Given the vastness of music available today online, “best of…” lists, while nice to have, can be disappointingly predictable. Not so with music selected by readers of this site. We asked for your favorite albums of last year, and you responded with extraordinary variety. I’ve selected entries from readers – some must-have inclusions, some that were simply well-described or surprising – for your enjoyment here. In these mid-January doldrums, it’s a perfect time to catch up on musical inspiration, then hole up and create some digital music of your own. I’ve called attention to some specific choices with images and videos and audio embeds, too, as you’ll see.
If you’re like me, creating often must begin with listening. Here’s plenty of listening to get you started.
Hollow
36
36, Album (full-length)
http://3six.net/album/hollow
Fine musician with an ear for ambient texture and melody. People ought to pay attention!
Suggested by Peter Dines http://modulations.noisepages.com
2010
$ .99 Dreams
Bandcamp/$ .99 Dreams, Album (full-length)
http://ninetyninecentdreams.com/
2nd album delivers a novel mix of dark jazz, instrumental hip hop, and a raw improvised aesthetic.
Suggested by Mat
Music for motion pictures
Åbäke
Åbäke, Album (full-length)
http://itunes.apple.com/se/album/music-for-motion-pictures/id403203224
Cosy and cute. This is a soundtrack that fits all seasons of the year and I always listen to it when I travel by train!
Suggested by Lars Jönsson
Mimikry.
Mimikry
Alva Noto and Blixa Bargeld
Raster Noton, Album (full-length)
Suggested by strunkdts
Cavalier
Antix
Iboga, Album (full-length)
http://soundcloud.com/mpdqx/sets/antix-cavalier
A buddy of mine put this CD in his Oldsmobile in the middle of the Snoqualmie National Forest at about 2am. Pitch back outside. Damp from the moisture of the forest, and smelly from the smoke of the campfire. I was in the back seat and I remember being transported by this album. It really is a trancey record. The bass feels warm, and the percussion is so nicely done and crisp. I love the different noise sweeps and use of side-chain compression. The first disk of the album plays back in the form of a Mixed set, however all of the songs are by Antix. The second disk contains single versions and remixes of the album’s songs. Check out Manta (Beckers Remix) for some good cheese. Mmmm. Cheese. It’s both smooth and crunchy at the same time. I chose this record because I really don’t think it should be missed. It is a great trance record.
Suggested by Adam
In D
Arandel
Infiné, Album (full-length)
http://www.myspace.com/arandelmusic
Got impressed by this string-techno-driven-glitch mixture… great album!!!
Suggested by flogistox
Consume, Adapt, Create
Architect
Hymen Records, Album (full-length)
http://www.hymen-records.com/all/y781.html
A perfect mix of dubtep, ebm, experimental, techno, ambient, cinematic, Daniel Myer is a master sound designer and an expert hook maker
Suggested by cooptrol cooptrol.com
Autechre are back.
Oversteps
Autechre
Warp, Album (full-length)
Old bastards don’t miss a hit in my opinion… This new full-length is brilliant!
Suggested by Gilieu
Oversteps
Autechre
Warp, Album (full-length)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vWoxs47oiE
It’s ridiculous. It’s probably one of the best albums ever. The sounds, the music, the algorithms (at least it sounds very algorithmic (in a good way), in Treale for example). I don’t know what to say really. But it feels like I’m about to rethink everything I thought I thought was important in music. Again. A good thing, i guess.
Suggested by Max Wainwright soundcloud.com/maxwainwright
Transit Transit
Autolux
ATP records, Album (full-length)
www.autolux.net
I love how each member of Autolux don’t care about ‘being heard’, they will only play what is necessary to make the track perfect. No overcomplicated tracks, just plain and simply fantastic!
Suggested by Neil Martin
See Birds
Balam Acab
Tri Angle, Single
http://www.myspace.com/triangledreams
viral melodic thread, haunted horns, child spirits singing – soundtrack to a surreal sunny winter day in an abandoned playground
Suggested by Kim Cascone
Cerulean
Baths
Anticon, Album (full-length)
http://www.myspace.com/bathsmusic
Baths is intriguing. He really captivates in a live setting despite the fact that he is just using a midi controller, his laptop and vocals. He proves that you can definitely be a solo laptop artist and make it very interesting live. His songs bursts with pop-glitch beauty!
Suggested by David Rothschild http://www.myspace.com/purplesageproductions
baths
baths
anticon., Album (full-length)
http://www.myspace.com/bathsmusic
When this album first came out I couldn’t even take it out of my car. I take that back, it’s still in my car, haha. No matter the mood, Baths could usually fit it. The album is exciting, but at the same time can be very relaxing. Mix of ambient, minimalism, glitchy, triphop, just something fun to sit back and listen to. And definitely good for a long drive.
Suggested by Mark W
Nordland
Binarpilot
Binarpilot, Album (full-length)
http://binaerpilot.no/albums/nordland/
Tracker music is nouveau retro and irresistibly geeky. Binarpilot does it right. His music is accessible, unique, and terribly catchy. What’s more, his pro-piracy campaign cleverly shilled the new album through troll-baiting commenters. How Fun!
Suggested by Robert Thoth www.freneticore.net
Pixel Mixel
Bitbasic
rec72, Album (full-length)
http://rec72.net/?p=1226
Nu Breaks and IDM combined in a marvellous way. Enjoy!
