Last year I conducted my very first End of Year chart which saw Martin Solveig's +1 take the top spot after multiple weeks in my on/off personal chart and many plug.dj spins!

 

This year, I've expanded the chart from a Top 20 to a Top 40 :cheer:

 

But first...

 

Album of the Year

 

Dusky - Outer

 

http://i.imgur.com/xVLdCzn.jpg

 

 

Dusky really haven't been on my radar before this year at all. I knew they were about, heard a few songs here and there but nothing ever grabbed me or made me want to listen again. Fast forward to 2016 and out comes 'Ingrid Is A Hybrid', full of euphoria and energy and it completely took me by surprise and I was intrigued to hear more. The album itself was not what I was expecting. Having heard the first single, I thought it was going to be like any other house album that all sounds the same and I get bored by the fourth or fifth track. But no, Outer is full of melodic, anthemic songs that I just cannot get enough of. From the grimey house of 'Sort It Out Sharon', to the ravey 'Songs Of Phase' and then to the laidback vibes of 'Marble', the whole album just flows seamlessly with twists and turns of mesmerising production. Viewers of the Dance Forum will know how much I've been praising this album since it was announced and since it has been released, I have not once grown tired of hearing any of the tracks from it.

 

 

They may not have found chart success officially with this album, but it's one I recommend highly and is well deserving of the accolade in my EOY.

 

Highlights: Ingrid Is A Hybrid, Long Wait, Runny Nose, Songs Of Phase

hype! :w00t:

 

haven't listened to the Dusky album myself, none of the singles grew on me that much (even 'Ingrid Is A Hybrid').

Can't wait for this one! :D

Yes lewis, really looking forward to this countdown :dance:

yes hype :wub: Ingrid Is A Hybrid and Sort It Out Sharon are both big tracks, the former especially.

Looking forward to this :D

#40. Icarus feat. AURORA - Home

 

 

Kicking things off with a different stance of house music. Sublime production from Icarus and haunting vocals from AURORA make for an interesting combination.

 

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39. Jauz x Netsky - Higher

 

 

Prior to this being a BJSC entry for me, this was one of the standout highlights of Netsky's third album. It's big, bassy and catchy!

 

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38. Digital Farm Animals x Youthonix feat. R. Kelly - Wanna Know

 

 

Before Millionaire came the less successful single and probably less well known (unless you're a Dance Anthems fan) Wanna Know. It features R. Kelly :o but what's more important is that it's thumping house banger.

 

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37. Infinity Ink - Full Capacity

 

 

Infinity Ink returned this year with a few tracks, but this was my favourite. I first heard it whilst on holiday earlier this year and I've been a huge fan since.

 

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36. Rudimental feat. Anne-Marie & Will Heard - Rumour Mill

 

 

Rudimental's second album may not have had the longevity of its former debut but there are some real gems in there. Rumour Mill was one of the last singles released earlier this year and features frequent collaborators Will Heard and Anne-Marie, the latter of which has had a fantastic year and this song is definitely a highlight.

Edited December 2, 20168 yr by lewistgreen

Great to see Wanna Know here :music: It was a personal #1 for me!

Home is nice as well! Rumour Mill is something a little different from last year too!

Edited December 2, 20168 yr by PeteFromLeeds

Wanna Know is brilliant!

 

Higher deserved much better in its contest.

#35. Shift K3Y feat. BB Diamond - Gone Missing

 

 

Not necessarily a 'hit', but this had some longevity in the lower reaches of the chart throughout the early part of this year. Shift K3Y's production is always on point and this little garage number does not disappoint.

 

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#34. Cheat Codes x Kris Kross Amsterdam - Sex

 

 

Definitely one of the marmite tracks of 2016, but I'm on the adore side of this take on the Salt-N-Pepa classic.

 

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#33. Protoje feat. Chronixx - Who Knows (Shy FX Remix)

 

 

There's just something about reggae infused D&B that strikes a chord with me and with a name like Shy FX tagged onto a remix you just know it's going to be good.

