We thought we would compile the ubiquitous “Top 10 of the year” and rather than limit it to just albums we thought we would open it up to artists in general. Every conceivable type of music that we’ve loved over 2010 – singles vs albums, mixtapes vs bootlegs; anything goes. Oh and we’ll do 20. Who wants ten anyway ? That’s not even one a month. Stick with us for the best of the year. And there won’t be any running order that would be cruel and elitist. Click the links for a present from the artist. As with all presents you never no what you going to get.  They’re all good though.

Yuksek Fragments Mix

Yuksek is one of our favourite producers at the moment – he has a magic touch. So when he dropped a mix made by him in his studio, only consisting of remixes by him or of him – we knew it was going to be amazing. Many months later were still playing it. It’s a clever tapestry of urban-pop and french electro. You can still grab it for free – and watch out for Yuksek in 2011 because his next album is already being tipped by The Magician as one to watch out for.

Bodi Bill

Two in One was one of those surprise packages of 2010 – released on Sinbus is went criminally under the dance and indie radar. Massive in their native Germany Bodi Bill are post-dub step indie band – they weave urban beats and bass with indie vocals. We’re not really into the indie stuff, but Bodi Bill managed to find that perfect balance.

Booka Shade

Booka Shade’s More was a welcomed return to form for Booka Shade – it promised more of everything Booka Shade are about – and in mays it was its downfall too. But when it got it right it was classsic Booka, make sure you get “Regenerate” and “This Is Not The Time”

Ramon Tapia

Ramon Tapia’s debut album Sunka Sanka was the best tech-house album we heard all year. Released on Great Stuff it’s well worth a purchase it your looking for exceptionally well-produced tech-house.

Dustin N’Guyen

Nightcall (Dustin NGuyen Remix) by Kavinsky

The only piece of music we got to hear from Justice’s Xavier De Rosnay – enough said really, look for the new Justice CD next year, according to Busy P they started it 6 months ago.

Aeroplane – August Mixtape

Aeroplane August 2010 Mix by Aeroplane (Official)

Our list wouldn’t be any good if it didn’t have Aeroplane in it. We loved “We Can’t Fly” and alongside their remixes – it was a massive year for Aeroplane – expect a full live show in 2011.

Joris Voorn

We had to have the most exciting talent in deep house at the moment, Joris Voorn, watch out for his debut album – apparently it will have no house beats at all. Interesting.

Royksopp

Royksopp had to make the list, after the return to form with Junior and this years’ Senior – add in the massive amount of free tracks they had a mega 2010. They’re currently on tour in North America

Breakbot

Breakbot has been a star throughout the whole of 2010 – he’s just so smooth and he looks so goofy – his take on funk has been as massive success for Ed Banger Records – we can’t wait to hear a Breakbot album – expect to see it in 2015.  We’ve featured him numerous times so get clicking.

Shook

A late entry from Shook, we fell head over heels for his sound – he looks like he’s going to be a big remixer in 2011 and his first EP lands early 2011. Expect great things from this Dutch maverick.

NEUS

Hard-hitting electro head NEUS caught our in ear in 2010 – with some proper glitchy thumping tracks a la Justice style – we’re sure they’ll be back in 2011.

Star Guitar

Star Guitar blew us away with their production and generosity when they gave away complete remixes album for free. It was jam-packed full of great tracks.

Villa

Villa had a massive 2010 with loads of amazing tracks, mixes and singles – these guys will be definitely be the next Aeroplane in 2011.

Mighty Mouse

Nu-disco wizards Mighty Mouse have been on fine form all year – they’re a London duo who are teaching the Belgium’s a thing or two when it comes to nu-disco.

Burns

Scotland’s next big-thing will be Burns, his music is like the evil brother of Mylo – we imagine Burns beat up Mylo when they were younger – lookout for his debut in 2011.

Irish Steph

From the same label as StarGuitar this crazy Frenchman beat us into submission with filthy tracks – we want more.

The Krays

The Krays got a lot of attention from the blogs, they consist of Yuksek and Brodinski and with a slew of amazing remixes they definetley deserved to be on the list. Hopefully we’ll see more in 2011 – but were not sure at the moment.

Delphic

Delphic – Halcyon (Egotomb Remix) by Egotomb

Good friends of HBF, Delphic had a massive year. When you start hearing your tracks on computers games like FIFA and on TV shows like Eastenders you know you’ve done well. Their currently writing material for their next album and were reliable informed that Cassius might be helping out. You heard it here first.

Monarchy

We still think Momarchy is something to do with super producer Stuart Price – we’ve haven’t found out yet. But if you look at their artwork – it sure does look like the him as well as the leader singer from Zoot Woman his old band. Sounds like them too.

Jakwob

Dubstep has been dubsteppin’ into our life more and more recently and one guy who’s impressed us is Jakwob, his jazz-laden take on Dubstep is quite something else.

