EDJ Presents: The Alternative Drum & Bass Awards 2011

So here we are. After a month of fervent voting, the results are finally in. After the ire toward and furore created by the recent DnBA ceremony I'm hoping people will take the outcome here with a little more grace. All awards are shit really, it comes down to personal taste and preference at the end of the day, but it must be said, (I cant resist it), picking a tune of the year that is released on a label (apparently) financed and co-owned by the guy who founded the company running and hosting the awards is taking the piss a little. No such worries here however as EDJ is proud to present the 100% fair and impartial 'Alternative Drum & Bass Awards' winners 2011...


12" Of The Year

People's Choice:

Enei - Stonehead EP (Critical)
Oak - Bedroom Community b/w Kite (Space Cadets)

Two releases at opposite ends of the spectrum tied for '12" Of The Year'. One a certified 2-step dancefloor smasher, one a dreamy, ambientish slice of leftfield autonomica. Both worthy in their own ways but it's heartening to see Oak & Space Cadets pick up an award in the label's first year.

Editors Pick:

Fonik: Nebula - Astral Soul EP (Subtle Audio)

A 12" with two sides as good each other is a dream. An EP with all 4 tracks as good as each other, a rare miracle. An EP with 5 tracks each as impossibly high quality as the last? Well I thought that was mere fantasy but Nebula and Subtle Audio pulled it off with the Astral Soul EP. Simply breathtaking stuff.

Tom Root: Tokyo Prose - Introducing Tokyo Prose EP [Samurai Red Seal)

In a year where the scene has been dominated by euro-synth, big room style tunes, techy rollers and post autonomic sounds, the old fashioned ‘liquid’ like your mum used to make has been somewhat overlooked. The two ‘Introducing Tokyo Prose’ 12”s on Samurai Red Seal provided a welcome return of pure emotive soul drenched drum and bass and really showed the world how beautiful d’n’b can be when you lose the screwface.

Tim Reaper: J Majik & Wickaman - Ritual / Old Headz (Metalheadz)

I chose this not just because of the quality of the tunes, but also for what this release stood for. If you read my column regularly, you'll notice a pattern of me being slightly disappointed in the direction that some of the artists of olden days have taken recently, J Majik is one of those artists, where I'm very fond of his earlier music, but mostly indifferent of his newer efforts. But this release really caught my attention, as it harks back to his earlier style, fuelled by what he describes as "too many joints and using the headphones". Both tunes have that ominous dark vibe that's not only missing from the newest J Majik & Wickaman tunes, but also from a fair amount of recent releases on Metalheadz, so this release for me, proves that producers can return back to their glory days, bringing back music with integrity and musicality & I wish a lot more producers from back in the day could follow by example.


LP Of The Year

People's Choice:

Various - Way Of The Warrior LP (Shogun Audio)

A big year rounded off in epic style with this compilation LP from the Shogun camp marking their milestone 50th release. All the core artists are represented as well as a healthy smattering of some other big name artists to boot, going up against something like this was always going to be a tough proposition for the competition.

Editors Pick:

Fonik: Silent Dust - Silent Dust (None60)

Its Drum & Bass Jim, but not as we know it. The collaborative duo of Hobzee & Zyon Base set out to create a 'true' Drum & Bass album which they have done, although in a wonderfully interesting and non conformist way. Just lovely music, plain and simple. (I also must add that this was a very hard pick to make, no least because the year is not quite up yet and with the Naibu LP imminent I have a sneaky feeling that that will win out as my actual favourite by years end judging by clips and snippets I've heard so far...)

Tom Root: Various - Mosaic Volume One (Exit Records)

Although there have been some big artist albums this year, none of them quite match the quality and diversity of the Mosaic LP Volume 1 that dropped back at the start of this year. dBridge’s A&R skills match his impeccable taste in music past and present and this really shines through in this landmark compilation.

Tim Reaper: Paradox - Ramifications (Paradox Music)

Counting all his alias and collaboration albums, this is Paradox's 9th album to date and it's a good one, believe me. Probably the most varied one he's done - breakage at all tempos, slow and fast, with tunes like The Last B-Boy & Consonance taking the pace down whilst retaining Paradox's trademark drums, as well as the usual fast and frenetic drum & bass like Fake Funk & Legacy. It's just an album well worth checking.


DJ Of The Year

People's Choice:

dBridge
Andy C

Another tie, and another polar opposite selection. Exit Records boss and autonomic mainstay dBridge has fast become one of D&B's main taste makers, and his DJ sets reflect his position at the cutting edge of the genre. Andy C is still just Andy C really isn't he..?! The Executioner consistently slaying all challengers to his crown and his new Alive show has raised the bar yet again. He's more machine than man...

Editors Pick:

Fonik: dgoHn

Not going out as much as I used to and not listening to Radio at all I dont have a great deal of information on which to come to my decision sadly, and have made this pick on the basis of just two sets. dgoHn's Ripstep Mix is hands down the mix of the year for me and the live recording of his set from IchiOne in Amsterdam is just as good. Tunes for days blended with masterful precision.

Tom Root: Blu Mar Ten

Not the most prolific or technical DJ on the circuit but never afraid to drop something a bit different. Every time I hear a Blu Mar Ten set there are always a handful of tracks within that I’ve never heard and make my ears prick up. That is something that no amount of decks, swift mixes or double drops can replace.

