Top 9 in Best Rated Releases of Week #48

Selected as release of the week

Few labels have captured the spirit of 2010 as well as London's Night Slugs imprint. Launched in January to the beat of Mosca's 'Square One', Night Slugs managed to embody everything that made dance music interesting this year: The prevalence of dubstep as one of the most imaginative electronic music styles around, the resurgence of party-compatible techno, the heart-warming pop sensibilities of funky house.

Night Slugs' rise has not remained unnoticed: The label's releases have been the subject of continuous praise from the press, including a recent label of the year award from prestigious FACT mag.

'Allstars Volume 1' summarises label's astonishing first year with many of Night Slugs' irresistible dance-floor hits, like Lil Silva's r'n'b inspired 'Golds to Get', and Girl Unit's pop-step anthem, 'Wut'. The included exclusives are just as good: Egyptrixx's delirious 'Liberation Front' for instance, or '(Baby I Don't Know) What you Want' by new signing Jacques Greene, which word on the street has already made out as 'the next Hyph Mngo'.

But even without giving in to hyperbole, 'Night Slugs Allstars Volume 1' offers a hugely entertaining selection of tracks that are both bold and flawlessly executed, from a label that - perhaps more so than any other this year - represents the current cutting edge of dance music. Essential purchase.