Coldwave and synth and drum loops. Love the moods, sometimes cheesy but that’s also spot on.
Modeselektor – Wealth
Just like recently going through everything Booka Shade in 2018, I did now the same with Modeselektor. They were not that productive, but the 4th Modeselektion is still not bad, and my favorite of the year was Wealth. Reminds me of the heavy-hitting flow that took me by surprise when The Dark Side of the Sun appeared.
Ultramarine – Signals Into Space
Something like an ageless bridge across nu jazz, ambient electronica, soft grooves and laidback head music. Soothing, relaxed, nice feelings, a light and gentle touch on the soul.
CUTS – A Gradual Decline
Melancholic, part wondering, part sharp and penetrating, electronic with a shoegaze attitude. And a powerful concept: “addresses the planet’s current fragility using actual field recordings of ice collapsing from glaciers.”
Charlotte Adigéry – Zandoli
Talking about earbugs, Paténipat is another one recently.
Black Devil – Disco Club
Timing, Forget the Timing is my latest unescapable earbug for quite some time now. It is beyond my comprehension how this track (and album, for that matter) could be made in 1978. And its story of being rediscovered and reissued by Richard D. James. Mind. Blown.
Booka Shade – Cut The Strings
I listened to all Booka Shade releases of 2018 just recently in the year after and there was quite a bit of output to dig through. Cut The Strings was the long player of the year, and a brilliant and beatiful album at that. But there was a long list of EPs, too, with mixed feelings but definitely more pros than cons. I can totally vouch for all the remix EPs from the LP, and the Quantum Leap and Rosebud EPs.
Fischerspooner – Sir
From the electroclash to the gayest album cover of the year.
Slam – Athenaeum 101
IDM and ambient. A journey: looking at the star-studded night sky in a wide valley, then taking a trip inside a factory colony on a distant planet, and later back into the open space and nature again.
Throwing Snow – Loma
First got hooked on this one when I was looking for something with broken beats and jungle rhythms, and I was happy to find this record. But then there are quite some flavors of electronics piled up here, all pretty much good flavors.