With just a few days from the current year left, I’ve compiled a list of 20 albums from 2018 that I enjoyed this year. Among these I have to highlight the much anticipated Mutant Beat Dance debut album, the first ever album from Gerard Hanson under the E.R.P. project, a new Gerald Donald project and a compilation of unreleased Heinrich Mueller remixes, a Silent Servant follow-up on Hospital Productions, a very interesting Fred Ventura compilation of unreleased house tracks, a new Lebanon Hanover, the beautiful debut album of Curses, the impressive Eindkrak album and the debut album of the Romanian producer Șerb.
The list is compiled in chronological order.
kondi records
Reedale Rise – Luminous Air [KONDI019]
Kondi welcomes Reedale Rise to the imprint with his debut album. The Liverpool wonder AKA Simon Keat has impressed almost everyone with his unique take on classic house and techno compositions in a wide range. Beautiful synth pads, punchy, crunchy and groovy electro beats arranged around a good old fashioned analogue synth bass with a characteristic bending synth lead sound on top is really hard not to love and pretty much sums up what Reedale Rises electrofunk journeys are all about. Luminous Air is one big lush, joyful and emotional ride throughout the late summer breeze and is a sure hit whether you go for a party on the beach, a nighttime drive on HWY1 or just need an easy night with a drink on the balcony.
Anthiliawaters – The Miles Without You [KONDI018]
Anthiliawaters has set out to explore the cold and almost isolated unknown with their stunningly lush Detroit-influenced album. Warm, jazzy synth pads supplying a melodic counterpart to the softly crunching, electro-tinged beats. A solid home listening fare for the living room that draws parallels to the beautiful and mysterious world of Drexciya and almost continues the journey of the highly popular The Other People Place – “Lifestyles Of The Laptop Cafe”. Being an almost unseen digital only release since 2008, the time couldn’t be more perfect for a reissue for the vinyl lovers. Anthiliawaters will take you with them on their soundtrack to life. Making moments, not music for moments. Anthiliawaters is Gosub.
Vessel in Distress – Distress Call [KONDI017]
Kondi Records gives you the first glimpse into the mind of the mysterious artist, Vessel in Distress. A full spectrum minialbum to suit robots and humanoids alike with it’s remarkable twist of classic electro vibes blending the dry and the evocative, going both backward and forward in time.
Jeremiah R. – The Outer Rings [KONDI016]
Copenhagen purveyor of melodic electro soul Kondi Records finally resurfaces after almost a decade with a new batch of tracks from man of the moment, Jeremiah R. Sleek nighttime electro in a deep but spacious melancholic vein of The Other People Place and Drexciya’s mellow aquatic dives. Includes an extended version of ‘The Outer Rings’, which appeared back in 2011 on the ultra limited ‘the 5th dimension’ album.