And so here we are at the end of the year, and the decade. Let us therefore indulge in this most seasonal of traditions with a two-part, end of year ‘best of’ show for 2009. The idea was to build on last year’s first installment, and then before I knew it I’d sat down in front of the computer with a shortlist of 100+ tracks and the idea of actually doing a proper mix as opposed to a simple selection of tracks. As with last year there is no talking this time round, just pure music selection for your enjoyment.

We start with part 1 and 50 odd tracks which have all been highlights of the year here at Rhythm Inc towers from the likes of Architeq, Paul White, Alice Russell, Raekwon, DOOM, Oh No, Heliocentrics, Loops Haunt, LuckyMe, Robot Koch, Milanese, King Midas Sound, 2nd Class Citizen and many, many more. The selection is a nice representation of this year’s playlists too with a couple of previously un-aired goodies thrown in on top. As always complete tracklist below with link to the mix for those that aren’t subscribed to our feed or iTunes channels (hint hint).

As I said this best of show is more of a ‘mix’ than our normal shows – everything has been mixed and mashed up to allow me to fit as much music as I can in 75 minutes and still give every track a chance to shine.

Part two will be dropping very shortly, either on Christmas eve or Boxing day (the day after xmas) – it all depends on how much I manage to get done tonight. It will feature another 50 or so tracks from our best of 2009 list as well as the second ‘Labels of 09′ mini-feature, this time looking at the output of Ramp Recordings which is by far one of the stand out labels of the year for us. And don’t forget to check last month’s show for part of our ‘Labels of 09′ mini-feature which looked at the excellent One Handed Music.

So I won’t keep you any longer. Get stuck in, lie back, crank up the volume, ignore the family members and enjoy the first half of our best of 09 show!

Download the show here (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
Nasdroic – Room Mist – LuckyMe
The Slew – Robbin Banks, Doin Time – Puget Sound
Kids in Tracksuits ft Non genetic – No Hooks – Fluid Ounce
Dizz1 – Konotakosuke Yaro – Rush Hour
Instra:Mental – Watching You – Non Plus
Scuba – Symbiosis – Hotflush recordings
Stoney Jackson ft Talib Kweli – Get Started – Stones Throw
Heliocentrics & Mulatu Astatke – Masenqo – Strut
Oh No – When Nah – Stones Throw
DOOM – Ballskin – Lex records
Robot Koch – Heaven – Project Mooncircle
Teebs – Untitled 9 – Self-released
Samiyam – Bonus Mission – Poobah records
B-Ju – Philly Run – Error Broadcast (free release)
G.O.D – Desrunay – NozL recordings
Loops Haunt – Joplin – Black Acre
Exile – The Sound is God – Plug Research
Little Dragon – After The Rain (GB reinterpretation) – Self-released (free download)
Karriem Riggins – 12s in 8s – Scion AV
Mayer Hawthorne – Just Aint Gonna Work Out (Astronote El Camino remix) – Aside Worldwide (free download)
Mono/Poly – The Beatles – Faces Records
Tranqill – Payroll (Paul White clean dub) – One Handed Music
2nd Class Citizen – The Day You’re Lost or Found – Equinox records
King Midas Sound – Lost – Hyperdub
Diamond District – Who I Be – Mellow Music Group
Debruit ft. Om’mas Keith and Jamie Woon – I’m Goin’ Wit You – Civil Music
Erikah Badu – Real Thang (fLako remix) – Unreleased
Nosaj Thing – Quest – Alpha Pup
Joker – Digidesign (Om Unit’s Pop and Lock remix) – White Label
Foreign Beggars ft Kashmere, Jehst and 2tall – No More – Dented records
Leatherette – In July Focus Rite – Norm Rex
Depakote – Lilykoranic – Unreleased
El Michels Affair – Duel of the Iron Mics – Fat Beats
Milanese ft. Ben Sharpa – Disclosure – Planet Mu
Dr. Who Dat? – Viberian Twilight pt2 – Lex records
Lorn – Wake Up Fucked Up – Self-release (free download)
Ras G – Eunice in White – Brainfeeder
Alix Perez ft Yungun – Calm of Cast – Shogun Audio
Disrupt – Sega Beats – Jahtari
Architeq – Birds of Prey (Jackhigh remix) – Tirk recordings
Lambent – Groove Analyse – Project Mooncircle
Mike Slott – 40 Winx – LuckyMe
Alice Russell – All Alone (DJ Day meets Clutchy Hopkins remix) – Little Poppet
Architeq – Babylon – Tirk recordings
Raekwon – House of Flying Daggers – IceH20
Architeq – Sleeping Bear’s Lament (TAKE remix) – Planet Mu
M64 – Rhythm of the Drum (Dert remix) – Record Breakin’

It’s Halloween season and we’re not about to be undone for participating in the ‘festive’ spirit. Rhythm Inc regular DJ Zedvantz charges in head first with a Halloween-themed mix which should fit the ghoulish needs of music fans, while also doubling up nicely as a mix you can also listen to outside of the Halloween season.

He dropped us a line over the weekend, explaining that he’d just finished a ‘Death Mix’ which went something like (and we quote) ‘Turntablism meets Hardcore/Metal meets Hip-Hop meets everything else under the sun’. That already had us open and listening. He added, ‘lots of evil dialog scattered through the mix… perfect for the halloween vibe but listenable anytime of the year!’

And with the likes of Kid Koala, Marilyn Manson, Kurt Cobain, Dibbs, Jel and more all rubbing shoulders (or should that be severed limbs?) in there we couldn’t agree more and hope you’ll enjoy this early Halloween treat. Perfect as a soundtrack for the kids’ trick or treat round (if you’re the kind of person who likes to freak out kids that is) or getting ready for whatever Halloween activity you’ll be partaking in.

In related Halloween news I’d be hoping to drop a creepy/evil dub mix for Halloween too, unfortunately my laptop decided to pack it in over the weekend so unless I can pull something out the bag in time before saturday it’ll have to wait till a little later.

For now though, sit back, crank the volume to 11 and rock the f*ck on.

Download the mix (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
01. Kurt Cobain – At The End Of My Rope (zedvantz rmx)
02. The Slew – Battle Between Heaven & Hell
03. Mr. Dibbs – Taste Of Death*
04. Johnny Cash – Thirteen*
05. Gaslamp Killer – Afterall
06. Kid Koala – Wrong Side Of The Tracks
07. Prince Paul – Beautiful Night
08. Reanimator – Abigail/Summer Turns To Snow
09. Presage – Unseen Force
10. Jel – Changing Patterns
11. Dj Scientist – Atarius
12. Mr. Dibbs – Chaos*
13. Marilyn Manson – Fight Song*
14. Eddie Noack – Psycho*