Dancing Astronaut’s Top 10 Tracks of January 2014Top 10 January 2014

Dancing Astronaut’s Top 10 Tracks of January 2014

Dancing Astronaut's Top 10 Tracks of January 2014

Want an easy way to make sure you are up to date on all the latest, best music? Dancing Astronaut takes a look at the top 10 tracks officially released in January and ranks them based on a combination of reader feedback, track quality, editorial preference & critical reception.

Dancing Astronaut wraps up January for you with another edition of our top 10 tracks of the month. January’s list features massive tracks from reader favorites Zedd, Diplo, Junior Sanchez, and more. Not to be missed are also fantastic efforts from The Magician, The M Machine, and Sammy Bananas. Click past the break for our top 10 tracks of January!

10. Deniz Koyu - Ruby (Original Mix)

Deniz Koyu doesn’t drop tracks on a monthly basis, but when he does, they lead with impact. Back on the trail of the four letter club cut, this month sees the German producer inaugurated into Axwell’s Axtone imprint after a solid string of successful stints for Refune. Balancing his own big room character with that uplifting melodic resonance that duties for the powerhouse label command, “Ruby” is a powerful reminder of Koyu’s innate ability to hit the big room monster square on the head within the overcrowded market.

9. AN21, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman - Rebel (Original Mix)

Despite their sparing output of studio releases, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman entered the New Year with considerable gusto. Off the back of debut label duties remixing “People Of The Night,” the Swedish duo kicks off with an official peek at their Size Records solo debut “Rebel” alongside AN21. As the elephant in the room where Size’s Ids are concerned, this stern yet melodically tuned endeavour remained a staple element of Steve Angello’s global festival sets throughout 2013. With such a firm road testing and wave of global attention, this track smells like a potential game changer for both the label’s no-nonsense approach to the big room sound and three of Sweden’s most seasoned heirs to the throne for 2014.

8. Disclosure - F For U (Mary J Blige Remix)

Mary J Blige’s vocal version of Disclosure’s staple made way strongly in the form of a music video — a minimalist approach to animation in vein of the duo‘s signature branding. While the original hook remains in tact, Mary J. Blige laces an entire verse mid-track before serving up her own soulful chorus, giving “F For U” a treatment that matches the revered vocal work she’s graced hip-hop and R&B records with throughout her legendary career.

7. Clean Bandit - Rather Be (The Magician Remix)

Formerly one half of revered disco duo Aeroplane, Stephen Fasano has found considerable success under his solo alias The Magician. From remixing Lykke Li to crafting his own sensuous originals, Fasano’s knack for house, garage and indie dance has been startlingly evident in the past three years. His latest track under the mystical moniker is a remix of Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be.” With some deft vocal manipulation, alluring soft synths, and an engrossing bassline, The Magician’s remix is, as usual, magically on point.

6. Dyro - Black Smoke (Original Mix)

Few Dutch newcomers have risen to the task of eclectic industry dominance to the tune of Dyro. Returning to Revealed Recordings for his inaugural mark for 2014, the DJ Mag Top 100’s highest new entry of 2013 goes full circle on the sound that first propelled his name miles ahead of the competition. In spite of the diverse year of releases racked up by the Dutch youngster “Black Smoke” follows-on from where earlier hit “Leprechauns & Unicorns” left off. Triplet bound and warped within an inch of the industry norm, the track epitomises everything and more that we have come to love from the homegrown label talent.

5. Sammy Bananas - Flexin' (Original Mix)

Brooklyn breakout Sammy Bananas has proven a party advocate like few others of the time. For his second solo stint at the mighty hands of Fools Gold, the Flexin EP cuts to the core of that popular flare for nostalgia that has made him essential listening material over the past 12 months. Straight From the EP’s title track through the infectious house cut surroundings, Sammy convincingly jumps generations of electronic dance advocacy.

4. The M Machine - Superflat (Original Mix)

Festival electro, meet electronica-lectro. The M Machine‘s latest single adds another genre-defying tune to the trio’s discography, and while difficult to classify it’s even harder to resist. “Superflat” opens with synthesized Japanese vocals, snaps right into the brooding electronica sound the San Francisco natives have honed, and then all glorious hell breaks loose with a series of ‘pews’ not executed this originally since Knife Party broke onto the scene. There is a thunder and piano breakdown, a drum clap break, and even a thumping build or two thrown in for kicks. Mostly though, there’s a combination of sounds not heard on Beatport since… well, ever.

3. Zedd - Find You (ft. Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant)

Zedd has only hinted at his latest original for a few weeks, yet already the previously unreleased track has made waves for its spot in the forthcoming Divergent soundtrack and with its partnership premiere with Bud Light Platinum. Going beyond the buzz, “Find You” invites back two familiar vocalists, Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant, who combine to create impeccable harmonies that echo over melodic piano riffs. Despite the gentle start, Zedd’s signature electro blast explodes just a few beats in, bringing back the same high level energy and intricate progressive work of his most recent album.

2. Avicii - You Make Me (Diplo & Ookay Remix)

Originally teased by Diplo, an amped up version up Avicii’s “You Make Me” came released in full form. Coming from the talented production hands of Diplo in tandem with Ookay, the collaborative rendition spices up the original True effort both with an ample kick to spice up the melodic backbone and an explicit trap drop that gives it space to breathe in a live atmosphere. While there’s yet to be word on an official release, several versions of “You Make Me” are expected to come to fruition as the next packaged record from Avicii’s debut album.

1. Junior Sanchez ft. CeCe Peniston - Without You (Original Mix)

Delivering “Without You,” Junior Sanchez brings dance music’s meanest sounds to fruition on the grand-scale. The backbone beat and vocals from legendary house vocalist CeCe Peniston serve as a nostalgic ode to the “good ol’ days” of dance, while satisfying the “new school” is done in similar taste, disguising a roaring assault of sound as the “drop” that has, for one reason or another, become standard.

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