Are we even listening to albums nowadays? A lot of you guys are probably just downloading the tracks you like, who doesn’t? But I still find satisfaction in putting on a good full-lengther which is both well composed and has good individual tracks.

I asked Innotune companion Håkon Lofthus if he had any good suggestions for this album sum up. He answered:

R.I.P. albums. When buying online – why would I want to buy an whole album, when I could only grab the tracks I like? (I can listen to them first as well) So, this year has been almost an album-free year for me, and iTunes better start pushing out those iTunes LP features to get me back on buying complete albums.

You have to agree. But I’m giving this list a shot anyway. I realise I haven’t heard enough releases this year to create the complete “top edm albums of 2009 bible”, but here’s nine I would like you to check out.

Maybe you’ll start buying albums again, or at least listen to complete releases on Spotify.

Jon Hopkins – Insides
Listen: Spotify link. YouTube.

I cannot recommend this bloke loud enough. Jon Hopkins has made beautiful ambient/downtempo albums before, but Insides is filled with even crazier (yet tightly produced) beats in addition to the unique Hopkins soundscapes. Simply a great collection of melodic electronica carefully put together. My favourite of 2009.

Gui Boratto – Take My Breath Away
Listen: YouTube.

Slow and addictive techno. The title fools you, this is not the breathtaker it want’s to be. In stead it is a breath of fresh air to all in favor of a deep but melodic listen.

Be sure to check it out if you fancy Underworld, or just a techno snack for that matter.

Air – Love 2
Listen: Spotify link. YouTube.

The French duo has done it again. Love 2 is nothing more than a typical Air album, but that works for me.

Fine downtempo electronic tracks produced with a lot of acoustic elements, and then lazy French-English vocals on top. Magnificent!

Marcus Schossow – Outside the box
Listen: YouTube.

An all nighter with the Schossow sound (you know: trance, progressive house and whatnot put in the blender). We don’t do shameless self promotion on the Innotune blog, but we simply cannot sum up 2009 without mentioning our own uncle Marcus.

His debut album is a real treat when it comes to the tunes. Collections of full length dance tracks often sound a bit dull as albums to me, but this beauty deserves it’s place among the top nine.

Röyksopp – Junior
Listen: Spotify link. YouTube.

Wonderchilds Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge produced another piece of Norwegian electronica Vikings like us can be proud of.

With a “back to the roots” attitude and vocal appearences by Robyn, Lykke Li and Karin Dreier, you can’t go wrong. A new collab with Erlend Øye (the voice of “Poor Leno”) is all that’s missing.

The Field – Yesterday and Today
Listen: YouTube.

A bit noisy, but still hypnotic experience.

Jazz, funk, noise and electronic downtempo put together. Axel Willner is breaking a lot of rules, and Yesterday and Today might not always be easy to listen to. Don’t worry though, it’s just enough beauty in there to keep you calm.

Basement Jaxx – Scars
Listen: Spotify link. YouTube.

In 2009 the Jaxx proved they are still in the game. Scars brings you psychedelic beats, jumpy basslines and that funky Jaxx feeling.

It was reviewed at Innotune earlier. Definetly worth a listen!

Fredrik Ohr – Falling through the earth
Listen: Album preview.

Downtempo electronica with enough details in the productions to keep you occupied for a while. Flutes, tight percussion and vocals obviously sung by a Swede makes a signature sound.

As recommended on this blog by Marcus, this is a great album produced by a skilled guy.

Major Lazer – Guns don’t kill people… Lazers do!
Listen: Spotify link. YouTube.

At last, the funny pick. This is reggea + electronica. Which makes a quite special listening experience if you’re up for something different.

I bet this album is refreshing after you have listened through the other eight.

Now tell me: Have you bought any albums this year? What releases would you add to this list?

The list is back

The votes are in, and the Dj Mag Top 100 djs was announced a couple of days ago. Basically, it’s the same list as ever, and the Top 10 is just somewhat rearranged – some goes up, some goes down. However, there are some djs worth talking about on the list: The new entries!

The new entries on the Dj Mag Top 100 list:

Sebastian Ingrosso (25)
The highest new entry. It’s really weird that Ingrosso wasn’t on the list last year. As a higly respected member of the Swedish House Mafia, this guy really know how to make some sweet swedish house grooves.

Kaskade (51)
Ryan Raddon is the guy behind Kaskade, and he was one of the guys who cashed in on the chordy/Deadmau5 movement the last years. His last album release was a commercial hit, but it’s worth checking out tracks like “I remember”

Boyz Noize (68)
Very french-ish sound, but the guys is actually German and named Alexander Ridha. He got on a roll after the more dirty Justice-movement, but he makes it sound even better than the french guys!

Chuckie (72)
Originally a hip-hop dj that turned over to the darkside. Now producing electro house-ish stuff, and is on a roll by remixing guys like Bob Sinclar and David Guetta (Ca-ching!)

Sharam (73)
I was quite surprised to se Sharam as a new entry since he’s been in the game for quite a while. His music has quite an commercial approach (he’s the guys behind that dance-version og Daniel Bedingfield etc) and he’s riding the wave of the “club hiphop movement” that is going on at the moment.

Moonbeam (76)
Moonbeam is two young guys from Russia. Truly a fresh breath of air for all prog trance lovers (like myself). One to watch!

Marcus Scössow (79)
Marcus is one of our Innotune residents, and we’re all really proud of Marcus’ rise over the last years. He’s made a original and unique sound (which isn’t easy these days) and be sure to check out his new album. Congrats Marcus!

Super8 & Dj Tab (82)
Anjunabeats lads from Finland. Growly basslines and trancey melodies. You can’t have missed out on their releases the last 4-5 years if you’re in to fluffy trance.

Sied Van Riel (85)
Dutch trance dj (where else do they come from?) who’s been working really hard the last years putting out A LOT of releases and remixes. Great music for those bigger laser-events.

Daniel Kandi (87)
Full-on trance dj from Denmark. A Anjunabeats-guy and is true to the anjuna-sound. Arpeggios, saws and big melodies.

Myon & Shane 54 (91)
These two guys managed to put the word quality in to trance again. Chopped vocals, lots of details in their productions and lovely atmosphere in their tracks and remixes.

Antoine Clamaran (96)
Actually an old guy who’s been in to the scene for a long while. The French guys sure know their house music, and this guy is no exception. Probably got lots of votes from Russia this year as his track “Gold” was a bestseller over there.

Gui Boratto (98)
Gui is an Brazilian guy, and plays everything from house to techno. A true dj that uses a lot of new technology on his gigs. I haven’t seen him live myself, but he’s high up on my list of djs I want to experience live.

Alex Morph (99)
Alex has been involved in the trance scene for a looong while. He’s on the harder edge of trance music, and does it well.

So, 14 new entries in a list of total 100 djs. That’s a bit boring to be honest. But at least you got a list of new artists you should check out, because these artists truly are the most interesting ones on the list!