Features

Top tunes of 2014: 10-1

Check out which tracks made it into the top 10 tunes of the year, voted by the Mixmag office and contributors

10. Aphex Twin minipops 67 [120.2] (Source Field mix) (Warp) The true master of the weird and wonderful burst back into our lives this year – and this twisting, turning single from his superb new album announced the return of the king.

9. Sailor & I Turn

(Âme remix) (Life and Death)

Premiered on Mixmag's SoundCloud, this instant goose bump-generating, atmospheric, inspirational track never lost its understated power to thrill.

8. Patrick Topping Forget (Hot Creations/ Toolroom/Defected/New State) From the newest member of the Hot Creations family came another tune to rule the Ibiza season. An unforgettable groove.

7. Tiga Bugatti (Turbo / Virgin Emi) Hip hop-inflected, mildly bonkers and with the single most recognisable refrain of any track this year, the master of reinvention capped a fine 2014 with this cracker. What you driven'?

6. Oliver $ & Jimi Jules Pushing On (Defected) Beatport's biggest-selling track of the year, this encapsulated everything we've loved about Defected for the past 15: infectious, perfectly executed house music.

5. Ulterior Motive Tape Pack (Metalheadz) Two Bournemouth lads seemingly came out of nowhere with this rave-splattered vocal beauty. It didn't take long to become the year's biggest drum 'n' bass tune.

4. Moderat Bad Kingdom (DJ Koze remix) (Monkeytown) Included on the German genius's incredible 'Reincarnations Pt II' album, this low-slung roller had perhaps the most knee-trembling bassline of any tune this year.

3. Martyn & Four Tet Glassbeadgames (8 Hours At Fabric Dub) (Ninja Tune) From the second this drum-fulled, sidewinding cut emerged it was clear that this dance music dream team had delivered.

2. Ten Walls Walking With Elephants (Boso) The Ibiza tune of the year, Ten Walls' pachydermous wonder showed that booming melodic techno could not only conquer the dancefloor, but also the charts.

1. Caribou Can't Do Without You (City Slang) The soundtrack to many an intimate moment on 2014's dancefloors, Caribou's tearstained paean to being in love was the undisputed track of the year – a song that combined emotional depth and melancholy with a driving rush of euphoria whenever it was played. Whether it was the fizzing original or the stripped-back Tale Of Us and Mano Le Tough version that got your heart beating this year, 'Can't Do Without You' was the standout track of the past 12 months.