The 50 Best Albums of 2016
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Although some claim that electronic music has finally run out of ideas, we feel like albums have been more varied in 2016, spanning more genres and mixing more diverse influences than ever before. Within our Top 10 you can find Afrobeat, Future Jazz, House, Broken Beat, Ambient, Techno...
There is also a mix of old and new, from Yussef Kamaal's stellar breakthrough to A Tribe Called Quest's final album, Convextion's long-awaited return or the LP debuts of Dorisburg, Funkineven aka Steven Julien and The Pilotwings.
Enjoy the selection. (Due to Christmas and limited stocks, we are sold out of a lot of these – we will endeavor to restock those that are available, just add your email on the albums' page to get a notification!)
Although some claim that electronic music has finally run out of ideas, we feel that the LPs to pass through the shop this year have been more varied, and mixing more diverse influences, than ever before. Our top 10 reflects both the diversity of opinion amongst staff members here at Phonica and the sheer variation amongst records being made in 2016. With only a quick glance you will see Afrobeat, Future Jazz, House, Broken Beat, Ambient, Techno, and indefinable records which explore new boundaries. These records couldn’t be more different, and that, in our opinion, is a very, very, good sign of things to come.
You’ll notice that, without intention, our top 20 LPs are all on independent, mostly very small (we’re talking one-man-operation small) labels. We see this as a continuing and maturing trend away from the majors, a democratisation of music for the multitude, allowing open-minded consumers and producers to create and buy brilliant long play records away from corporate influence. The sound of 2016 is one of fusions, experimentations, and independent thinking.
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Outspoken and dedicated, Vakula has been a Dekmantel label member ever since the very early days and the Ukraine based producer dropped his album Cyclicality Between Procyon And Gomeisa on the label. The LP was a journey through various genres maintaining a singular sonic experience as the producer improvises and refined different elements of his sound.
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Kaytranada's debut LP was a guest-packed club night of vintage house, hip-hop and soul with a rich old-school feel.
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The Tribe took a short break from outer space excursions deciding to spend some holiday time in Capri... Electronic jazz-funk, maritime vibes, lush and luxurious attitude, this mini-lp was Mystic Jungle Tribe's sunset soundtrack.
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The second album on Ilian Tape this year came once again out of Munich. Made for true lovers and hustlers. Turn it up loud!
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Thank You 4 Your Service was the sixth and final studio album by the legendary A Tribe Called Quest. The album features guest appearances from artists such as André 3000, Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli, as well as posthumous contributions from Phife Dawg, who died several months prior to the album's release. Can they still kick it? Yes they can.
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CFCF has always had a gift for melody, lending his productions a timeless quality. International Feel seems a perfect match for his balearic sensibilities and together they gave us a very special record this year.
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Delano Smith can boast to have inspired the Belleville Three generation with his early DJ sets in Detroit. It's amazing to see him evolve over those long years and find a home on Sushitech for his dubby take on techno and house.
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Nicolas Jaar treated his legions of fans (guilty!) with a follow up to his groundbreaking debut 'Space is Only Noise'. We were mighty impressed with the evolution of his distinctive sound.
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How to describe this album in one word? Trip. Containing nearly 45 minutes of carefully programmed music, it sets off into to the unknown, it contains pleasure and pain, doubt and transcendence, and it ends somewhere that is different from where you started. Fasten your seat belts.
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The final chapter of the Moderat trilogy was written this year and showcased the evolution of the 'super group's' sound. We very much hope that this doesn't mark the end of the project.
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Mood Hut defined the sound of 2016 in many ways and this collection of moody cuts was no exception to what we have come to expect from the Vancouver based label.
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DJ Sotofett compiled and edited this material produced material from 2005-2011 by Madteo in Queens NYC. Quirky gems travel through hip-hop, disco, house, psychedelia and sound exploration to really broaden the listener's horizons.
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Andrew Weatherall's contribution to underground (and mainstream) music is seismic. He exercised his unique vision once again to prove that he still has so much to give. We were lucky to welcome him into the fold with a glorious addition to our mix series this year.
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Ninja Tune welcomed Money Sex Records founders Max Graef and Glenn Astro and gave them a platform to explore their jazz, funk, hip-hop, soul and disco influences. We treasure artists such as these, who are less concerned with hype than crafting touching music.
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Floorplan is already well known as Robert Hood's house outlet, which this year evolved into a family affair with co-production alongside his daughter, Lyric. The gospel influenced tracks that the duo offered here whipped many dance floors into frenzy while remaining grounded in spirituality.
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One of our favourite labels (yes, we have a lot of favourites, ok?), Studio Barnhus, has been spearheading fearless Swedish off-centre dance music for quite some time. Kornel Kovacs' debut album encapsulated their sound and took it a step further. Essential stuff.
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Following on from the acclaimed Talk From Home, Suzanne Kraft returned to Melody As Truth with a second full release, What You Get For Being Young, in which lush, digitally manipulated synths spread across cold surfaces, metallic drums dance around skeletal song structures.
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A late arrival (mid-December!) in our albums of the year as Vancouver label Mood Hut give us a lesson in deep house music (and the first of two albums for the label in our chart!).
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In times where a compilation of 12-inch bangers passes as an album, Telephones “Vibe Telemetry” opts for a different approach. Without being a departure from his 12″s for Sex Tags Ufo, Full Pupp and yours truly or his brilliant remix work for José Padilla and Vangelis Katsoulis, the Norwegian producer from Bergen who calls Berlin his home, hones sound, skills and aesthetics on his debut long-player.
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Demdike Stare returned this year with their first album since 2012’s Elemental. Wonderland took on the full breadth of the duo’s wide open aesthetic, taking their Testpressing series of dancefloor lashes - issued on 12” between 2013-2015 - as the diving board for an innovative album channeling the spirits of mid ‘90s jungle and digital dancehall mashed with with industrial and ambient techno sound design.
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Roman's third album on Dial and an intense mixture of warmth, weirdness and highest uplift from Herr Flugel.
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Green Graves LP was a jaw-dropping journey into the heart of dark, rhythmic ambient music. Big recommendation if you’re into Coil, Demdike Stare, Brian Eno / Jon Hassell’s Fourth World.
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Mala's second album is the result of repeated visits to dive into Peru’s music, it revolves around tempo and flow, working local Afro-Peruvian percussionists, grassroots tap dancers and an Andean soprano into its fourteen tracks.
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