2014: Albums of the Year (#20 - 11)

20. Arca - Xen (Mute)

Digital wizardry that has the tendency to create new dimensions and tear them up again... Arca makes the music of the future...

Listen to 'Now You Know'

19. Meridian Brothers - Salvadora Robot (Soundway)

'Cumbia on mushrooms' might be the best way to describe this music; the Bogotá-based bunch made one of the most craziest records of the year...

Listen to 'Doctor Trompeta'

18. Flying Lotus - You're Dead! (Warp)

At first listen, this album did not sound like what I had imagined it would; after ten spins I realised 'You're Dead!' is everything a FlyLo-jazz album should be...

Listen to 'Never Catch Me'

17. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata (Madlib Invazion)

Both Madlib and Freddie Gibbs focused as never before; 'Piñata' is a highlight in both artists' discography...

Listen to 'Deeper'

16. Lone - Reality Testing (R&S)

Less glitch, more ambient hiphop and jazzy house: Matt Cutler showed off his versatility on the great 'Reality Testing'... 

Listen to 'Airglow Fires'

15. Black Milk - If There's a Hell Below (Computer Ugly)

Black Milk picked up where he left off on last year's 'No Poison No Paradise' and delivers his best album thusfar...

Listen to 'What It's Worth'

14. Illum Sphere - Ghosts of Then and Now (Ninja Tune)

Illum Sphere's full-length debut was like a treasure box filled with hauntingly beautiful moments...

Listen to 'Embryonic'

13. Pharoahe Monch - PTSD (W.A.R.)

Vision, intelligence and skill. Any rapper should wanna be Pharoahe Monch... 

Listen to 'Broken Again'

12. @Peace - @Peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony (Young, Gifted & Broke)

Challenging but rewarding, this jawdropping gem of Kiwi hiphop...


Listen to 'Hug Your Mom'

11. Melodiesinfonie - Friede Freude (Boyoom Connective)

A series of quality EP's had the bar raised quite high, but the Swiss producer easily jumped it; jazzhop at its finest...

Listen to 'Spread the Love'