2025-12-23
Hey City Zen 2025
2025 was not much different in showing how crappy and hypocritical our western governments are. The only ray of sunshine, politically, was the election of Zohran Mamdani. Still, it was a good year for work, with important awards and most of all doing fun research. Too busy for my own good, and so I want to spend more time with friends and family in 2026. I continued to DJ #happymusic at Roterdão Clube in Lisbon's Pink Street.
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2025 was another a great year for music, with such amazing tracks from Jazz, House and Techno to Pop, Rock and Country -- even Brazilian Disco by AI! Don't let Boomers tell you music was better back when. I am sure I missed really excellent stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 50 Albums (plus a few collections), Top 100 Tracks, Top 20 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets). The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
Top 50 Albums of 2025
Grouped alphabetically in 4 groups below.
Diamond Cut
There was one album that stood head and shoulders above the rest. Rosalía showed us what a great album is from start to finish, best listened to in its entirety. Amazing voice, absolute craftmanship in the arrangements and production. Thank you for the creativity and the power of great art.
Rosalía – Lux
Platinum Set
These 9 albums, coming from very distinct genres, are almost flawless and I could not get enough of them:
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – Papota
Hollie Cook – Shy Girl
Cymande – Renascence
Lady Gaga – MAYHEM
Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
Midnight Generation – Tender Love
Pulp – More
Saint Etienne – International
Lola Young – I’m only F**king Myself
Gold Circle
Arcade Fire – Pink Elephant
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
David Byrne – Who is The Sky?
Desire – Games People Play
Baxter Dury – Albarone
Florence and the Machine – Everybody Scream
Anna von Hausswolff – ICONOCLASTS
Parcels – LOVED
Polo & Pan – 22:22
Sparks – MAD!
Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)
Jimi Tenor – Selenites, Selenites!
Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno – Luminal
Silver Line
Bakermat – Grace Note
Benefits – Land of the Tyrants
Justin Bieber – SWAG
Carminho – Eu vou morrer de amor ou resistir
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
CMAT - EURO-COUNTRY
Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band – New Threats From the Soul
Carolina Deslandes – Chorar no Club
Sam Fender – People Watching
Franz Ferdinand – Human Fear
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Francesco Gabbani – Dalla tua parte
Geese – Getting Killed
Felipe Gordon – Live Session
Maro & Nasaya – Lifeline
Morcheeba – Escape the Chaos
MXGPU – Sudden Light
Sombr – I barely know her
TEED – Always with Me
Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
Weather Station – Humanhood
Weekend – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Paul Weller - Find El Dorado
Wet Leg – moisturizer
Charlotte de Witte – Charlotte de Witte
Best Box Set of 2025
David Bowie – I Can’t Give Everything Away (2002-2016)
Best Remasters of 2025
Louis Armstrong – New Mono to Stereo Mixes
The Delta Rhythm Boys – Les Geants Du Jazz: From Harlem to Smaland
Best EPs of 2025
Three EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Jimi Tenor and Cold Diamon & Mink – July Blue Skies
Roy Ayers - Delfonic Reworked #1
Cerrone and Christine and the Queens - Catching Feelings
Top 100 Tracks of 2025
