Night Tracks Of The Year - Numbers 20-11

So, we're down to the penultimate list, this time, it's tracks 20-11. If you missed the first few lists, then check them out here: 50-41, 40-31, 30-21. For now, read on, starting with number...

20. Ollie Macfarlane - Torment (from Shadows EP (Seeking Blue))

Anyone that heard any of my mixes on radio stations throughout the year will know this track. Ollie strayed away from his more traditional UK Garage style for this one, with lush pads, great vocal samples and driving drums that put him at number 20 in this year's prestigious list. Very glad this got signed on a great EP overall. (Buy here)

19. LV & Josh Idehen - Primary Colours (from Routes (Keysound Recordings))

Another track from one of the standout releases of the year. Although the track is lead by those neon synth stabs, it retains a real dark, street atmosphere. Out to LV & Josh Idehen, whilst the album works best as a whole, this was undoubtedly the high point. Shame it wasn't longer, but that's testament to the track. (Buy here)

18. Inofaith - Nocturne (from Dawn Is Late EP (Shipwrec Recordings))

I am a man who loves a good nocturne, and if there was a release this year that deserves that title, it's definitely this track from Inofaith. I know Inofaith likes to produce late at night, and anybody that listens to his Dawn Is Late EP should be able to see that for themselves. The long, sample heavy instrument is the perfect build up for the glorious moment that the shuffling garage drums kick in. (Buy here)

17. Zed Bias & Steve Gurley - Roll (from Roll (Keysound Recordings))

Let's be honest here. Could a collaboration between Zed Bias and returning UKG don Steve Gurley be anything but magic? The dark vocal rolls (no pun intended) over and over above possibly the best percussion of the year. Dark Garage at it's finest. (Buy here)

16. Ghostlight - Known All The Days (from Leaving For The City Of Saints EP (Other Heights))

Again, I can't express how glad I am that Ghostek's stuff finally saw a release this year, and I'm even more glad that Other Height's found space for some of his collaborations with Roof Light. They may have been floating around for some time, but that didn't take away any of the impact of putting this on my decks for the first time and playing it from beginning to end. (Buy here)

15. Sully - It's Your Love (from Carrier (Keysound Recordings))

What a way to open Sully's first album, with this track that harked back to the golden age of Dark UKG. Burial might've tried and failed to replicate El-B's drums by his own admission, but Sully has definitely succeeded in creating something that garage pioneer would be proud of. (Buy here)

14. Ghostek - Cryostasis (from Lost Tapes EP (Square Harmony))

Nobody does that dark, moody garage better than Ghostek, and this was the defining example from his Lost Tapes EP. The bass has tremendous power, and as always, you never quite know where the drums on a Ghostek track are going to take you, and the little vocal snippets are used sparingly, and only appear at their most effective. The sort of track that would leave anybody that listens to it wanting more Ghostek. (Buy here)

13. HGLDT - Knowing You (from 2010/Knowing You (Swing & Skip))

Possibly my most awaited release of the year. Ever since I heard this track played and recommended by Blackdown, I was desperate for a release, and I rinsed the youtube clip hundreds of times. Backed with a remix by Resketch, and a track by Damu, this was a great release that brought the emerging Swing & Skip label(run by HGLDT himself) to a lot of people's attention. (Buy here)

12. DjRum - Mountains Pt. 2 & 3 (from Mountains EP (2nd Drop))

It's now pretty much universally recognised on music sites that DJ Rum (or DjRum in this case) was onto something special with his Mountains EP, and Night Tracks feels so differently. I don't think anybody that heard it for the first time expected that laid back, string-laden intro to give way to the pounding, somewhere-between-techno-jungle-and-garage drums that rule over the latter part of the track. (Buy here)

11. Jamie xx - Beat For (from Far Nearer (Numbers))

Although all the hype was around the steel-pan laden summer anthem, Far Nearer, the flip side, the dark and moody Beat For was not to be ignored. I struggle to think of a dark track that has such dancefloor potential as this one. It first made an appearance on a mix by Jamie xx a couple of years ago, this record was delayed and delayed, but the world is better for it's arrival. The perfect accompaniment to Far Nearer. (Buy here)

Night Tracks Of The Year - Numbers 30-21...

