Intricately crafted electronic albums?

segfault@waveform.social to Music@beehaw.org – 26 points –

I’m looking for suggestions for electronic albums in any sub-genre that you think exemplify dedication to craft and careful consideration of detail in any aspect: production, sound design, composition, etc.

Here are examples of some artists that I think have consistently released music in this vein:

  • Daft Punk (on this list particularly due to everyone’s go-to for great production, Random Access Memories)
  • Tipper
  • Yosi Horikawa
  • The Flashbulb
  • Shpongle
  • Lusine
  • Eli & Fur
  • KOAN Sound
73

Boards of Canada - the entire discography

For something fresh I don't see listed: Vegyn - Only Diamonds Cut Diamonds

I'll throw in a few:

  • Four Tet (Rounds is generally regarded as amazing, I am a big fan of Sixteen Oceans)
  • Caribou (each subsequent album is more intricate than the previous)
  • Kuedo
  • SBTRKT
  • Sepalcure
  • Autechre
  • Chapelier Fou
  • Kid Koala

Four Tet's unpronounceable side-project is great too. Search for: ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ

This EP is a great place to start: ooo ̟̞̝̜̙̘̗̖҉̵̴̨̧̢̡̼̻̺̹̳̲̱̰̯̮̭̬̫̪̩̦̥̤̣̠҈͈͇͉͍͎͓͔͕͖͙͚͜͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢͢ͅ oʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡( ؞ৢ؞ؙؖ⁽⁾˜ัิีึื์๎้็๋๊⦁0 ̟̞̝̜̙̘̗̖҉̵̴̨̧̢̡̼̻̺̹̳̲̱̰̯̮

It's a bit more analogue than his normal stuff? But definitely hits the "intricately crafted" mark!

Ha, yeah, I have those and my DAP hates them

Iglooghost!

If I had to recommend one artist, it would definitely be this. I've never heard anything like it. Chaotic, lighthearted, masterfully crafted beats and percussions, and a lot of heart. There's also a little world built around the music with alien creatures and their own languages.

just listened through Neō Wax Bloom which was very enjoyable. I think the more you listen through this album, the more small things you notice...

Great recommendation, never heard anything quite like this! Neō Wax Bloom was a frenetic but joyous adventure!

Yes! Great recommendation. Neō Wax Bloom is an overwhelming 40 minutes, but Iglooghost's colorful sound palette and sense of melody keeps it intensely listenable. I'm amazed by how he fuses recorded instruments and synthesized soundscapes like it's nothing.

I've been lurking kbin for a few weeks now, and finally a question I can't help myself but register to answer!

And my answer is -

Infected Mushroom

They've been, and still are, making electronic music, specifically PsyTrance, for 25+ years. Their music is phenomenal.

I've actually just sorted through their discography file on my pc (life is going down the drain and I need the distraction, plus their music provides such an escape, my mental health would seriously be even worse without them) and am now listening through my final playlist, and it's over 360 tracks, and I couldn't pick a single favourite! But I also don't want to infodump on you, so I'll limit myself to 5 tracks and try to give you a good sample of their work:

Release Me is from their first full album and is still one of my top most played.

It's Behind Me Now to contrast, is one of my favourites from their most recent album.

Bust a Move - a masterpiece really. Their own remix of it and Bliss's remix are as good as the original, which isn't something I say lightly.

Cities of the Future is always good to lift the mood.

And I'll leave you with a taste of their more mellow side with Animatronica, though I can't help myself and will also sneak Shakawkaw and I Wish in under that category, sorry, I couldn't help myself lol

Seriously though, the number of tracks that didn't make the playlist is probably in single figures, and many of those are because the music personally brings up bad memories, not that it isn't good to listen to, so it's a deep and fantastic rabbit hole to dive in to - enjoy!

Oh, and just to edit in a bonus fact: they've said things like "We think music should be available for everybody. We don’t care about album sales. We’re big supporters of illegal downloads and shit" on several occasions!

Oh, almost forgot - for the full experience you must listen on headphones, so much detail is lost via most speakers.

I've been working my way through the playlist some more today, and I just can't not share a few more of my favourites that I don't think get mentioned enough (you know, for posterity lmao):

The Shen

Cream

Symphonatic

Gravity Waves

Manipulator

And this unreleased track I found buried in the discography file, first time I heard it the other week I just had the biggest grin on my face, it's silly and cheeky and groovy all in one -
Sleeping

I’d highly recommend these - they’re not all strictly electronic but I feel there’s overlap at least:

  • Sasha - Scene Delete
  • Jon Hopkins - Immunity
  • Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
  • Bonobo - Black Sands
  • BT - This Binary Universe
  • Boards of Canada - Tomorrow’s Harvest
  • Hugo Kant - Far From Home
  • Bicep - Bicep
  • Sub Focus - Sub Focus

Bonobo spans genres but he’s probably my favourite artist right now. His Late Night Tales entry (not electronic) was one of the best albums I’ve ever heard.

