2016 Top 50
My top 50 releases from 2016 |
| 50 |  | Skepta
Konnichiwa
Skepta's first album since the resurgence of Grime in the last few years, and probably the best thing to listen to if you want an introduction to this new wave. There are a couple of questionable songs (why is Pharrell on this album???) but overall this is worth your time. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyONbqggasY |
| 49 |  | Blank Banshee
MEGA
MEGA is a standard release from Blank Banshee, a collection of enjoyable little internet tunes. Listen here: https://blankbanshee.bandcamp.com/album/mega |
| 48 | | Truth
War of The Minds
Deep Medi are often cited as being the greatest dubstep label, and this dark and heavy release shows how they earned that reputation. Listen to an excerpt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh2GfMlVL7E |
| 47 | | Night Moves
Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry
This gorgeous atmospheric pop single was unfairly overlooked this year. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NZ8fI7PRNM |
| 46 | | Death Grips
More Than the Fairy
This is just Death Grips being their abrasive, experimental selves. Much better than Bottomless Pit. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWkJghqMSpo |
| 45 |  | Brian Eno
The Ship
I'm not sure why Brian Eno decided to make a conceptual ambient album with vocals on it, but I'm glad he did. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym4hmN_5ns0 |
| 44 | | Danny L Harle
Fader Mix
What isn't there to love about a Danny L Harle mix? Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/fadermedia/fader-mix-danny-l-harle |
| 43 | | Tim Hecker
Black Phase
Tim Hecker's new album wasn't for me, but this oppressive and intense single certainly is. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vn9FXebN9g |
| 42 | | clipping.
Air Em Out
Clipping came back this year, and their highly experimental Hip-Hop is as good as ever. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUR_ChqUJbc |
| 41 | | David Bowie
I Can't Give Everything Away
Bowie's first posthumous single and the closer of Blackstar. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE1Zcngd3VA |
| 40 | | Kode9
TKO
Kode9 collaborates with Japanese Footwork producer D.J. Fulltono to create this track, all the drum samples are from the Japanese 'taiko' - an enormous drum made from a hollow tree. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/platform/kode9-fulltono |
| 39 | | Kane West
Broken Flowers
I absolutely adore Broken Flowers, and this remix has made me love it all over again. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEarJ0r2cj4 |
| 38 | | The Flaming Lips
Space Oddity
2016 was the year of terrible Bowie tributes, but this one by The Flaming Lips is magnificent. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERxTaENbRdY |
| 37 | | Felicita
Doodle
This Lipgloss twins single takes the high pitched experimental intensity of their previous effort, Wannabe, and poppifies it just enough to land this song squarely in the uncanny valley. Listen here: http://doodle.pcmusic.info/ |
| 36 | | Kanye West
Famous
Kanye's most controversial single to date - really little more than a fun bit of pop rap with a particularly great sample. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7FCgw_GlWc |
| 35 | | Etch
Technicolor Daydream
All sorts of dance genres mixed together to create a very unique EP. Listen here: https://lapsus.bandcamp.com/album/technicolor-daydream-ep |
| 34 | | The Avalanches
Colours
The new album was a disappointment, but Colours is the chilled neopsychedelia I never knew I wanted from The Avalanches. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLRPDovCpmM |
| 33 | | Autechre
Solid Steel Radio Mix
An incredible mix that features early tape music, legendary groups like The Human League and The Residents, and lots of other interesting tracks. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/ninja-tune/solid-steel-radio-show-2212016-hour-1-autechre |
| 32 |  | Dj Wave
Above the Clouds
Lobster Theremin are known for pressing EPs of original and innovative House, this is no exception. Listen here: http://lobstertheremin.com/album/above-the-clouds |
| 31 |  | Leon Vynehall
Rojus
An incredibly upbeat Deep House album with very tropical vibes. If you don't think that you like House, then this is probably the album to change your mind. Listen to a track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrq1ZTjqUHs |
| 30 |  | the i.l.y's
scum with boundaries
They may have slipped under your radar, but this is actually the second release from Death Grips side project the i.l.y's. It's experimental rock with a lot of variety, listen here: https://soundcloud.com/deathgrips/sets/scum-with-boundaries |
| 29 | | Of Montreal
My Fair Lady
A standard single from the group, bouncy with melancholy undertones. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMoahstZrs |
| 28 |  | Four Tet
Randoms
A compilation of unreleased tracks that spans Four Tet's career, so there's bound to be something interesting for everyone. Listen here: https://fourtet.bandcamp.com/album/randoms |