The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end. The list was mixed with the new and beta Spotify mixing feature. It makes mistakes, is not available in every platform, and is certainly not the same as mixing with DJ equipment, but it is fun and the list should be listened to in the order shown, but can also be listened to at random of course (with no mixing):
Top 20 Remixes and Edits of 2025
So many great remixes and edits this year. There were definitely 6 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
Roy Ayers – Oh What a Lonely Feeling (Delfonic Rework)
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – Beto’s Horns (Fred again remix)
The Cure – Alone (Four Tet Remix)
Fatboy Slim and the Rolling Stones – Satisfaction Skank
RAYE – Where’s my husband! (David Guetta and Hypaton Remix)
Donna Summer – Oh Billy, Please (Ladies on Mars Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
Booka Shade – Glare (Sainte Vie Extended Mix)
Bronski Beat – Love and Money (Kinky Roland’s RSF Metropol Italo Extended Remix)
Crazy P – Stop Space Return (Cosmodelica Remix)
Desire – Dangerous Drug (Loofy Remix)
Franz Ferdinand – Hooked (Joe Goddard Remix)
Nelly Furtado – Maneater (Nala Remix)
Groove Armada – I See You Baby (Austin Ato Remix)
JENNIE – like JENNIE (Peggy Gou Remix)
Letrux – Flerte Revival (Gaspar Muniz, BENO & Banana Gold Remix)
Bom Marley – Could you be Loved (LP Giobbi Remix)
K’Alexi Shelby feat. Tony Loveless – Ancestral Rhythm (Carl Craig’s C2 Edit)
Umberto Tozzi – Gloria (Agatino Romero Edit)
Sofi Tukker – Purple Hat (Adam Sellouk & Doriann Remix)
Vinyl Pleasures – HY BRASIL (The Reflex Remix)
Labels: #2025, #BestOf, #DJ, #Music
2024-12-28
Hey City Zen 2024
2024 revealed how crappy and hypocritical our western governments are. War crimes of the worst kind made it hard to engage with anything else. Despite that sorrow, it was a good year for work, full of fun travel for work and with friends and family. I also continued to DJ #happymusic at Roterdão Clube in Lisbon's Pink Street. Every year is a great year for music, with such amazing tracks, even if perhaps fewer great albums. I am sure I missed really excellent stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 40 Albums (plus a few collections), Top 100 Tracks, Top 20 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets). The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
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Top 40 Albums of 2024
Grouped alphabetically in 4 groups below.Diamond Cut
There were 5 albums that stood above the rest. 3 are homages to dance music: 80s disco (PDM), the 90s rave scene (JXX), and current scene (FA). But there is also pop-funk (Chromeo) and indie-folk-pop (LG). All are amazing and creative from start to finish.
Chromeo – Adult Contemporary
Fred Again… – USB
Jamie XX – In Waves
London Grammar – The Greatest Love
Purple Disco Machine – Paradise
Platinum Set
These 10 albums, coming from very distinct genres, are almost flawless and I could not get enough of them:
Artemas – yustyna
Aura Safari & Jimi Tenor – Sensory Blending
Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER
Caribou – Honey
Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Kendrik Lamar – GNX
Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless
The The – Ensoulment
Gold Circle
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Laurie Anderson – Amelia
Bakermat – High Above
Donny Benét – Infinite Desires
The Blessed Madonna – Godspeed
David Bruno – Paradise Village
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Crazy P – Any Signs of Love
Julien Doré – IMPOSTEUR
Peggy Gou – Back to One
Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Opus
Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia?
