March 22, 200817 yr All in all this has been a really good thread to read, as Dance music covers a fairly wide ranging musical pallet. i was hoping all these threads would be popular and good, bringing in new retroheads...lol.. but yes, dance covers such a wide variety of styles it appeals to a wide range of people.
March 23, 200817 yr well ive collected my tracks for my dance album. ive NEVER danced in my life, so to me the track has to deliver more then just a beat ( which is all a dance track requires ). most of my favs are too recent to be classed as 'retro', as i didnt really get into dance much until recently (relative). 1 oceanic - 'insanity' ok not a 'cool' track but just about the first dance track i liked. 2 shamen - 'boss drum' the track that got my interest into the possibilities dance music opend for you, spiritually. fantasticly inspirational lyrics appealed to this part hippy interested in spirituality (at the time) and lead me on a path of enlightenment! lol. 3 usura - 'open your mind' title says it all and supports the shamens 'dance to trance' message, a great track with a great beat. 4 utah saints - 'something good' using one of the best examples of intelligent sampling, a super track which has just been re-issued... not sure about this. 5 jam and spoon ft plavka - 'right in the night (fall in love with music)' i like this gentle melodic track alot. 6 mc sar and the real mccoy - 'another night' ok, another pop/dance/euro track but the melody works for me! 7 prodigy - 'no good (start the dance)' what a corker of a track! its very hard not to move in some way to what i consider the prodigys finest hour. 8 felix - 'dont you want my love' not alot i can say other then its a fantastic track! 9 age of love - 'age of love' i cant say much more then what russ has already said. a superb, atmospheric track. 10 energy 52 - 'cafe del mar' iconic standard, again agreeing with russ that possibly the best dance tracks were instrumentals , most of my later favs were. 11 paul van dyk - 'for an angel' excellant laid back track. 12 chicane - 'offshore' love chicanes material, this was their first hit and it was a goodie! i resisted the temptation to include my fav trance tracks as i regard trance slightly different to 'dance', although several of my tracks listed qualify for a 'trance' album too. I see you prefer the more euro sounding style of dance music over the silky US garage/house from the states (I'm more of the opposite) but my god some choons and a half on this list. Usura 'Open Your Mind' is the dogs bollocks, one of those tracks that I think has also stood well because it hasn't been overplayed like the other old-skool tracks of its time. Can't argue with Chicane either (although pretty much everything else he did was a load of cheesey cack!)
March 24, 200817 yr I see you prefer the more euro sounding style of dance music over the silky US garage/house from the states (I'm more of the opposite) but my god some choons and a half on this list. Usura 'Open Your Mind' is the dogs bollocks, one of those tracks that I think has also stood well because it hasn't been overplayed like the other old-skool tracks of its time. Can't argue with Chicane either (although pretty much everything else he did was a load of cheesey cack!) yeah im pretty euro-centric in taste when it comes to dance, trance in particular conjours up 'mediterrainian' images.
March 24, 200817 yr I'm deeply shocked that out of all Underworld's vast, superb catalogue, you picked 'Born Slippy' - I can only presume their first classic album passed you by - any track on this album blows the done-to-death Born Slippy totally out of the water. In fact, almost every one of their singles is superior to Born Slippy - but, unfortunately, this seems to be the one Joe Public remembers. Trust me I listened to all Underworld albums (my fave is the live album Everything, Everything; I own the DVD too) Instead of Born Slippy could be any other Underworld single (like Juanita/Kiteless, Rez, Cowgirl, Crocodile, Push Upstairs, Moaner, Two Months Off, Pearls Girl and so on). I picked their most known track (esp. the live version with its incredible final). No reason to be shocked :P I like that you've mentioned Playgroup in your top 10, however - an act who were stupidly overlooked by the masses, but released probably one of the finest ever dance albums. And anything that features the wonderful Edwyn Collins is just fine by me. Too bad it's overlooked Watch this video (you'll recognize some Michael Jackson or Jamiroquai dance moves; some Daft Punk - Around the World too): TOHWssbO8tU Edited March 24, 200817 yr by Alin
March 24, 200817 yr Are you nuts? In the last decade 1998-2007: Basement Jaxx have had 17 UK top40 hit singles compared to 11 by the Chemical Brothers. Basement Jaxx have had 3 US #1 Dance singles compared to 0 by the Chemical Brothers in the last decade. Basement Jaxx have won a Grammy for Best Electronica/Dance album, Chemical Brothers have not. Basement Jaxx have headlined Glastonbury in 2005, Chemical Brothers have played Glastonbury but have never headlined. Basement Jaxx's singles collection reached UK#1 and spent over a year on the album Top75; Chemical Brothers singles collection only made UK#9 and spent just 7 weeks inside the Top75. Basement Jaxx won two MTV USA VMAs for Best Electronica/Dance video & Best Directional debut both for "Where's Your Head At" the video, which you have posted and described as awful. Which ironically was played to death by UK music channels back in 2001/2. Sorry I don't live in UK... Yeah, the facts... Just numbers. The reality: Ask anyone on the street to three songs of