Suggested by Hans Dampf http://rec72.net
Black Sands
Bonobo
Ninja Tune, Album (full-length)
http://ninjatune.net/release/bonobo/black-sands
Bonobo has always been a great artist, but he seems to have matured a lot with his production on this album. I played it to alot of my friends/family who don’t really dig electronic music and they loved it!
Suggested by Justin
Small Craft on a Milk Sea, by Eno and friends.
Small Craft on a Milk Sea
Brian Eno
Warp Records, Album (full-length)
http://brian-eno.net/#audio-stream
Suggested by Guy Noren http://guynoren.carbonmade.com/
Broken Bells
Broken Bells
Album (full-length)
Suggested by Franky Anderson www.facebook.com/franky.anderson
Untrue
Burial
Hyperdub, Album (full-length)
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7543799
I love the original sounds and feel this music has, and I believe it should be part of a best of because everyone I show this too seems to really like it.
Suggested by thIIIrd http://www.thIIIrd.com/
Swim
Caribou
Merge, Album (full-length)
grooveshark
Electronic, but utilizing very organic samples in a unique way.
Suggested by Matt
Colonization
Chris Harvey
Chris Harvey, Album (full-length)
www.reverbnation.com/chrisharvey
It’s a brilliant chill out & relax CD with a few surprises, well worth a listen.
Suggested by Michelle Hooper
Cello Improvisations + Beats Vol. 1
Cosmo D
self-published, Album (full-length)
http://www.cosmod.net/music/
Suggested by Nathan Crepeault (Duane Wilson) www.audionate.com
Becons
Couldkicker
Cloudkicker, Album (full-length)
http://cloudkicker.bandcamp.com/album/beacons
Stellar, home produced instrumental music that has popped up on a lot of people’s top ten this year, despite Ben being virtually unknown.
Suggested by Ryan R Miller
Journey to Freedom
De De Mouse
rhythm zone, Album (full-length)
http://www.dedemouse.com/discography/
I enjoyed De De Mouse’s previous albums, but the release of his indescribable album Journey to Freedom instantly propelled him into my favorite artists of all time. It’s difficult to describe De De Mouse’s music with any justice. Some might call it indie/electropop meets bizarre electronica/drum’n’bass. His music is ridiculously energetic, playful, infectious, and beautiful. De De Mouse’s signature sound has always been his tuned and sliced up vocals, but in this album he doesn’t overuse them. In fact, he eschews this style altogether in the title track, which contrasts hard hitting beats with peaceful, uplifting synthesizer lines. Being a Japanese artist, he doesn’t receive as much attention in the western world, but Journey to Freedom is one album from 2010 that should definitely not be overlooked.
Suggested by David Cummings
Backroom (Dopamine remix)
Deepchild
Trapez, EP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThBRen_BM5U
Dark & deep. Awesome synths. The remix is close to the original, never overdone but… better 
Suggested by Unruhe http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unruhe-Peacemakers/309507765969
Voices Of Dust
Demdike Stare
Modern Love, Album (full-length)
http://soundcloud.com/modernlove/sets/demdike-stare-voices-of-dust
It’s weird, droney, and extremely interesting to listen to.
Suggested by Cretin Dilettante
Liberation Through Hearing
Demdike Stare
Modern Love, Album (full-length)
Boomkat / http://www.myspace.com/pookawig
As far as I’m concerned, Demdike Stare absolutely owned 2010. Despite their uncompromising and at times bleak sonics, this duo made major waves among fans of techno, dubstep, ambient, drone, industrial, hauntology and world psychedelia–in other words, almost anyone listening to experimental electronic music in 2010. Miles Whitaker and Sean Canty released at least two full lengths, a gorgeous EP, several ace mixes and a podcast or two as Demdike Stare in the space of a year, not to mention launching a label and recording separately as well. Of these many essential documents, Liberation Through Hearing remains the standout, a record of such acute sensitivity to sonic detail and originality that it’s hard to overstate the accomplishment. Perfectly blending sample-sourced material with original electronic production, Demdike Stare blur the lines between organic and synthetic, futuristic and antiquarian. On vinyl, the perfectly balanced drones and washes, subliminal beats and disembodied voices are rendered exquisitely by Dubplates and Mastering, whose work here should win some kind of award, while the group’s sleeve designs were perhaps the year’s most striking. Though sold out of the initial, limited vinyl run, all three works in the group’s Modern Love triptych will be available, with bonus material, on cd next year.
Suggested by Mike M. nah
Say Goodbye To Useless
Deru
Mush Records, Album (full-length)
http://musicstore.deru.la/album/say-goodbye-to-useless
Easily my favourite electronic album of the year. It’s hard to describe what genre it fits into, just give it a listen!
Suggested by Ycros http://ycros.org
Episodes
Devonwho/Mndsgn
Klipmode, Album (full-length)
http://klipmode.bandcamp.com/
These guys are so inspiring. Their futuristic hip-hop derivative travels to the edge of acceptable rhythmic deviance and back, with silky synths and fearless style.
