Here’s a bit of good news — this miserable fucking year is almost over. Thank goodness. Having witnessed the passing of too many of our musical heroes and the country nearly imploding after an exhausting, divisive and ugly presidential election, 2016 closes out with a glimmer of hope in the form of a selection of terrific new electronic albums. Trust us when we say that these releases have been keeping us going over the past few tension-filled weeks. Without further ado, here are our picks for the best albums due out in December. Enjoy.
Sage Caswell – Hoop Earring (Spring Theory)
LA-based DJ/producer/visual artist’s full-length debut arrives after previous releases on Peach, Archie Pelago Music, 2MR and Spring Theory. Known for his work as part of Far Away, a cassette mixtape series and secret monthly party in Los Angeles, Caswell effortlessly crisscrosses from one genre to the next, using an arsenal of experimental sounds, textures and sampledelic shenanigans to get his musical manifesto across.
Release date: December 1
Scoom Legacy – Slow (Solar Distance)
Uner’s year-old Solar Distance label shines the spotlight on fellow Spaniard Josep Corominas, an up-and-coming downtempo producer who infuses elements of house, soul, hip-hop and jazz into his tracks. Your new favorite new after-hours album has arrived.
Release date: December 2
David Herrero – Body, Soul & Other Things (Saved)
A trusted purveyor of muscular house music, Herrero approaches his fourth album (and first for Nic and Mark Fanciulli’s Saved Records) with sheer tenacity, delivering a collection of a dozen buoyant cuts earmarked for the dance floor. Technology geek alert: All of the tracks were produced in a studio in Benavente, Spain, using hardware including a Dave Smith Evolver, Elektron Machindrum SPS1 and Roland keyboards. Read Herrero’s 5 tracks of the moment here.
Release date: December 2
Xspance – Melodyheart (Section Records)
We’ve all been taught Newton’s third law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So it’s by no means a coincidence that as we wade through an onslaught of vitriol a downtempo album like Melodyheart surfaces. Released on Tripswitch’s musically eclectic Section Records, Myles Webb conjures 12 tracks of chilled, melodic and highly meditative bliss, calling to mind the work of Boards Of Canada, Moodswings and Tycho. This is music for your mind, body and soul.
Release date: December 5
Nude with Lyre – Blood (self-released)
Espousing a musical style he’s dubbed “Deep South ambient/Dirty South drone,” Athens, GA ambient/electronic music artist Tristan McNeil’s debut album began as the score for a friend’s short film that never came to be. But his song survived and evolved, and the result is a collection that evokes sonic intimacy while rolling on an ethereal slow boil. File under “e” for evocative.
Release date: December 9
Serafim Tsotsonis – She Swims (Hush Hush Records)
With a background creating music for film and television, it’s no wonder that Greek electronic composer/musician/producer Serafim Tsotsonis’ fourth album is a majestic, cinematic experience. Eschewing all sounds woozy and hazy, the sonic crispness of his tones and textures forge a sleek soundscape incorporating elements of ambient, post-rock and pop. Tsotsonis judiciously uses cello, trumpet, flute and violin for maximum melodic effect. Vocals from his sister Angeliki — as well as the operatic vocals of Eleanna Konstanta and Effie Papadopoulou — round out a truly beautiful album.
Release date: December 9
V/A – fabric 91: Nina Kraviz (fabric)
You may have heard that Nina Kraviz was recently involved in a dust-up in Australia where the crowd she was playing for wasn’t prepared to go on an eclectic musical journey with her. While that tale makes for good click bait, the real story is how Kraviz continues to evolve as an artist in the often rigid genre of techno. Miles from where she began on her early tracks for Underground Quality and Rekids, her sprawling 41-track Fabric 91 is the confluence of her past and present, a meeting point where new and old tracks coalesce into a soundtrack informed by acid, industrial, techno and beyond.
Release date: December 9
Various Artists – SUM (Second State Audio)
Having already given artists such as Michael Klein and BEC a leg up, Pan-Pot’s label continues to make good on its promise to promote emerging talent. To that end, SUM is a new biannual compilation series intended to showcase rising producers. Opening with Amelie Lens’ red-hot techno stomper “Paralyzed,” selections by Clint Stewart, Oliver Albach and The Reason Y hint at will no doubt be a fruitful 2017 for the duo’s imprint.
Release date: December 9
V/A – Bargrooves Deluxe Edition 2017 (Defected)
The dependable house music compilation offers up 42 tracks worth of quality tunes and remixes by the likes of Anabel Englund, Mood II Swing, Eli Escobar and Tim Deluxe. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a December party at your place.
Release date: December 9