Best of 2013 Part 5

Well the fights couldn't possibly have gone any worse, but the consolation is that stepping away will be that little bit easier now. Farewell UFC, I will return when GSP comes back from hiatus. This of course means more time for other things, which will hopefully mean more dolla dolla bills. I've watched nearly every major MMA event in the last twenty years, so this is an emotional exit, but a necessary one. I shall drown my heartache with the majesty of the music ahead. Step forward...

#9

Darkside

Psychic

Nicolas Jaar is a name some of you are probably familiar with, and this is one of his side projects along with one of his regular touring instrumentalists Dave Harrington. The combination creates a brilliant concoction of bluesy electro-groove that sounds something like a mix of Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, and the Black Keys, all mixed up with a taste of Jaar's whispering electronic style. Unlike some of the other atmospheric albums on this list, the songs on this release can be just as appreciated in a singular fashion.

Appropriately, given their name, the mood is dark and mysterious, though more of an inquisitive darkness than an outright menacing one. Jaar handles the keys and provides the understated vocals himself, while Harrington takes the lead on the guitar, rounding out the sound nicely with muted tones. It took two years to finally release this album, but hopefully they'll enlighten us with something new in the nearer future.

Freak, Go Home

Paper Trails

Golden Arrow

#8

Classixx

Hanging Gardens

Composed of producer duo Michael David and Tyler Blake, this album is pure disco synth-pop magic. Upbeat, catchy, dreamy, it's a throwback to the best synth sounds of the 80s and even includes a couple superbly styled ballads for good measure. The pacing is perfect, and it's no surprise that these two hail from Los Angeles, as so much of this album seems best suited for a drive to the beach.

Of course there are some vocal collaborators on show to keep things interesting, including Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem, Pat Grossi (aka Active Child), and Sarah Chernoff of Superhumanoids. Most of the songs incorporate some kind of sample, in some cases just melting into the background to give a little levity. This is a great summer album, another superb debut LP that sets the bar for future releases pretty darn high.

Holding On

Borderline

A Fax From The Beach

#7

Siriusmo

Enthusiast

Moritz Friedrich is a terribly interesting character. The Berlin-based maestro is an esteemed visual artist as well as one of the best electronic producers on the planet. He's been making quirky beats for over a decade now, though it's mostly in the past five years that he's really expanded his output and become a highly in-demand remixer.

Friedrich sets his stall out early with the opening track "Doctor Beak", which features his signature springy synth attacks supported by a variety of wacky samples and percussive hits that just keep things unusually funky. His laser-beam style might not be for everyone, but those who like it tend to absolutely love it. This is a fantastic collection of thumping masterworks, whimsical and intense all at once, and easily one of the best electronic releases of the year.

Itchy / Cornerboy

Plastic Hips

Liu

EP #3

Phonat

Identity Theft

Michele Balduzzi is a giant on the electronic scene, figuratively and literally. The guy is like 7 feet tall! More impressive than his height is his ability to produce amazing music in just about any genre. Glitchy house-hop, funky disco-tech, he just has amazing control of his bells and whistles. This EP is an experiment in dubby trip-hop, awash with majestic synths and reverberating vocal samples. It's awesome, inspiring, and worth listening to over and over and over again.

Ride The Prejudice

Identity Theft

Morden Life

Getting close to the top now... more tomorrow morning!