Suggested by Chris http://soundcloud.com/solarshield
When Ra Meets Anzar
DoosC
DoosC Production, Single
http://soundcloud.com/doosc/doosc-when-ra-meets-anzar
Creative Commons music rules ! I like the way this music is built on free samples with free softwares. It is the sound of a free spirit and it’s freely good !!! When you listen to it, just close your eyes and think about gods, pyramids and ancient egypt… Soniczbra
Suggested by Soniczbra
All You Need Is Now
Duran Duran
Tape Modern, exclusive iTunes album
http://bit.ly/DDaynin
The new, self-realised, Duran Duran album – produced by Mark Ronson – is a true music gem. It’s not just for the Mark Stent mixing, or the Ted Jensen mastering: this is a real masterpiece on his own – a 9-tracks digital dream which lets you in need for the 14-tracks CD release (coming in February ’11).
Suggested by Franco (no)
Onwa
Eklin
Lowin, Album (full-length)
http://www.myspace.com/eklin
Because I haven’t heard anything like it before, yes that sounds like a cliché but there is always some truth behind a cliché….Imagine a mixed up combination of Sigur Ros, Brian Eno and My Bloody Valentine with a pinch of dub hidden beneath it. Eklin creates dream like soundscapes, without becoming boring or sterile. The female voice is used as an instrument and adds to the eerie atmosphere. Best listened to with headphones on while the sun sets and the night is setting in. Definitely my recommend music from 2010!
Suggested by BjornW
Pop Negro
El Guincho
Young Turks, Album (full-length)
http://vimeo.com/15274619
Because it’s fresh and it’s a good example of contamination in music in 2010, mixing a pop attitude with experimentation. Moreover the songs are really good and the use of spanish language doesn’t make them sound latin, the sound is very international instead: spanish language only adds an exotic touch which fits very well with the sound Pablo Diaz-Reixa (aka El Guincho) offers to the public
Suggested by pierlu
Location Momentum
Eleh
Important Records, Album (full-length)
http://basic_sounds.blogspot.com/
Because It’s what I like in music, bass and minimalism.
Suggested by Filip Skubal cryoworks.com/strangelet
Does It Look Like I’m Here?
Emeralds
Editions Mego, Album (full-length)
http://i.mixcloud.com/CItiA
Unbelievably beautiful, captivating synth music from a band I’d not even heard of when the year began. If the 80s had sounded like THIS, perhaps we wouldn’t have needed so much hair gel.
Suggested by Michael Heumann http://inkbottle.hauntedink.com
So Kimpsey
Eskimo Spy
Hospice Media, EP
http://eskimospy.bandcamp.com/
My favorite thing about this album is that there’s so much attention to detail. I feel like a lot of electronic artists fall into the loop mentality where they just loop things until they feel it’s looped enough. With Eskimo Spy, there is almost no repetition, he’s constantly throwing new things at you. Definitely worth a listen for fans of Clark (especially Boddy Riddle). And it’s free to boot!
Suggested by Isaac Halvorson http://hospicemedia.com
Cosmogramma
Flying Lotus
Warp, Album (full-length)
Wheathervanes
Freelance Whales
Mom & Pop Records, Album (full-length)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fug7Sxip1yE
Best Indie/Electronic/Pop record of 2010. Use of unusual instruments : harmonium, banjo. Cool & Fresh sound. Impossible not to love this LP.
Suggested by YYF http://yetyourefired.blogspot.com/
The Sound of Love Impermanent
Ginormous
Ant-Zen, Album (full-length)
http://www.adnoiseam.net/store/ginormous-the-sound-of-love-impermanent_p2339.html
It’s a sharp departure from Ginormous’ own industrial-influenced downtempo/IDM sound, while moving into a more ambient/shoegaze influenced sound, the album is a journey in and of itself. Inspired and composed by and for a ballet of a collaborator, every part of the album pulls you along into every other, making you yearn for what will come next, while leaving you to wonder about the parts that came before. Just really damn brilliant.
Suggested by Candle Nine www.candlenine.com
Sine Language triple album
Grains of Sound
AlterCulture, Album (full-length)
http://alterculture.bandcamp.com/
Unique triple album, has 1 CD of upbeat, 1 CD of downtemp, 1 CD of beatless ambient, each volume explores different styles and energy levels but of one unified vibe. Also, released a music video for a song off the ambient CD, with footage of Earth from space, provided by the European Space Agency, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZObXgVNlRo
sincere void
grasslung
root strata, Album (full-length)
http://rootstrata.com/release/RS59
overlooked by all the main lists for this type of music (boomkat, wire, etc.)
Suggested by rené
gate code
Heyoka
muti music, Single
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMmcdPSSnc
fresh style.
Suggested by chace
Transcription Factors
Hitori Tori
Fwonk, EP
http://fwonk.com/FW062.html
Hitori Tori uses the Ohm64 and Renoise in an unconventional way. This EP is sort of the album version of what we’ve been seeing on YouTube. His blog, for good measure: http://hitoritori.tumblr.com/
Suggested by Dac Chartrand http://www.renoise.com/
Leilani (Nite Club remix)
Hotels
Hidden Shoal Recordings, Remix
http://hotels.bandcamp.com/track/leilani-nite-club-remix
The dream pop of the Hotels has little in common with electronic dance music, and previous Nite Club remixes have had a hip-hop style. So when this remix turned out to be oldskool jungle, it came out of nowhere. I was quite pleasantly surprised. The shoegaze meets drum’n’bass concept is unique, but Nite Club makes it work. When the wobbly bass hits, I feel like melting. Although there has been a plethora of awesome music released in 2010, I’ve kept coming back to this one track. It definitely deserves some attention, and I hope it inspires more indie-jungle remixes in 2011.
