From the debut album of cold wave/new wave acts of Konstant, La Nuit Je Mens and Oliver Decrow, to the electro art of veterans Anthony Rother, Dark Vektor, E.R.P. and Legowelt; from the roughness of Filmmaker, Gesloten Cirkel and Howard Thomas to the melodic synthscapes of Steve Moore; from the jacking house of Paranoid London and Timothy J. Fairplay to arpeggiated madness of Rodion & Fabrizio Mammarella, here are our favorite 20 albums from 2024, compiled in chronological order.

Filmmaker – Land of Hidden Variables [Opal Tapes]

Filmmaker is a very prolific producer from Medellin, Colombia. Last year he released an incredible stream of five albums. Released by Opal Tapes, “Land Of Hidden Variables” with it’s more laid-back rhythms and industrial fealing is our favorite out of the five.

Timothy J. Fairplay – Convictions That Stick [Pinkman]

With “Convictions” released by Rotterdam’s Pinkman Records, Timothy J. Fairplay extends his sonic excursions into raw, jacking, yet evocative house music. ‘Convictions’ rattles through drum-machine workouts topped with soaring synthlines, inviting you to spiral in the club’s darkest corners. Between the shuffled claps, ominous melodics and delay-laden syncopation, ‘Convictions’ playfully evokes both the mechanical exploration of urban space, and the claustrophobic intimacies encountered within it.

Paranoid London – Arseholes, Liars, and Electronic Pioneers [Paranoid London]

Paranoid London, the electronic band of Gerardo Delgado and Quinn Whalley, has become synonymous with stripping acid house back down to its basics. Their 2024 long-player “Arseholes, Liars, and Electronic Pioneers” has a slightly more Hi-Fi sound than previous efforts, but retains the urgency and punk rock attitude that they are known for.

Bedroom Talks – Call Me Malespero [Oraculo Records]

Bedroom Talks, hailing from Ukraine, is a gifted solo artist whose music, delves into an eclectic blend of genres including coldwave, darkwave, synthwave, post-punk with touches of EBM. “Call Me Malespero,” produced during Ukraine’s shelling, captures the essence of his art in a unique and moving way. It’s a powerful testament to human resilience and the ability to find beauty even in the darkest moments, evoking a range of emotions from pain and anger to palpable sweetness, all woven into poetic lyrics and enveloping melodies.

Gesloten Cirkel – I Live In The Midwest EP [Selvamancer]

The underground electronic artist Gesloten Cirkel lands on the Barcelona based DIY imprint with Dutch rave roots, Selvamancer, with the mini-album ‘I Live In The Midwest’. It’s a true testament to his producing prowess and extensive musical diversity, and pushes the boundaries of industrial and shamanic sounding breaks, acid and the remarkable pounding electro he’s known for. The eight track affair immerses listeners into a mesmerizing blend of acidic body music, killer electro, and experimental interludes. It embodies a hate-love relationship with the machine, floating between hypnotic and industrial elements, showcasing Gesloten Cirkel’s ability to craft wonky rhythms and haunting melodies.

System Disorder – Random Report [Sons Of Traders]

DJ Nephil, the head of Gravitational Waves label, is continuing the experimentation and sound research with his side project System Disorder. On “Random Report”, released by Sons Of Traders Records, he is presenting eight acid-electro variations on a more minimal theme around a sort of contemporary dark novel.

Rodion & Mammarella – Musica E Computer LP [Slow Motion]

“Musica E Computer” is a momentous release from Slow Motion label head Fabrizio Mammarella and Rodion, laying down eight slices of industrial dungeon-electro, mind-melting acid rollouts and spoken-n’-spelled ritual dances.

Legowelt – Like A Song From Your Dream [L.I.E.S.]

Next is the Dutch master, Legowelt, on L.I.E.S. Records with “Like A Song From Your Dream” an album full of ultra-raw hypnagogic lo-fi electrofunk. Classic, murky, cold as ice Hague-style slammers from the king of Smack. These eight tracks go back to the essence of the Legowelt sound, cutting through the noise of modern dance music charlatans, taking them to school with his undeniable signature stamped all over this release.

Oliver Decrow – I’m Too Young To Die [Cold Transmission Music]

“I’m Too Young To Die” offers a cross-section of songs, previously performed live multiple times, where Oliver Decrow provides insights into his life and emotions, attempting to process experiences. Themes such as the suicide of a friend, self-doubt, grief, courage, love, fear, hope, the subconscious, letting go, escaping, and numerous emotional highs and lows are explored in his album. We listened to his live performance at Ombra in 2023 and these song resonated with us.

Dark Vektor – 3 De Desembre De 2023 [Oraculo Records]

And talking about Ombra Festival, on December 3, 2023, Dark Vektor played a historic live set at the Barcelona festival. This tribute record, released by Oraculo Records one of Ombra’s organizers, includes 99% of the playlist from that performance, featuring tracks from his most acclaimed releases to date. With over 100 releases to date Dark Vektor, is considered by everyone in the industry to be the most respected Spanish Elektro producer.

Steve Moore – Eye of Horus [L.I.E.S.]

