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2012, where to start? Well, it’s certainly been an interesting year for brand EDM, with the excesses of DJs seemingly beginning to grate on the ever-more detached “hardcore” fans of electronic music. Musically, it has been a diverse year, with the continued fracturing of genre fault-lines; opening up once no-go areas to any producer that’s willing to give it go.

From our perspective, 2012 has seen a lot of our favourite genres retreat into the darker, more twisted recesses of the dance music spectrum. So it’s no surprise that disco has got deeper and more reflective; deep house went subterranean; garage made a surprising return; and thankfully electro is finally making it’s way back to Europe, and out of the hands of over-zealous EDM producers.

It’s been by no means a stunning year for new music, some albums disappointed, some big-names disappointed, but many newcomers have surprised us. Our list of best albums, singles and remixes is what we’ve liked, and played the most, over the last 12 months; gleaned from our own listening habits and tracks that made it into our monthly mixtapes. There’s no particular running order, just ten of our favourites for each category.

And as an added bonus, there’s a mixtape which is our top ten songs and remixes mixed into a 1 hour mixtape. It’s wasn’t an easy endeavour and required quite a bit of surgery to make it work, but we’re actually pretty pleased how it came out all things considered.

The HBF Team.

Albums

Lindstrom – Smalhans
Jupiter – Juicy Lucy
Boys Noize – Out of The Black
Fake Blood – Cells
Breakbot – By Your Side
Surrender – Surrender
Eric Prydz – Eric Prydz Present Pryda
Strip Steve – Micro Mega
The Penelopes – Never Live Another Yesterday
Para One – Passion

Songs

Alex Gopher – Hello Inc
Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
Aeroplane Feat Jamie Principle – In Her Eyes
Jacques Lu Cont – Church
Justin Martin – Hood Rich
Punks Jump Up Feat. Dave 1 – Mr Overtime (Club remix)
Boys Noize – What You Want
Miguell Campbell – Rockin’ Beats
Fake Blood – Let It Go
Alex Metric – Prophecies

Remixes

Reptile (Attari Remix)
Philosophy of Sound – Freedom What? (Andy Remix)
Surrender! Smash (Blende Remix)
Mixhell – Exit Wound (Aeroplane)
Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans (Gesaffelstein Remix)
Van She – Ideas of Happiness (SebastiAn Remix)
M83 – Reunion (Mylo Remix)
St Lucia – September (Alex Metric Remix)
Ladyhawke – Sunday Drive (Villa Remix)
Breakbot – One Out Of Two (Oliver Remix)

Best of 2012 Mixtape

Citizens – Reptile (Attar! Remix)
Miguel Campbell – Rockin’ Beats
Philosophy of Sound – Freedom What? (Andy Remix)
Punks Jump Up feat. Chromeo ‘Mr Overtime’
Mixhell – Exit Wound (Aeroplane Remix)
Justin Martin – Hoodrich
Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans (Gesaffelstein Remix)
Van She – Ideas of Happiness (SebastiAn Remix)
Fake Blood – Let It Go
Jacques Lu Cont – Church
Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
Alex Metric – Prophecies
Boys Noize – What You Want
Surrender – S.M.A.S.H (Blende Remix)
Aeroplane feat Jamie Principle – In Her Eyes
Ladyhawke – Sunday Drive (Villa Remix)
Breakbot – One Out of Two (Oliver Remix)
St Lucia – September (Alex Metric Remix)
M83 – Reunion (Mylo Remix)
Alex Gopher – Hello Inc

Andrew Rafter

Andrew Rafter is the editor and founder of Harder Blogger Faster.