Suggested by Agargara http://agargara.iiichan.net
How To Destroy Angels
How To Destroy Angels
How To Destroy Angels, EP
http://www.howtodestroyangels.com/store/
There is Trent Reznor behind this project… Do I really need to say more? 
Suggested by Antonio Bonifacio
Bounty
iamamiwhoami
iamamiwhoami, Multimedia Campaign
http://www.youtube.com/user/iamamiwhoami
It’s well produced, seems to be self funded, is mostly anonymous… And the live streaming concert was missed by most but was brilliant.
Suggested by Wantless
Midnight Colour
Ital Tek
Planet Mu, Album (full-length)
http://www.planet.mu/discography/ZIQ272
It’s dubstep but it’s nicely restrained, with IDM-y melodies and warm synth tones.
Suggested by Mike Verdone
Something in the sky
Jeff Mills
http://www.axisrecords.com/, A series of EP (from 1 to 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j4IzWTsF1E
Jeff Mills is a god at making what i like to call infinite loops : relative short loops that you can listen again and again without being bored. Repetition + slightly changes act as an hypnotic state trigger. To experience this you need to calm down, close your eyes (if you are not enough recepteive to this music), and focus on it. It creates a kind of carpet for your mind, a sort of private garden cut from time that you can explore in sync with music. Yeah, it’s wicked, and it’s why i love it. Best 2010 sonic experience for me. By the way, Mills create 7 tracks per night. Yes, 7.
Suggested by Cyril http://makingsound.free.fr
black n white
JOHN JONES
John Jones Music, Album (full-length)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnjones41
John Jones delivers some of the best songs of 2010 in his release black n white. A Grammy Award Winner , John demonstrates once again his songwriting craft. He even covers 21st Century Man in an original way.
Suggested by Pierce
Jon McMillion LP
Jon McMillion
NuEarth Kitchen, Album (full-length)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jon-mcmillion-lp/id390434802
Really good experimental house music. Very far out arrangements and samples.
Suggested by Michele’
82
Just A Band
Just A Band, Album (full-length)
http://justaband.bandcamp.com/
Just because it’s awesome (what else is there?). I also like the idea of a high tech cultural renaissance happening in Kenya, a country I know almost nothing about aside from predictable preconceptions.
Suggested by Edshugeo The GodMoor http://edshugeo.com
Margins EP
Kelpe
Black Acre, EP
http://www.kelpe.co.uk/
Well honestly I have been paying very little attention to Music in 2010 but just discovered Kelpe this year. I was really into his 2008 record Ex-Aquarium and also dug his 2009 record Cambio-Wechsel, and while I like Ex-Aquarium best of all his releases I am really liking this Margins EP and would like to assist in his exposure to more ears. He also put out an EP recently called Chocolate Money, but I like Margins better than that too.
Suggested by jonnyfive not currently
Chocolate Money EP
Kelpe
Fremdtunes – http://fremdtunes.com/, EP
http://www.kelpe.co.uk/
As I said Earlier, I discovered this guy this year and was really into his 2008 effort Ex-Aquarium, and prefer the Margins EP he also released in 2010, but after relistening to both maybe I do like this better? Hard to say, both are good, *you* decide, he has SoundCloud teasers for both EPs on his site. (You’ll have to scroll down for Margins EP)
Suggested by jonnyfive not currently
Affekt
Kollektiv Turmstrasse
, Album (full-length)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJ6AHvTHz8
As an audiophile I really appreciate it when artists push the boundaries of electronic music and the frequencies of sound they create. It is always a joy to come across talent, especially one foreign in nature, and to be introduced to their entire musical catalog previously unheard of. As a band that continues to create what they want without submitting to mainstream pop music standards, I have the utmost respect of them and their dream.
Suggested by Mobius
A Young Person’s Guide to Kyle Bobby Dunn
Kyle Bobby Dunn
Low Point, Album (full-length)
http://www.low-point.com/LP033.html
Best, most subtle and gorgeous release of the year. And that I have heard in years.
Suggested by Craig
This Is Happening
LCD Soundsystem
DFA Records, Album (full-length)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-is-happening/id386264599
it’s really incredible record. everything seems just perfect. (vocals, guitars, synths, beats, etc..) personal my favourite record for 2010.
Suggested by lazaLCDFan http://twitter.com/#!/lazaLCDFan
This Is Happening
LCD Soundsystem
DFA, Album (full-length)
http://www.purevolume.com/LCDSoundsystem
This album is engaging, powerful, and completely danceable. The fidelity, definition and depth of sound is only a compliment to the irresistible hooks it holds.
Suggested by Rob Bridges
Endless Falls
Loscil
Kranky, Album (full-length)
http://www.kranky.net/
An epic work of immense and beautiful work of pause and pending….
Suggested by Mat
Parked Car
Lusky
Lusky, Album (full-length)
http://lusky.bandcamp.com/
It sounds familiar to me. I was born in the seventies and it reminds me of the electronic eighties which is when I started to buy music. I like the unusual beats, something different about the drums which is unusual these days when everything is supposed to have been done.
