The Beatdown

1. Cirez D, "Rematch (Original Mix)" (Mouseville): The track of the year. Cirez D delivers an instant club classic. 2. Pryda, "Aftermath" (Pryda Recordings : Eric Prydz astonishes with the sheer quality of his production work, and his ability to shift gears from release to release puts him in a...

By Drexel Faris

December 22, 2005

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1. Cirez D, "Rematch (Original Mix)" (Mouseville): The track of the year. Cirez D delivers an instant club classic.

2. Pryda, "Aftermath" (Pryda Recordings : Eric Prydz astonishes with the sheer quality of his production work, and his ability to shift gears from release to release puts him in a class by himself.

3. D-Nox and Beckers, "You're a Star/Jet Lag Slave" (Boroque): German tandem Beckers and D-Nox let loose with this Moroder-inspired prog-techno floor shaker.

4. Luke Walker, "Alias/Streak" (Underwater): New Zealander Luke Walker brings it with this genre-splicing monster.

5. Free Form Five, "No More Conversations (Mylo Remix)" (Fine): Myles McInnes (aka Mylo) takes complete creative license in churning out this tech funk wonder.

6. Habersham, "Dryspell (Original Mix)" (Audio Therapy): This deep, dark techno masterpiece reminds me how beautiful 4/4 can be.

7. Richie Hawtin, "The Tunnel" (Minus): The Canadian techno wizard resurfaces with another standout release; a slow-burning, dark and spacey affair.

8. Alter Ego, "Gate 23 (Lost on Arrival) (Alter Ego Dub)" (Klang Elektronic): When that warbled atmospheric synth bleeds into the arrangement, it sounds like the breaking hearts of 1,000 android souls.

9. Speedcats, "Speedcats (Roel H Mix)" (Silver Planet): Ben Camp and Mat Leutwyler are in top form again, but Roel H's dubby, low-grind re-work is the true classic here.

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