Dettmann: The simple, eponymous title of the Berghain resident's debut album encapsulated an MO that Ben Klock described to us this year as "music without compromise." Despite the bloody-minded nature of his sets and recorded output, Dettmann increasingly become an international commodity in 2010. That he travels the world via a stark, unmitigated vision of techno—and continues to enjoy a place among the genre's foremost names—is testament to a man with an unwavering belief in his art.
09. Luciano
The sound of Cadenza continued its assault on the mainstream of dance music, most notably in Ibiza where Luciano and friends took over Pacha every Sunday night this summer. By all accounts, it was an enormous success for club and label alike. But perhaps, most of all, for the DJ. A master of Latin-inclined house music, it's no wonder this marriage has worked out so well on Ibiza. Now among the hottest DJing properties on the global scene, Luciano is one of the flushest vagabonds you're likely to ever run across.
How do you explain John Digweed's continued top 10 appearance in your DJ poll? Easy. There are few other DJs in the world that have been able to push progressive house this late in the game and still sound as fresh. Diggers hasn't revolutionized his sound, but it's most certainly evolved over the years. Just look his most recent mix, which fits John Daly, Nic Fanciulli and Vincenzo alongside the Guy Js and Nick Warrens of the world. Still distinct after all these years, it's no wonder Digweed remains among your favourites.
07. Dixon
Maybe the biggest advantage DJs have over bands is this: they can play absolutely whatever they want. Few artists take advantage of this fact more than Dixon. Over the course of a half hour in one of his sets, you could hear anything from Oni Ayhun to LCD Soundsystem to Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman." Combine that with sensei-level mixing skills and a knack for narrative arc, and you've got one of the top ten DJs in the world.
05. Ben Klock
The Berghain sound. When the noise the Berlin club was making came to widespread prominence in 2008 it was unclear whether this particular strand of techno packed longevity. Ben Klock was among the chief proponents of this tenebrous throb, and in 2010 played an intrinsic role in consolidating the sound. HisBerghain 04 mix evidenced impressive depth of range, while gigs in Russia, Japan, Argentina and America imparted the vibe of a debauched Sunday morning upon international audiences.
It's hard to say exactly why Seth Troxler has again made an enormous jump in RA's DJ poll. But somehow it's also hard not to imagine why he wouldn't. He's the classic "boys want to be him, girls want to be with him" DJ of the moment, a gregarious jock who can't seem to put a foot wrong. From his outlandish interviews to his outstanding sets, Troxler translated id-inspired artistic decisions into enormous success. Whether it be bats in Miami, a DC-10 residency in Ibiza or party guilt in Berlin, it was Troxler's world in 2010. We were just witnessing it.
06. Jamie Jones
If there were a "Rising Star" pageant sash for the year, it would adorn the shoulders of the affable Welshman who has galloped 30 places ahead into our top ten. 2009 defined Jamie Jones as a producer, but this year he felt more present as a DJ, whether it be with sunny disco, edit-friendly house or tribal beats, he left an impression long after aching feet and ringing ears had faded. Like we said of his standout set in Detroit, "It was only when Jamie Jones came on that things began to distinguish themselves."
04. Loco Dice
The physical house sound of Loco Dice once again reigned supreme in 2010. It was due in no small part to the man himself, whose charismatic sets continued to impress. All three of the event reviews featuring Dice this year mentioned his superstar presence behind the decks, and they're right to do so. He has a commanding style. But perhaps even more fascinating is that while his label released some of the biggest club hits of the year, they also found room for the poetic wandering of Der Rauber und Der Prinz and Pulshar's dance pop.
The most incredible thing about Richie Hawtin as DJ in 2010? The fact that he did it at all. The rebirth of Plastikman was a massive undertaking for the Minus boss, making his DJ sets a sidelight. Even so, Hawtin continued to deliver throughout the year, whether it be as a fill-in for Ricardo Villalobos at Movement or as the main event at just about everywhere else. Tough and menacing, he's hardly minimal these days, pushing a technologically-enhanced sound that is often the result of three or more tracks being played at once.
01. Ricardo Villalobos
There's something comforting about seeing Ricardo Villalobs at #1 for the second time in three years. It means that you value a DJ willing to take risks. A DJ that doesn't court the media. A DJ that still plays vinyl almost exclusively. There is a cult about him, sure. But sometimes these things arise for good reasons. What made Villalobos particularly great in 2010? All of those aforementioned elements, in addition to a punishing schedule that saw him play just about anywhere (aside from an aborted gig in the United States at Movement) that matters in the world of electronic music. London, Berlin, Ibiza, Australia: All of these places and many more got to see just what makes Ricardo Villalobos your #1 DJ of 2010.
Per vedere la classifica fino al cento clicca : http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?1221