Shortened list for more writing and more listenable tracks. No order, as usual. But because WordPress doesn’t allow Javascript to be embedded in its html (*shakes fist menacingly*) you will have to go here to listen to all of these tunes for free. Sorry for the hassle; this is the last time I’ll be using Imeem, I think.

01. Raz Ohara, “Whitmey Na” (Raz Vocal Nass remix) [Kindisch] (buy)
The first track on the list to betray that I’m very into vocal house, Raz cuts “Whitmey Na” to the bone and lets the skeleton do the shaking. Ohara’s weary vocals call to mind a less dramatic Thom Yorke, at least as he pertains to tracky house music, and float gently among the mnmlzd beats.

02. Serafin & Roman Bruderer, “The Move” [Mountain People] (buy)
If you need house music which hits you right in your ass and grabs on for dear life, meet the latest Mountain People release. Complicated isn’t in this tune’s vocabulary, because the accouterments of a snappy house beat, jangling percussion and a pacing synth pulse are more than enough. I’m getting a sneaking feeling Serafin might be a Mountain Person, or perhaps one in training, as this track takes heavy notes from “Mountain004” (the track). Also suspect Kerri Chandler is spending a royalty check somewhere right now.

03. Will Saul & Lee Jones, “Hug the Scary” (Partial Arts Remake) [Aus Music] (buy)
I feel like Al Usher and Ewan Pearson saw a shred of light-heartedness in the original and ran with it. Balanced on organic bass and bubbly synth movements, the intrigue stays in tact and is given a pop-oriented purpose. Not exactly the most underground track you’ll hear this year, but a good one nonetheless.

04. Ben Westbeech, “Hang Around” (Wahoo Main Mix) [Brownswood Recordings] (buy)
Another reason why I love house/techno is that my favorite producers always find great soul singers who I’d likely sleep on. Georg von dem Bussche and Steffen Berkhahn (aka Dixon) craft an effortless deep house monster here, it’s hard, pacing motif a perfect platform for Westbeech’s buttery pipes. Even better, they pull an Âme and utilize every inch of speaker for an overwhelming swell. If this doesn’t get big on its own, punters will line up for it once they hear it on Booka Shade’s DJ-Kicks mix.

05. Mathew Jonson, “Stop” [Wagon Repair] (buy)
Perhaps the best techno-pop break up track in recent memory, Jonson tells off his ex from the safety of a vocoders, a starstruck synth arpeggio backdrop, wielding his goopy melody like a weapon. Even while in volatile headspace Jonson is a consummate producer. Keep your chin up, mate.

06. SuperMayer, “Two Of Us” [Kompakt] (buy)
Have another look.

07. Molder, “Shruberry” [Galaktika Records] (buy)
Molder is a bit of an unknown, but “Shruberry” threatens to change all that. While the hook is well-worn enough, the clattering timbre gives it new life and plays well with the relentless percussive fleet shuffling below.

08. Osborne, “Outta Sight” [Spectral Sound] (buy)
Have another look.

09. Rekleiner, “Los Caminos” [Connassieur] (buy)
Subtlety is rather becoming on Rekleiner, especially on this 12″. It takes a bit to figure out where the beaty trail leads, but the elongated motif pays off in a total back-of-the head sort of way. If it bombs on a dancefloor, let them keep having it. Methinks eventually it will click into place.

10. Jichael Mackson, “The Grass Is Always Greener” [Musique Risquée]
Because well, if you’re going to use ominously de-pitched vocals, they might as well be soothing and from the lips of the Afro Hypnotist, Bob Ross. Nice pastoral melody in the latter half as well — a stark contrast to the murky dub drubbing of the first.