20. osunlade – inner garden
the house music legend has come through this year with another stellar album titled inner garden. with thick basslines and riveting 4/4 rhythms, the album is full of hypnotic melodies, vocal samples and synths. part of my soundtrack this summer, the album contains some of the heaviest, grooviest dance tracks i’ve listened to this year. album
19. nilüfer yanya – my method actor
nilüfer yanya just seems to get better and better with each and every release. my method actor includes some of her most personal and mature songwriting to date, complemented by varied and eclectic production that ranges from delicate and gentle, to fiery and more hard-hitting. relatable lyricism, beautiful melodies and fierce energy makes this one of the better albums to come out this year. review / album
18. ben hauke – club cute
london-based electronic / club producer ben hauke came through with a banging new album celebrating the london club scene with infectious dance-heavy vibes that combine both broken-beat, jungle, house and techno influences. with an array of london-based features including katy b, brother portrait, goya gumbani, shy one and jadasea, it showcases the talent this city has to offer with dynamic, playful and intricate compositions. a fantastic representation of the sound of this city. review / album
17. jespfur – pedestrians of bright silence
with pedestrians of bright silence, amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist jespfur has released a moody, melodic yet eclectic body of work, with some incredible beats arrangements, vocals and guitar-driven melodies. the eclectic compositions throughout range from jazzy to frantic and cacophonous. the eclectic nature of his production and arrangement style had me hooked from first listen, and have been revisiting the project these days with the same level of excitement as before. review / album
16. arooj aftab – night reign
a raw and emotional listen with haunting vocals and both spiritual, organic and warm production, arooj aftab’s night reign is a stunning body of work that combines her lush and beautiful vocals with intricate instrumentation that flows beautifully from one track to the other. an immersive, transfixing listening experience, arooj’s delicate vocals and lyrical themes of womanhood and patriarchy make it a striking and mesmerising album, with a lot to unpack and digest. review / album
15. ganavya – like the sky I’ve been too quiet
ganayva’s voice alone is so powerful alone it has the ability to fully hypnotise me. add stunning, warm and inviting production to it, you get like the sky I’ve been too quiet, a truly mesmerising and spiritual album that combines both her alluring and immersive voice with gentle and delicate wind and string compositions. the gentle and delicate soundscapes complement the soul and incredible tone of her voice. the stunning harps on “forgive me my” are just one example of the sheer power and beauty of her voice, complementing the stunning compositions that make like the sky I’ve been too quiet an unforgettable listening experience. review / album
14. rosie lowe – lover, other
the musical freedom i feel from rosie lowe’s on lover, other makes it such a fun, immersive and hypnotic album. her gorgeous vocals are complemented by experimental soul and jazz production, with a focus on lush, soulful and beautiful sonic experimentation. it’s sequenced to perfection, as the softer and more subdued moments are complemented by more playful moments, but it’s the layered, rich and varied instrumentation that makes it one of the more dynamic and eclectic soul albums to come out this year. review / album
13. oliver palfreyman – double vision
london-based production wizard oliver palfreyman has released his most eclectic and complete body of work to date with double vision. jazzier and with more of an emphasis on live instrumentation, oli has been able to create a warm, inviting and soulful body of work with the help of friends and collaborators elijah maja, jespfur, wu-lu, emma barnaby and astrønne. i’ve been so drawn to the lush and beautiful compositions on tracks like “phantom” and “blade of grass”, while “you decide” is one of my favourite oli productions to date. he’s one of the best producers making music today, so don’t sleep and appreciate his greatness. review / album
12. skee mask – resort
skee mask has been one of my favourite electronic producers for a few years now. his atmospheric and spacious production is often complemented by glitchy, broken-beat moments of pure genius, and with resort he continues to showcase his talents on an album that feels more subdued than previous releases, with a moody, melancholic energy that has been the perfect soundscape for the autumn and winter months for me. review / album
11. elucid – revelator
revelator is elucid’s most complete project to date, in my opinion. his abstract and poetic lyricism is is striking as ever, with an often menacing delivery and a reflective, introspective tone that makes it relatable and fascinating to listen to and study. i’m often mesmerised by his ability to paint vivid, poetic images of his state of mind and the fuckeries and absurdities of the dystopian reality we’re collectively living in. it’s what makes it such a fascinating listen to me, along with the experimental, loud and often rugged production. review / album
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