Staff Chart: 10 best tracks of 2011 (Karen Ka Ying Chan)

 Our intern Karen's most loved tracks of 2011, in alphabetical order:

1. Chicago Skyway - Bad Driver (Aroy Dee Edit) [M>O>S Deep]

Chi-sound is the best sound. Yes, Chicago Skyway (real name Sean Hernandez), as you may have already guessed, is actually from the windy city. He makes deep, raw, and jackin' music. There's so much energy in this track I can't get enough of it. The original version isn't released yet, but M>O>S label boss Aroy Dee has done a pretty amazing job on the edit.

2. Delta Funktionen - Another Dimension [Ann Aimee]

What a banger! Heavy, heart-throbbing... it's just BIG. You gotta put this tune on really loud and bounce to it, right now.

3. Dexter - Great Northern Driver [Clone Basement]

I couldn't decide if T.H.I.N.G. (featured on the same EP) or this track was better. But I like the heavier, bassier, more acid-y sound of Great Northern Driver. Dexter never disappoints because he doesn't really stick to a certain sound. Check also his Clone Clown-released 'Space Booty/ Fat Skinny People' 12", it's got a completely different, more electro-y and breaks kind of vibe.

4. Ital - Culture Clubs [Lovers Rock]

This song sounds really weird, druggy and hypnotic. It's a bit off-key and off-beat too but that's what makes it so special.

5. Instra:mental - Vicodin (Skudge Warehouse Remix) [Naked Lunch]

Alex Green (one half of Instra:mental) is one of my favourite producers. Everything he's done this year - whether as Boddika or Instra:mental, is just huge. Not to mention the brilliant Resolution 653 album. The original version of Vicodin is amazing, and Skudge further establishes it into a deeper, darker, bassier track. Grand Prix on the flip is really nice too.

6. Magic Touch - Clubhouse [100% Silk]

Not Not Fun imprint 100% Silk have done incredibly well this year. This track samples the vocals from Clubhouse's 1991 track Deep In My Heart. It's exactly the kind of music I wanna dance to in a club. Real house-y, real good.

7. Pangaea - Hex [Hemlock]

Super thick and intense percussion. Scary and bizarre vocals. Pangaea has literally transformed words like 'agressive', 'angry', 'dark' and 'scary' into dance music, and it works really well.

8. Seahawks & Autre Ne Veut - Don's Rainbow [Ocean Moon]

Seahawks' cosmic yacht rock + Autre Ne Veut's mesmerising, twisted vocals = mindblowing. The melancholic melody sweeps me away like a sadness in life. So good it hurts.

Don's Rainbow - Seahawks & Autre Ne Veut from Seahawks music on Vimeo.

9. Teeth - Shawty [502]

Three words: dark, sultry, and (subtly) provocative. The vocals really add to the whole track as well. The music video is worth checking out too, it's equally seductive. The FaltyDL remix is not bad either.

10. Unknown Artist - People Of Earth [Amp Art]

Picked up this record at Phonica at the beginning of the year, I really like the groovy and soulful downtempo electronic/funk sound it's got. Beautiful.