Silver Line
Johnny Cash – Songwriter
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
Lucky Daye – Algorithm
Fountaines D.C. – Romance
Gossip – Real Power
Mimicat – Peito
Tyla – Tyla
Underworld – Strawberry
St. Vicent – All Born Screaming
Kamasi Washington – Fearless Movement
Jack White – No Name
Best Live Album of 2024
Rita Lee – Uma Noite no LUNA PARK ao vivo em Buenos Aires
Best Box Set of 2024
Bryan Ferry – Retrospective: Selected recordings 1973-2023
Best Remaster of 2024
The Ink Spots – If I Didn’t Care
Best EPs of 2024
Two EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Tom Misch – Six Songs
DJ Meme – Clássicos Reboot Vol. 2 – Lado A
Top 100 Tracks of 2024
The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end. I created the list to be listened to in the order shown, but can also be listened to at random of course:
Top 20 Remixes and Edits of 2024
So many great remixes and edits this year. There were definitely 6 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
Amyl and the Sniffers – U Should not be Doing That (Chris Lorenzo Remix)
Bronski Beat - Why? feat. Neil Tennant (Superchumbo Mix)Jamiroquai - Canned Heat (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
London Grammar - You And I (Patrick Topping Remix)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jamming (FISHER Rework)
Megatronic feat. Stavros - The World (Kiko Navarro Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
79.5 - Our Hearts Didn't Go That Way (JKriv Remix)
Aluna & MK - Kiss it Better (SONIKKU Remix)
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy feat. Perfume Genius (The Knocks Remix)
Gal Costa - Azul (llusionize & Linkage Remix)
Disclosure - She's Gone, Dance On (Carlita Remix)
Dua Lipa - Illusion (Honey Dijon Remix)
Fever Ray - Kandy (Tiga Remix)
Frejat & Cassia Eller - Malandragem (DJ Meme Spacedisco Mix)
Gossip - Give it up for Love (Tripolism Remix)
Jennifer Lopez - Waiting For Tonight (FISHER Rework)
Pet Shop Boys - Being Boring (New Pet Shop Boys Version)
Purple Disco Machine - W.T.P feat. Metronomy (Purple Disco Machine Club Dub)
St Germain - So Flute (Blackchild 2024 Remix)
Teddy Swims - The Door (CYRIL Remix)
Labels: #2024, #BestOf, #DJ, #Lists, #Music, #YearEnd
2024-01-02
Hey City Zen 2023
2023 was another hardworking year, full of fun travel for work and with friends and family. Unfortunately, war, horrible World leaders and nationalism made it particularly sad and dangerous! Despite it all, I continued to DJ #happymusic to full clubs again. Every year is a great year for music, with such amazing tracks, even if perhaps fewer great albums. I am sure I missed really excellent stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 40 Albums (plus a few live collections), Top 100 Tracks, Top 20 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets). The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
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Top 40 Albums of 2023
Grouped alphabetically in 4 groups below.Diamond Cut
There were 10 albums that stood above the rest. From dance manifestoes to new blues, these are amazing and creative from start to finish.
The Chemical Brothers – For That Beautiful Feeling
Everything But the Girl – Fuse
Folamour – Manifesto
Gabriels – Angels & Queens – Part II
Róisín Murphy – Hit Parade
The Pretenders – Relentless
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS
The Sparks – The Girl is Crying in her Latte
Supershy – Happy Music
Tensnake – Stimulate
Platinum Set
These 6 albums, coming from very distinct genres, are almost flawless and I could not get enough of them:
Blur – The Ballad of Darren
Dadi Freyr – I Made an Album
Macklemore – BEN
Jalen Ngonda – Come Around and Love me
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
Romy – Mid Air
Gold Circle
ANOHNI, and the Johnsons – My back was a bridge for you to cross
Corine – R
The Legendary Tigerman – ZEITGEIST
Donny McCaslin – I want More
Kylie Minogue – Tension
The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein
Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord real Book
Portugal. the Man – Chris Black Changed my Life
Tiga & Hudson Mohawke – L’Ecstasy
Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good
Silver Line
Isabelle Adjani – Adjani, bande originale
Amaarae – Fountain Baby
Bakermat – From a Bakermat Point of View
Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
Depeche Mode – Memento Mori
Alison Goldfrapp – The Love Invention
Mayer Hawthorne – For All Time
Jungle – Volcano
Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure
Aya Nakamura – DNK
