My top 10 EDM songs of 2009

Although 2010 has just started, it's not too late to get in one more of those "best of" lists. The following, in no order, are my picks for the top 10 EDM songs of 2009:

1. Neptune Project - Aztec (Aly & Fila Remix) [FSOE]

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Aly & Fila's remix of Neptune Project's "Aztec" was one of the biggest trance hits of the summer, most notably for the song's quicker tempo and greater emphasis on the female vocalizations that were the highlight of the original.

The duo, to me, are a younger version of Above & Beyond, and their label, Future Sound of Egypt, has been off to a great start by signing some of the best new producers in uplifting trance.

2. Solarity - Terminal 6 [Anjunadeep]

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When you look back at this song as a whole, it has no main build-up point or area of interest. But what makes it so great is how Solarity blends the sloppiness of house with the calm sounds of trance.

As the song progresses, you can hear a soft melody sneaking its way in between the heavily distorted background rhythms, which include notes that sound like sirens and cash registers opening. It sounds like a mess on paper, but it totally works.

3. Matt Skyer - Yearning [Emphase]

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Matt Skyer's "Yearning" makes the list as its one of the best uplifting trance songs in the last year.

When the warm piano sounds hit during the breakdown, foreshadowing the melodies about to be heard in the back half of the track, you know you're in for something special.

The entire song has this "feel good" aura to it- the best part of uplifting trance, and Matt has created that feeling perfectly in "Yearning".


4. SoundLift - Road To Revolution [Magic Island]

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If you put the soundtrack from the movie Saving Private Ryan and trance in a blender, you would get Road To Revolution.

I first heard this song on Manuel Le Saux's Extrema radio show on Afterhours.fm one afternoon, and the breakdown made me stop what I was doing and immediately download it.

The two minute breakdown, which contains samples of helicopter sounds and gunfire and moves along with an awesome drum roll/trumpet/orchestral melody, is the highlight of a fantastic song from Soundlift. The high-pitch main rhythm, played out with some stabby synth notes, is repeated just enough times to prevent the song from becoming monotonous.

5. Deadmau5 - Strobe [Ultra]

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Any single over ten minutes is fairly uncommon with EDM. Thankfully, instead of writing the typical boring intro with basic rhythms so a DJ can easily beatmatch, Deadmau5 keeps this song fresh by starting with a downtempo ambient mood. The introduction lays the groundwork for the song's main melody, but sounds reminiscent of a chillout track with violins and maracas in the background.

After enough buildup and anticipation, the drop finally comes, and not only is it one of the most catchiest melodies of 2009, but one of the most fun as well.

6. Arctic Moon - True Romance [Unreleased]

@YouTube

For some reason Arctic Moon's "True Romance" was never released as a single this year, despite him churning out nearly a dozen productions on various labels.

Outside of hearing this track in a random set, the link above is the only place you can hear this gem of a song- a formulaic, but effective uplifter featuring a wonderful breakdown with tribal drums and female vocalizations. This song is one of uplifting trance's best moments of 2009.

7. RAM - RAMsterdam (Jorn Van Deynhoven Remix) [Armada]

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Jorn Van Deynhoven's version of RAM's RAMsterdam is far from original, as the main melody sounds exactly like Lemon & Einor K's "Anticipation", released in 2008. However, Van Deynhoven does a better job at creating a memorable arena-like trance sound in his remix.

Subtle piano notes accompany the frantic main melody, which is built around upward progression of scales.

8. Daniel Kandi - Venice Beach [Anjunabeats]

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If you listened to Above & Beyond's Anjunabeats Vol. 7 compilation from start to finish without knowing any of the track names or producers, you could easily pick out Daniel Kandi's lone song.

"Venice Beach" contains all the staple elements of another Daniel Kandi classic- a warm uplifting melody, his traditional synth pitch tunings, and a decent outro.


9. Solarstone - Late Summer Fields (Forerunners Club Mix) [Solaris]

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This one is kind of a homer pick, as Solarstone's "Late Summer Fields" is one of my favorite trance tracks of all-time. This is also one of the only two vocal trance songs on this list.

Don't be fooled by the track's name- the Forerunners "club" mix is just as much club as the original versions, but the lyrics in the song are rearranged, and a new melody sneaks its way in the back half of the song. If you've never listened to Solarstone, this is one of their highlight tracks, and part of their excellent Rain Stars Eternal (2008) and Anthology One (2006) albums.

10. Dash Berlin ft. Emma Hewitt - Waiting [Aropa]

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Dash Berlin's "Waiting" featuring Emma Hewitt was one of the most popular vocal trance songs of 2009 for one reason- it's incredibly fun.

Yes the lyrics are cheesy. Yes the melodies are basic. But isn't that what makes vocal trance great in the first place?

If you liked this version check out AROPA 004 - Dash Berlin ft. Emma Hewitt - The Remixes, with new versions by Sean Tyas, First State, and Dash Berlin.

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So there you have it- my picks for the top 10 EDM songs of 2009. Was there anything on this list you liked in particular or didn't like? Also, what are your picks?

[Image credit: Junodownload.com]