Basement Jaxx and three songs of Chemicals from the last 10 years and you'll be surprised. I bet there are higher chance to hear about Galvanise or Hey Boy Hey Girl or Star Guitar than any Basement Jaxx from their entire back catalogue. Chemical Brothers are better than Basement Jaxx in any way (at least musically BY FAR). I tried to listen to Red Alert (song posted by you): random noises and a generic beat Strange fact: about two months ago I saw a video of Basement Jaxx (something like "Romeo and...") It was really awful and random. Seriously if you think the Chemical Brothers are the best Dance act of the last decade then I pity your music taste,Don't worry about my music taste I know more than you think as personally I think they've been treading water in the last decade with a handful of exceptions, because the majority of their best work can be found on their first two albums 1995's Exit Planet Dust & 1997's Dig Your Own Hole. Of course Chemicals' best albums are their first two but still you can find a lot of great songs on their newer albums Lastly, the fact you don't know some of the dance tracks I selected surprised me, because I fully expected to be criticised for picking obvious commercial and well-known tracks. You can't expect anyone to know every dance track (even some obscure songs) Anyway from your list I'm surprised to find Way Out West A week ago I discovered a great song by WOW, Intensify apo_XKVsPks Edited March 24, 200817 yr by Alin
March 24, 200817 yr I think it's highly unfair to compare the Chems with Basement Jaxx. And Alin, you're coments on the Jaxx are very ill-founded and silly. Surely the majority of posters on the retro forum express views constructively? Which is part of the beauty of this forum (as opposed to the others). I love Basement Jaxx but I can't say they are instantly better than Chem Bros. Basement Jaxx have a much more melodic pop sound (and I can appreciate people who don't like that sound). But they have also beena highly influential act over the past 10 years with their punk-garage sound and - quite frankly - they are the only dance act I know of to put a show on, they have so much energy and life to their stage shows. Edited March 24, 200817 yr by ScottyEm
March 24, 200817 yr I think it's highly unfair to compare the Chems with Basement Jaxx. And Alin, you're coments on the Jaxx are very ill-founded and silly. Surely the majority of posters on the retro forum express views constructively? Which is part of the beauty of this forum (as opposed to the others). Sorry if you feel offended by my comments I love Basement Jaxx but I can't say they are instantly better than Chem Bros. Basement Jaxx have a much more melodic pop sound (and I can appreciate people who don't like that sound). They have some melodic elements but all those noises ruin the songs. But they have also beena highly influential act over the past 10 years with their punk-garage sound and - quite frankly - they are the only dance act I know of to put a show on, they have so much energy and life to their stage shows. Sorry, I prefer Underworld. And Orbital (if they will ever return). Snap were as serious as cancer when they said rhythm is a dancer... ahem :rolleyes: ;) (worst lyric ever, surely?) The worst lyric ever? Who knows... Too bad for Rhythm Is a Dancer, a good song after all On the other side The Power has some interesting lyrics too: Your voice will sink so please stay off my back Or I will attack and you don't want that :lol: Edited March 24, 200817 yr by Alin
March 24, 200817 yr The second disc of a compilation of best dance songs could be: Kraftwerk - Computer Love Planet Funk - Stop Me http://youtube.com/watch?v=DRZwBwgLvA4 Plaything - Into Space Ladytron - Evil http://youtube.com/watch?v=ya0H86ogOzU Captain Hollywood Project - More & More http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wfmsu97D4aA Wamdue Project - You're the Reason http://youtube.com/watch?v=IhAyhAg_Rmg Futureshock - Late at Night http://youtube.com/watch?v=avNIo9ojg8o Music Instructor - Electric City LFO - LFO http://youtube.com/watch?v=qd4NrlzHX0I Opus III - It's a Fine Day Hot Chip - Ready For the Floor http://youtube.com/watch?v=AW94AEmzFhQ Underworld - Rez/Cowgirl http://youtube.com/watch?v=uK7QrVQa7vE Edited March 24, 200817 yr by Alin
March 25, 200817 yr Some great choices so far - plus some I haven't heard - which is always good. New Order - Blue Monday A seminal track that virtually kick-started indie-dance crossover all by itself. The Secret - Starkissed Totally over-the-top and totally obscure trance record - all 11.30 minutes of it! Breakdown after breakdown and garish yellow vinyl - what more could you want? Daft Punk - Digital Love Love this track - such a great song. Fluke - Tosh (Gosh) They rather lost out to Underworld - sounds similar but they started it! Chemical Brothers - The Golden Path More of a song than a dance track maybe, but still my favourite of theirs. Features vocals by Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. Goldfrapp - Train Thundering great dance track from a great act. Mory Kanté - Ye Ke Ye Ke (The Afro-Acid Remix) Afro-house that made the Top 30 in the late 80s. The Shamen - Pro>Gen A hit a year later as Move Any Mountain, the first version was my favourite. Underworld - Dark And Long (Dark Train) Loads of classics to choose from - so I've chosen this! Legend B - Lost In Love (Red Jerry Remix) I have a feeling I picked this for another compilation on here - well here it is again! Marmion - Schoneberg (Marmion Remix) Totally classic trance track. The Clash - Rock The Casbah Let's end on another seminal dance/rock crossover track.
