Favorite Electronic Albums | AllMusic 2018 in Review

Adult.

This Behavior

The duo's seventh album is a relentlessly dark, danceable return to form.

Against All Logic

2012 - 2017

This collection of tracks represents a more carefree and optimistic side of electronic producer Nicolas Jaar's wide-ranging musical personality.

Aphex Twin

Collapse

Aphex Twin revisits the ultra-glitchy beats and childlike melodies of some of his earlier work without merely rehashing it.

Arp

Zebra

Alexis Georgopoulos explores a sort of cosmic Fourth World chamber jazz on his fourth full-length as Arp.

Autechre

NTS Sessions

Sprawling, eight-hour set of material Autechre recorded for NTS Radio, ranging from intense hyper-glitch to tranquil yet abrasive drone.

Bjørn Torske

Byen

The Norwegian producer's fifth solo album is easily one of his most focused works.

Blawan

Wet Will Always Dry

Debut album from one of the best techno artists of the 2010s, containing suspenseful tracks crafted on modular synthesizers.

Chrome Sparks

Electronic musician Jeremy Malvin surpasses the promise of his earlier EPs with his bright, expressive debut full-length.

Container

LP [2018]

Container leaves slightly more room for twisted, prismatic melodies on his fourth album of exhilarating noise-techno.

Daniel Avery

Song for Alpha

The long-awaited follow-up to techno producer Daniel Avery's acclaimed debut is more hazy and abstract, but just as fascinating.

Daniel Lanois / Venetian Snares

Venetian Snares x Daniel Lanois

Uneasy but fascinating soundclash between guitarist/superproducer Daniel Lanois and breakcore overlord Venetian Snares.

Demdike Stare

Passion

Another fine album of U.K. club mutations, grime contortions, and jungle abstractions from Demdike Stare.

DJ Koze

Knock Knock

DJ Koze follows his 2013 breakthrough Amygdala with another absurdly inventive, emotive full-length loaded with guest vocalists.

DJ Taye

Still Trippin'

Ambitious debut full-length from Teklife member DJ Taye that aims to reach beyond the footwork scene's underground cult audience.

Dorian Concept

The Nature of Imitation

Oliver Johnson's enjoyable third album of screwball synthesis arrives on Brainfeeder, label of longtime collaborator Flying Lotus.

Fire-Toolz

Skinless X-1

A significant step up for Angel Marcloid's genre-obliterating Fire-Toolz project, Skinless X-1 is more spiritually informed than her past work.

Gas

Rausch

A year after the triumphant return of Wolfgang Voigt's most revered alias, Gas offers another hourlong glimpse into its majestic dream world.

Geotic

Traversa

Warm, ethereal soundscapes from ambient composer Will Wiesenfeld (aka Baths).

Helena Hauff

Qualm

Electro producer Helena Hauff's second album is starker and more rhythmically focused than her first, but no less energetic.

Hieroglyphic Being

The Red Notes

Fusing cosmic jazz with deep house, The Red Notes is one of the warmer, mellower albums from Chicago-based innovator Jamal Moss.

Jlin

Autobiography

Electronic visionary Jerrilynn Patton composes the score for a contemporary dance piece by British choreographer Wayne McGregor.

Jon Hopkins

Singularity

The proper follow-up to Jon Hopkins' 2013 breakthrough Immunity is more intense, reflecting a deeper spiritual quest.

Lotic

Power

The Berlin-based artist's long-awaited debut album confronts racism and gender conformity while standing strong and fearless.

Maribou State

Kingdoms in Colour

Influenced by their extensive global touring following the release of their 2015 debut, Maribou State produce their most joyous work yet.

Marie Davidson

Working Class Woman

Marie Davidson's fourth solo album is her most introspective but playful work yet, as well as her most sonically daring.

Martyn

Voids

More stimulating hybrids of U.K. garage, dubstep, house, and techno, featuring a nod to late and crucial drum'n'bass figure Marcus Intalex.

MGUN

Axiom

Second full-length collection of inventive lo-fi house and techno tracks from Detroit producer Manuel Gonzales.

Miss Red

K.O.

Thrilling full-length debut from Israeli dancehall MC Miss Red, produced entirely by the Bug.

Moby

Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt

After a pair of punk blasts with Void Pacific Choir, Moby dips back into soulful, melancholy electronic soundscapes.

Niklas Paschburg

Oceanic

German pianist and composer transposes the drama of the sea into deeply satisfying electro-acoustic meditations.

Oneohtrix Point Never

Age Of

The producer scorns existing musical genres and invents android folk, mutant R&B, and futuristic opera along the way.

Proc Fiskal

Insula

Highly inventive debut album from Scottish producer Proc Fiskal, offering an outsider's perspective on the London-based grime sound.

Profligate

Somewhere Else

Containing his most advanced arrangements yet, Noah Anthony's third album as Profligate is an astounding set of darkwave noise pop tunes.

Rival Consoles

Persona

Fifth album of exquisitely produced, introspective techno from British musician Ryan Lee West.

Ross from Friends

Family Portrait

The lo-fi house producer builds on the promise of his earlier EPs with his remarkable full-length debut.

RP Boo

I'll Tell You What!

Footwork innovator RP Boo's first release to be recorded as a proper album.

Shorelights

Ancient Lights

Fantastic set of ambient dub techno tracks and soundscapes inspired by the Great Lakes region.

Shy Layers

Midnight Marker

The Atlanta-based musician's follow-up is a mesmerizing oddity of organic/electronic grooves and quirky composition.

Sinjin Hawke / Zora Jones

Vicious Circles

The Fractal Fantasy co-founders present their highly futuristic blend of grime, footwork, and abstract pop on their Planet Mu debut.

Skee Mask

Compro

Immersive, acutely detailed set of home-listening techno which draws from IDM, jungle, and ambient.

SOPHIE

Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides

The producer's debut album is a bold and affecting exploration of imagination and reinvention.

Steve Hauschildt

Dissolvi

Hauschildt's fifth solo album is his most collaborative effort since the breakup of Emeralds, as well as his most techno-influenced.

System

Plus

Truly sublime collaboration between Danish ambient dub trio System (aka Future 3) and German pianist/composer Nils Frahm.

Thomas Fehlmann

Los Lagos

Following albums with the Orb and Terrence Dixon, the producer's busy 2018 continues with another steady set of ambient and dub techno mutations.

Throwing Snow

Loma

Throwing Snow's club-focused side is every bit as ambitious and suspenseful as his first two proper albums.

Tim Hecker

Konoyo

Tim Hecker collaborates with the Japanese gagaku ensemble Tokyo Gakuso on the bleak yet majestic Konoyo.

TWINS

That Which Is Not Said

Excellent album of darkwave dance-pop from Matt Weiner, previously of Featureless Ghost.

Various Artists

Air Texture Volume VI

Berghain regulars Steffi and Martyn curate a fascinating, wide-ranging selection of ambient techno.

THE ALLMUSIC 2018