We’ve had the pleasure of some incredible albums this year, including long players from the likes of George FitzGerald and Jon Hopkins, not to mention the debuts of Anjunadeep affiliate Yotto and Gabe Gurnsey of Factory Floor fame.
With all this and more to sink our teeth in to, it’s easy to miss an album or two throughout the year. So to make sure you don’t lose out on any of the essentials, we’ve went ahead and put together our ten best of the year.
10. Paul Kalkbrenner – Parts Of Life
Sony Music
Paul Kalkbrenner is an icon among Berlin’s dance music culture, and is perhaps one of the most commercially successful artists that hasn’t turned his back on his roots. The Sky & Sand star brought us his 8th studio album this year for his second outing on a major label. The 15 track Parts Of Life LP is a back to basics approach, with the title structure simply Parts One through Parts fifteen.
09. Enrico Sangiuliano – Biomorph
Drumcode
Few producers left a mark on techno in 2018 as noticeable as the one stamped by Italy born Drumcode regular Enrico Sangiuliano. With the highlight of his year being his debut album, Biomorph. The intelligent combination of raw tech stompers, melodic progressive rhythms and dusty breakbeats results in a completely bespoke long player that’s quite different than anything you’ll find for quite a while.
08. Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons – Heart Of Sky
Crosstown Rebels
Besides being known as the bossman of cherished UK house imprint Crosstown Rebels, Damian Lazarus is an outstanding producer in his own right. This year found him hook up with The Ancient Moons again to release the bands second album, Heart Of Sky. The 11 track, soul warming offering was produced at Damian’s custom-built studio space in Tuscany, Italy.
07. Yotto – Hyperfall
Anjunadeep
Finland native Yotto has done an incredible job of finding his niche amongst an already saturated sonic landscape. Now after an impressive five Essential New Tune accolades, he returns to James Grant and Above & Beyond’s Anjunadeep label for his debut album, Hyperfall. The 13 track offering includes everything Yotto has become loved for, as well as vocal work from Vok, Caps and more.
06. Bob Moses – Battle Lines
Domino
Vancouver based studio companions Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance have done a superb job grabbing the attention of an international audience for their romantically tinged brand of house. Their second album Battle Lines found the duo return to Domino with 11 tracks of downtempo, progressive, house, and even pop, and it has had an incredible reception.
05. DJ Koze – Knock Knock
Pampa Records
DJ Koze’s eclectic third album comes on Pampa Records, a label he launched with Marcus Fink back in 2009. Titled Knock Knock, it comes at 16 tracks in length and includes gorgeous vocal work from talents like Jose Gonzalez and Róisín Murphy. The stand out production from the project was Pick Up, thanks to a sample from Gladys Knight.
04. Max Cooper – One Hundred Billion Sparks
MESH
One Hundred Billion Sparks finds us sourcing a new level of appreciation for the sounds of Belfast born artist Max Cooper. Coming via his own imprint, MESH, Cooper has stuck to his usual format of pairing the aural side of things with visually beautiful counterparts, though this time through the inclusion of fan-made music videos.
03. George FitzGerald – All That Must Be
Double Six Records
Following a decade long stint in the creative mecca of Berlin, Londoner George FitzGerald returned home where he spent his time crafted his second long player, All That Must Be. The album dropped on Domino sister imprint Double Six Records and features a number of impressive collaborations, including one with Bonobo.
02. Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Domino
Jon Hopkins could perhaps be one of the most artistic talents on offer in todays world of electronic music, and his fifth studio album ‘Singularity’ shows exactly why. Nine tracks of well produced, transient heavy and orchestrally softened electronica that arrives via the always reliable Domino imprint.
01. Gabe Gurnsey – Physical
Phantasy Sound
British production taent Gabe Gurnsey delivers his debut solo album to Erol Alkan’s highly respected Phantasy Sound imprint in the form of 14 highly infectious, dancefloor focused tracks. Overall it really hits the spot when it comes to nostalgically touched house-centric sounds.