March 26, 200817 yr Some great choices so far - plus some I haven't heard - which is always good. New Order - Blue Monday A seminal track that virtually kick-started indie-dance crossover all by itself. The Secret - Starkissed Totally over-the-top and totally obscure trance record - all 11.30 minutes of it! Breakdown after breakdown and garish yellow vinyl - what more could you want? Daft Punk - Digital Love Love this track - such a great song. Fluke - Tosh (Gosh) They rather lost out to Underworld - sounds similar but they started it! Chemical Brothers - The Golden Path More of a song than a dance track maybe, but still my favourite of theirs. Features vocals by Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. Goldfrapp - Train Thundering great dance track from a great act. Mory Kanté - Ye Ke Ye Ke (The Afro-Acid Remix) Afro-house that made the Top 30 in the late 80s. The Shamen - Pro>Gen A hit a year later as Move Any Mountain, the first version was my favourite. Underworld - Dark And Long (Dark Train) Loads of classics to choose from - so I've chosen this! Legend B - Lost In Love (Red Jerry Remix) I have a feeling I picked this for another compilation on here - well here it is again! Marmion - Schoneberg (Marmion Remix) Totally classic trance track. The Clash - Rock The Casbah Let's end on another seminal dance/rock crossover track. Excellent selection! I know almost all songs from this list (except 2 songs) One little change: Strict Machine by Goldfrapp is better than Train by the same band IMO PS anyone here heard about Toxygene by The Orb (basically a remix of Oxygene 8 by Jean Michel Jarre)? Check this insane video: :D xTy4-OjscAQ Edited March 26, 200817 yr by Alin
March 26, 200817 yr Sadly no room for Leftfield, Chemical Bros, Fatboy Slim, Sub Sub, The Grid, Deee-Lite, Beatmasters, M/A/R/R/S, Bomb The Bass, Mantronix, Utah Saints, De La Soul, Art Of Noise, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Usura, ...... ...And why not???? :lol:
March 26, 200817 yr goldfrapp 'train' is my fav by her... but its only 4 years old! :) you only like it cos of the rude video, Rob :P I think Goldfrapp's best stuff is on the debut album - but from Black Cherry - it'd be Strict Machine for me, a track that was virtually ignored by all here when it appeared in the Record of the Year lists :wacko: Great to see Legend B's classic Lost In Love mentioned here - it's one I forgot, actually... love that track.
March 27, 200817 yr They have some melodic elements but all those noises ruin the songs. my sentiments exactly.... 'rendezvous' was probably my fav jaxx track, but the rest, especially the recent material .... i just hate. mind you, im no chemical brothers fan either! when it comes to dance, i prefer electro sounds.
March 27, 200817 yr you only like it cos of the rude video, Rob :P eh? the vid i saw wasnt all that rude by todays standards... the point was though that 'train' which i love, was too modern to be included in a retro thread really. most of my fav dance tracks were too modern to be included, though binary finery does qualify i guess as its now ten years old!.lol, but verracocha, jurgen vries, (or owt by darren tate), tiesto, 4 strings, airscape, solex, reflekt, barthezz, push etc etc etc which i prefer are too modern to be included.
March 27, 200817 yr well, I've got the tassles on, but I just can't get that movement going on with mine :P
Create an account or sign in to comment