So, no doubt you've clocked numbers 50-41, and then 40-31, and you've probably guessed what comes next. That's right, it's numbers 30-21 (cue fireworks)...

30. Dub Phizix & Skeptical feat. Strategy - Marka (from Marka (Exit))

Occasionally a tune comes out that unites EVERYBODY in a scene, and this is one of those tunes. Overnight it appeared on facebook walls, blogs and forums. This is fast Skeng, and anything Skeng-like is worthy of an end of year list. Sick video too. (Buy here)

29. EPLP - Hurt (from Too Much Hope EP (Self Released))

There's not many people who get vocals down as well as Bristol's EPLP, and quite frankly, there's nobody better than him at getting just the right amount of bleeps and bloops. This track is a perfect demonstration of both those skills, not to mention those synths. Quality. (Buy here)

28. Jason Burns - Die 4 U (from See Thru U EP (Brap Dem! Recordings))

Skippy, chopped up and pitched down vocals, stabs and synths, bouncy bass. This might be labelled future garage, but it's as good as anything that came out 1998-2001. (Buy here)

 26. DjRum - Mountains Pt. 1 (from Mountains EP (2nd Drop))

One thing I really like about DJ Rum (or DjRum as he went by for this release) is that his work occupiesa strange space between garage, dubstep and dub techno. I couldn't tell you what this is, so sorry genre heads. But I can tell you one thing for sure, this is an absolute roller that keeps going and going and going, but not for a second do you want to stop listening. (Buy here)

25. Jichael Mackson - Gedons (from Bob's Your Uncle EP (Stock5))

Clocking in at almost 15 minutes, you probably won't find a longer track in this years list, although it's debatable whether you could really call this one track at all (skip to 2:30 and listen, then skip to 11:00 and listen. Still think it's the same track?). It is though, most certifiably, a techno/house epic, and on the strength of those dream-like pads up to 4 minutes in, it finds itself marking the halfway point of this year's top 50. (Buy here, I guess)

24. Synkro & Indigo - Guidance (from Guidance (Exit))

Synkro is one of the, if not THE, most versatile producers in underground music today, but he's no jack of all trades. He seems to be able to master anything he turns his hand to, and when he's making stuff with Indigo, it gets even better. Although his releases later in the year were on a more techno edge, it's this straight up beautiful piece from earlier in the year that takes number 24. (Buy here)

23. The Weeknd - What You Need (from House Of Balloons (Self Released))

I guess in a way, The Weeknd is a lot like The xx. I can't think of anybody else that has been able to convey such a mood as effectively since the 2010 Mercury Prize winners. Every track on the album House Of Balloons was aimed without fail at the night, and 'What You Need' was the stand out track that was delivered perfectly. (Buy here)

22. Essáy - Distance & Lights (from Distance & Lights (Cut))

Essáy just understands how to put across vibe. This Bloc Party sampling piece of ambient-ish dub techno represents his sound perfectly, and the production on it is perfect. A track with raw edges always sounds better than over-produced slickness. One of those tracks that shows that holding back can be more powerful than including every sound under the sun. (Buy here)

21. Ghostek - Night & Low Light (from Lost Tapes EP(Square Harmony))

I've got to admit. I was getting worried about Ghostek. I was beginning to think his many productions that flitter in and out of soundcloud might never see a release, but this year, there was an abundance, the first being his Lost Tapes EP. "Night & Low Light" had been around for some time, but I was still excited to hear this in full. Simply put, Ghostek has dominion over all drums, and they bend to his will. It's got to be the only explanation of how he creates those loops. (Buy here)