Kavinksy died in 1986, after he crashed his prized Testarossa off a cliff and died upon impact, or did he? Fast-forward to 2005 and a resurrection occurred, a Zombie-like Kavinksy came back to life, with this new Zombie blood rushing through his un-dead body he went straight to the studio to see how this possession would make music – fast-forward to 2010 and he produced a electro zombie-gem that was NightCall – produced by one half of Daft Punk and mixed-down by SebastiAn, this more aggressive darker side of Kavinsky had struck gold. Check out the Dustin N’Guyen remix below – just so happens to be Justice’s Xavier De Rosnay. And one of our favourite tracks.

Nightcall (Dustin NGuyen Remix) by Kavinsky

On the other side was “Pacific Coast Highway” a homage to the very road the Kavinsky lost control of his car, the moment of madness that changed him forever.

Pacific Coast Highway by Kavinsky

In late 2010, Kavinksy decided to run a remix competition for his track “Nightcall” – a few months later he had to choose a couple out of the 533 entries that had been submitted. Kavinsky’s favourite was by SAWAGii, a heavy metal version of the original, whilst the Record Makers team were blown away by the version put forward by Robotaki, an 18 year old prodigy from Montreal.

And to celebrate the completion of this epic remix contest we have been given permission to give away the two winners as a aperitif to his new album which is meant to be out March 2010. And to top that we’ve also got Ed Banger’s lord of the funk Breakbot’s remix to giveaway as well.

Kavinksy – Nightcall (SAWAGii revenge remix)

Grab here.

Kavinsky – Nightcall (Robotaki remix)

Grab here.

Kavinksy – Nightcall (Breakbot remix)

Grab here.

Overwhelmed by the stunning response to the remix contest for Kavinsky’s Nightcall, Record Makers have decided to take things one step further and allow graphic designers and illustrators to contribute their interpretations of Kavinsky’s zombie universe.

Kavinsky is currently putting the finishing touches to his album, due to see the light in 2011. The visuals hold as much weight as the music, an aesthetic commitment that has been in place since he announced his arrival, back from the dead, with Testarossa Autodrive. The Kavinsky Fan Art contest will run from November 1st to December 31st. 50 illustrations will be chosen from the entrants and included in a limited edition book. The winning design will take pride of place on the front cover. The first 20 illustrations will get a copy of the book, and every winning illustrator will receive music digitally.

Fans can submit their entries and find out more details at: http://www.kavinskyfanart.com

We first featured frenchie NEUS a few months back and were captivated by his banging electro music, consisting of Gael Giudicelli, from Bastia, France. He’s adept at making cut-up, fidgety electro.

He’s back with a new EP and it is sounding great.

Take My Dope by NEUS

He’s also got a track called Blast, which is an extract from “Orchestra of Insomnia” 2010 and will be released on the “BLAST” EP by NEUS Digital/We’re Peace Maker’s soon Sept/Oct 2010. And there’s a remix comp too. Go here to get them stems. http://www.mediafire.com/?dinz5yxzrz2

Blast! by NEUS

He also has done a sweet remix for fellow frenchie Kavinksy, as part of the Night Call remix competition.

Kavinsky – Nightcall (NEUS Remix) by NEUS

He’s also done a mixtape.

NEUS MIXTAPE (Electro/Trash-Fidget) 2010 by NEUS

NEUS or  New Experiemental for Universal Sound are ones to keep a eye out for – hailing Corsica, France. Gael Guidicelli’s sound of Robotic disco is winning fans all over at the moment.

To give him a chance he has remixed man of the moment – Breakbot with a remix of Iron Zombie and it’s a amazing – intense glitchy disco and electro, bags of distrortion and trippy synths.

Check out his Orchestra of Insomnia as well to say it’s banging would be a injustice. Danger written all over it.

Breakbot – Iron Zombie

Download here

NEUS – Orchestra of Insomnia

Download here

We love a bit of mystery at HBF (just look at the Monarchy post earlier this week) so when Kavinsky dropped his new EP Nightcall there was a unknown remixer called Dustin N’Guyen, the rumour mill went into overdrive, who was he? Did he draw comic books? Was he really in Karate Kid? We needed some answers.

So we’ve listened to the track,  did some digging and found that Dustin N’Guyen was everything from a guy who works for Marvel Comics to a Vietnamese American actor who was born in the 60′s, and was in cult classic Karate Kid.

The current thinking now is it might well be a new alias of Xavier De Rosnay or Guy-Manuel de Homem-Chrsito, from Justice or Daft Punk – this is probably on the money, when you hear the track you automatically think Daft Punk or Justice.

Do you know who he is?

Kavinsky – Nightcall (Dustin N’Guyen Remix)

Kavinksy is about to drop his follow-up EP to the cult classic “1986″, not only is it great song – it has been produced by one half of Daft Punk, Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo.

On top of that the song was mixed down by Sebastian, and there are remixes from Breakbot and Dustin N Guyen (which is apparently Xavier de Rosnay from Justice.) Kavinksy has certainly managed to court every talented Frenchman in Paris to help.

You can pre-order the whole limited edition picture disc here.

1. Nightcall
2. Pacific Coast Highway
3. Nightcall (Dustin N’Guyen Remix)
4. Pacific Coast Highway (Jackson Remix)

Pacific Coast

Nightcall