Best Albums of 2011: RPM/Electronic Music

WMXM’s RPM/Electronic Music Director Max Stern selects his favorite electronic albums released in 2011:

Tycho – Dive
Genre: Electronica / Ambient
Label: Ghostly International
Similar Artists: Boards of Canada, Ulrich Schnauss, Helios
“Relaxing, atmospheric, synthetic bliss. A beautiful blend of chill-out and ambient sound.”

Thievery Corporation – Culture of Fear
Genre: Trip-hop / Electronica / Downtempo / Dub-Reggae
Label: ESL Music
Similar Artists: Thunderball, Avatars of Dub,
“The legendary duo returns with their sixth studio album. Groovy tunes with a sprinkle of dub/reggae.”

Amon Tobin – ISAM
Genre: Experimental / Electronica / IDM
Label: Ninja Tune
Similar Artists: Cujo, Xploding Plastix
“An intense adventure of field recordings and warped samples. This will leave your head spinning. Amon Tobin is a true DJ that pushes his music to the most logical extremes.”

Shlohmo – Bad Vibes
Genre: Downtempo / Experimental
Label: Friends of Friends
Similar Artists: Teebs, Samiyam, Shigeto
“Great experimental lo-fi album. Another instrumental album composed of floaty loops, gentle nostalgic melodies, and distorted sample fragments.”

Com Truise – Galactic Melt
Genre: New Wave / Electro
Label: Ghostly International
Similar Artists: Neon Indian, Teeel, Airliner
“Dreamy 80′s-video-game-styled synth, with heavy drone undertones and sharp drops. SO MUCH SYNTH! Listen to this album.”

Deadbeat – Drawn & Quartered
Genre: Dub Techno, Minimal Dub
Label: BLKRTZ
Similar Artists: Resoe, MLZ, Pulshar
“One of my personal favorites. Only five tracks, but do not underestimate. They are powerfully deep, and persuasively hypnotic.”

Shigeto – Full Circle Remixes
Genre: IDM / Hip-Hop / Downtempo / Experimental
Label: Ghostly International
Similar Artists: Shlohmo, Teebs, Samiyam
“My favorite remixed album of 2011. A great collaboration, filled with worldly field recordings.”

Four Tet – FabricLive.59
Genre: House / 2-Step / Garage
Label: Fabric Records
Similar Artists: Burial, Caribou, Crazy Bald Heads
“My favorite mix of 2011. Upbeat, playful, and buzzing! An essential Fabric mix that truly embraces London and UK garage.”

Onra – Chinoiseries Pt. 2
Genre: Hip-Hop / Downtempo
Label: All City
Similar Artists: Quetzal, TOKiMONSTA, AFTA-1, J Dilla
“32 flowing hip-hop sketches fashioned from Chinese and Southeast Asian vinyl. The beats just don’t stop.”

Bibio – Mind Bokeh
Genre: Electronica
Label: Warp Records
Similar Artists: Four Tet, Kona Triangle, Caribou
“A surprising album that successfully combines both electronic textures and strong pop structures.”

Emika – Emika
Genre: Dubstep / Trip-hop
Label: Ninja Tune
Similar Artists: Pinch, Nedry, Massive Attack
“An exploration of dubstep and trip hop form, Emika creates a more darker, and seductive sound with unique vocals, synth, and silence.”

Honorable Mentions:

• Dominik Eulberg – Diorama

• Gold Panda – Companion

• Moby – Destroyed