Suggested by Alison No
Max Cooper – Sea of Sound by Max Cooper
Sea of sound
Max cooper
Traum, EP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WTMecdhFx8
A beatifull piece of electronic music that puts you (or a dancefloor) in a complete deep atmosphere to enjoy sound and dream. It embraces you and takes you in a whole journey on the sea… It laso evoke good feelings, hope, love and dedication to art.
Suggested by Rodrigo hernandez no
Love / Hate
Maya Jane Coles
Dogmatik, Single
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/235188/Full%20Swing%20EP
First and foremost, it’s a fantastic dancefloor track. It’s hits your ears in all the right places to make you move. However, what I find really impressive and unique about this track is how it creates a sense of physical sense space with its percussion.
Suggested by Peter Marks petermarks.info
No More Stories…
Mew
Album (full-length)
www.mewmusic.com
Mew is one of the best finds in music. Their albums never disappoint.
Suggested by Lux Elliott
Remove Not the Forgotten Landmarks
Missincinnatti
bandcamp/missincinnatti, Album (full-length)
http://missincinatti.bandcamp.com/
New arrangments of sea shanties and traditional folk songs; beautiful and simple, but challenging and adventurous at the same time. All three members have a rich history of playing difficult free improvised music, so to hear them apply those skills to super-melodic songs is extremely satisfying. There is nothing improvised here, though, everything is carefully calculated. This is one of those rare records that feels as though every arrangment choice was made not because of the abilities or limitations of the performers, but because of what the songs actually *needed* – hence the choices feel surprising, but never incongruous. Instrumentation: Voice, Cello, Guitar (electric & acoustic), electronics, field recordings, assorted percussion.
Suggested by Jonathan Snipes www.jonat8han.com
Ease Forward
Noisia & Joe Seven
Invisible Recordings, EP
http://www.noisia.nl/store/release/22/Invisible-Recordings/INVSB002.html
I like how this track has an old photek feel but with modern production techniques.
Suggested by Göran Sandström http://veqtor.bandcamp.com
Drift
Nosaj Thing
Album (full-length)
those wicked sound in every part of his song
Suggested by Satria A Anggapraja unfinishedbattleship.tumblr.com
Nauta
Nourish My Fame
Nourish My Fame, Album (full-length)
http://www.nourishmyfame.com/
NMF made album which give off a lot of ideas/feelings in pop/alternative/experimental way. It’s almost like a music for everyone: easy, deep, complex and diverse. Whole art and release is DIY.
Suggested by Petr Shau -
Samael Makaw
Obscotch
Self Released, EP
http://obscotch.tumblr.com/post/1665945590/releases
A hardware boy from Perth, Western Australia, whose live shows are visual and unpredictable. He is a one man comeback for glitch music.
Suggested by Tomas Ford http://tomasford.com
Karhu Ja Tiikerini
oliver blank
oliver blank, Album (full-length)
http://mroliverblank.com/
a wondrously brilliant album. the simplicity, the emotion, the talent are to the fore in this haunting album – some really amazing moments in there; the early track break fast is something that just is destined to be played over and over again, the organs on riihimäki’ are fantastic – the overall atmosphere of the album stays with you & suits this snowy weather perfectly
Suggested by darren webb
History of Modern
Orchestal Manoeuvres in the Dark
Album (full-length)
I really liked this album. I’m 19 and wasn’t around in the 80′s, but I still grew up with OMD (as well as Depeche Mode, Erasure, and Pet Shop Boys). I didn’t know what to expect with this release. I was caught off guard at how solid this album was. I think OMD often gets buried by Depeche Mode and similar bands (which is understandable) however, if given a chance, I think people would find that OMD is a very rewarding band to listen to. Perhaps even stronger than their fellow synthpop bands.