The second album coming from Ron Morelli’s L.I.E.S. label. The album “Eye Of Horus“, from synth wizard, soundtrack composer, and Zombi member Steve Moore, expands further on his stark and drama filled cosmic sound. Moore focuses on cold arppegations and basic beat constructions to fuel his epic productions which center around pristine soaring synthscapes. A master of the genre, Moore gives us an equal mix of explosive, creepy home at the end of a dark street floor fodder as well as slower tempo cosmic headcrushers, all capable of getting your head or niteclub in a frenzy. “The Blue Stone” being one of our favorite songs of last year.

E.R.P. – Faded Caprice LP [Apnea]

Album “Faded Caprice” is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of summer’s fading glow. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, each track is a sonic tableau, capturing the essence of hot afternoons and wistful sunsets. E.R.P.’s signature blend of deep, cosmic funky electro gems resonates with emotional depth, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its hypnotic embrace. “Faded Caprice” is a testament to Gerard Hanson’s artistry and vision, a testament to his music landscape, offering audiences a glimpse into the boundless possibilities of sound and emotion.

Howard Thomas – Skin Breaker [Sound Signature]

Theo Parrish’s venerated Sound Signature label hits the notable milestone of 100 releases “Skin Breaker” album from Howard Thomas. It is one inspired by the artist’s formative years spent watching sci-fi films and soaking up 80s beat tracks. Both of those aspects are folded into the record which is a hugely original take on house and techno. Tracks collide dusty drums with gurgling synths, deep space pads with caustic basslines and otherworldly energy that very much comes back from the future to keep you on your toes. vinyl / cassette

Body Mechanic – Electrosoul LP [Detroit Techno]

Body Mechanic lands-on Detroit Techno Records with the album “Electrosoul“. It’s classic 313 tackle though – heavy on the kicks, snappy snares and filthy dirty basslines that make you want to move. Ghoulish vocals add extra grit to the opener and from there ‘Dance’ gets more playful with jittery drum funk and scratching, ‘Beautiful Bum’ has a gorgeously tender and reflective vibe thanks to the minor chords and smooth electro rhythms, ‘Magic (feat Tay) ‘ slips into a deep and soulful house groove and ‘Househead’ is jacked up, loopy and well swung amongst several more timeless cuts. vinyl

Konstant – Unb​ä​ndige Kinder [Subject To Restrictions Discs]

“Unbändige Kinder” is the debut album by Angelo Repetto and Nicolas Balmer, under the alias Konstant. Both have been active in the Zurich scene for a long time and have come together to create their own language. “Unbändige Kinder” blossoms from the burdens of days gone by and describes their world in a phase of change and new beginnings. They define their own musical form by constantly looking ahead, driven by New Wave, Kraut and Post Punk. The album is characterised by rawness, bluntness and the syllables from the heart.

Das Ding – Selected Archival Recordings 1979-1985 [Electronic Emergencies]

Minimal wave legend Das Ding is back on Electronic Emergencies after 10 years with a stunning selection of archival tracks from retrieved tape recordings, “Selected Archival Recordings 1979-1985“. The sound is raunchy and slightly experimental, but already unmistakable Das Ding, New Wave, early EBM and proto techno.

Random Factor – Silencer LP [20/20 Vision]

“Silencer” sees Carl Finlow create a stunning return to his alter ego Random Factor, after 15 years, featuring a mix of electro pop songs with melodies that stay in the head, demonstrating his ability to write songs that stand the test of time with a production prowess considered second to none in the world of electronic music. Synthesizers play a huge role as always and every track feels like an ever-evolving sonic adventure through Finlow’s imagination with the overall effect of a long-playing record that is best listened to from beginning to end. 

La Nuit Je Mens – Teatro Del Metapresente [Reach Another System]

“Teatro Del Metapresente” is the debut album by La Nuit Je Mens, a duo hailing from the Parisian suburbs and southern Italy. Now based in Rome, the two artists (Asymetrical & Rawmance) have crafted a striking sound that merges their DIY ethos with raw, unfiltered energy. Driven by synthetic, minimalist rhythms created on a fleet of analog machines, the seven tracks pay homage to the sound of the ’80s – yet entirely forward-looking and embracing the dancefloor modernity. Blending genres such as EBM, synth-pop and minimal-cold-wave, paired with French vocals, the album delves into themes of underground activities, the slow decay of the club scene and the depths of emotional yearning.

aLLumynD – eXistenZ LP [Distrito 91]

aLLumynD emerges from the shadows with a project that feels as though it has been excavated from the farthest reaches of electro history. Fresh from a summer spent deeply immersed in analog gear, aLLumynD’s debut album “eXistenZ” delivers 8 raw and electrifying tracks that capture the essence of an era yet speak boldly to the future. Each track, recorded live, surges with an intense energy and is crafted with both mechanical precision and an emotional undercurrent.

Anthony Rother – Future Kids [self-released]

“Future Kids” by electro veteran Anthony Rother is a variant of Technobeat-Electro and, as he mentions, the inspiration for this came after hearing DJ MELL G at the Mechatronica label night at the Human Club in Barcelona 2024.

Enjoy!