For The Record(s): Best Electronic Albums of 2011

By Alif Omar Mahfix  •  in Music
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L-VIS 1990
NEON DREAMS
Conceived from a fevered dream of a “futuristic Chicago house record”, L-Vis 1990’s Neon Dreams evolved into more than just what was already an ambitious concept to begin with. The murkiness of ‘The Beach’ coexists with the sunshine and lemonade vibe of ‘One More Day’. Neon Dreams is club music unbridled in its artistic expression, transcending it to a different plane yet still anchored by genre tropes.

NEON INDIAN
ERA EXTRANA
As sophomore albums are wont to be, Era Extrana is a darker Neon Indian. What was once summery and woozy is now nausea-inducing, heightening the sun-struck feel when it does decide to veer its forgotten head to the decidedly sombre feel of the new album. Broody electronica never sounded better than this.

OLIVER HUNTEMANN
PARANOIA
The man who shaped techno returns with a paranoia-exacerbated album. Basing his tracks on the different levels of paranoia, Paranoia is bipolar techno that straddles the line between dancefloor ecstasy-enhanced jitters with wizened self-seriousness – it’s just as danceable as it is dark, pleasing those who just wants to get f*cked up with those who want more from their music.

RUSTIE
GLASS SWORDS
Russell Whyte’s debut as Rustie is as loud as it is personal, but it never relents on the fun factor. Glass Swords might sound like a game of darts played blindfolded, but a closer listen would reveal Rustie’s deep understanding of when to let loose, when to rein back and when to move on once the repetitive hook has gone tired to the listeners’ ears.

SHLOHMO
BAD VIBES
Shlohmo’s decision to aid his beats with his vocals might seem like a masturbatory choice rather than an informed one, but that’s where our presumption is wrong. This sophomore is a superior beast than its predecessor, as with the recent influx of newer electronic acts, there’s human warmth exuding from Bad Vibes that was missing before in the genre. The airy sighs and understated reverb reverberate with nature samples, all coming together to reveal a soul amidst the digitalism.

SBTRKT
SELF-TITLED
Post-dubstep producer SBTRKT shows off his all-encompassing mastery of the electronic genre with his self-titled debut. As good as it sounds, it still feels a tad incomplete, much like the vowel-less DJ name he goes by. Soul singers Jessie Ware and Sampha might steal some thunder from the producer with their right mix of grime and honeyed vocals.