RA's readers start the poll season off by picking out their favourite DJs of the year.

So here they are: your top 100 DJs of 2010. We know you, the RA readers, each drew upon unique sets of criteria and experiences in selecting your favourites—and this is what we at RA find most fascinating. Whether it was the main stage set that blew you away; the afterparty performance that changed your perspective; or perhaps just doting over a monthly residency, these are the DJs that touched you somehow, affirming the reasons why you love this in the first place.

This is not a radically different list from last year—every music scene has its mainstays of course—but the movers and shakers make for intriguing reading. House, techno and their myriad offshoots naturally represent the bulk of artists on the list, although disco veterans, dubstep selectors and Detroit mavericks all challenge the order. Whoever they were and wherever they came from, these were the DJs who packed dance floors, travelled the world and quite possibly changed some lives in 2010.

 

20. Chris Liebing

Chris Liebing has been big for a long time, but over the past two years he's also been big and interesting, using his CLR platform to push emerging techno talent like never before. Liebing has sounded rejuvenated as a result, his sets fresher and more textured. It would have been easy to rest on his (very impressive) laurels, but Liebing's slight rise in this year's poll reflects that his fans also appreciate his willingness to innovate. There's a reason that his weekly podcast is the most important and (more importantly) the most relevant of its kind.

 

19. DJ Koze

More often than not, you'll see an "extended set" tag next to the name DJ Koze. He's a particular fellow in a very good way, in that he demands to make sure that he has the room to present the full scope of his musical interests in any given night. That he didn't do all that much this year—a single, a few exceptional remixes, gigs around the world—shouldn't tell you the story of Koze in 2010. The music did. Lucky for us, then, that we got to hear so much of it.

 

18. Cassy

Whether it's a mega-club like Amnesia or a shoebox like Club der Visionare, Cassy can always find her groove. These days she's moving up in the world, leaving behind the intimate parties for bigger and bigger crowds, and her sound has changed too—more often Cocoon than Perlon. But one thing that hasn't changed is the warm aura she brings to the decks; between her friendly charisma and her sultry house style, Cassy makes the dance floor cozy.

 

17. Steve Lawler

"One can't survive without the other," said Steve Lawler when asked to compare mega festivals and underground gigs. "We want people to hear our music. But we also need these smaller events so creativity can breathe." Lawler has maintained a careful balance between both as well, charting a course that keeps him as comfortable in front of audiences both massive and miniscule. That's due in no small part to the meticulous work he undertakes in making edits of nearly everything in his record bag, ensuring that when you hear him perform, it literally sounds like no one else.

 

16. Soul Clap

Not too long ago, Soul Clap were accepting gigs at Macy's department store in Boston. Now all of a sudden they're international pros, cooling their heels in Miami after a summer spent hopping around Europe. In person they may seem unfazed, as if this was always part of the plan, but you can hear in their music that they're glowing from the breakthrough. Their sexed-up, slowed-down sound has a spark that's rare in club music, and it's got everyone rooting for them.

 

15. Magda

2010 was the year that Magda broadened her purview. Her much anticipated solo album, From the Fallen Page, dropped in October, while her podcast for us back in July confounded expectations by bringing together the likes of Bernard Fevre, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Fad Gadget. Back on her regular stomping ground—the DJ booth—Magda remained among the most travel-hardened jocks on the circuit. 2010 further proved that her reductionist take on house and techno is still very much in demand the world over.

 

14. Joris Voorn

"The Secret" might not have achieved the same rabid levels of popularity as "Sweep the Floor," but Joris Voorn's relatively quiet production year hasn't taken any of the luster off his reputation as a DJ. The volume of appearances in the upper rungs of festivals was staggering: from the anorak crowd at Bloc, to Creamfields in Australia, plus WMC and Awakenings, not to mention his We Love... residency. But the arenas and super clubs were smartly balanced out with other highlights, like his bromantic club series with Nic Fanciulli.

 

13. Sasha

They say that Ibiza is like no other place in the world. And so it was for Sasha in 2010, where at Ushuaia he found his groove again, playing to the beach bar crowd alongside artists like Cassy and Sander Kleinenberg. That's not to say, though, that Sasha has given up his high-profile diary. With shows around the world, he continues to play unique sets that reflect his lengthy career in the scene as well as his insatiable appetite for new music.

 

12. Sven Väth

Sven Väth has never been the kind of DJ to stand there shyly cradling his headphones. For as long as anyone can remember, he's been ripping off his shirt, throwing his fist in the air and breaking into the occasional crazed dance routine. He's kept up this raucous act for decades, making him almost feel like family to his fans. They don't call him Papa Sven for nothing.

 

11. Marco Carola

The Italian stallion rode roughshod over the world of dance music yet again in 2010, bringing his tough techno to audiences around the world. Last time around we talked about how remarkable his traveling schedule is, and it was exactly the same in 2010. Rarely taking a week off, Carola is the type of guy who can get away with having a comically underused Twitter: The man doesn't need anything more than his music to interact with his fans.

 

10. Marcel Dettmann

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.

 

08. John Digweed

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 over the tracklist for 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.

 

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."

 

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. His Berghain 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.

 

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.

 

03. Seth Troxler

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.

 

02. Richie Hawtin

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.

The RA readership pinpoints their favourite performers of the past 12 months.