Caroline Polacheck – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Poolside – Blame it all on Love
Iggy Pop – EVERY LOSER
Benny Sings – Young Hearts
Best Live and Soundtrack albums of 2023
Kirsty MacColl – Live at the Jazz Café (London 12 October 1999)
Rosa Passos – Samba Sem Você (Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse 2001)
Cat Power - Sings Bob Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert
Nina Simone – You’ve Got to Learn (Live)
Best EPs of 2023
Three EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Bellaire – Sunset Ballad
Channel Tres – Real cultural shit
Jon Dixon – Musicality
Pet Shop Boys – Lost
Top 100 Tracks of 2023
The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end. I created the list to be listened to in the order shown, but can also be listened to at random of course:
Top 20 Remixes and Edits of 2023
So many great remixes and edits this year. There were definitely 4 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
Paramore – C’est Comme ça (Re: Wet Leg)
The Rolling Stones – Mess it up (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
Wham! – Club Tropicana (Sigala & Manovski Balearic Breeze Remix)
Yard Act – The Trench Coat Museum (Arthur Baker Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
Bosq & Kaleta – Meji Meji (Folamour Remix)
BT – Kintsugi (Siskin Remix)
David Bowie – Golden Years (TOKiMONSTA Remix)
Chromeo – Word with you (Tchami Remix)
Gal Costa – Flor de Maracujá (Bruce Leroys *Aureum Remix))
Cristalli Liquidi – Rosso Carnale (Bottin’s Fast Tape Dub)
Gabriels – Love and Hate in a Different Time (Greg Wilson & Ché Wilson Full-Length Remix)
Alison Goldfrapp – The Beat Divine (Theo Kottis Remix)
Felipe Gordon – For Martha (Kai Alcé NDATL ClubJazz Remix)
Jayda G – Scars (Kerri Chandler Edit)
Kraak & Smaak – Let’s Go Back (Joe Goddard Remix)
Klaus Nomi – The Cold Song (Arnaud Rebotini Remix)
Rita Ora – Praising you (Fatboy Slim Remix)
Portugal. the Man feat. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Summer of Love (Bakermat Remix)
Royksopp – Feel It (LP Giobbi Remix)
Xinobi – La Tormenta (Adam Ten & Mita Gami Remix)
Labels: #2023, #BestOf, #DJ, #Lists, #Music, #YearEnd
2022-12-27
Hey City Zen 2022
2022 was a hardworking year, though full of fun travel and reconnection with friends and family---thank you vaccines! I was particularly delighted to get back to DJing to full clubs again. Every year is a great year for music, with such amazing tracks, even if perhaps fewer great albums. I am sure I missed really excellent stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 40 Albums (including soundtracks and live collections), Top 100 Tracks, Top 20 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets). The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
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Top 40 Albums of 2022
Grouped alphabetically in 4 groups below.Diamond Cut
There were 10 albums that stood above the rest. From casino rock to house music, these are amazing and creative from start to finish.
Arcade Fire – WE
Arctic Monkeys – The Car
Beyoncé – RENAISSANCE
Honey Dijon – Black Girl Magic
Hot Chip – Freakout/Release
Metronomy – Small World
Ana Moura – Casa Guilhermina
Rosalía – MOTOMANI
Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries II
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Platinum Set
These 5 albums, coming from very distinct genres, are almost flawless and I could not get enough of them:
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Soft Cell – Happiness Not Included
Stromae – Multitude
Louie Vega – Expansions in the NYC
Xinobi – Balsame
Gold Circle
Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul – Topical Dancer
Asa – V
Yaya Bey – Remember your North Star
David Fonseca – Living Room Bohemian Apocalypse
Lucius – Second Nature
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Return of the Dream Canteen
Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries I
Sault – 11
Jimi Tenor – Multiversum
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
Wet Leg –Wet Leg
Silver Line
Charli XCX – CRASH
Christine and the Queens – Redcar les adorables étoiles (prologue)
Danger Mouse and Black Thought – Cheat Codes
Florence + The Machine – Dance Fever
Cate Le Bon – Pompeii
Sondre Lerche – Avatars of Love
Maria João e OGRE Electric – Songs for Shakespeare
Marxist Love Disco Ensemble – MLDE
Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries III
Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
Ron Trent – What do stars say to you
The Weather Station – How is it that I should look at the stars?
