Ian Hinksman
Here are our top tracks of 2024 that when we heard them, instantly produced core memories for the UgS team.
These were key moments throughout the year, including hitting the landmark 1,000 hits a day, securing press passes for 3 major festivals in Belgium & Cyprus (see Gonzo section) and deciding to embark on a new (secret) project.
To soundtrack all of this was great music as always. Across the board it was a fantastic year for music production. Our selection below is typical UgS style – a mix of electronic, hip-hop, reggae, psy and hard-hitting techno. Enjoy.
‘Stranger’s Town’ by Eelke Kleijn and ZOE ASKA, from a dream far, far away
The build, the far away, echoing guitar and the rising soothing voice of a woman. Plus, the catchiest of hooks. It’s easy for this to get stuck in your head. This is a quality release from Armada music and for some reason getting Big Fleetwood Mac vibes on this one.
It makes 2024 feel like a dream.
‘I Exist’ by Ocean Wisdom, return of the grime knight
Everyone loves a good comeback – and especially one from Ocean Wisdom. His recent releases have made a lot of people happy, including our team. We love this savage, rather medieval line, “I contemplate me a violate axing on any man enforcing taxing.”
Glad to have him back.
‘Trouble’ by Lutan Fyah, reggae revival riddim
This one makes our heart melt. Pure reggae bliss – the reggae revival continues, and we couldn’t be happier. The song tells of Lutan anticipating dark times. “I smell trouble.” It reeks of 2024, where blood was shed in Ukraine, Palestine and Sudan, a time of geopolitical shifts. ‘Trouble’ is foreboding, beautiful reggae. Plus, we can’t get enough of the “ghin ghin!”
‘Get Low’ by Pete & Bas, house-y UK rap
UK bass in your face. These two grandfathers had a hell of a year, and we can’t avoid putting this one on the list. They peaked this year releasing a single called T-Pain, only to have the track remixed by T-Pain himself. Truly on a legendary roll, despite being in their 70’s.
What’s your excuse?
‘S Prime One Million’ Tha God Fahim, underground US hip-hop champ
The beauty of hip-hop is how the next talent coming up always takes the genre from a new angle and captures the world’s attention again. Probably the most prolific hip-hop artist of the year, Tha God Fahim has not stopped dropping tracks – and no plan on stopping.
While this track is merely an interlude, it’s pure rap class. He got us at “Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane. I tell ’em, ‘Nah, that’s just my stock goin’ up.’” Don’t sleep on Tha God Fahim any longer, he deserves all the fame in the world – check the whole album.
‘Gunman’ by Interplanetary Criminal, twisted faces on UKG
Probably the track that produced the most stank faces in our team this year. Played over and over in the car going from meeting to conference to party. To be fair, the whole album is worthy of your attention, we wrote a little bit about it in September.
Pull that shit up.
‘Sanctum (feat. Marion Di Napoli)’ by Charlotte de Witte, driving techno we know and love
We don’t care what people say about Charlotte, we love her. She’s totally commanded our respect in 2021 with ‘Doppler’ and this year it’s ‘Sanctum’.
Fuck the haters, keep ‘em coming and we’ll keep listening.
‘Cosmic Dance’ by Sound Synthesis, space acid for humans
Sound Synthesis is a popular duo that releases sounds that they must capture from their interdimensional travels. We’re still touched by their ‘Planet Hope’ track, it’s timeless.
This new 2024 album featuring ‘Cosmic Dance’ should be what they play when they launch the Mars mission.
‘Ego Is The Enemy’ by Giorgia Angiuli, psy is on her side
We’re so happy Giorgia Angiuli is going down the road of psy trance. Ever since our interview in 2023, she mentioned that she would be experimenting more with psytrance. ‘Ego Is The Enemy’ is a great example, but she’s got so much material it’s hard to keep track of.
Follow her into the dark, she’s going places.
