The thoughtful vegan iconoclast's 1999 disc, "Play," which mixes old-school African American field recordings and hip-hop with smooth electronic sounds, is a breakthrough disc that has earned the cue-ball-headed genius the honor of Amazon.com's Dance & DJ Artist of the Year. A huge name in techno from his first forays onto the dance floor in the late '80s--and a controversial figure from the start--Moby continues to push techno's envelope and open up its vocabulary, while never straying too far from the subtle, atmospheric music that he built his reputation on. Read our feature: Check it out here!
Dance & DJ titles on our 100 Best CDs of 1999 list include:
"Global Underground 003 San Francisco"
Sasha
On "San Francisco" the world-renowned Welsh DJ Sasha rolls his brand of techno escapism over peaks of progressive house music and valleys of groovy, pure trance. One of the first artists to release a full-length remix compilation, Sasha has such well-developed skills that this collection never fails to amaze. Rarely has it been so easy to turn your party into the hottest spot in town.
"The Magical Sounds of Banco de Gaia"
Banco de Gaia
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A DJ's turntable rarely spins world music, but the international textures, endless creativity, and irreverent fun of "The Magical Sounds of Banco de Gaia" may bring all the world's beats together. British trainspotter DJ Toby Marks throws tasty four-on-the-floor beats on a few songs, but the record is no mere attempt at big-beat success; it's just a compellingly listenable record.
Beaucoup Fish
"Underworld"
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While it may not live up to some expectations, particularly after the success of "Born Slippy," this record is nonetheless exceptional. Underworld's "Beaucoup Fish" establishes the British act as electronic musicians who not only think about rhythm, but musical structure as well, creating viable songs within layers of ambience. It's not a solely cerebral affair, however; this record has no dearth of dance-floor energy.
"All In"
Arling & Cameron
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Arling & Cameron's "All In" scoots '60s lounge atop a drum & bass blitzkrieg with barely a scrap of irony. Like their lounge-loving, Francophile Japanese dance-pop cohorts Pizzicato Five, Kahimi Karie, and Fantastic Plastic Machine, this Dutch duo demonstrates the enduring pleasures of that highest art of the last century, camp.
"Nightlife"
Pet Shop Boys
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The Pet Shop Boys return, after not making a splash for the past few years, with the dance-pop tidal wave "Nightlife." Lyrically direct, lush, and, of course, wildly danceable, this anthemic disc is quite possibly the twosome's best. No one else creates lush and moody dance-pop like this British duo; here's to another two decades of understated brilliance.
"The Amateur View"
To Rococo Rot
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Looking for a little adventure, electronica style? Try German trio To Rococo Rot's "The Amateur View," a brilliant update of Kraftwerk's melodic, hand-played music for robots. Like their friends and cohorts Kreidler, Fennesz, Ui, and Fridge, the group mixes elements of electronica and postrock. But unlike anyone else making music today, TRR craft a sublimely listenable experimental garage-rock techno music.
"Temperamental"
Everything but the Girl
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It's a cliche to say that anyone's latest record is their greatest, but "Temperamental," Everything but the Girl's latest foray into literate, dance-floor-ready pop, very well might be their masterpiece. Tracey Thorn's vocals are sure to take some of the winter chill out of your nights.
"Blush"
Bows
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Dreamy, intense, and occasionally unnerving, "Blush" from Bows is a slice of beat-driven, melancholic bliss, ideal for those who prefer to do their dancing in the shadows. It may not have sold many copies--yet--but "Blush" is the junglistic dance-pop blockbuster of the year, the record you wanted from the Breakbeat Era CD and never got.
"Scope"
Nobukazu Takemura
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Nobukazu Takemura's dizzying, random, ambient blurs and digitized, hypnotic minimalism on "Scope" alternately challenge and satisfy those with a taste for musical daring. The record combines the heady, conceptual minimalism of Steve Reich and Terry Riley with the ethereal, melodic techno of Oval and Mouse on Mars.
Dance & DJ selections from the list of customer favorites include:
"You've Come A Long Way, Baby"
Fatboy Slim
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Yes, this record was released on October 20, 1998--but that didn't stop thousands of folks from buying it in '99! Thanks to quirky videos on MTV, campy and excellent club tours, and the fact that his music was used to sell everything from frat-boy movies to sleek automobiles, this was the year that Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim, truly crossed over to mainstream success.
"Surrender"
Chemical Brothers
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In the same year that Fatboy Slim found great success with the Chemical Brothers' formula of anthemic big-beat sound, the Brothers themselves went one step further, disowning the music that they'd single-handedly forged. "Surrender" is the Chems' most subdued, tranced-out, electro-savvy record by far.