In case you haven’t figured it out, 2024 has been INSANE for electronic music. We’re only halfway through the year, and it already seems like it will be harder to crown the title of “BEST Electronic Dance Music Albums Of 2024” than ever simply because of how spoiled we are for choice. In no particular order, let’s chat about some of the can’t-miss albums from this year thus far.
Whenever possible, I tried to include continuous mixes of the albums in question because this is dance music, people, and it’s just how it’s designed to be listened to. So please sit back, kick your feet up, and let’s dive into some of the best electronic dance music albums to have dropped this month so far. Bookmark the article and check back every once in a while, as we might have included some freshies that have yet to drop while writing this.
Table of Contents
Syzy – The weight of the world
Realistically, this album could’ve been “Take My Energy!” ten times in a row, and it probably still would’ve made this list. After a three-year hiatus from releasing music, American producer Syzy returned this year and casually dropped some of the highest-quality dubstep I’ve heard in quite some time.
This 10 track album, which has been in the works since 2021, is a must-listen for any bass music fan. Other highlights beside those above “Take my energy!” include “DOPE1” with Olswel and “Get a grip!” with Neonix.
Nigel Good – A Little Something
Due to rapid changes in his professional and personal life, it had been nine years since legendary Canadian producer Nigel Good released original music. But, he’s back, and he hasn’t lost a step.
“A Little Something” functions as a prequel to 2015’s “Space Cadet”, both of which were released on Monstercat, and, just like “Space Cadet”, the album is mixed to function as one cohesive song. Standouts from the tracklist include “One Plus Space,” which is a beautiful, plucky progressive house tune, “Jay & Wren,” which features Richard Caddock on vocals, and “This Is Us Too,” which interpolates several of Good’s past hits.
Jerro – Chromatic
Jerro’s cheerful sound is back in full force. His sophomore album, “Chromatic”, arrived just in time for summer, and it’s an improvement in nearly every way to his debut record. The record is chock-full of upbeat melodies, colorful chords, and exceptional vocal work.
There’s something for everyone here; whether you’re a fan of high-energy tracks like “Fever” and “Right In Front Of Me”, or prefer to chill out to tracks like “How Does It Feel” and “Marooned”, this record is sure to please any and all melodic house fans.
Dyatic – The Third Kind
This album is, for lack of a better term, ridiculous. Mexican producer Dyatic is a fairly new name to the bass music scene, but “The Third Kind” is sure to cement him as one of the most creative and talented minds in it at the moment. His gritty sound fits several genres like a glove, whether it’s drum & bass on “Tree Of Life”, dubstep on “Enemy”, bass house on “Don’t Hold Back”, or glitch hop on “Body Flicker”, which was made in collaboration with BeutNoise, another name in bass music that you probably shouldn’t be sleeping on. This record is a wild ride, and I recommend you get in line for it.
Eliminate – Get Off The Internet
From the opening moments of “thinkaboutit”, it’s easy to tell that Eliminate’s debut album is a special one. While also functioning as an impressive display of his production ability and versatility, this record also has a distinct charm to it. After all, Eliminate’s always been an entertaining character, and this album is certainly entertaining throughout its runtime, jumping through tracks that are hard to define with a single genre.
It’s fun, creative, technically impressive, and never once boring. Just one note: when you do listen, prepare to be singing “hey stupid idiot, get off of the internet” to yourself for weeks.
Tinlicker – Cold Enough For Snow
I’m not sure Tinlicker is capable of making bad music. “Cold Enough For Snow” is the Dutch duo’s first album since their departure from Anjunadeep, and it’s everything that you and I love about their music. Obviously, “Glasshouse” with Julia Church is a stellar opener, but the album thrives on consistency throughout its tracklist. That is to say that each of the 13 tracks here is among the duo’s best work. And, for a highly respected act like Tinlicker, that’s a pretty impressive feat.
