First Listen: Kris Menace feat. Unai ‘Lone Runner’

kris menace unai

The hardest working man in House, Kris Menace, returns with a brand new single, ‘Lone Runner’ featuring the unique talents of Sweden’s dub house star, Unai. Released 31st December 2012.

2012’s Random List

I started the Random List last year, and it was pretty fun for me to do so I figured I’d carry the tradition on for another year. So here, I present to you the winners of some random, and not so random, categories that have come out of 2012.

Biggest debut to come out of nowhere

miriam bryant

Miriam Bryant. This category also covers best track of the year too, I guess (which I’m sharing with Beatrice Eli, below). I still remember reading the email introducing to her. I really didn’t expect to hear what I did. It picked up with other blogs too. In terms of debut releases, this really is as big as they come.

Best gig of the year

Woodkid Southbank Centre Queen Elizabeth Hall London November 2012

Woodkid featured in last year’s Random List, and a few weeks ago I had the privilege to catch him at London’s South Bank. Epic is an understatement for what I was exposed to.

Most upsetting

nicki minaj flo rida

This one’s a tie between Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida. Unnecessary cameos from both of these on what otherwise are pretty good pop tracks (like above) have led me to just really not like either one of these. I know that will upset a lot of people, but sorry. Enough.

Scariest but fiercest track from Scandinavia

beatrice eli

This one goes to Beatrice Eli, one of the standout artists of the year for me. I should also point out that this is my joint favourite track of the year, along with Miriam Bryant (above). It’s so hard to believe this is one of her first tracks. Can’t wait to hear new tracks!

Most exciting big-label signing

jetta

Jetta. Expect to hear more over the coming months from this lady.

Most underrated album of the year

noisettes contact album cover

The Noisettes. I already put up a post about this here, give it a read if you like. Sad really.

Biggest u-turn of the year

marina diamonds electra heart primadonna

Marina & The Diamonds. Actually, it’s not so much of a u-turn as an appreciation for her. Rarely do I moan about artists on this site, but Marina was behind one of my biggest whines back at the start of 2011. That post got me some pretty nasty feedback from some. This year though, her second attempt at ‘being bigger’ paid off when Primadonna was released and topped the charts. Good for her.