I mean Aphex Twin probably goes without saying, given the influence on some of the listed artists alone. Can't go wrong with any album but "...I Care Because You Do" or either of the "Selected Ambient Works" would be good starting points. Could also throw Autechre or Squarepusher in for the same reason too!

If you want something a bit more melodic, I love Stimming's album "Ludwig." Lisa Bella Donna's stuff is also a treat.

And I'll sneak in another style yet with Helene Vogelsinger! "Contemplation" is a great album.

Yes! His “Selected ambient works” are out of this world!

I'm not sure if it technically counts as electronic music, but I really liked Aphex Twin's Computer Controlled Analogue Instruments.

The effort that went into recording it must have been enormous, and I wish I could have been in the room when the tracks were recorded.

I’ve listened to Selected Ambient Works and Squarepusher’s Hard Normal Daddy in the past, both great! Have also listened to lots of Lisa Bella Donna. Have somehow never dived deep into Autechre before. Thanks for all the good recommendations!

My pleasure! The other suggestions in the comments are excellent too, you'll have a ton of music to explore here.

  • Starcadian, any of his albums but especially Radio Galaxy.

He says he "makes ear movies," and I'd say that's about the best description. His music is very cinematic but also expansive and diverse. Radio Galaxy in particular reminds me very favorably of Random access Memories in the way that it experiments with different genres a bit more than previous works.

I found Starcadian 8 years ago and I've listened to some of his music almost every day since. I keep finding new things.

A couple that comes to mind that I'd recommend anyone to give a listen.

  • The Knife - Silent Shout
  • RJD2 - Since We Last Spoke
  • General Elektrisk - Good City for Dreamers
  • Yesterdays New Quintet - Angels Without Edges

Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase

Nathan Fake - Drowning in a Sea of Love

The Campfire Headphase, indeed. I find it packed with great stuff that I consider intricately crafted, and full of feeling

Nicolas Jaar’s Space Is Only Noise and Olafur Arnalds’ For Now I Am Winter (slightly more neo-classical/acoustic) are two I regularly revisit precisely for how cohesively the tracks fit together. Oh, and anything by Floating Points.

Mind, none of these use 100% electronic/synthesized sounds, so I don’t know if they count.

Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK
Studio album by Múm

I’ll 2nd this. It’s one of my favorite albums.

Igorrr is great. Boards of Canada. very good. Aphex Twin was my favorite thing for like a year. and very recently i've been enamoured by Patricia Taxxon. its queer as fuck furry art, and it makes me cry every time i listen. the texture of her sound is really intricate, it feels tactile to me. lots of super well crafted sound synthesis. i like it alot.

This thread is solid gold, I have been looking for new electronic artists lately too

A personal favourite, definitely an example of well crafted electronic music (lots of original tracks) would be anything by Takkyu Ishino.

that includes the Denki Groove discography, as well as his solo albums (and live sessions, also great). I recommend all of his stuff.

And as others have suggested, you cant go wrong with Boards of Canada, any album. Even their old tracks, which are very lo-fi, almost like vapourwave

Ooo you had me at tipper. At the last tipper and friends, this guy named Omnist crushed it.

[https://on.soundcloud.com/2ezK5QTRZWHFgbUE6](Forces of the unseen mix)
^it gets spicy

Shield is an incredible beat maker. His drum samples are amazing, specifically the snare hits and fills always stood out to me. When he gets together with Jon1st, they bring the best out of each other. Jon1st is an incredible turntablist.

[https://on.soundcloud.com/1Kcb1ytabxqNNW8q8](shield-beats from the basement)

[https://on.soundcloud.com/6PaAqsAi59N4RtMg9](Jon1st & Shield - Fat Boys Flip)

I could go on all day, but the last one I’ll leave you with is Mad Zach. Been a big fan of this guy since he dropped a track called “The Visitor”. He’s quite diverse in style, but definitely deep in the underground bass scene. Hearing this guy on a well tuned f1 rig was incredibly euphoric.
[https://on.soundcloud.com/1UTkVGYt2VeoVumF8](Mad Zach - Brootle)

Nathan Fake - The sky was pink. And all its remixes of course.

