Many criticized minimalism during this decade as devoid of sexuality, yet not when listening to German label Perlon’s early catalog – from Baby Ford & Zip’s low end “Windowshopping” to Narcotic Syntax’s Spanish female vocal, its first-rate seduction music.
Etta James’ 1962 classic remains an infectious dance floor classic and this sensuous and soulful remix remains one of its timeless versions.
1. Daft Punk – “One More Time”
Daft Punk’s decision to retire in 2013 was an affirmation of both their contributions to music and our appreciation of art itself. Although Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo didn’t produce at an incredible pace – only four studio albums and two tours in 28 years – they had hugely influential works; whether that meant introducing Italo icon Giorgio Moroder’s Discovery record to an entirely new audience; pushing forward-thinking boundaries such as 2005’s cold dystopic Human After All or 2013’s more joyful Random Access Memories records – their vision always connected back to rich musical traditions from before them.
One More Time has become the archetypical earworm. With timeless quality that transcends trends, One More Time helped Daft Punk build new audiences for dance music while continuing to pack arenas worldwide.
This song’s success can be partly attributed to its catchy chorus, but also because it is so intricately produced and arranged. From its twinkling filtered synthetic horns at its opening to Romanthony’s vocalised call for “one more time”, this track is truly masterfully produced.
Discovery marked an evolution away from Homework’s sole Chicago house influences toward disco and synthpop influences, offering more of an exploration. Its funk-laden synthbass and fist-pumping drums drew on ELO’s Evil Woman and Sister Sledge’s Il Macquillage Lady as well as more obscure Imperials samples such as those found in “Crescendolls.” Discovery’s exploration of soundscapes such as 16-bit pitchbent tones in “Verdis Quo” or Klymaxx electro-bass in “Short Circuit”, created an album with depth that stood out among genre that had become formulaic and overstuffed.
2. Gesaffelstein – “Hellifornia”
Gesaffelstein’s industrial-tinged single, “Boom!”, rocked the electronic music world like no other song had done before it. It set the scene for his debut album Aleph which offered epic sonic journey with tracks like Viol, Pursuit and Hate or Glory – while technically dynamic its dark and threatening techno evoked feelings both serenity and rebellion simultaneously.
After producing several EPs and remixes for Miss Kittin, Lana Del Rey, and Phoenix among others, Mike Levy (Gesaffelstein) unleashed his debut full-length LP Aleph in 2013. Levy enjoyed an incredible breakthrough year; Tiga joined his ranks while production credits on Kanye West’s Yeezus were provided as well as membership on boutique French label Bromance Records.
Aleph blends Detroit techno with the aggressive beats of Hip Hop to produce a sound that is unique. Tracks like ‘Pursuit’ and ‘Duel’ display Aleph’s influences head-on: arpeggiators jangle to metronomic 16ths while arpeggiators gate into revolving cadences on tracks such as Pursuit/Duel; but what really stands out is “Hate or Glory,” an incredible song which sounds reminiscent of an industrial rendering of Hip Hop due to its bass/cavernous 808s combo and “twisted synth line which sounds similar to G-funk on acid!”
This track is an explosive party weapon that devastates pretentious dance clubs. Even after Avicii’s tragic death, his track still reigns as an unstoppable dance classic proving even bedroom producers can create massive hits with passion, dedication, and technical proficiency. Ruben Haze brings timeless vocals that ensure this timeless classic won’t go out of fashion anytime soon.
3. Pendulum – “The Island – Pt. I (Dawn)”
Pendulum burst onto the electronic scene in the 2000s with their innovative spin on drum and bass music. Drawing inspiration from both their d’n’b heroes as well as Prodigy, Pendulum created a hybrid capable of shaking arenas to their foundation.
“The Island – Pt. I (Dawn),” their third single from Immersion, was released on September 19, 2010 as the first half of two part song. This track became their most successful release and propelled them into global stardom; despite remixes by Tiesto and Skrillex amongst others, the original still sounds special ten years on!
While this song exemplifies Pendulum’s signature mix of electronic and rock elements, its lyrics linger more deeply with audiences. The track symbolizes how we all struggle against opposing forces of light and dark within ourselves and represents their struggle against each other.
Live versions of songs exhibit strong connections between artist and audience; it is evident they’re enjoying themselves immensely onstage! Their energy spreads freely throughout an outstanding performance atmosphere.
Since this video was shot, their lineup has changed slightly; currently consisting of drummer Rob Swire, vocalists Paul McGrillen and KJ Sawka as well as guitarist Scott Wilson – with a rock and metal background they continue to push boundaries with their sound; their current lineup can do it all – their live show being nothing less than breathtaking for any fans of electronic music!
4. Cash Cash – “Take Me Home”
Cash Cash are best known for their massive hit “Take Me Home,” but their early work should also be explored. One track from their debut album that stands out is “Gone,” combining disco with dance-pop with lyrics that are relatable yet catchy; its global success made it one of the most iconic hits from 2000s era music scene; this song boasts both an unforgettable melody line, catchy vocals, as well as its signature electronic sound.
Though primarily known as a trance act, they were able to integrate elements of rock and dance in such a way as to set themselves apart. Their songs feature deep basslines and thumping beats while their signature sound features layers of sounds and melodies for maximum impact.
Electropop is often associated with the 1980s, yet its roots can also be found in the 2000s. Early songs had more of a laid-back, slower feel while still possessing elements from modern dance music like electronic keyboards and drums – one such iconic example being “Rhythm of Love” by ABBA which features these elements prominently.
Even after they parted ways in the 2000s, their music continued to live on. Their final single release “Take Me Home” proved hugely popular and is still widely played on radio today and covered by many artists.
Underground Resistance may be best known for their techno music, but they have also dabbled in electro. One track from their earlier electro days is this high-octane festival staple featuring an infectious countdown followed by a rapid jump beat that is both energetic and memorable – an impressive display of Underground Resistance’s dance tracks being both high energy and memorable!
5. Barba Streisand
The early 2000s witnessed a revival in electronic music’s roots-driven aesthetic. Drum and bass emerged as one of its many offshoots; this form combining hip-hop breakbeat madness to house tempo, with anchoring bass patterns inspired by dub-reggae (Roni Size, Goldie, Bad Company and dBridge & Instra:mental among others); downtempo–an instrumental variation on big beat that favoured rock guitar and keyboard riffs over simple propulsive breaks (DJ Shadow, Massive Attack and Bonobo); and electro–which finally gave overblown arena-trance its final goodbye. It was also this decade that saw the birth of mashups – pairing vocal elements from one recording with instrumental components from another – which rose to prominence during this era. Matthew Herbert stood out as an innovative pioneer, possessing an exceptional mastery of machine music’s intricacies; his DJ mix Let’s All Make Mistakes and album of glitchy torch songs Bodily Functions are two outstanding works that expertly balance between techno syncopation and playful noise-makers.
Samplers like Australian sextet The Avalanches were one of the pioneers in pushing sampling’s limits, packing thousands of samples into their orchestrally-arranged Since I Left You album. From neighing horse hooks in Frontier Psychiatrist to shimmering theremin and soprano choirs on “Electricity,” Since I Left You is one of electronic music’s most whimsical compositions and underscores its promise – sampling opened up an amazing world of sound possibilities; few master it as adeptly as The Avalanches did here.