Let's face it—live acts have it pretty rough. Start with the simple fact that they're restricted to their own creations, while DJs get paid to play other people's music. Then there's the question of appreciation—does the crowd understand that these are all your songs? And of course there's soundcheck. DJs can roll in five minutes before their set starts, but live acts have to be at the club two hours before it opens just to get everything set up. Most importantly, there's the classic dilemma: Lug around loads of precious equipment, or face the stigma of being a "laptop act"?

All of this only makes it more impressive that so many live acts stick to their guns. Interestingly, half of the names of your top 10 for this year hardly (if ever) appear behind the decks. Almost everyone's approach is distinctly different: some ply their trade from behind a mysterious bulk of gear, others play in front (or inside) of psychedelic video displays. One has even been known to sing live vocals while floating around in a pool and flirting with random girls. But however unconventional their routines may be, the overall credo is comfortingly old-fashioned: make the crowd move with your own material.

10. Paul Kalkbrenner

Performing across Europe at sold-out headlining shows, 2010 was the year that Paul Kalkbrenner proved that he was a brand unto himself. No longer associated with his BPitch Control family, Kalkbrenner is his own man and, judging by the forthcoming 2010 tour DVD, seems to be loving the freedom that he's been afforded. His breezy techno pop goes down easy, but that's through years of hard work determining the things he wants to play, exactly when to play them and how to elicit the biggest reaction as he does so.

09. Shackleton

"Now I feel freer with it; I feel much more at ease with what I'm doing," Shackleton told us recently on the subject of his live set. The fluidity he speaks of was experienced by audiences in the US and Australia for the first time this year, while handpicked gigs at key festivals—Unsound, Club to Club, Freerotation, Labyrinth—meant that Shackleton's otherworldly soundscapes were experienced firsthand by more people than ever before.

08. Guy Gerber

The bright melodies of Guy Gerber may soon be soundtracking the likes of P. Diddy, but throughout much of 2010 they were the provenance of nightclubs around the world. What the Israeli producer does may look easy, yet it's anything but. With such subtly diverse music, it's fascinating to hear how many different ways he can play the same material. Yes, it's on a laptop. But there's often more work being done than your average traditional musician when Gerber sets up shop.

07. Moderat

Berlin supergroup Moderat had a spectacular 2009, thanks to their eponymous album and the subsequent tour which snagged them the top spot in this poll last year. Enhanced by Pfadfinderei's lush visuals, in 2010 the Moderat extravaganza continued to amplify the best qualities of both Modeselektor and Apparat. Whether you were drawn into the stunning images, rocked out to Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary's bombastic basslines or swooned over Sascha Ring's floppy-fringed shoegaze moves, Moderat remained among the most stunning intersections of sound, vision, and musicality.

06. Shed

Rene Pawlowitz has one surprising ground rule when it comes to playing live—no test-driving unreleased material. This makes his sets more special for his fans, who will likely hear most of their favorite Shed, WAX and EQD tracks. It also means he has to deal with some pretty challenging material, especially after The Traveler dropped this past summer. But to the credit of both Pawlowitz and clubland itself, this hardly seemed to bother anyone: even as the beat slowed down, fell apart or disappeared altogether, crowds around the world happily grooved to his weird experiments.

05. Booka Shade

Bigger and better. That was the motto for Booka Shade this year, as they continued to add on to their already substantial live show. Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier have little to prove these days after showcasing the possibilities of live performance over the past few years. But they went back to the lab in 2010 and emerged with a way to present their music that satisfied old and new fans alike. The only question that remains: Where do they go from here?

04. Henrik Schwarz

"Drama is important, especially in today's club music, I think. There should be...more drama." Henrik Schwarz encapsulated? As he revealed in an interview earlier this year, he has a button on Ableton he calls "drama," which he turns whenever the moment is right. His jazz-inclined house doesn't need much of it—it stands up remarkably well on its own—but Schwarz injects his performances with plenty. And if your reactions this year were any indication, the drama knob is working just fine.

03. dOP

Everybody loves an oddball, and dOP have three of them. The French trio once again terrorized clubland in 2010, turning the idea of electronic music live performance on its head by acting like the rock stars they so clearly want to be. The group lives by the simple credo that the mixer should always be in the red, and that you should never play sober. And with Jonathan Illel as ringmaster/court jester, that means that you never know exactly what you're going to get when dOP comes to town.

02. Nicolas Jaar

It must be easy to be Nicolas Jaar's press agent. Chilean-American, Ivy league student, fan of old-fashioned mics, etc. But with a creative vision as fresh as his, he hardly needs these talking points. In less than two years of releases, Jaar has cultivated a sound that's startlingly original, as well as a dynamic live act that's landed him in clubs around the globe. And all this while juggling a full course load, which is basically like driving with the emergency break on. With so much credit to his name already, it's easy to forget that he's just getting started.

01. Plastikman

Could it have been anyone else? The return of Richie Hawtin to his most famous recording guise for a stunning live show seems like a no-brainer for your #1 live act of 2010. And so it was. There was the drama of Hawtin behind an LED screen, with his usual visual team improvising along with him as he put together on-the-fly takes of classic material. There was the fascination of seeing a man renowned for rocking crowds navigating material that didn't immediately cause hands-in-the-euphoria. There was "Spastik," being played live in front of the cage in Detroit. There was one of the world's biggest DJs once again taking chances when it would have been just as easy to play it safe.

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