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.
20/20 Vision present the first new Random Factor album for 15 years. Random Factor was originally created by Carl Finlow in 1994 as an alter ego alias for his productions, forging an unique and instantly recognisable sound over the years. ‘Silencer’ sees Finlow create a stunning return to Random Factor, 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.
L.A. threesome Ashrr aka lead vocalist Steven Davis and producer-musician-vocalists Josh Charles and Ethan Allen are back with a brilliant new album for Ralph Lawson’s superb 20/20 Vision Recordings that finds them working by the old mantra of ‘art for art’s sake’. This effortlessly eclectic record collides electronic soul, post-punk, space disco and indie-dance and is rich in melancholic melody, hazy, late-summer moods and late-night dancing. The vocals bring an indie edge to jangling delights like ‘Please Don’t Stop The Rain’ while ‘What’s Been Turning You On’ is a laidback and languid groove for lazy sessions.
LA-based trio ASHRR serve up their latest offering of soul-infused, funked-up space disco in the form of ‘Different Kind of Life’. Landing on wax as a selection of remixes featuring two edits from the longstanding figurehead of Berlin electronic music culture ‘Massimiliano Pagliara’. ASHRR compliment Massimiliano’s re-works with a special ‘ASHRR Soundsystem’ version to wrap up another unmissable outing laced with sun-kissed swagger.
Exit Planet Earth continues its exploration of the world of electro universe with an expansive, extended six track EP, featuring The Advent x Zein Ferreira, DeFeKT, London Modular Alliance, Konerytmi and Zobol. The Advent, whose weekly Gardening Club residency in the mid-90s helped to drag electro out of the realms of the retro and back into the future, team up with Zein Ferreira for a Kraftwerk-on-speed extended mix of ‘CarpeDiem’, before London Modular Alliance’s more moderately paced but still squiggle and bleep laced ‘Lump of Coal’ plus a ‘beats’ breakdown for the DJs. The B-side brings us the acid-powered ‘Pulssi’ by Konerytmi, the bouncy, breakdance-friendly ‘Radar’ by DeFeKT, and the relatively pure, optimistic sonics of Zobol’s ‘Data Wars’. Thumbs up all round.
Following the epic dystopian LP ‘Manifold’ Versalife returns with his second album on 20/20 Vision ‘Chronoception’. The accomplished Dutch producer Boris Bunnik aka Conforce delves deep into the cosmic abyss with 8 auditory adventures laced with shadowy tones, deep base and robotic funk.
The Exit Planet Earth series continues with the first ever collaboration between two undisputed electro-funk heavyweights Egyptian Lover & Soul Clap. The resulting track ‘Hai Karate’ is a slice of superbly produced classic electro designed to rattle bass bins from Miami to Mars. Following form in classic electro directions, Futurenauts present their debut track ‘We are the Futurenauts’ that brings a slower based groove reminiscent of ‘A Love from Outer Space’ into the cosmos and delivers a powerful message to humanity. The flip sees a welcome return to 20/20 Vision from the Maltese magician Sound Synthesis who continues the vocoded vocals but adds a state-of-the-art assault on the senses with a slamming track aimed firmly at the discerning dancefloor. EPE 08 is finished off in fine style by Mick Wilson & August Artier with ‘Akira’s Cry’, which fuses a deep house bassline and chords with tight break beat programming and powerful lead strings.
The 7th edition in the Exit Planet Earth vinyl series features another serving of electronic cuts designed for space travel with 20/20 Vision debuts from The Exaltics & Paris The Black Fu, Alex Jann, Lost Souls of Saturn and Kim Cosmik.
“Lloyd Stellar X The Droid – Rise of the Machines” is an exciting debut collaboration between Erik Griffioen & Ben Evans. An impressive maxi EP, loaded with cutting edge electro brimming with musicality, sound design and expert production.
Sound Synthesis is the solo project of Keith Farrugia based in Malta. The record imagines an ‘Electro Planet’, with a the title track engulfing the listener into an alien world run by Kraftwerk autonotons, commanding synthesisers and vocoders live in harmony within it’s rich sonic landscape. ‘Robot Collision’ takes the record off into alien worlds with ominous overtones of spiralling synth lines, pulsating bass before descending into an abyss of modulation. On the flip, ‘Electronic Machines’ hits firmly at the peak time dancefloor and we can’t wait to hear it back on the big systems where it belongs loaded with dense palpitating bass lines, protruding from the midst of slick 808s and soaring string embellishments, and a dash of vocoder fragmentation. The EP is nicely completed with ‘Energy Patterns’, the understated bomb of the record and a juggernaut of pure menace, hitting with a bass line that will decimate clubs like fabric, Fold and Panorama Bar on their return – think churning acid lines, shrieking synth FXs, and a huge electro groove – not for the faint hearted but that suits us just fine.
20/20 Vision present the debut release from Manchester based artists Armec. The Caged EP hits the ground running – with a record that spans heavy club-ready electro and futuristic soundscapes. Complete with a remix from German acid connoisseurs Hardfloor.