Suggested by Alex Chopelas
I’m Running Hence
Paper Thin Stages
Paper Thin Stages, Album (full-length)
paperthinstages.bandcamp.com/album/im-running-hence
Here’s a review I wrote of it if you want to excerpt any of this: Paper Thin Stages – I’m Running Hence. First, a little opinionated history: PTS were one of the finest and most ruthlessly self-challenging bands I’ve ever had the good fortune to come across. In their time together, they evolved from a calmly melodic indie rock quartet to a jagged, highly structured post-punk trio, and continued pushing their own boundaries until they ended up neck-deep in dense improvised noise collage experiments with circuit-bent electronics and loop samplers playing the primary roles. Their stylistic shifts sometimes happened too quickly for even dedicated fans to keep up; like formative post-punks Wire, they often tired of their old material before anyone even had a chance to catch on to it (old being a highly relative term, usually meaning people have heard this once or twice). By the end of their time together, in 2008, they had jettisoned the idea of songs entirely and were busy engaging in drawn-out 15-minute-plus noise jams that expanded and stretched noisily over the horizon and out of view, with live shows varying wildly between hypnotic drone success and catastrophic miscommunicative failure, as they walked (and occasionally fell off) the improvisational tightrope. During this time, their studio work took a drastic shift as well, as they began recording nearly every practice and piecing albums together after the fact, using the practice takes as raw material and chopping/editing/sculpting them into discrete pieces. The records that resulted (Flying Hearse, Magnum Puce, and the best one, Magic Jar of Jar of Animal), contained some unique and inspired deconstructivism, but they also abandoned PTS’s unique compositional strengths almost completely. Before things went quite that far, though, there was a point where they had started experimenting with extended song forms and soundscapes but hadn’t yet entirely abandoned composition and traditional songcraft. In June of 2007, they played a set at the Middle East Upstairs that included only three songs in its 35 minute runtime, but it was a perfect balance of composed songwriting and experimental drone. It was among the best live sets I’ve ever seen, by any band at any level. But there were only one or two more shows in that idiom before these songs were discarded and PTS went into their 100% improvisation phase. When Paper Thin Stages called it quits at the end of 2008, I figured that was it. I’m Running Hence, then, is the very best of surprises: an album that I always wanted to hear but that I never really expected would exist. It contains the three tracks I heard at that show in 2007 and five others, recorded in 2007 and finally mixed and completed now in 2010. Like PTS’s earlier work, I’m Running Hence is diligently structured; the interplay between the different parts sounds intentional, written and conceived as such, premeditated instead of a happy studio accident. But at the same time, the music breathes and shifts unpredictably, with hard-panned synths and noise boxes bubbling up and squawking over confrontationally-long percussion breaks, only for a wall of guitars to smash back in and drag everything home with harmonized vocals that call back to the hook that started the song. It’s a perfectly balanced merging of this band’s many skills, and it’s the best record I’ve heard all year. On top of that, I’m Running Hence, along with the rest of Paper Thin Stages’ catalog, is free to stream or to download: http://paperthinstages.bandcamp.com/album/im-running-hence Please have a listen.
Suggested by mike www.hexmap.net
Immersion
Pendulum
Album (full-length)
Most inspired album of 2010.
Suggested by Nicholas Binder www.myspace.com/voyagermusix
Fallen Light
Phaeleh
Afterglo, Album (full-length)
http://soundcloud.com/phaeleh/sets/phaeleh-fallen-light/
A predominantly chilled dubstep vibe with some mellow guest vocals
Suggested by Steve Jesus
Edith Piaf
Pomplamoose
Pomplamoose, You Tube Video Song Style
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/c/DE53A978215C0424/2/vsMIuuV05uc
They do covers but oh what covers they are, plus watching these videos is so insightful into creative studio techniques. Also check out Jacks channel for more of a rock vibe http://www.youtube.com/user/jackcontemusic Then when your done with that he has tutorials for his video techniques at this link http://www.videosongsblog.com/2010/04/jack-conte-interview/ as Im pretty sure you will wonder about one or another Nataly does all the video editing for the Pomplamoose stuff.
Suggested by David Prouty Nope
just about any – it’s all good
Pomplamoose
YouTube videos, Video
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic
Great pop songs and arrangements, fun videos with a unique twist, and (specifically of interest to CDM) a low-budget DIY vibe.
Suggested by Jim Aikin www.musicwords.net
Anesthetize
Porcupine Tree
KScope, Bluray
www.porcupinetree.com
An absolute stunning live Bluray disc. Pure surround bliss, no wonder Steven Wilson was chosen by Robert Fripp to mix the King Crimson albums in surround. This is easily the best representation of live music I have heard on Bluray and the closest to capturing a live band performance in highdef ever. It was just nominated for a Grammy I believe.
Suggested by Derek J. Hunt www.derekjhunt.org
Girlfight Vol. 1
r0773r b0u7d3r
r0773r b0u7d3r, EP
http://r0773rb0u7d3r.bandcamp.com/
A collaboration between chip music legend Bud Melvin and singer Jessica Billey, the EP was created to commemorate the R0773R B0U7D3R set assembled for the Thursday Night Girl Fight show at the Launchpad in Albuquerque on May 27th, 2010, which featured local acts all performing songs written by women. Bud rocks the backing tracks with LGPT (piggy tracker) and electric guitar. The album’s closer, Mistral Wind originally by Heart, is dreamy, visceral, whimsical and menacing all in one shot. I’ve never heard anything quite like it.
Suggested by B.Leo dummydrome.com
LP4
Ratatat
XL Recordings, Album (full-length)
http://beggarsgroupusa.com/releases/lp4/
I can’t find another band out there with such a tight grasp on all aspects of creating music. Inventive sound design, exotic instrumentation, a strong sense of melody and composition, intricately layered recordings and actual musicianship. The music is more organic than it is electronic. It’s not rigidly quantized, and melody is not replaced by samples, distortion or LFOs modulating cutoff filters like so much other electronic music out there. On top of all this, the band takes a real DIY approach to recording. The two members of the band play almost all of the instruments on the album (not including the string section), and they are their own recording and mixing engineers. This doesn’t mean the music is inherently any better, but it should appeal to the readers of CDM who tend to be the musician/producer/engineer all-in-one types as well. Although they have been pretty successful so far, I still think Ratatat are criminally under-appreciated by most.
Suggested by arob
Because Maybe!
Renard
Renard Queenston, Album (full-length)
http://lapfox.bandcamp.com/album/because-maybe
uplifitng, and lots of good albuns besides this one… and renard can indeed reach various genres with his many personas.. so for me is not about the music of the year but the musician i started to listen to this year
Suggested by — —
Disaffected Suite
Rhythm In Mind
Rhythm In Mind, EP
http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=1945
Great orginal use of electronic & Live playing.