Tim Reaper: Equinox

I'll be honest, I was struggling with this category as I couldn't narrow down on one DJ who not only was a top mixer, but also had what I thought was a brilliant selection, but I decided that Equinox was probably the best choice for this category. I thought this mainly because of the energy that he puts into his sets through his mixing, the wide selection he draws for, all styles of drum focused music, old & new, light & dark and the fact that unlike most DJs, he stands out in the way that there's no other DJ that can replicate the way he gets the crowd moving. He also has dubplates that other DJs would do anything for, VIPs of tunes from the 93-94 jungle days, unreleased tracks from the brief explosion in popularity of drumfunk and forthcoming tunes on his label Scientific Wax. He's just miles ahead of the rest.


Producer Of The Year

People's Choice:

Calibre

As was mentioned on the blog not too long ago, whatever niche or sub-genre of D&B people are into, most people (whether they admit it or not) have a soft spot for Calibre. This year saw the release of his 7th album 'Condition' as well as a slew of 12's around the same time, all of an exceptionally high quality from an artist that has been pretty much at the top of his game since he broke through. All hail!

Editors Pick:

Fonik: ASC

Thirteen 12's on some of D&B's most prestigious labels, a 12" on Luke Slater's Techno label Mote Evolver and an ambient LP out on Silent Season. That's been ASC's year in terms of releases, not including the digital only stuff he's put out as well. Music aside the work rate alone is astonishing but when it's coupled with the sheer quality of the music that he makes as well? Pioneering and inspiring, he is without doubt one of electronic music's finest artists of the day and age.

Tom Root: Fracture and Neptune

Although these guys have been doing their thing for 10 years or so now, 2011 is the year that has seen them open up their sound to a wider audience. Their Astrophonica label has gone from strength to strength with every release showcasing a unique sound and wholly refreshing outlook on original thought provoking d’n’b. Their retrospect album also made sure everyone who slept on them in the early years got a chance to get firmly acquainted.

Tim Reaper: Nebula

I decided this based on the fact that he may not have a large amount of output, but judging from the 2 singles and EP of his which came out this year, he's a very solid producer who I think deserves more recognition than he's getting. I can only describe his style as filling in that atmospheric lushness that Photek & Source Direct used to release. Nebula really stands out from a lot of the producers around right now and he's exceptionally good at what he does, so for that reason and many more, I thought he was the best choice.


Breakthrough Act Of The Year

People's Choice:

Enei

He's been bubbling up for a couple of years now but 2011 was certainly his, of that there can be no doubt. Seven 12's out this year on a variety of imprints but he seems to be settled on Kasra's mighty Critical Music as his main base of operations. Pretty good going by anyone's standards...

Editors Pick:

Fonik: Skeptical

Marka?! Having a hand in the years biggest tune (despite the fact is as yet unreleased) is good going but with appearances on Dispatch, Ingredients & Exit as well, it has confirmed him as one of the leading lights of the new wave coming through at the moment.

Tom Root: Dub Phizix

EDJ favourite Dub Phizix has broken through onto the bigger labels this year and with good reason. A breakthrough producer to me is somebody who has found their niche and Dub Phizix with the supreme bounce he brings to every tune is right at the top of his game.

Tim Reaper: D*Minds

It may seem a bit confusing to choose them as my breakthrough act of the year, considering that they have been around for years, with their debut release coming out in 1997, but this year, they've completely changed. They used to make more dancefloor oriented music, very upfront & in your face, but judging by their most recent releases, they've seem to have completely reinvented their sound, focusing on the more deeper side of drum & bass, from their Photek-like tune Stone River, on Modulations, to their pad focused tune Rotation, on Blackout Music, they have really surprised me this year with what they have to offer.


Label Of The Year

People's Choice:

Critical Music

Last years winner defending the title with aplomb. The same applies really, its been another year of high quality music with some welcome variation in the label's output, as well as that of Modulations. All eyes on whether the label can win it 3 years in a row in 2012 then...

Editors Pick:

Fonik: Samurai

Mentioned in the recent Presha interview, its been a vintage year for the Samurai music group. A torrent of high quality releases, introducing the world to the delights of Tokyo Prose as well as the launch of new sub label Horo. Long may it continue.

Tom Root: Ingredients

Close between this and the Samurai group for me but with its first compilation album and artist EP, the Ingredients label has made just that little bit more of a mark on d’n’b this year. Its wholly professional approach to releasing music and commitment to bringing through new artists make it the label of year and definitely one not to sleep on in the future.

Tim Reaper: Foundation X

It may seem odd to choose this label, considering their small output, but what I have also considered in the choosing of the label of the year is the dubs signed to their label, Foundation X being second to none in this aspect. I listen to Skitty & Nolige's show on Jungletrain a lot and they always play forthcoming tracks on their label, which you'll never hear elsewhere and that has created a buzz around the label for me, I'm always so interested as to what they have to offer next. They also have this ethos embedded in their releases, which you can certainly tell from the style of tune that they release, which I think more labels could do with.



So there we have it, the winners in all their glory, congrats to all those that 'won' Agree? Disagree? Vent your anger in the comments section below. Here's to 2012...