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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
50
James Holden
3

While 2006 saw James Holden release his debut album 'The Idiots Are Winning', the UK DJ/producer didn't release any new material this year. Instead, Holden donned his A&R and remixer caps, bringing new artists into the small but perfectly formed Border Community fold, while also creating reworks for his close associates.

Apart from releases by label regulars Nathan Fake and Avus, new signings to Holden's anything-goes imprint included established Canadian techno spinner Misstress Barbara, who dropped the deeper, slower than usual 'Barcelona', as well as upcoming producer Ricardo Tobar, who released his debut EP.
Holden remixed 'Barcelona', as well as Avus's 'Fancy Arse' on Perc, and Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid's 'The Sun Never Sets' on Domino (Hebden also did a version of Nathan Fake's 'You Are Here' as Fourtet for Border Community this year).
The label releases Jake Fairley's debut album as Fairmont in November, and Holden says: "I'm working on new things, collaborations, but they are nowhere near finished for now."

In the meantime, James remains an in-demand DJ and his unpredictable sets were highlights of the Nachtdigital Festival, in Germany, and the Piknic Electronique, in Montreal.
"The Border Community night at The End [London] has also been really good, with lovely people coming to the club," says James.