 

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#32. Danny L Harle feat. Carly Rae Jepsen - Super Natural

 

 

PC Music releases are always hit and miss with me, but Danny L Harle has really stepped up to the mark this year. Super Natural is fun, bouncy and features Carly so how can it not be good?!

 

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#31. Sigala feat. John Newman & Nile Rodgers - Give Me Your Love

 

 

Funky Sigala, what's not to like?

All of those are good, especially Super Natural, still adoring that even now!

great start!

 

particularly love Give Me Your Love, Super Natural, Sex and Gone Missing :dance:

Ohhh I like all of them esp Danny L Harle :wub:

Rumour Mill, now that's a good one, it was such a shame it flopped though. Will Heard has been a favourite of mine since Sonnentanz in 2013 (that seems so long ago!) :o

 

Higher was a pretty decent track, Netsky's follow up Rio with Macklemore is far superior though :D

 

Gone Missing was great at the time, again another missed hit opportunity. :(

 

I far prefer Forever and Broken Flowers to Super Natural if I'm totally honest, I expect the former could come up later in the countdown? Hopefully.

 

Give Me Your Love is a nice tune, but once again I prefered Say You Do by FAR, and I hope that pops up :D

 

Sex is great, actually it WAS great at first, but it got boring :unsure:

 

Who Knows, now that's a Marmite track. I've listened to it so much (and Radio 1 still hammer it, God knows why but I'm not complaining) and I still don't know whether I love it or hate it. I think the hook is my favourite part.

 

Great stuff so far.

#30. The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES - Roses

 

 

The Chainsmokers stepped up their game this year, shaking off their #Selfie persona and producing some quality dance tracks. Roses is one of the ever-so-popular future bass tracks to grace our ears.

 

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#29. Galantis - No Money

 

 

Galantis also returned this year with their catchy and infectious hooks and this was an instant hit with me.

 

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#28. Lee Walker vs DJ Deeon feat. Katy B & MNEK - Freak Like Me

 

 

Having loved this when it was remade earlier this year, I was even more excited to hear that Katy B and MNEK had been added to the new version. This has sadly fallen foul to Ministry of Sound not even making a video for it :blink: but it's a fantastic house track with a lot of sass.

 

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#27. Matoma & Becky Hill - False Alarm

 

 

Becky Hill certainly has some incredible vocals on her and when this collaboration with Matoma first surfaced I was smitten. Tropical house done right if you ask me.

 

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#26. DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle

 

 

I first heard this in autumn 2015 and it barely garnered any attention, but skip forward to spring 2016 and this song is everywhere! DJ Snake definitely capitalised on his success with Major Lazer and it's worked well for him. Middle is a really good song with an ever better video to boot.

 

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#25 - #11 will be revealed next weekend

All five of those are immense! Middle especially, I was digging that for so long and it was so deserved of its top 10 position. It doesn't FEEL as big as it was, to be honest. Roses is also fantastic.

Roses is sublime, by a mile their best song.

 

No Money & Middle - big fan of those too!

False Alarm and No Money are imense such tunes :heart:

#25. Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick

 

 

I was quite the fan of the original instrumental and then A$AP Rocky goes and lays a fantastic rap over the top making it even better!

 

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#24. DJ Fresh & High Contrast feat. Dizzee Rascal - How Love Begins

 

 

One of the first tracks of 2016 to surface, DJ Fresh returned with a D&B crossover banger which still sounds 'fresh' :kink: at the end of the year. Also starting to get used to the idea that another DJ Fresh album is probably not going to surface and that's just fine :(

 

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#23. Galantis & Hook N Sling - Love On Me

 

 

The second and final entry for Galantis to appear. Again, they've created an infectious song that you can't help but sing and dance along to.

 

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#22. Alan Walker - Sing Me To Sleep

 

 

Alan Walker is certainly a breath of fresh air in the dance music scene crossing over from Norway earlier this year. The stunning production and Iselin Solheim's vocals are what make this song incredible.

 

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#21. Danny L Harle - Broken Flowers

 

 

The chart hit that just wasn't meant to be, Danny created an ultimate anthem here with chopped vocals and fantastic production.