Ø - Oleva [2008]

Manuel Gøttsching - E2 E4 [1984] *see you like shpongle, Postfords flux & contemplation is earily simular in vibe and texture to this one

Todd Dockstader - Aerial 1 [2005]

Alva Noto - HYbr:ID I [2021]

Two lone swordsmen - Stay Down [1998]

Pan Sonic - Aaltopiiri [2001]

Plasticman - Consumed in key [2022]

Off the top of my head... I spy the psy, thought Modus - The future is behind us (visitors version) [2023] was nice

BT - This Binary Universe
Squarepusher - Hello Everything

I second BT here.. most of his albums are great imo. I like all of them but currently loving “_”

+1 For Squarepusher here. There are a lot of good recommendations in this thread but this is the one that immediately came to mind for me.

Hello Everything is great, and I'd also recommend Ultravisitor as well. Both those albums as a whole are masterpieces. Thoughtful, meticulously crafted and absolutely wild. If feels like organized chaos.

If you'll allow me to nerd out about drum and bass real quick:

OCD by Royalston

An aptly named, obsessively produced drum and bass album. Not a huge fan of the second track, Arps of Fury, but the next track and on I feel it really picks up. Black Cloud is incredible, it's got such an atmosphere to it.

Zawadi by Kimyan Law

Kimyan Law was only 22 when he produced this amazing work. No fat sausages here, just an incredibly well mixed and mastered album. Magic is a very beautiful, minimal track with purposeful breaks.

Split the Atom by Noisia

Very popular release but I have to mention it. The masters of neurofunk in their prime.

Zeitgeist by Camo and Krooked (the official youtube playlist has teaser tracks for some reason, spotify should have the full album)

Another popular release. Nostalgic and futuristic at the same time, reaching back for classic rave and funk influences while evolving the sound of DnB. This album is the first time I ever heard an "anti-drop", where the buildup transitions into a smooth and measured drop, every instrument purposeful and sharp. Ruhepuls is a favorite track of mine.

edit: Have to mention Flawless by Electrosoul System

Another album reaching back with rave influences and 5+ minute tracks. Unique and interesting sounds and percussion, clearly very refined with tons of detail. Fake Snake is a favorite, combining with the staring cat album art makes a very hypnotic track.

Since I see Tipper and Koan Sound there (hard agree, btw), I think you'd like the neuro/bass scene as well:

  1. There's Frequent, Vorso, Copycatt, Keota if you like weirder sounds
  2. There's Azaleh, Echo Map, Stasys, Voljum if you like a more melodic focused experience but still enjoy lots of insane sound design

Thanks very much for all of the recommendations, everyone! I have lots of musical exploration ahead of me!

Try Pogo's Cosmoluxe. Tidal recommend it to me and the first track was enough to hold my attention, but it gets so much better after that (IMO). It's sample heavy but perfectly crafted, clever and fun. It's been a real highlight for me for a while.

Some great artists here I will check out myself. Other artist I recommend checking out are;

Electric Universe
Astral Projection
Hallucinogen
Androcell
Easily Embarrassed

Nero, com truise, justice. Love me some Nero, also their reaching out music video sent me on a wild out run fueled music kick.

Savant’s Alchemist album is a really good one that comes to mind. He’s got his own unique sound

Simian Mobile Disco- Temporary Pleasure, Attack Decay Sustain Release, Unpatterns

Deadmau5 - While 1 < 2 Absolutely excellent, huge pallet.

Mat Zo - Illusion of Depth (2020) Another great, through composed album.

I’ve heard While 1 < 2 and listened to lots of Deadmau5 back in the day! Will have to check out the Mat Zo album, never heard of him or that album before!

For sound design, it's hard to beat Metroid Prime Triology's soundtracks. Each is just so good.

For atmosphere and technical ability, I think Xetrovoid's darkwave style deserves a shout, but Pertubator is a little more popular.

Otherwise, there's a lot of stellar vaporwave and futurefunk out there that takes advantage of these. I think a couple favorites are Vaperror, St. Pepsi, and Groceries, Yes We're Open!

Solar Fields- Earlier stuff is ambient, later stuff is more dancy.

Stellardrone- All of it is good. I don't know how he does it.

Hello Meteor- Very prolific. Incorporates some analog instruments.

Mitch Murder- He has some of the best production I've ever heard, but this particular song stands out. The fade at the end is so incredibly well done, I usually follow it all the way down to absolute silence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXFQNaODvMA

entheogenic's library is worth checking out, also I cant tell you how many times I see people recommend the album Prose Edda by Yggdrasil who now go as Kurbeats, they remastered this album in 2022, it can be found on bandcamp.