| 27 | | Ryuichi Sakamoto
Plankton
This ambient soundtrack for an art exhibition of the same name can only really be described as "planktonny". (No link for this one) |
| 26 | | Xiu Xiu
Wondering
This single for Xiu Xiu's upcoming album is more of that smoggy noise pop sound that the group has developed over the last few years. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shqEHhiZdys |
| 25 | | Four Tet
Mothers / Dark
Four Tet and Designer team up to make some interesting tunes, the A side is bright and breezy, while the flip is dark and moody. Listen to the first side here: https://soundcloud.com/four-tet/designer-four-tet-mothers-text038a |
| 24 |  | GFOTY
VIPOTY
PC Music's GFOTY is a controversial character, and this EP is unlikely to change your mind on her if you aren't a fan. It's a silly release that mashes up all sorts of genres (one song has a section that seems to be a broadway parody, for some reason). Listen to excerpts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VhIEQgkAjs |
| 23 |  | Felicita
A New Family
The lead single off of Felicita's new EP is dancey with an industrial tinge. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krtMlq31M7s |
| 22 | | Babyfather
Meditation
While the full album was, in my opinion, overly conceptual rubbish, with no context this single is simply a pretty good laid back experimental Hip-Hop track. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXoeFJZQIGc |
| 21 |  | Anderson .Paak
Malibu
A fun R&B album that isn't afraid to play with all manner of genres and styles. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIG35tCV7ws |
| 20 |  | DJ Earl
Open Your Eyes
The newly founded Teklife label has made it clear that they are dedicated to revitalizing footwork, and this release, with help from OPN and many others, certainly seems to be taking things in a great direction. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/teklife57/sets/teklife002-djearl-open-your-eyes |
| 19 |  | Crystal Castles
Amnesty (I)
Crystal Castles make their Witch Housiest album yet, some may not enjoy the group without Alice Glass, but personally I loved this release. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7zxAI3GW2o |
| 18 |  | Boris
Mr. Shortkill
A fun little Boris EP with a lot of energy. Listen to an excerpt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CGcG3WM-UU |
| 17 |  | Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith / Suzanne Ciani
Sunergy
The latest FRKWYS release - a project focusing on intergenerational collaborations - pairs Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith's usual bubbly electronics with all manner of effects from Suzanne Ciani, and in my opinion these two artists complement each other wonderfully. Listen here: https://kaitlynaureliasmith.bandcamp.com/album/frkwys-vol-13-sunergy |
| 16 | | Kanye West
I Love Kanye
This hilarious a capella rap is my favourite Kanye West single ever, and one that really stands out from a fairly mediocre album. (no link for this one, sorry) |
| 15 |  | Charli XCX
Vroom Vroom
The most interesting thing released by a mainstream pop artist in recent memory, Vroom Vroom is produced with the help of SOPHIE & PC Music, and as a result every track is fresh and exciting. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/vroomvroomrecordings/sets/vroom-vroom-ep |
| 14 |  | Palms Trax
High Point on Low Ground
Palms Trax has made a big name for himself in House music in the past three years, and listening to this EP you can see exactly why - he's very creative with textures and comes up with incredibly danceable rhythms. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SEnM0z0TA |
| 13 | | A. G. Cook
Sticky Drama
Oneohtrix's Sticky Drama is often described as 'uncanny', 'terrifying', 'inhuman', e.t.c. Somehow A. G. Cook has managed to make a remix for which all of those descriptors are actually truer than the original. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/oneohtrix-point-never/sticky-drama-a-g-cook-remix |
| 12 | | Ash Koosha
Biutiful
A haunting and highly original single. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHGdu9B1f68 |
| 11 | | Oneohtrix Point Never
Evening Side
Oneohtrix Point Never's remix of Four Tet's Evening Side is absolutely stunning. He's turned a slow and, frankly, slightly boring 20 minute track into a condensed, bouncy banger that reminds me of some of my favourite Four Tet songs off of Rounds and There is Love in You, albeit with some little Oneohtrix twists here and there. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/four-tet/evening-side-oneohtrix-point-never-edit |
| 10 |  | Matmos
Ultimate Care II
Although this is technically Musique Concrete in terms of technique, in reality it's a fun IDM album made entirely from washing machine samples. You may not expect that concept to work, but it honestly does. Listen to an excerpt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qH-WQUmNQQ |
| 9 |  | The World Is a Beautiful Place...