Justice – Hyperdrama
What kind of list would this be if “Hyperdrama” wasn’t here? Honestly, do I even need to say anything? Maybe I could talk about the exceptional drum mixing, or the infectious melodies, or the glorious synthwork, or the incredible vocal performances, or maybe even how the legendary French duo’s style has only gotten better with time. But, I think I’ll just say this: “Hyperdrama” is peak Justice.
Paark – Stonelands
This album took forever to come out, and when it finally did, our patience was more than rewarded. While it’s one of the lesser-known albums on this list, it’s certainly one of the most creative and technically impressive ones. There’s something about the warm, homey vibes that most of this record gives off throughout its runtime that provides a sense of security. The eighth track, “Comforter,” says it best: this album is comforting to listen to. I also wanted to thank the art director for the entire “Stonelands” project; it’s some of the coolest artwork I’ve seen all year.
No Mana – I Contain Flashing Images
During the tongue-in-cheek intro, it’s clear that No Mana isn’t just making great music; he’s having fun doing it. Each track on No Mana’s first non-mau5trap album has that signature timeless retro flair that only his music can accomplish, and it’s just a blast.
Whether you’re listening to instant electro house classics like “Lost Call” and “Digital Friends”, or more experimental cuts like “Luxor Aeterna” and “Roadburn”, it’ll be very hard to do so without a massive grin on your face.
acloudyskye – There Must Be Something Here
I almost didn’t include this album for the sole purpose of it leaning almost entirely into alternative rock – look no further than “Surface” and “Depths”. But it’d be a severe shame for it to be left off. The trajectory that acloudyskye’s been on for a few years now has been stellar to watch, and it seems as if he’s found his groove.
The tasteful usage of distortion and reverb throughout the record, paired with acloudyskye’s uniquely beautiful vocals and jaw-dropping songwriting, make this album a must-listen for any indie electronica fans. If you haven’t been following acloudyskye, you should probably fix that.
Sultan + Shepard – Endless, Dawn
Did you like “Something, Everything” and “Forever, Now”? Great! Then you’ll like “Endless, Dawn”, the last album in Sultan + Shepard’s self-proclaimed trilogy. Arriving just over a year after “Forever, Now”, this album features fourteen straight tracks of melodic house goodness.
As usual, they enlist the help of some of the scene’s best vocalists to bring their already great tracks to an even higher level, including Tishmal, Elderbrook, and Nathan Nicholson. The results, as usual, are exceptional. If you’re a melodic house fan, then you need to check this one out.
Chet Porter – EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN
Chet Porter’s debut album features some of the most beautiful songwriting I’ve heard all year. This twelve track package is equally uplifting and heartbreaking, drifting through several different genres on its way to its jaw-dropping climax. If you aren’t in tears by the final notes of “Things I Wish I Could Forget” with Vancouver Sleep Clinic, which serves as the album’s closer, then you may not be human.
Four Tet – Three
A lot of dance music fans were understandably introduced to Four Tet through Skrillex’s collaborations with him, but I’d argue that “Three” is a far better introduction to his sound than those collaborations.
The album is full of organic percussion, ambiance, and unbelievably clean production. I’d say that this album is a more approachable form of IDM, and it’s entirely enjoyable throughout.
Paper Skies – Wireframe
Whether producing music, designing artwork, or developing the next great VST, Paper Skies always excels at a very high level. His debut album, “Wireframe”, arrived this year, and it’s an expertly crafted package that really gets into questions of artistic integrity and what it truly means to be an artist.
The color-bass-focused production is as good as it gets, and the overall message behind the album and the branding are just as good, if not better. Making an album is one thing; making something irreplaceable is another. Paper Skies did both.
Nils Hoffmann – Running In A Dream
Nils Hoffmann is one of the brightest stars in melodic house right now, and his second Anjunadeep album, “Running In A Dream,” only further cemented that. While considerably shorter than his previous album, the excess of quality certainly makes up for the reduced tracklist.
Tracks like “Lonely” and “Running In A Dream” will be looked upon one day as cornerstones of the entire melodic house genre, if they aren’t already. This is just melodic house at its best.
The post The Absolute BEST Electronic Dance Music Albums Of 2024 (…So Far) appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.