Featured DJ Chart: Pete Dafeet (Best of 2009)

Following in the footsteps of Motor City Drum Ensemble, Diplo, Sinden, Luke Slater and The Revenge, it’s now the turn of Lost My Dog label boss Pete Dafeet to talk us through his top tunes of 2009.

Highlight of 2009?
The revival of melodic house music! Floating Points, Tensnake and Lovebirds, to name but a few, have made some cracking records this year, and the Linkwood and Oliver Koletzi albums were brilliant. Personally it’s been a good year, and a busy year. Best gig was in Portland: it was my first time there and they have a small but seriously passionate house scene. Was happy to see a few releases do well too: Alto, Tribute 2 K, Losing The Dog, and my new one on Ornate would be the picks.

Biggest regret?
Not DJing enough! My day job and producing kept me busy: resolution for 2010 is to get out there and get on with it!

Festival of choice?
Sonar. I first went in 2005 but hadn’t returned until this year, and that just made the whole thing sweeter. Our Lost My Dog party was a corker: Rhythm Plate and Tres Manos did a job on the Angel & Kings terrace. My favourite moment of the week was listening to Rob Da Bank play The Hot 8 Brass Band version of Sexual Healing while we sat sipping Caipiroskas on a hotel roof. Bliss, eh?

Favourite new producer?
Deniz Kurtel’s debut on Wolf & Lamb was special, and Big Brother has been a bit of a find for us on Southside Shuffle and Lost My Dog. And how about Floating Points? Can you believe he’s only 22?!

What does 2010 hold in store?
Come April it’ll be five years since we started Lost My Dog, so we’re trying to fit as much in as possible to mark it. We’re planning parties for Miami and Sonar, and are sorting various tours to help celebrate. Release-wise, we’ve got a label compilation in the works (which I’ll be mixing), an album from Rhythm Plate, EPs from YSE, Dominic Martin, and Bleep District, and we’ve just signed Giom for some records so things are looking bright.

Best of 2009 chart:

1. Lusine – Two Dots (Ghostly International)

“It’s not often a Pezzner remix is overshadowed by an original, but it is here. By far and away my favourite track of the year, Two Dots works equally well on a mix tape for your girlfriend who isn’t that into house music as it does at 3am in a sweaty club. Brilliant.”

2. YSE – A Life Sentience (Lost My Dog)

“Ant Plate has been producing great records for the last 10 years as part of Rhythm Plate (with fellow Matlock native Matt Rivem), and is now blossoming as a solo artist under his YSE guise. Worry is the pick here: I was over the moon when we signed this to Lost My Dog!”

3. Floating Points – Vacuum Boogie (Eglo)

“A deep gem: unquenchable melodies and beats that make your head go fuzzy. I challenge you not to grin like a madman when you listen to this.”

4. Pete Dafeet – That’s Life, One Dice (Ornate Music)

“Well if you can’t promote yourself, who can you promote?! X-Press 2 played “Better” on their Kiss FM show, and Fish Go Deep followed it up with a couple plays on their podcast, so it’s been a highlight from my year.”

5. Deniz Kurtel – Whisper EP (Wolf & Lamb)

“Wolf & Lamb have been on form for ages, and this record is a case in point. It’s dark, simple, and incredibly effective. Can’t wait to hear more from label and artist in 2010.”

6. Tensnake – In The End (I Want You To Cry) (Running Back)

“The B-side could have been a top record on its own, but the lead track makes this record a classic. Dripping with emotion, the music delivers on the title’s promise – if you don’t well up when the hook kicks in then something isn’t connected right.”

7. Linkwood – System (Prime Numbers)

“This whole album is a dream – it got me through a month on crutches in October. They keep you waiting for the title track, but that just makes these 8 minutes of deep, trippy house even better. You need to be prepared though; this track can take you dark places…”