Best Live and Soundtrack albums of 2022
David Bowie – Moonage Daydream: A Brett Morgan Film
Cazuza – O Tempo Não Para: O Show Completo
Best EPs of 2022
Three EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Benny Sings – Santa Barbara
Body Music and Bosq – Give my Love a Try
Felipe Gordon – Superimposition
Top 100 Tracks of 2022
The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end. I created the list to be listened to in the order shown, but can also be listened to at random of course:
Top 20 Remixes and Edits of 2022
So many great remixes and edits this year. There were definitely 4 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
David Bowie – Modern Love (Moonage Daydream Mix)
Cerrone – Summer Lovin’ (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
Gorillaz feat. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)
Wet Leg – Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
2raumwohung – Bei Dir bin ich schön (Ian Pooley Remix)
David Bowie – Word on a Wing (Moonage Daydream Mix)
Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get it On (Flight Facilities Remix)
Nina Simone – Feeling Good (Joel Corry Remix)
Goldie and James Davidson feat. La Meduza – Breakout (Mella Dee Moody Gaff Remix)
Halsey – So Good (Jax Jones Remix)
Hot Chip – Broken (Jacques LuCont Mix)
Loverush UK! Feat. Boy George and Rozy Yarnold – London Calling Paris (Boys’ Shorts Remix)
Lufthaus feat. Robbie Williams – Soul Seekers (Booka Shade Remix)
Metronomy – It’s good to be back (Metronomy x Panic Shack)
Kylie Minogue – Can’t get you out of my head (Peggy Gou’s Midnight Remix)
William Orbit – Starbeam (Dosem Edit)
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Electric Youth Remodel)
Souleance – GUILI (Art of Tones Remix)
The Weeknd – Out of Time (Kaytranada Remix)
Xinobi feat. Meta_ - Mujer (Anja Schneider Remix)
Labels: #2022, #BestOf, #DJ, #Lists, #Music, #YearEnd
2022-01-01
Hey City Zen 2021
2021 was a year full of personal change. Despite the pandemic, it was really a very good year personally. I switched jobs, with awesome conditions and some of our work was published in great venues. It does feel good to have your work appreciated! It was also a great year for music and I even got to DJ again a little. I am sure I missed really excellent stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 40 Albums, Top 110 Tracks, Top 30 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets), Live albums and EPs. The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
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Top 40 Albums of 2021
Grouped alphabetically in 5 groups below.Diamond Cut
There were 4 albums that stood above the rest. I guess they are all a bit melancholic, reflecting the stressful times. This year, unlike last year and with the exception of the phenomenal Hanna Reid from London Grammar, I was most moved to the core by male acts.
James Blake – Friends that break your heart
Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
London Grammar – Californian Soil
Moullinex – Requiem for Empathy
Platinum Set
These 6 albums, coming from very distinct genres, perhaps reflecting a year that was all over the place, are excellent from beginning to end and I could not get enough of them:
Benny Sings
– Music
Gorgon City – Olympia
Halsey – If I can’t have love, I want power
Jungle – Loving in Stereo
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might be Introvert
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak) – An evening with Silk Sonic
Gorgon City – Olympia
Halsey – If I can’t have love, I want power
Jungle – Loving in Stereo
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might be Introvert
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak) – An evening with Silk Sonic
Gold Circle
Adele – 30
Claptone – Closer
Claptone – Closer
Lana Del Rey – Blue Banister
Flight Facilities – FOREVER
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Parcels – Day/Night