Formlessness [2016]
This is a rerecording of the band's debut that incorporates everything they have learned in the past few years. If you are somehow unfamiliar with TWIABPAIANLATD, expect twinkly and elegant midwest emo. Listen here: https://theworldis.bandcamp.com/album/formlessness-2 |
| 8 | | Throwing Shade
House of Silk
You might have unwittingly listened to Throwing Shade before, as she is the vocalist on SOPHIE's Lemonade. Her newest release is full of glossy and ethereal house music, with an intro that sounds heavily PC Music influenced. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4AmKGFKfgA |
| 7 | | Pinch
Screamer / No Justice
Dubstep legend Pinch's latest single is a creative take on the dark and brooding dubstep that seems to be released with increasing rarity nowadays. Riko Dan's vocals on the A Side are particularly fantastic. Listen to Screamer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4mYo3dLE5c |
| 6 | | Danny L Harle
Super Natural
Danny L Harle's new single, with vocals from Carly Rae Jepsen, is incredibly euphoric and fun. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrFcxR4Y6C0 |
| 5 | | A Sunny Day in Glasgow
New Christmas Classics
A Sunny Day In Glasgow's disjointed and jangly style of dream pop is, unsurprisingly, perfectly fitted to making Christmas music. Listen to my favourite track here: https://soundcloud.com/geonorth/a-sunny-day-in-glasgow-saturn-pulls-me-apart-death-of-the-unconquerable-night |
| 4 |  | Grischa Lichtenberger
Spielraum
This EP was made to accompany last year's fantastic "La demeure; Il y a péril en la demeure", and it's more of the same style: glitchy and scattered IDM with strangely danceable rhythms and tonnes of detail. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJX73sNC-VA (may be blocked in some countries) |
| 3 | | Iggy Pop
Leaves of Grass
It feels quite surreal to be putting Iggy Pop, of all people, this high on a list of the best albums of 2016, but this collaboration is surprisingly fantastic. Iggy recites Walt Whitman poetry in slow, gravelly tones whilst experimental group Tarwater, and Onkyo musician Alva Noto, create a moody and detailed soundscape around his voice. Listen to my favourite track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NXlHDrLaio |
| 2 | | Felicita
Heads Will Roll / I Will Devour You
On this incredible single Felicita takes the PC Music sound and completely drowns it in an almost shoegazey fuzz, the result is eerie and beautiful. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVqaN6P-xWA |
| 1 | | Lil Data
Lil Tape
PC Music's latest release is, again, not at all typical of the label. Lil Data's new mixtape is straight up IDM, and it's some of the most inventive and varied IDM I have heard in a long time, which I think is partially due to the prevalence on many tracks of PC Music's trademark sheen. Listen here: http://tape.pcmusic.info/ |
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