With some delay, we publish our usual list of the music that we liked, that surprised or caught our attention the most in 2015.
First, the selection made by the editorial team, in no particular order. And then the selection from our regular contributor, the producer and musician Cyborgdrive. And there have been some coincidences, there must be a reason…
The Rest is Noise chose…
Granite. Martin Nonstatic lands on the prestigious Ultimae label with this debut album of organic electronica, a mix of dub-techno, ambient and psy-trance.
Le dieu numérique. Die Stadt draws inspiration from David B. Gil’s novel ‘Hijos del dios binario’ for this electronic ambient album.
Electronica 1: The time machine. It’s not Jean Michel Jarre’s best album, but the return of a classic of the electronic genre is always worth celebrating.
Aethereal Code. Synphaera Records launched its catalog in 2015 with this work by Ascendant, which has also made it into other year-end best-of rankings.
A light in the darkness. Another debut album, this time from Insight and their powerful and melodic synth-pop.
Ex Machina. The soundtrack for Alex Garland’s film is by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow (of Portishead). Eerie electronic atmospheres accompany one of the best films of the year..
Void dance. 2015 was a prolific year for Dennis Huddleston, aka 36, but we’re sticking with this work for its mix of intensity, warmth, and melancholy.
Solo. Nils Frahm gifted his fans this recording on Piano Day. Frahm’s lyricism expressed solely through the sound of the piano.
III. This abstract electronic work, signed by Thomas Bücker, aka Bersarin Quartett, has a simple title and a not so simple core.
Maps and mazes. An album of pieces composed for theatre and dance by the Polish violinist Olga Wojciechowska.
Cyborgdrive chose…
- A light in the darkness (Insight).
- Where All Is Fled (Steve Hauschildt).
- Ten Love Songs (Susanne Sundfor).
- True Colors (Zedd).
- End of an empire (Celldweller).
- From Sleep (Max Richter).
- Notes (Johan Agebjorn).
- Metanoia (IAMX).
- The Looking Glass Society (Ashbury Heights).
- &i (Kate Havnevik).
- Obscurer (Adam Fielding).
- A Sign of Life (Neuroticfish).
- London Road (Modestep).
- XXV (Oomph).
- Between II worlds (Nero).
- Greyscale (Camouflage).
- Void Dance (36)
- One (Kate Boy).
- Rebeka (Rebeka).
- A Worthy Compensation (Beborn Beton)