Suggested by Jen Silver
Atman
RJ Valeo
Io Records, Album (full-length)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/atman/id380110628
Really amazing album by an inspired multi-disciplinary artist.
Suggested by Jessi Scopp http://jessiscopp.com/
The Transactional Dharma of Roj
Roj
Ghost Box, Album (full-length)
http://www.ghostbox.co.uk/products/product_tdor.htm
It is informed by the pioneers of electronic music and uses tape manipulation, percussion, electronics and voice to create otherworldly music. Roj is an ex member of Broadcast.
Suggested by Simon http://thesimonsound.bandcamp.com/album/reverse-engineering
Midnight Club EP
Russ Chimes
Eye Industries, EP
http://www.russchimes.com/
It sounds modern and nostalgic in the same time
Suggested by Max Brannslokker http://spandarecords.info/
Tell Your Friends
Snarky Puppy
Ropeadope, Album (full-length)
http://www.snarkypuppy.com/
Funky shit
Suggested by Spazmatron
SONOIO
SONOIO
independent, http://sonoio.org/, Album (full-length)
http://sonoio.org/
I like both the songwriting and the sounddesign. Have not heard such a beauty in quite a long time. I’m completely hooked on this.
Suggested by x2mirko http://twitter.com/x2mirko
blue
sonoio
sonoio, Album (full-length)
http://www.sonoio.org/
apart from the buchla gear porn side of it, its a collection of genuinely well put together, catchy but unashamedly synth-geeky music
Suggested by kathal http://soundcloud.com/7ar
SONOIO
SONOIO
SONOIO, Album (full-length)
www.sonoio.org
Really nice vibe of the record, composition. Liked the use of analog synths, which got me more interested in the synth music. One of the favourite releases of 2010.
Suggested by Kharlamov Dmitri
SONOIO
SONOIO
SONOIO, Album (full-length)
http://sonoio.org/
There’s an underlying energy in this album that translates into my mind/body/whatever else there is. The synth work is fabulous, and the challenge/delight of the writing process on the Buchla 200e is very intriguing. The SONOIO album and its coverage forced me to re-listen to Telefon Tel Aviv – Immolate Yourself, which is another analog powerhouse album. In your face and underlying energy sources coming from each track, and the album as a whole. I now have a new appreciation for Immolate Yourself, and that in turn gave me new appreciation for SONOIO. Regardless of the equipment used, the sound is amazing. Not having a piece of analog synth gear aside from my Monotron adds to what could be novelty in this album, but it’s not. It’s enlightened work.
Suggested by Codey Christensen http://renderful.com
The Waves
Tamaryn
mexican Summer, Album (full-length)
http://www.myspace.com/imagesmusic
It’s different yet very familiar. It’s Cocteau Twins, The Cure, JaMC and all things 4AD without being any of those things completely. It washes over your ears. You can listen to it and be happy or melancholy. It just enhances the mood you’re in. My favorite record this year by far.
Suggested by brad
Ardour
Teebs
Brainfeeder, Album (full-length)
http://bleep.com/index.php?page=release_details&releaseid=26970
Label URL: http://www.brainfeedersite.com/2010/10/19/teebs-ardour/ I chose a Bleep link for the other field as I read emphasis on music. Anyway, I haven’t been paying attention to musical releases much this year and was inspired by this post to look around and see what I missed. I’m glad I did because I found this. I have been really excited for Teebs full length debut ever since I heard him in an XLR8R podcast on the LA sound, or maybe a Mary-Anne Hobbs mix, don’t remember. I’m pretty sure the track I heard was My Whole Life, and I wanted more. This records does not disappoint. Its beautiful music, ethereal yet very tactile sampled instrumental textures, with wonderful harmonic/melodic language, pulsing with a laid back groove. If you are are into Flying Lotus or Nosaj Thing, chances are you will dig Teebs.
Suggested by jonnyfive nope
Coma Cat
Tensnake
Permanent Vacation, Single
http://soundcloud.com/tensnake/coma-cat-snippet
It always hard for me to narrow down my favorites of the year as I listen to so much new and old in a given year. Although Tensnake has been releasing a good amount of material this year (compilations and other singles), I found this to be his best output and have barely grown tired of playing this track all year (on a slight change of subject, his track narrowly won out against the Lindstrom & Christabelle album). While Italo-disco and other electronic disco offshoots experienced a sort of revival in the last 3-5 years, I generally think 2010 was the year latter 80s/early 90s style House resurged. Personally, I think Tensnake led the pack with this fantastic single
Suggested by Mike
Machinarium, the game, also spawned Machinarium, a lovely soundtrack.
Machinarium OST
Tomas Dvorak
(inner_fx) Tomas Dvorak, Album (full-length)
http://machinarium.net
It’s the most beautiful, interesting, inspiring, emotional music I’ve heard this year. I really like the mix of metallic, percussive sounds, acoustic instruments and ambient drones. Been listening to it all the time!
