Top 15 singles of 2020: #’s 10 – 6

We’re already at my top 10 singles of 2020. Time’s already flying by!

#10: Liam Kazar – “Shoes Too Tight”

This came out of nowhere and turned out to be one of the catchiest, sharpest singles I heard all year. Mr. Kazar can’t come out with a full-length album soon enough for my liking. This song shows a level of playful artistry sorely lacking in a lot of music right now.

#9: Matt Karmil – “210”

This house track drops like an empty Red Bull can onto a dance floor full of sweaty, sexy people. I’m not sure I can sum it up better than that.

#8: Protomartyr – “Processed By the Boys”

This track from Ultimate Success Today is a great example of what Protomartyr do so well – blending mysterious lyrics and vocals with rock chops that border on psychedelia.

#7: Heartless Bastards – “Revolution”

This surprise single came out of Erika Wennerstrom being frustrated with damn well everything in 2020. She summed up how we all felt and gave us a rallying cry for 2021.

#6: Teenager – “Good Time”

Listening to this is some of the best music fun I had all year. It was stuck in my head for days after first hearing it. It’s a song about how love is fleeting to a sweet groove that is nothing short of smile-inducing.

Only five left to go! Who makes it to the top? Come back tomorrow to learn!

Keep your mind open.

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Matt Karmil releases “210” from his upcoming album.

Photo by Fredrik Skogkvist

Acclaimed UK producer and engineer Matt Karmil will release his new album, STS371, on March 27th via Smalltown Supersound, and today presents a new single, “210.” Following lead single “PB,” “210” opens with shuffling synthesizer, later quickening with a muted, staccato beat. 

“210 is named after a hotel room in Amsterdam,” says Karmil, “although not one I’ve ever stayed in. I like the way the chord hangs in the air and it’s, to me at least, somehow both intimate and urgent.”
 

Listen to Matt Karmil’s “210” – 
https://soundcloud.com/smalltownsupersound/matt-karmil-210


STS371 is Karmil’s most concise album to date, with his signature mix of minimalism and reverb-drenched house still being the backbone of his warm, rich, atmospheric and melancholic sound. It was made largely while Karmil was traveling in a nonlinear process of recording.  Anticipating the completion of his music studio in The Cotswolds in England, Karmil favored “on the fly” production methods to finish his album.

While his works fit within the tradition of techno’s timeless anonymity,  Karmil’s highly personal music is anything but a xerox on dance music’s previous life.  As Karmil puts it – minimally, simply and functionally: “I made a conscious effort to up the energy, and found a collection of tunes that felt coherent to me.”

STS371 follows 2018’s Will. Since the release of Will he has co-produced and mixed Kornél Kovács’ acclaimed Stockholm Marathon. He has also worked with, among many others, Matias Aguayo for Crammed Discs and Talaboman for R&S, as an engineer, mixing and mastering. 
 

Listen to “PB” (lead single) – 
https://soundcloud.com/smalltownsupersound/mattkarmil-pb

Pre-order STS731 –
smarturl.it/sts371-preorder

Keep your mind open.

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