The Exit Planet Earth vinyl series continues onto it’s 5th edition with a finely balanced release of electro, techno and breakbeat cuts. Carl Finlow – ‘The Oberth Effect’ kicks off the record with a mind bending trip to the dark side of electro, delivering a masterclass in multi-layered synth sound design, rolling bass lines and Finlow’s expert production. A fellow electro master, Plant43 delivers his debut release for 20/20 Vision – ‘Forcefield Deactivation’. The flip side features a collaboration between Hong Kong based producers Mr. Ho & Xiaolin (Klasse Wrecks). ‘No Change To How I Feel’ is a unique sign of the times. A deep techno track served with a heavy 4/4 kick, perpetually evolving arpeggios, quick fire hats and a haunting vocal. Leeds based producer Alfred completes the release with a sound forged from intricate drum sequencing and strong chords and melodies. Alfred is an exciting new talent that manages to connect the dots between breakbeat and electro.
214 aka Chris Roman is highly regarded as one the most innovative electro producers on the planet following releases on esteemed labels including; Cultivated Electronics, Frustrated Funk, CPU, Klakson and Lunar Disko. ‘Exposure to Winds’ sees 214 return to the 20/20 Vision fold with his first full length album release in 5 years. ‘Exposure to Winds’ was inspired by Roman’s love of the mountains that surround his native Washington State, living in North Bend where David Lynch’s masterpiece ‘Twin peaks’ was filmed. It could be no co-incidence that 214 produces other worldly electronic music that always sounds out of the ordinary. This expertly balanced eight track vinyl release features a selection of styles and tempos from the laid back electro funk grooves ‘Tongue Twister’ and ‘Ball of Straw’ to dark room wobblers like ‘Quick Start’ and ‘The Night’s Shift’. AIt’s a record that will live long in the boxes and crates of discerning DJ’s but also provides an auditory adventure for the listener.
The fourth record in the Exit Planet Earth series features four more exclusive cuts designed for space travel. Exit Planet Earth – Hydrogen opens with no-nonsense electro from a master of the trade Sync 24 from Cultivated Electronics. ‘The Rising’ is an expertly produced bass heavy heater that is crying out to be played on a big rig. Representing Athe Melbourne chapter of the Lizard Tech Militia Reptant teams up with Dashiell for a mutant hybrid electro funk cut – ‘Gortexia’. On the flip Moroccan heavy hitter Kosh returns to 20/20 Vision following his debut EPl ‘Vicious Love’. Kosh offers up an intoxicating blend of deep melodic electro called ‘Chaos in the City’. Wrapping the release up is James Shinra returning after his killer ‘On & On’ EP. Shinra rounds up this edition with an outstanding, unique composition ‘Launch’ that balances trademark melodies with a truly devastating distorted kick heavy reminiscent of classic Aphex Twin.
‘The third edition of the Exit Planet Earth vinyl series features four more exclusive intergalactic selections from Ralph Lawson. First up is a true legend of the UK electro scene, Keith Tenniswood aka ‘Radioactive Man’, who creates a constantly evolving sonic trip called ‘One Out’. Sharing the A side is the Spanish producer Annie Hall, creating melodic landscapes, layered with intricate string orchestration driven by deep bass. On the flip side Helsinki-based Sunny Seppa aka Sansibar shows exactly why he is fast becoming hot property following his immense debut album on FTP – ‘Targeted Individuals’. Sansibar brings the record back to the 4/4 with a flowing yet subtle working of synths and pads. Also based in Finland yet hailing from Holland is VC-118A, delivers some deep space dub with expertly crafted production centring on low end theory.
The second release in the Exit Planet Earth compilation vinyl series features four exclusive tracks designed for space travel, including the first ever collaboration between Keith Tucker of Aux 88 and Carl Finlow. The resulting track ‘Coder’ is an electro masterpiece. The more established electro pairing of Jensen Interceptor and Assembler Code hit heavy with ‘Red Cell’ while Voigtmann brings the bass to space with ‘Subtopia’. The record is rounded off beautifully by Cignol with Detroit infused string sections and harmonies on his ’51D’ track.
Following two well received releases on 20/20 Vision – ‘Machine Life’ & ‘Asimov’s Code’ Versalife returns to the label with his latest album ‘Manifold’ serving up futuristic electro with signature emotive synth work to trigger the imagination. The Dutch producer Boris Bunnik aka Conforce continues his dystopian journey with auditory echoes of a cosmic abyss. Peppered with moody tones, deep bass lines and robotic funk, ‘Manifold’ navigates the future landscape in true Versalife fashion.
Exit Planet Earth by 20/20 Vision is a new series of various artist vinyl releases, selected and compiled by Ralph Lawson. The first edition ‘Carbon’ leads with contributions from two of the most influential electro producers of all time The Hacker and 214, who both deliver unforgiving hard hitting excursions to future worlds. On the other side Reedale Rise sheds some light with ‘Lux’ before the record is beautifully closed with an uplifting composition for space travel – ‘The Gap’ by Derek Carr.
Carl Finlow returns with a double vinyl 8 track album on 20/20 Vision. ‘Apparatus’ is a forward thinking album that reflects Finlow’s return to live touring with many tracks hitting harder and darker, pushing his electro sound into new directions and soundscapes. The album means business from the start, kicking off with the title track, ‘Apparatus’, a no-nonsense assault on the system with fast tight drum programming, heavily vocoded vocals and powerful synths. The pace continues on the record with ‘Bind’ and ‘Carbon Deposits’, Structure’ but there are also pure electro cuts like ‘Differential’ and moody grooves in ‘Ampere’ and ‘Viroids’.
The Hipodrome Of Music 