Suggested by Hannes Pasqualini http://soundcloud.com/rumpelfilter
Trabant
Trabant
RSVP Records (Italy), Album (full-length)
http://trabantband.bandcamp.com/
They are overlooked even in their own country, and greatly deserving of more attention. The album has some of the best synth sounds in a rock environment i have heard, perfectly integrated within each composition and not just an embellishment. Of course i am biased, as i know them well and have seen them grow over the years but this is precisely why i see this album as a special accomplishment. I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s definitely my favourite album of 2010.
Suggested by Robin F. http://www.twitter.com/evaristo
True Zebra
True Zebra
www.truezebra.com, Album (full-length)
www.truezebra.com
1 person did everything. Writing, recording, programing, producing etc…
Suggested by Steve Habsch
tourist history
two door cinema club
glassnote, Album (full-length)
?amazon
very accessible music with catchy rhythms, lyrics, structure. if you like to dance, this is fun and high energy with good opportunities for remixing.
Suggested by john cupp (cupperwear)
True Anomaly
Two Quiet Suns
Public Spaces Netlabel, EP
http://lab.pubspaces.com/2010/10/ps023-two-quiet-suns-true-anomaly/
Great free music (CC-Licensed) from a great Netlabel! http://lab.pubspaces.com
Suggested by Oracle Bones
Barking
Underworld
Album (full-length)
http://www.underworldlive.com/
For me this was one of the highlights of 2010.
Suggested by Eric Thoolen http://www.gearjunkies.com
As Always, But Never Before
Undo
InGrooves, Album (full-length)
http://soundcloud.com/undosound/sets/undo-1/
It’s a classic album that I feel is one of the best kept secrets in the world. I feel like I’m in some bizarre musical elite simply for ever having heard of it.
Suggested by Mike http://www.kenzoragames.com
Nema EP
Vakula
3d Strike, EP
http://soundcloud.com/vakula
The most amazing and professional Ukraine/Russian electronic musician. Very creative, make about 2-3 tracks per week, and they sounds finished and full. Every track he make has Vakula style sound, he make fantastic sound.
Suggested by Tim http://soundcloud.com/25tims
Ardour
Teebs
Brainfeeder, Album (full-length)
http://dublab.com/labrats/teebs/
The album is an excellent mixture between LA Beat Scene and ambiance. I’m a big fan of sample based music, Teebs is right up there in quality with Flying Lotus or DJ Shadow. Impressive production too. I’m sure he used logic or something to compose the and chop all of the samples here, however… the guy is using just a Roland SP 404 to perform live! Similar to Four Tet’s live technique, pretty amazing manipulation for such a small sampler.
Suggested by John
crackdown 2 (unreleased video game soundtrack)
various
non really. microsoft published the game., Video game soundtrack, otherwise unreleased.
i apologize for the crassness of pimping something i was involved in, but when you see the artist list it’s a downright tragedy that no one knows about this project outside of gamers. the soundtrack to crackdown 2 for the xbox 360 has tons of great music on it, including remixes that were commissioned especially for the game. some of the artists: atari teenage riot, daedelus, tek-one, the bug, klause schulze, king cannibal, joker, starkey… and the exclusive remixes are amazing(ly overlooked): bob dylan, johnny cash, public enemy, creedence clearwater revival, blue oyster cult, and r.e.m. the best i can do is offer links to some of the tracks that third parties have uploaded: ccr remixed by mistabishi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KScX_zmeA blue oyster cult remixed by mistabishi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYcR_2xpVDg public enemy remixed by the bug: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmYz-AHQjAU bob dylan remixed by scntfc (me…cough): http://www.vimeo.com/17420257 as of now there are no plans for an official soundtrack release, so i’d say it’s about as overlooked as you can get! thanks, sorry again for the self-pimpage and wordiness.
Suggested by scntfc scntfc.com
Dj Kicks James Holden
various artists
K7, Mix
http://www.jamesholden-djkicks.com/
It’s magical. Like every set i heard from him it totally blew me away and every time in a new way.. Can’t get enough from this guy and his amazing label Border Community! Always very inspiring… Another one to watch from 2010 is the xlr8r podcast featuring BC’s Margot release and his remix of Caribou’s Bowl.. So good! Can’t wait whats coming next… (can’t wait for the Labels Kate Wax release too)
Suggested by Lukas Musy uf not yet ^^
Data Protection
Various Artists
Warm Data, EP
http://warmdata.digital-tunes.net/releases/data_protection
Much enjoyable slice of no messin electronica….gets me twitching everytime
Suggested by Dewi Cyngwystl
Yello By Yello – Anthology
Yello
Universal, Album (full-length)
www.yello.com
This release was masterfully re-mastered and collects all the best Yello songs in the last 30 years.
Suggested by Julian Kovalsky www.theyellosite.com
Face Tat
Zach Hill
Sargent House, Album (full-length)
http://www.lastfm.pl/music/Zach+Hill
1. songwriting + themes / melodies – true gems hidden beneath distortion, beautifully warped! 2. the album sound/production. difficult, but love it.
Suggested by Poli
Face Tat
Zach Hill
Sargent House, Album (full-length)
http://zachhill.bandcamp.com/album/face-tat
No album sounds even remotly like this. The songs have very experimental sounds but are all catchy. The percussion is relentless. Its hard to tell what exactlly is making a sound you are hearing…in a very good way.
Suggested by bloodbender http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sequins-and-Skeletons/345680548930
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