The Best Electronic Music of 2015

This year has seen some amazing new music from some of our favorite artists, as well as some new talents that we can’t wait to hear more from. Here are our picks for the best electronic music of 2015.

Best Overall Albums

It’s been another amazing year for music, and electronic music in particular. There have been so many great albums released in 2015, it’s hard to keep track. But we’ve compiled a list of the best of the best for you. In this article, you’ll find the best electronic music albums of 2015.

FKA Twigs – LP1

FKA Twigs’s startlingly original debut album is a genre-bending, soul-baring tour de force. The English singer and songwriter, born Tahliah Debrett Barnett, expertly blends elements of R&B, trip-hop, and electronica into a sound that is simultaneously sensual and icy, futuristic and steeped in classic pop sensibilities. On LP1, she bravely bares her emotions, confrontings her fears of intimacy and vulnerability head-on. The result is an unforgettable album that is as groundbreaking as it is intensely personal.

Caribou – Our Love

Caribou’s Our Love is the best album of 2014. It’s a record that takes the best aspects of electronic music – the precision of house, the bliss of trance, the emotion of techno – and blends them into something that feels effortless. It’s also an album with a strong sense of self; Caribou (aka Dan Snaith) is comfortable enough in his own skin to make music that is both personal and universal.

Our Love is an album about love, but it’s not a sentimental love story. It’s about the good and bad times in a relationship, about the highs and lows of passion. The opening track, “Can’t Do Without You,” sets the tone for the rest of the album; it’s a gorgeous, wistful song built around a simple melody and Snaith’s ethereal vocals. The following track, “All I Ever Need,” is a perfect example of Caribou’s fusion of genres; it starts as a slow-burning house track before blossoming into a soaring techno anthem.

There are moments of darkness on Our Love as well; “Silver” is a chillingvocoder-laden ballad about betrayal, and “Back Home” is a hypnotic closer that hints at further heartbreak to come. But even in its darkest moments, Our Love shines with hope and beauty. It’s an essential listen from start to finish.

Flying Lotus – You’re Dead!

Flying Lotus’s 2014 masterpiece You’re Dead! is a bonkers, brilliant exploration of life, death, and the space in-between. The musician – real name Steven Ellison – drew on his own experience of dealing with the death of his mother to create an album that is by turns wrenching, spectacular, and a little bit bonkers.

Somehow, Ellison manages to make an album that features Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Sullivan King, and Herbie Hancock sound like a cohesive whole, while still packing in more ideas than most albums manage in their entirety. You’re Dead! is an Electronic Music masterpiece, and one of the best albums of the past decade.

Best Genre-Specific Albums

There’s no question that 2015 has been a big year for electronic music. But what were the best genre-specific albums? Here’s a look at some of the best electronic albums of the year, from dubstep to techno.

Best Drum & Bass Album: Calibre – The Deep

Calibre’s eighth studio album, The Deep, is a return to liquid form for the Belfast-based producer and DJ. On his first outing for five years on his own Signature label, Calibre focuses on the dancers with a set of deep, rolling basslines and intricate beats that showcase his maturity as a producer. The result is an album that will reward multiple listens.

Best Electronic Album: Aphex Twin – Syro

It’s been 13 years since the last Aphex Twin album, Drukqs, and in that time Richard D. James has only released a handful of tracks. So it was with much excitement that fans greeted the news of a new album, Syro, in 2014.

Syro is everything you’d want from an Aphex Twin album: dense, complex and full of surprises. It find James in a more playful mood than Drukqs, with many of the tracks built around catchy hooks and melody lines. But there are also plenty of left-turns into dark and atmospheric territory.

If you’re a fan of electronic music, Syro is an essential purchase. And if you’re new to Aphex Twin, it’s a perfect place to start.

Best Dubstep Album: Burial – Rival Dealer

Released as a surprise on Christmas Day 2013, Rival Dealer was a three-track, 20-minute EP that found Burial veering into more overtly politicized territory. The title track, with its spoken-word sample of a young man talking about the gun violence he’s witnessed, was an overwhelmingly moving statement, but it was “Hiders,” with its siren samples and references to the NSA surveillance scandal, that really captured the zeitgeist.