Prince – Welcome 2 America
Rhye – Home
Scrimshire – Nothing feels like everything
Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
Flight Facilities – FOREVER
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Parcels – Day/Night
Prince – Welcome 2 America
Rhye – Home
Scrimshire – Nothing feels like everything
Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
Caetano Veloso – Meu Coco
St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
Paul Weller – Fat Pop
Silver Line
ABBA – Voyage
Booka Shade – Both
Bo Burnham – Inside (the Songs)
Booka Shade – Both
Bo Burnham – Inside (the Songs)
Duran Duran – Future Past
Turnstile – Glow On
Turnstile – Glow On
Bronze Medal
Tori Amos - Ocean to Ocean
Common – A beautiful Revolution Pt. 1& 2
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
Towa Tei – LP
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
Towa Tei – LP
Best Collections and Box Sets of 2021
David Bowie – Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)
Aretha Franklin - Aretha 4CD box set
Rita Lee & Roberto – Classic Remix Vols. I, II, III
Various Artists – Rusty Egan Presents Blitzed
Various Artists – Italians Do It Better
Aretha Franklin - Aretha 4CD box set
Rita Lee & Roberto – Classic Remix Vols. I, II, III
Various Artists – Rusty Egan Presents Blitzed
Various Artists – Italians Do It Better
Best Live Albums of 2021
Still not enough live shows, so these albums kept that feeling alive:David Bowie – Live at the Phoenix Festival 1997
Madonna – Madame X (Music From the Theater Xperience)
Rosa Passos – Live in Copenhagen
Madonna – Madame X (Music From the Theater Xperience)
Rosa Passos – Live in Copenhagen
Nina Simone – Live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival 1976
Paul Weller – An Orchestrated Songbook with Jules Buckley & the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Amy Winehouse – At the BBC
Amy Winehouse – At the BBC
Best EPs of 2021
Five EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Daði Freyr – Welcome
Julien Doré – aimée encore (Album from last year, so taking new tracks as an EP)
Bellaire – Date at the Disco
Felipe Gordon – Keepin’ it Jazz
Jkriv and Peter Matson - Bigtime
Julien Doré – aimée encore (Album from last year, so taking new tracks as an EP)
Bellaire – Date at the Disco
Felipe Gordon – Keepin’ it Jazz
Jkriv and Peter Matson - Bigtime
Top 110 Tracks of 2021
I think this year deserves another 10 tracks :) The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end (more or less organized, but can also be listened to at random):
Top 30 Remixes and Edits of 2021
So many great remixes and edits this year. Special mentions, first to one of my fave 2021 collections (see above): Rita Lee & Roberto – Classic Remix Vols. I, II, III, which received amazing remixes from the likes of The Reflex, Gui Boratto, Phonique, Fatnotronic, Dubdogs & Watzgood, and many others. Also amazing work by Scrimshire who remixed The Milk's entire 2020 album Cages with great results.
Looking at individual tracks, there were definitely 6 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
Bellaire – French Coast (Folamour Remix)
James Curd feat. Natasha Lillith – 1000 years (Phunkadelica Remix)
Deichkind – Autonom (Dixon Edit)
Paul McCartney – Find my Way (Beck Reimagined Version)
Milk, The – The Great Sorrow (Scrimshire Remix)
Deichkind – Autonom (Dixon Edit)
Paul McCartney – Find my Way (Beck Reimagined Version)
Milk, The – The Great Sorrow (Scrimshire Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
BaianaSystem feat. António Carlos & Jocafi – Água (Diogo Strauz & Jkriv Remix)
Blu DeTiger – Vintage (Flight Facilities Remix)
Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Reggae Remix and Instrumental Dub by Doctor Dread)
Chromatics, The – Shadow (Maceo Plex Remix)
Blu DeTiger – Vintage (Flight Facilities Remix)
Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Reggae Remix and Instrumental Dub by Doctor Dread)
