What’s your favorite song of 2016?
It’s a stupid question. Picking just one song from the ocean of thousands that have washed over me over the past 12 months is a stupid task… and it also depends on my mood, the atmosphere, the time of day, what I’ve had for dinner, and how many train delays I’ve had this week.
But there are always those songs that stand out for us. Those that you actually remember hearing for the first time. Those that have been stuck in your head ever since. Those that make you want to get a wave tattoo on your chest. Those that you tell your friends you want played at your funeral.
These are the 15 tracks our editorial team picked out.
Releasing the sudden industrial jungle bomb Ratatata on February 31st, Finnish duo Deadcode kept up the momentum with the even heavier Bomboclat two months later. Armed with similarly distorted raga vocal textures, non-stop amens, and enough bass layering to easily singe the hairs on the tip of your nose if you get too close, the tune has since become a staple peak-time blast for many a giant. (DJ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XZfyVHuR-c
When you get down to the nitty gritty of end-of-year lists of tracks, remixes and so on, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to come up with a definitive ‘favourite’. We at UKF sift through around 500 songs a day and frankly, whilst many of them are listenable, there are also plenty that are so terrible that you’d want to shield your children from the horrors of what some people consider to be music.
So the best tracks often end up being the first ones that came to mind that year, or the ones I’ve discussed the most with my team. For me it’s Trashman by EQ Why. The footwork meets drum and bass, sing-along inversion of People Make The World Go Round by The Stylistic… Also, I’ve finally had to admit to the UKF office that I do like some drum and bass sometimes. Sadface. (Matt Bayfield)
One of the most underrated artists of the century, Djrum has everything you want in a producer: he’s versatile, he’s daring, and he’s just awesome. He continues to amaze me with his intricate arrangements, and the fact that each track is like a showcase of three, brings the rhythm back when you think the song is over. Sometimes I Share (Space Race pt. 3) is ridiculously addictive and I can’t help but sing along to the silly High School Musical song and dance whenever I hear it. Of course, I always listen to it in the privacy of my own home, but this is the type of track I don’t mind publicly embarrassing myself on. When a track is over 7 minutes long, you know you’ve got something special, but when it’s over, you’re disappointed. Heartfelt love to Djrum for one of the most feel-good anthems of the year for me (Maja Cicic)
Nestled in a starry oasis amid the thick neurotropics of their second album, Expansion, Fourward delivers us this stunning track. Restrained and subtly moody, yet full of emotion and layered harmonies, it’s one of those eyes-closed-and-drift moments that works in any set, from the darkest to the most mainstream. It’s sheer bliss. (DJ)
One of the most intriguing songs of the year for me, Geode captures a very unique atmosphere in Portal, weaving together many elements to create a song that’s seriously head-turning. Perfectly arranged and crystal clear production throughout, that flutter that starts at 2:45 is just amazing. Subtle yet highly polished, this song is a real thriller. Kudos to Geode! (Maja Cicic)
In a genre saturated with Jauz knock-offs, Joyryde keeps things fresh with each new bass house track he releases (even the remix of Feel The Volume). The reggae sample on Hot Drum moves me every time I hear it. (Sampo Kaskia)
Let’s be honest, this year has been tough for many. Tough times call for uplifting sounds. If Luv by Kid Drama & Skeptical doesn’t cheer you up, 2016 may have sapped your energy and left you heart dead. 2017 is time to reboot and get back to enjoying good music. The way this track builds is top notch, taking over two and a half minutes to build to a climax, but once it does, it’s so gentle, almost polite, that it gently guides you into a hypnotic rhythm. Futuristic yet nostalgic, the vocal hook is sampled from Duke’s “So In Love With You” and is dangerously catchy, and only appears once throughout, leaving you wanting more. Add a flute to the mix and you have one of the most invigorating tracks of 2016. Stop and listen for a second… (Maja Cicic)
When the three teamed up for The View last year, I remember hearing Friction play this song on the radio and thinking there was no way they could recreate such a beautifully crafted song. I was so wrong. Missing You is a masterful masterpiece that expertly combines the vocals of DRS and Tyler Daley. There’s so much soul and emotion in this song that it’s easily one of LSB’s best works to date. These three seem to have stumbled upon something special. (Jake Hirst)
Mefjus’ VIP of Suicide Bassline was a no-brainer for me. The Austrian producer took last year’s original and completely blew it away. The track establishes Mefjus’s mesmerizing dissonance and monstrous sound production, and is arguably the pinnacle of his well-deserved success to date. Between the deluge of extraterrestrial noises are memorable one-liners in human language, a certified Mefjus signature and the icing on his always very distinctive cake. Classic neuro-funk and future-oriented drum and bass are whipped together in a blender to create this face-melting tune… You’ll wonder where your shoes are when you hear it. (Candice Fernandez)
Skrilly and Oizo: At first glance, they seem like an unlikely pairing, but they’re kindred spirits. Auteurs who dabble in all creative disciplines, both artists are into doing whatever they want, and both have a penchant for turning things upside down… it just makes sense. From the moment Hot Pants breaks and the old school stabs begin, the vibe is immediate. This is the sound of two producers just making tracks purely for fun, with no other preconceptions. Thanks also to Ed Banger for the return of Justice. If this was a Top 16 (and it really should be, since it’s 2016), Safe & Sound would definitely be on this list. (DJ)
When choosing the best track of 2016, I honestly thought all of us contributors would submit the same thing. I can’t focus on anything else but this track, the album it comes with, and the live show that premiered on Let It Roll. Some members of the UKF team had the pleasure of witnessing this announcement. Unfortunately, living in Canada, I couldn’t attend and had to immerse myself in this little world that is Anomaly. The announcement of this track and the LP was an exciting moment, as it was news some of us had been waiting for for six years. Like all the tracks on Noisia, Anomaly opens up new creative depths that only the most courageous D&B producers would explore. The choice was a no-brainer for me. (Tabitha Neudorf)
Sometimes all it takes to create a modern masterpiece is a bold move. (Sampo Caschia)
What a great song. I’d heard this song a few nights before, and even in mixes, but sadly had no idea what it was until I was listening obsessively on SoundCloud one night. As soon as I heard the intro I knew my search was finally over. It was worth the search. It has all the elements you need for a perfect roller: the intro, the vocals, the bassline. It has it all. It’s also a dark yet beautiful song. It’s not an easy combination to pull off, but it certainly works. (Robin Murray)
If you like brostep in general, 2016 is definitely your year. That being said, behind the glitz and glamour of all the Zomboy knockoffs, there were some floor-shaking smashes that deserve double the praise.
Enter Sukh Knight, whose production skills are so dangerous that the authorities are (by law) required to broadcast an APB alert every time he comes to town. What “Hustlerz” lacks in overall flashiness, it more than makes up for with a dope vocal sample, an infectiously bouncy flow, and a nostalgic vibe. This incredible track truly defined dubstep over the past 12 months. (Barrett Nelson)
Technimatic has a unique sense of capturing the hearts of listeners by building projects that are not only musically respected but also emotionally captivating. I am a firm believer that vocals can completely change the definition of a song, but with songs like this, I feel like the music speaks where the vocals don’t. I’ve been a fan of Technicolour and Komatic for years, and I can honestly say that they’ve far exceeded my expectations with the release of their new album, Better Perspective. Sure, you can put a banger as the best tune of the year, but where’s the soul in it? Maybe you guys need Better Perspective lol. (Shane Consouls)
