2025 might have started but Ban Ban Ton Ton is still looking back on the previous musical year – while we wait for the new one to kick into gear. Since Japanese superstition holds 7 as her luckiest number, we’re gonna try to keep each selection tight to this total, in the hope that our conjuring of 7 X 7 X 7 X … will collectively manifest some magic. You may witness some attempts to creatively bend the rules, blur / invent genres and rinse formats, in order to squeeze in as many great releases as possible… 

In 2024, The Insider continued to guide us, fantastically, through the world of dance floor 4 / 4s. Here they attempt the impossible task of whittling their favourites from the last 12 months down to just a lucky 7.

Super selections and wonderful words by The Insider. 

MILES AWAY: ONE / MILES AWAY RECORDS

Former Acid Jazz label manager Dominique Williams runs the imprint Miles Away, and their first compilation, Miles Away: One, was a mind-blowing collection of tracks. It was also obviously a project brought together with a huge amount of love and care. From the thoughtful artwork, with its poolside scene of happy summer days, to the liner notes and the stories of searching out the original artists to get their seal of approval. It just goes to show what can happen when you put your heart and soul in to something, as Dom did on this album.

DETROIT RISING / DOWN JAZZ

Detroit Rising is a collective of musicians whose credits include Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, Public Enemy and Mary J Blige. In 2018, they took a break from their relentless touring to produce an album titled, A Cosmic Jazz Funk Adventure. Recorded live at the Motown-affiliated United Sound Studios in Detroit, it’s a hybrid of funk, jazz, soul and hip hop. Their label, Down Jazz, then commissioned remixes of the track Rocket Love from UK talents Jimpster, Kaidi Tatham, Sean McCabe, Dave Lee and EVM128 – and got them all mastered by Atjazz. The EP sold out in an instant. I can’t for the life of me understand why they didn’t repress it, but then some things are best left as they are I guess?

TOM NOBLE / HOUSE OF SPIRITS / RAZOR-N-TAPE

I’ve to smooched Diamond Eyes so many times the last few months. It’s my favourite soulful disco jam of the year! It’s creator, Tom Noble, is one off. A firm fixture in the Brooklyn scene, his Superior Elevation store is known for its racks of quality at affordable dollars, plus you get the knowledge of someone who has studied those records inside, outside and upside down. Tom took all that deep knowledge and know-how and put it together to produce this pristine collection of productions. Deep down disco and boogie at its absolute finest.

LOXODROME/ DROP OUT / CYPHON

Known for his monumental releases of soulful deep house filled with jazzy keys and lush pads, on Drop Out Jamie Odell aka Jimpster showcases the sheer breadth and depth of this UK house legends abilities, possibilities and sound palette. He was producing this kind acid-tinged techno way back 30 years ago, but he’s managed to revive it and make it sound totally fresh. 

RAF REZA / PINEAPPLE ISLAND / STAR CREATURE

Finding its way onto the brilliant Chicago imprint Star Creature is this gorgeous little 7 by Canada’s Raf Reza. I am currently in love with this label, and I just can’t get enough of it. The finest soulful boogie out of the windy city of Chicago, this saucy little 45 gives the Commodores’ Machine Gun a run for its money! The A-side Why You Gotta? the prefect mix of jazz-funk and proto-house. On the B, Pineapple Island will have you booking your flights for somewhere hot after Christmas.

FRITS WENTINK / TOGETHER / WOLF MUSIC

I wonder if Frits Wentink knew what he had in his hands when he made this record? HOT TO TROT! Returning to Wolf Music, he supplies four massive swingers, reminding everyone why he’s such a bonafide basement legend. This was always going to be in my best of 2024.

MARK E / TAKE A DEEP BREATH / MERC

They don’t come often but when they do, they really slap! Mark E makes no attempt to fit inside any trend or genre. Operating in a space all of his own, he continues to explore the underside of house music, working with just a few elements, amplifying their simplicity to form a sound so deep it hurts. The old Brummie Larry Heard comparison has been used a few times, but it’s true. Mark’s typically understated style makes him the UK’s very own answer to Mr Fingers.