I suspect that a grand total of 1 of these albums will be on other lists...
1 | Lange | We Are Lucky People
Lange has been a long time favourite artist of mine. He started producing tracks for this album last year, and released them as singles as soon as he finished each one.
The album collects together these tracks, and lots of new tracks on 2 discs. 2nd disc is the 'club' versions of each of the 13 tracks, and are the same as any of the tracks he released over the past 12 months.
Disc 1 strips tracks down, re-edits them, blends them together etc into an absolutely stunning release. Genuinely one of my favourite albums in years. Absolutely incredible stuff, start to finish. Its all trance, but full of vocals, strings, pianos and no 'EDM Bangers'.
Lange - Our Brief Time in the Sun
2 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
I have a bit of an obsession with Daft Punk, and have had this obsession for years. So to say i was looking forward to this is an understatement.
I love the direction they took. Lose Yourself to Dance has been played so many times this year by me, its crazy. I love the album, but for another to beat it for my AOTY, means that Lange did an amazing job!
The bonus track from the Japanese release - Horizon - might actually be my favourite track.
Daft Punk - Horizon
3 | BT | A Song Across Wires
BT has always produced great stuff. His 2012 album 'If the Stars are Eternal So are you and I' was one of my favourites last year.
I was eagerly awaiting this one purely because of Skylarking. An absolutely beautiful track that i can listen to on repeat for hours. The album opens with Skylarking, and then the rest of it carries on with similar great stuff. Lots of vocals, some complextro/dubstep influences, and some amazing melodies.
BT - Skylarking
4 | Mat Zo | Damage Control
A recent release, and one i actually forgot about until the week before it was due out. I was reminded when Lucid Dreams was being previewed... and wow. Easily amongst my individual tracks of 2013.
Cant really put a single genre on the album, there are loads of electronic music styles on here.
Mat Zo - Lucid Dreams
5 | The Japanese Popstars | Disconnect / Reconnect
These guys have been quietly releasing things and touring for a few years now, but this album is their best by far. A lot darker, harder and more driving than most of the other stuff on my list (and than much of their back catalogue!). Proper late night stuff, but absolutely massive tunes from start to end. Released on John Digweeds Bedrock label, so that should give you a flavour of the type of music they are releasing at the minute.
They are 2 guys from Ireland, and not a group of Japanese Popstars!
The Japanese Popstars - Disconnect/Reconnect
6 | Hurts | Exile
Something a little less electronic has made my list! Two guys from Manchester, Hurts produce synthpoppy rock, for lack of a better description. This is their second album, and i am a massive fan of their style of music.
Their tracks always have me singing, without fail. Some beautiful tracks, and some more pop and rock based songs. A great little mix of tunes.
Hurts - Somebody to Die For
7 | Various | Lange Recordings 100
Lange, at my number 1 spot, also runs his own record label. The labels 100th release was this year, and he celebrated it with a compilation of new tracks from various artists on the label. Lots of trance, with a bit of house and others thrown in.
Some really great tracks on this selection, and almost mirrors my current taste in trance music.
Johnny Yono - Orion
8 | Simian Mobile Disco | Tong Zi Dan EP
I cant get enough of SMD. Their first 2 albums were great, but their third - Unpatterns - and their subsequent releases labelled as 'Delicacies', including this EP, have all been truly fantastic.
Much more techno, analogue etc than much of the rest of my list. These are the kind of tracks i love to just drive to, or put on some good headphones and totally zone out to.
Saw them live for the first time in a few years the other week. I go to a lot of live music, and this was the best gig i have been to in years. Pure analogue joy.
Simian Mobile Disco - Tong Zi Dan
9 | Gesaffelstein | Aleph
I hadnt heard of Gesaffelstein, at all, until i heard Pursuit earlier this year. Woah. Not sure how i missed his releases!
Aleph is some pretty heavy techno in places. The whole album really is great if you like that sort of thing (and i do!), but Pursuit is an absurdly good track.
Gesaffelstein - Pursuit [NSFW]
10 | Solarstone/Various | Pure Trance Vol.2
Another compilation to finish my top 10. Trance has always been my no.1 musical love. At times i havent particularly enjoyed the direction many producers have gone down the past few years, though. Lange and Solarstone have kept things on track.
Solarstones 'Pure' message has been great. Productions and remixes that are as they sound - Pure Trance.
This is the second compilation of this type, collecting together brand new Pure Trance tracks. This is the kind of thing i listen to electronic music for.
Love Theme from Bladerunner - Solarstone Pure Mix
