Jimothy Lacoste has brought some much needed light relief to the British public in 2018. His simple yet infectious melodies, inimitable dance moves and daredevil antics on London’s public transport system have been keeping us entertained since he started dropping tunes and homemade video’s online at the tail-end of last year. All types of operating systems. But while some might have written off Jimothy’s homemade take on lo-fi pop as a bit of a tongue-in-cheek in joke, ’Subway System’ saw him prove the Lacoste project has legs. The production’s sharper, the lyrics tighter and the melody’s even more unshakeable. Plus the video (which saw him getting up to all sorts of mischief on London’s underground network) was so good that it got taken down from YouTube on TFL’s request for fear of copycats. With a Black Butter record deal freshly inked, we’re on tenterhooks for what Jimothy does next. One of Mixmag’s biggest premieres this year, Mind Against’s ‘Days Gone’ marked the long-awaited return of the Italian duo to Tale Of Us’ acclaimed Afterlife label.

Erica Hubbard and Lamman Rucker in Black Coffee (2014) Darrin Dewitt. The Love Letter explores just how tricky things can get when your best friend is the.

The deeply emotional ballad showcases Alessandro and Federico Fognini testing the boundaries of techno, with a chiming, multi-layered and ethereal take on the genre. Inside the comfort of your headphones, the progression bounces with a pushing and pulling depth, small glimmers of machine-like melodies scattered beneath the undertow. But alas, live is where ‘Days Gone’ truly shines as a set’s magnum opus. Played through booming speakers, the track seems almost unidentifiable with an expansive ricochet of altitudes, quivering with commotion - an almost frenzy-like plot gliding over the track’s longing chords. When fast-rising talent dropped her first release on Ninja Tune titled ‘Once’ back in March, there was a strong buzz in the industry focused around the track ‘It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)’.

Without exaggerating too much, it was as if every feel-good house DJ was playing it out. Whether at peak time on a Saturday night or at an afters early Sunday morning, the track worked during all moments on the dancefloor. Sensual vocals from Peggy herself highlight the ballad, which features deep acid riffs, a grooving rhythm, warm bells and a cosmic essence. The record quickly sold-out in all shops and ‘It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)’ is becoming the soundtrack of 2018. A number we surely won’t forget any time soon. 'I See You Shining' is a no-fucks-given victory lap from a UK rapper whose stock-in-trade is lucid, uncensored descriptions of life in the trap. This unabashed tribute to “hustlers that grind all day” is chest-thumpingly triumphant (thanks to production from hitmaker-of-the-moment Steel Banglez and Zeph Ellis) and flies in the face of a mainstream media that and a police force that is.

It comes dripping in references to drugs, money and cars but, like the rest of Nines’ output (and that of his contemporaries in the scene), it’s an insight into life on the edge of society, where youth clubs have long since shut down, there’s a severe lack of affordable housing and welfare benefits have been slashed by Tory budget cuts. Against this backdrop, lines like “I see you looking fly today, I see you shining, ay” become all the more empowering for those who are being ignored by the government and pushed into precarious situations, like the one depicted in this song is taken from. New Zealand producer Surly’s haunting cut is one of the year's defining footwork tracks. His unique, experimental take on the genre showcases a real re-imagining with hints of Polish Jazz and breaks. Fans of producers like Kode9, DJ Fulltono and LTJ Bukem will feel right at home and 'Whispers Through The Wall’ gaining praise across the board, with Addison Groove rolling it on his recent NTS guest slot. This definitely won’t be the last we hear from Juke Bounce Werk’s Surly this year.