido Schneider combined his production skills with his DJing skills, the end result of which was a very interesting record. Moreover, Troy Pierce (aka Louderbach) proved that there was still something to be said in minimal. Trentemøller showed the world that he is capable of achieving even more than he did in 2005. Well thought out productions and stylistic diversity went a long way in further cementing his very strong position in the world of electronic music. Jeff Samuel decided to release his album a little later than Anders but, as it turned out, it was well worth the wait. ‘Step’ is without a doubt an album with a clear message. [LN]
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles
Trentemøller - The Last Resort Guido Schneider - Focus On: Guido Schneider Jeff Samuel - Step Louderbach - Enemy Love

Best Compilation
	Poker Flat came out on top in this category with their compilation ‘Bets n’ Bluffs’. Both CD1 (a compilation of singles) and CD2 (a DJ set by Martin Landsky) clearly have all the features of a true classic. Traum, which is just a bit younger than Poker Flat, managed to keep pace this year’s winner with ‘Elektronische Musik - Interkontinental 5’. Triple R reached new heights in musical selection by compiling tracks that are very original yet dance floor friendly. Interestingly enough, the next compilation is also a summary of a label’s releases. Of course, Anja Schneider is the head of Mobilee, and it is she whom we should congratulate first and foremost. In a little over a year and a half, she has managed to create a highly respectable factory of quality tracks. When compared to the rest of the compilations already mentioned, Damian Lazarus and Mathew Styles’ joint effort is completely different. The artists compiled a wide spectrum of sounds and genres which includes minimal, rock, breakbeat, experimental and hip hop. Therefore, the end result can best be described as being both classy and bold. We also decided to single out Hernan Cattaneo’s compilation, because with it he proved that one can still listen to progressive without being bored to death. Despite the fact that Hernan did include some techy productions on the compilation, the main body of it is nevertheless made up of well selected and well mixed progressive. [SN]
Pokerflat Volume 5 - Bets'n'Bluffs
Elektronische Musik - Interkontinental 5 Damian Lazarus & Matthew Styles- Get Lost Hernán Cattáneo - Sequential Anja Schneider- Back to Back

Best Original Production
	It was this category that caused the most disputes amongst our staff. Not to mention a fraternal quarrel or two. The tracks that made into the top five all have something in common. Namely, all of them are musically complex productions, as opposed to stripped down minimal tracks. The only decision which didn’t pose a problem, however, was which track the top spot should go to. Despite the fact that Holden’s album wasn’t all that good, ‘Idiot’ and ‘Lump’ clearly prove that James is far from treading in the same spot. In a nutshell, the chase after James continues. We also placed a true killer among our favorite tracks of last year. ‘Lirum’ is a techy monster which only fairly recently struck us like a lightning bolt from the sky. “Welcome to Zion” is a sublime “cherry on top” production which was brought to us courtesy of the imprints Aus Music and Simple Records. Moreover, it was difficult not to have a strong opinion about the ever developing ‘Seeing Through Shadows’, while ‘Far Away’ is hard proof that we here at Sound Revolt also enjoy beautiful songs. [LN]
James Holden - Idiot
King Roc - Welcome To Zion Locodice - Seeing Through Shadows Mademoiselle Caro & Frank Garcia - Far Away Shokh & Star - Lirum

Best Remix
	There was also no discussion about which remix should receive top honours. Luciano’s witchy and hypnotic story, which incorporated no more than was necessary from the original, didn’t have any competition whatsoever. Trentemøller made his way into the top five of this category for the second time, this time thanks to a remix of his own track. His or another artist’s, Anders definitely knows his stuff when it comes to remixing. As far as the rest is concerned, Superpitcher went the farthest and literally turned the original upside down, giving listeners the charm of a beautiful melody. Exercise One turned ‘Horizons’ into a true dance floor bomb, which sounds as if it were custom made for a Richie Hawtin set. Finally, Extrawelt barely broke a sweat on their remix of ‘Leopard’, which doesn’t change the fact that it was enough to change the tracks quality and to inject some life into it. [LN]
Salif Keita - Yamore (Luciano Remix)
Trentemøller - Always Something Better (Trentemøller Mix) Lawrence - Along the Wire (Superpitcher Remix) Sebo K - Horizons (Exercise One Sleepless in San Juan remix) Minilogue - The Leopard (Extrawelt Remix)

Best Producer
	2006 didn’t bring about any revolutionary changes in the ranks of the top producers, but the end result of the collaboration between Ellen Allien and Apparat definitely deserves to be singled out in our opinion. And so, yet another medal goes to the Germans, thanks in the most part to the beautiful instrumental album ‘Orchestra of Bubbles’. The albums of two members of Run Stop Restore, Mark Houle and Troy Pierce, also made a positive impressions on us. The former released ‘Bay of Figs’ and produced a number of remixes for Bpitch Control and M_nus, while the later produced an artist album, ‘Enemy Love’, under his Louderbach pseudonym on Underl_ne. The duet Extrawelt (Arne Schaffhausen & Wayan Raabe) made it into our top five thanks to the fact that they released no less than ten tracks, all of which went on to become hits. Let’s hope 2007 is just as productive for the duo. Trentemøller, after successfully storming onto the dance music scene in 2005, summoned up the courage to produce a truly ambitious album, which surprised many fans. Congratulations on a very diverse career and musical talent. [SN]
Ellen Allien & Apparat
Extrawelt Trentemøller Marc Houle Troy Pierce