Last Thoughts on 2005

Some closing thoughts on 2005. Good year for music, though lacking the incredible highs of '03, nevertheless presented an abundance of great things to listen to. Before I bid '05 farewell, I've decided to highlight some songs that I’ve overlooked during the year, reminded by year-end lists and some backwards digging through the old harddrive.

Booka Shade – Mandarine Girl
House jam of the year. A deceptively bare and simple hook gradually builds towards a completely fulfilling, euphoric climax.

Tod Dockstader – Raga
Music that moves between the lines, and yet deserves to be heard in the foreground. 70+ year old Dockstader combines echoes, drones, feedback, and loops to create an incredibly moving, self-reflecting brand of minimalism. This semi-legendary figure in the avant-garde makes imitators sound like the infants that they are.

Paul Wall – Sittin’ Sideways
I saw Diplo spin this jam on Friday night, and the entire place fucking erupted. Wall has a laid-back and soulful flow that sounds completely effortless. I’m shocked the self-proclaimed “people’s champ” didn’t light up the airwaves this year. Whatever, the mass’s loss, I suppose.

Robyn – Handle Me
Admittedly, I completely missed the initial wave of hype on Swedish pop star Robyn. Robyn’s best-known for her U.S. top 10 hit “Show Me Love” from a few years back. Like her single “Be Mine,” “Handle Me” is bursting with energy, attitude, wit, and blessed with an unforgettable hook.

Matias Aguayo – De Papel
Yea microhouse, I didn’t forget about ya this year. Aguayo’s “De Papel” is slinky, subtle, sensual, and completely erotic. Like sex music for brainy IDM types… yea, something like that.

-David