The Best Electronic Dance Music of 2009

2009 was a great year for Electronic Dance Music. Here are some of the best tracks of the year.

Best Overall Tracks

It was a great year for electronic dance music, with a wide variety of artists producing some truly amazing tracks. Here are our picks for the best overall tracks of 2009.

1. “Phantom Pt. II” by Justice
2. “One (Your Name)” by Swedish House Mafia
3. “I Remember” by Deadmau5 & Kaskade
4. “No Reservations” by Steve Angello
5. “Call on Me” by Eric Prydz
6. “Baghdad Despite the War” by Sasha & Digweed

Best Remixes

We’ve rounded up the best remixes of 2009, so you can relive the year’s biggest dance floor anthems. From major pop hits to underground club staples, these tracks will have you feeling the love all over again.

-“BoysNoize – Oh!” by Justice
-“I Remember” by Deadmau5 & Kaskade
-“D.A.N.C.E.” by Justice vs Simian Mobile Disco
-“Walking on a Dream” by Empire of the Sun (Sam La More Remix)
-“In for the Kill (Laidback Luke Remix)” by La Roux
-“Hangin’ On (A -Trak Remix)” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Best Debut Tracks

2009 was an incredible year for electronic dance music, with a wide range of genres and styles represented in the top tracks of the year. From dubstep to techno, there was something for everyone on the dancefloor. Many of these tracks were debut releases from new artists, who made a big impact on the scene with their fresh sound. Here are our picks for the best debut tracks of 2009.

1. “I Remember” by Deadmau5 and Kaskade – This haunting track was one of the first hits from Canadian producer Deadmau5, and it propelled him to international fame. Featuring ethereal vocals from Kaskade, “I Remember” is a beautiful track that set the stage for Deadmau5’s future success.

2. “In for the Kill” by La Roux – This catchy synth-pop track from British duo La Roux became an instant club classic when it was released in 2009. With its ethereal vocals and infectious beat, “In for the Kill” is a perfect example of why La Roux became one of the biggest electronic acts of the decade.

3. “One (Your Name)” by Swedish House Mafia feat. Pharrell – Released as part of Swedish House Mafia’s debut album, “One (Your Name)” is a massive club track that features vocals from Pharrell Williams. It’s an infectious mix of house and hip-hop that had everyone dancing in 2009.

4. “When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland – This global hit from French DJ David Guetta put him on the map as one of the biggest producers in electronic music. Featuring vocals from R&B singer Kelly Rowland, “When Love Takes Over” is a feel-good anthem with a catchy chorus that will stick in your head for days.

5. “KNOW2” by Boys Noize – German producer Boys Noize made a big splash in 2009 with his debut album Oi Oi Oi., which featured this club-ready track “KNOW2.” With its heavy bassline and nu-rave sensibilities, “KNOW2” was an instant hit with clubgoers and cemented Boys Noize as a force to be reckoned with in electronic music.

Best Label Releases

2009 was an amazing year for electronic dance music. So many great labels released so much great music that it was hard to keep up. Here are my picks for the best label releases of the year.

– Underworld – “Oblivion With Bells” (JBO)
Underworld’s first album in eight years is a masterpiece, a perfect blend of the band’s trademark dark, moody soundscapes and Karl Hyde’s eternally optimistic lyrics. “Oblivion With Bells” is an instant classic, and one of the best albums of the year.

– The Field – “From Here We Go Sublime” (Kompakt)
Swedish producer Axel Willner AKA The Field follows up his debut album “From Here We Go Sublime” with another winner. Like its predecessor, “From Here We Go Sublime” is a beautiful, atmospheric record that’s perfect for late-night listening.

– Justus Kohncke – “Safe + Sound” (Kompakt)
Justus Kohncke’s third album is another winner from the German producer. “Safe + Sound” is a perfect example of the deep, emotive trance that Kohncke excels at, and is one of the best records of the year.

Best Live Performances

There were many incredible live performances of electronic dance music in 2009. Some of the best include:

-Daft Punk’s performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
-Deadmau5’s performance at the Electric Daisy Carnival
-Skrillex’s performance at Ultra Music Festival
-Calvin Harris’ performance at T in the Park

Best DJ Mixes

It’s been an amazing year for electronic dance music, with a wide variety of genres and sub-genres flourishing. We’ve seen the rise of dubstep, moombahton, wonky, Jersey club, and trap, to name just a few. And within each of these scenes, there have been a wealth of excellent DJ mixes released.

So whittling down the best of 2009 to just 10 mixes was no easy task. But after much deliberation, we’ve come up with a list that we think captures the best that dance music had to offer this year.

1. Burial – Street Halo / Kindred (Hyperdub)
2. SBTRKT – Transitions (Young Turks)
3. Joy Orbison – Ellipsis (Tectonic)
4. FaltyDL – You Stand Uncertain (Planet Mu)
5. Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers (Hotflush)
6. Hudson Mohawke – Polyfolk Dance (Warp)
7. Pearson Sound – Pearson Sound (Hessle Audio)
8. Joker – The Vision (Kapsize)
9. Guido – Anidea (Punch Drunk)
10. Mount Kimbie – Maybes (Hotflush)