Best Singles

Below are what we think are the best EDM singles of 2015. These are in no particular order.

Disclosure – “Latch” (Feat. Sam Smith)

“Latch” was the song that introduced Sam Smith to the world, and it was also one of the best dance tracks of the year. Disclosure’s Guy and Howard Lawrence have a knack for creating hook-laden deep house anthems, and “Latch” is no exception. The track features a jacking bassline, bouncy percussion, and a soaring vocal from Smith that comes together to create a club-ready masterpiece.

Skrillex – “Stranger” (Feat. KillaGraham)

Skrillex’s “Stranger” is a song that epitomizes the beauty of collaboration. The track, which was released as a single on November 10, 2015, is a perfect amalgamation of Skrillex’s signature sound and KillaGraham’s R&B vocals.

The song starts with a simple, yet catchy melody that sets the mood for the rest of the track. KillaGraham’s lyrics flow perfectly with Skrillex’s production and the two artists complement each other perfectly. The drop is exhilarating and will have you dancing in no time. “Stranger” is a song that proves that Skrillex is more than just a dubstep producer; he is a musical genius.

Flume – “Never Be Like You” (Feat. Kai)

A track that could only come from the pen of Australian producer Flume, “Never Be Like You” is a shining example of what the future of pop music could sound like. Blending a myriad of sounds and genres, the track features soulful vocals from newcomer Kai, as well as a healthy dose of Flume’s signature production style. It’s a perfect blend of everything that make’s Flume’s music so special, and is undoubtedly one of the best tracks of 2015.

Best Remixes

The past year was an incredible one for electronic music. So many artists released such great music and it was hard to keep track of it all. This list is a compilation of some of the best remixes that were released in 2015.

M83 – “Midnight City” (Eric Prydz Private Remix)

This was the remix that Prydz teased us with all summer and it definitely delivered. The breakdown is simply beautiful and the riff is just as catchy as the original.

Grimes – “Genesis” (Hudson Mohawke Remix)

Hudson Mohawke’s neon-bright remix of Grimes’ “Genesis” was one of the best tracks of the year. It took the original’s already-ecstatic pop rush and turned it into something even more ecstatic, a giddy, gleaming piece of spaceship funk that sounded like it could take off at any moment.

SOPHIE – “BIPP” (Purity Ring Remix)

Purity Ring’s remix of SOPHIE’s “BIPP” is a perfect example of how to take a good song and make it great. The original track, which was released as a part of SOPHIE’s PRODUCT album, is a fun and catchy electronic tune. Purity Ring’s remix adds an extra layer of excitement with its driving beats and ethereal vocals. This is one remix that is sure to get your feet moving.

Best Music Videos

In a year full of stand-out music, these are the videos that defined 2015 for us. They’s an eclectic group, but each is special in its own way. You’ll find everything from trap and future bass to gorgeous, introspective piano pieces.

FKA Twigs – “Pendulum”

FKA Twigs gave us one of the best, most innovative music videos of 2015 with “Pendulum.” The video starts out innocently enough, with Twigs performing a choreographed dance in an empty room. But as the song progresses, the room starts to distort and warp around her, until she’s contorting her body in ways that would make a yogi proud. The video is a mind-bending visual feast that perfectly complements the song’s ethereal beauty.

Flying Lotus – “Never Catch Me” (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Even if you’re not a fan of Kendrick Lamar, it’s hard not to be impressed by his work ethic. The Compton rapper released one of the best albums of the year with To Pimp a Butterfly, and he also found time to contribute verses to several other tracks, including this one from Flying Lotus. “Never Catch Me” is a beautifully animated video that tells the story of two young kids who seem to possess supernatural powers. The clip was directed by Hiro Murai, who has also worked with Childish Gambino and Earl Sweatshirt.

Disclosure – “Omen” (Feat. Sam Smith)

Disclosure’s “Omen” is a sleek, immediately catchy slice of pop-leaning house, and the video for the track is just as sleek and polished. Shot in Los Angeles and directed by Jamie-James Medina, the visual features Disclosure performing in front of a constantly shifting selection of still images and videos. The pastel color scheme and artfully selected footage give the video a dreamlike quality that perfectly matches the song’s airy atmosphere.