Chromatics, The – Shadow (Maceo Plex Remix)
Marco Faraone & Greeko – Armaghetton (Jansons Extended Remix)
Gorgon City – Dreams (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Gorgon City – Dreams (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Alexia Gredy – Vertigo (Yuksek Remix)
Daryl Hall & John Oates – I can’t go for that (Nicolaas Remix)
Hot Streak – Body Work (Dr. Packer Remix)
Jungle Fire – Atómico (Felipe Gordon Remix)
Hot Streak – Body Work (Dr. Packer Remix)
Jungle Fire – Atómico (Felipe Gordon Remix)
Rita Lee & Roberto – Mania de Você (Dubdogs & Watzgood Remix)
London Grammar - Lord it’s a Feeling (High Contrast Remix)
Metronomy – Everything goes my way (Anna Prior Remix)
Morcheeba – You killed our love (BOYOCA Remix)
London Grammar - Lord it’s a Feeling (High Contrast Remix)
Metronomy – Everything goes my way (Anna Prior Remix)
Morcheeba – You killed our love (BOYOCA Remix)
Roisin Murphy – Shellfish Mademoiselle (Paul Woolford Remix)
Giorgio Moroder – I wanna rock you (Tom Novy Extended Remix)
Polo & Pan Feat. Channel Tres – Tunnel (Tim Paris Remix)
Purple Disco Machine – Playbox (Alex Virgo Remix)
Rhye – Black Rain (Jayda G Remix)
Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil (LUXXURY Pleased 2 Meet U Edit)
Sam Ruffillo – Danza Organica (Musumeci remix)
Stone Foundation feat. Paul Weller – Deeper Love (Opolopo Remix)
Polo & Pan Feat. Channel Tres – Tunnel (Tim Paris Remix)
Purple Disco Machine – Playbox (Alex Virgo Remix)
Rhye – Black Rain (Jayda G Remix)
Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil (LUXXURY Pleased 2 Meet U Edit)
Sam Ruffillo – Danza Organica (Musumeci remix)
Stone Foundation feat. Paul Weller – Deeper Love (Opolopo Remix)
Labels: #2021, #BestOf, #Music
2020-12-28
Hey City Zen 2020
After a crazy travelling year of 2019, like everybody, I was stuck at home (on both sides of the Atlantic) for most of 2020---though still travelling like crazy January to March, and a few times over the Atlantic. Maybe because of all this, I listened to even more music, which was one of the few things that kept me sane, really. Yet another great year for music, despite it al! I am sure I missed really great stuff, but here is the best City Zen of the year that made my radar. Top 50 Albums, Top 120 Tracks, Top 30 Remixes/Edits (from E-Trash's DJ sets), Live albums and EPs. The top tracks and remixes are assembled in a Spotify List as well.
I so miss live shows, so these albums kept that feeling alive, three from classic acts stood out:
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Top 50 Albums of 2020
Grouped alphabetically in 5 groups below.Diamond Cut
There were definitely 3 albums that stood above for, mostly because they captured what I needed in this pandemic year: a retro look to all tomorrow's dance parties. The ladies were on constant rotation!:
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Roisin Murphy - Roisin Machine
Jessie Ware - What's your Pleasure?
Platinum Set
These 7 albums are just excellent from beginning to end and I could not get enough of them:
Aksel & Aino – Lullabies For Submarines
Disclosure – Energy
JARV IS (Jarvis Cocker) – Beyond the Pale
Pet Shop Boys - Hotspot
The Pretenders – Hate for Sale
The Strokes – The new abnormal
Paul Weller – On Sunset
Gold Circle
Marc Almond - Chaos and a Dancing Star
Booka Shade - Dear Future Self
Capicua - Madrepérola
Caribou - Suddenly
Bod Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways
Paul Epworth – Voyager
Maria João e OGRE – Open Your Mouth
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes - What kinda music
Moodymann – Taken Away
Poolside - Low Season
The Sparks - A steady drip, drip, drip
O Terno - <atrás/além>
Tres Tristes Tigres – Mínima Luz
Lucinda Williams – Good Souls Better Angels
Yello – Point
Silver Line
Cristina Branco - Eva
Clã – Véspera
Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts
Baxter Dury - the Night Chancers
Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Magnetic Fields - Quickies
Perfume Genius – Set my heart on fire immediately
La Roux - Supervision
Sault – Untitled (Black Is)
Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA
Robotaki - The grand mirage
Shamir – Shamir
Jimi Tenor - Aulos
Working men’s Club – Working men’s Club
Yaeji - What we drew
Bronze Medal
(((O))) – (((2)))
Donny Benét - Mr. Experience
Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow of Fear
Celebrity BBQ Sauce – Celebrity BBQ Sauce
IDLES – Ultra Mono
Eminem - Music to be Murdered By
Ellie Goulding – Brightest Blue
Ian Isiah – AUNTIE
Alicia Keys - Underdog
Shawn Mendes – Wonder
Best Live Albums of 2020
I so miss live shows, so these albums kept that feeling alive, three from classic acts stood out:
David Bowie - Ouvrez Le Chien (Live Dallas 95)
Bryan Ferry - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 1974
Rolling Stones - Steel Wheels Live
Best EPs of 2020
Seven EPs were on rotation a lot, with more good tracks than many albums:
Black Light Smoke - Heat Flash
James Blake – Covers
Christine and the Queens - La Vita Nuova
Chromeo - Quarantine Casanova
Digitalism – Reality 2
Pongo - UWA
Tiger & Woods - Boot & Heel
Top 120 Tracks of 2020
I think this year deserves another 20 tracks :) The best way to display this is via a Spotify list which also includes the remixes below at the end (more or less organized, but can be listened to at random):
Top 30 Remixes and Edits of 2019
So many great remixes and edits this year. Special mentions, first to one of my fave 2020 albums (see above) that also received an entire remix album orchestrated by the Blessed Madonna: Dua Lipa - Club Future Nostalgia (DJ Mix by The Blessed Madonna). Second to the super fun albumwith dub remixes of several Boy George hits: This is what I Dub, Vol. 1.
Looking at individual tracks, there were definitely 6 above the rest, which took the original into another place of excellence. All remixes, edits and mashups below elevate the originals either into a whole different place, a distilled essence, or simply make it work so well on the dance floor. It is great when a track has two great lives, which is a remix at its best:
Bonga -Mona Ki Ngi Xica (Pablo Fierro Remix)
David Bowie - The man who saved the World (Brian Eno 'Live´Mix 2020)
Django Django - Glowing in the Dark (Hot Chip Remix)
Goldie feat. Mike Banks - Redemption (Jon Dixon Edit)
Vince Watson - Progress (Joe Claussell Remix)
The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (The Chromatics Remix)
The remaining awesome remixes alphabetically:
All We Are - Not Your Man (Just Kiddin Remix)
Blancmange - Blind Vision (Honey Dijon Remix)
Casbah 73 - Love Saves the Day (Danny Krivit Extended Edit)
Neneh Cherry - I've got you under my skin (Blacksmith "Brixton Bass Mix")
Gal Costa - Cuidando de Longe (Diogo Strauz Remix)
Mike Dunn - Natural High (Riva Starr Mo'Funk Extended Remix)
Erasure - Love to Hate You (Robbie Rivera Juicy Mix)
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl (Dimitri from Paris Remix)
Kraak & Smaak - Same Blood (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)
Chris Lake & Solardo - Free your body (Noizu Remix)
Dua Lipa - Physical (Erika de Casier Remix)
Barry Manilow - Copacabana 2020 (The Reflex Revision)
Moby - Power Is Taken (Felguk Remix)
Moullinex - Running in the Dark (Seb Wildblood Remix)
Pet Shop Boys - Monkey Business (Friend Within Friend Remix)
Pnau - Chameleon (Pnau x Melé Remix)
Rhye - Beautiful (Lewis ofMan Remix)
Risk Assessment feat. Jemeni G - Remember Me (Yuksek Remix)
Robbie Rivera - Change (Fangs Remix)
Rina Sawayana - Comme des Garçons (Pablo Vittar x Brabo Remix)
Russel Small & DNO P - Strawberry Letter 23 (Dr. Packer Remix)
Sunset City - Feels so Right (Art of Tones '1982' Remix)
O Terno - Bielzinho/Bielzinho (Xinobi Extended remix)
David Walters - Kryé Mwen (Patchworks Remix)
Labels: #2020, #BestOf, #Music
