Posts in Best Of

A few months ago, I was asked this simple question: “Would you want to shoot their portrait?”

Looking back, this is the moment when all the dominoes started to fall. I’ve always had something to say, but I felt as if the message wasn’t getting through. Shooting portraits has finally given me the platform to vocalize my vision, and since then it’s been pretty insane. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate and share experiences with some of the most amazing people. The best part? I’ve made lifelong friends, all because I just took someone’s photograph.

2014 – An unforgettable year, revisited here.

– Chad Kamenshine

We have our staple artists for the year all over the internet in Caribou, Aphex Twin, FKA Twigs, Todd Terje, I mean the list goes on. I wanted to bring forward my most listened to artists that kept the year in music enjoyable that might have been overshadowed or they just have an exciting path that they’re on that I wanted to share.

Please list yours in the comments, love seeing the readers lists.

#10. Leon Vynehall

#9. Lee Bannon

#8. Sophie

#7. Huerco S.

#6. Yung Lean

#5. TIE: Mark Barrott & Young Marco

#4. Moiré

#3. Torn Hawk

#2. Daniel Avery

#1. Galcher Lustwerk

If you had to give me one musician to listen to for the rest of my life i’d probably settle on Casino Versus Japan even to this day. Here is part 2 of ISO50 Classic albums, the defining collection of what shaped the beginnings this blog. Glad to see you enjoyed the Yagya even if it was a repeat listen.

Since the blog has been around since 2007 and its not always focused on new music I want to start a ISO50 Classics series where I share some of the albums that I think represent the blog perfectly. First, is Yagya “Rigning“, if you’re not familiar then you’re lucky to enjoy that first experience with it. Its like Gas but floating slightly higher off the surface. If you have listened to this album, share some favorites or stories, for me I would fall asleep to this album in an amber lit room and wake up half way through and just couldn’t imagine not owning it and relying on it.

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We’ve finally reached it, the Top 10 songs of the year. Make sure to check out the rest of the playlists easily by using the Featured Post Section on the right side, I hope you’ve found something new or just a playlist to sit back with.

**Side note: I didn’t include Moodgadget or Ghostly International releases because that would just not be fair.

#10 Jessy Lanza – 5785021

Just how everything expands after the 3 minute mark does it for me, Junior Boys perfection.

#9 DJ Rashad – Pass That Shit (feat. Spinn & Taso)

I need the extremes of both ends of the music spectrum to make me feel normal, being from Detroit you couldn’t get enough Ghetto-Tech, this song just makes me happy.

#8 Diana – Born Again

“The Pop Song of the Year” for me, all ages and genres, nothing matters but the music here.

#7 Ptaki – Krystyna

The Polish in me and my love for slow disco bumped this song into the Top 10. Really though you can’t deny that bassline and the sample, just heavy lush disco, its like the West Coast Rap of Disco.

#6 Toro Y Moi – Say That

If anyone deserves Top 40 support its Chaz, keep him happy and in the studio.

#5 Boards of Canada – Nothing Is Real

They came back in such a perfect way this year.

#4 The Field – A Guided Tour

My favorite listening album of the year, beautifully prepared, a formula that doesn’t need adjusting.

#3 Majical Cloudz – Childhood’s End

The only emotionally vocal song that hit me this year, he does simplicity soo well.

#2 Dirty Beaches – Casino Lisboa

This song is the definition of passion and drive.

#1 Bibio – A Tout a l’heure

Uplifting done right, changes my mood instantly, music is priceless when it can do that to you.

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Aaaannnd we’re down to the Top 20 *dodges tomatoes*

#20 The Beat Broker – Departure

#19 CFCF – Beyond Light

#18 Juana Molina – Eras

#17 Machinedrum – Gunshotta

#16 Four Tet – Parallel Jalebi

#15 Toro Y Moi – Rose Quartz

#14 Oneohtrix Point Never – Along

#13 Lawrence – Lucifer

#12 Sally Shapiro – Lives Together (The Field remix)

#11 Standish/Carlyon – Nono/Yoyo (HTRK remix)

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Some many underdogs here, remember there’s the dance world, indie rock world, electronic, beats, and soo many more genres being covered on this blog. Once all 50 are revealed this will be a beautifully diverse review of the year, enjoy.

#30 Blondes – Andrew

#29 Keep Shelly In Athens – Recollection

#28 CFCF – Camera

#27 Ken Camden – Eta Carinae

#26 Function – Inter

#25 Marcel Dettmann – Lightworks

#24 Tornado Wallace – Bit 1

#23 Legowelt – Sark Island Acid

#22 Hot Chip – How Do You Do? (Todd Terje remix)

#21 Four Tet – For These Times

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It only gets better and better the further we get into this…

#40 Samps – Plans

#39 Lapalux – Swallowing Smoke

#38 Benoit Pioulard – Margins

#37 Om Unit – Corridor 2013

#36 Jon Hopkins – Open Eye Signal

#35 Zomby – 777

#34 Soviet Soviet – No Lesson

#33 Jensen Sportag – Bellz

#32 Jacques Greene – Quicksand

#31 Darkstar – Timeaway

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This doesn’t need much of an introduction, its a best of list that we’ve been doing for years, the great thing about them is that i’ve made them into a nice 10 track playlist for you. I hope you enjoy, remember you don’t have to agree with me, I hope I turn you onto some new music by the end of it.

#50 Holden – Some Respite

#49 Airbird & Napolian – In The Zone

#48 Orphan – Most Is Missing

#47 Miles – Loran Dreams

#46 Gonno – Are You Asleep

#45 Atoms For Peace – Default

#44 Bonobo – Cirrus

#43 Monte – True

#42 Queens – Cables

#41 Almunia – The Magician

I saw Italian trio Soviet Soviet last week in Brooklyn, I was super attracted to the quickness of getting in and out of the hooky driving songs. They obviously have their similarities to old bands but they deliver it with youth and catchy basslines. I highly suggest checking out “No Lesson” first and then streaming the album

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