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Mikael
Kahrle
Albums
Robyn: "Body Talk"
Album of the year. Robyn has the most entries in these staff lists - for a reason.
The Birthday Massacre: "Pins and Needles"
Full speed ahead and layer upon layer from these catchy Canadians.
Nitzer Ebb: "Industrial Complex"
I remember when the fans went berzerk when "Big Hit" was released in 1995 but now Nitzer Ebb finally delivered, without sounding dated.
Rome: "Nos Chans Perdus"
Now fully acoustic, Rome still impress me on this their last album before the long break.
Cryo: "Hidden Aggression"
Cryo doesn't complicate things. If you make the right choices and are skilled enough you don't have to.
Brendan Perry: "Ark"
When Mr Perry returns to the electronic style of the golden Dead Can Dance days, I surrender.
Alva Noto and Blixa Bargeld: "Mimikry"
When I'm in the right mood I'm carried away by this electric collaboration.
Code 64: "Trialogue"
If you're brave enough to release a futurepop album in 2010 you have
to be good, really good.
Hocico: "Tiempos de Furia"
Not as good as we're used to but they still kick ass. I also experienced their new stuff live in Berlin in June in the middle of an audience so manic that one of my Dr Martens shoes fell off.
Kent: “En plats i solen”
Extra points for releasing an album out of the blue and for continuing on the electronic path.
Songs
Robyn: "Dancing on My Own"
To see cool electropop songs like these
in high the charts makes me feel hope for the world.
Spark!: "Tankens mirakel"
One of my favorite up and coming acts from Sweden.
Alphaville: "Call Me"
I managed to avoid Alphaville live but when I gave their new album a chance a discovered many pop gems true to the style of their debut.
Front Line Assembly: “Shifting Through the Lens”
Finally a club hit from FLA; a band that is a bit uneven on record and on stage these days.
Hurts: "Better Than Love"
Their album is too much for me, but this great song is perfection and reminds me of the endless row of radio hits back in the 80:s.
Live
artists
Skinny Puppy
I remember when I helped the organiser with the concert marketing back in the 90:s and then Skinny Puppy cancelled on short notice. This time they came - and conquered.
Nitzer Ebb
The Nitzer Ebb/Depeche Mode night in Gothenburg in 1988 was one of the best nights in my life. This time, DM was embarrassing at times - but Nitzer Ebb kicked ass both nights in Gothenburg.
Kent
The electronic sound and a powerful light show was an efficient
combination.
Newcomers
The Girl and the Robot
I want to recommend this German/Swedish newcomer and their sad synthpop.
Dead When I Found Her
Impressive Cevin Key-like soundscapes from Portland's Michael Arthur Holloway on the debut "Harm's Way".
Mirrors
Mirrors are way above your average 80:s
influenced band from the UK.
Artists
Nitzer Ebb
It seems every artists from the 80:s return, but many of them don't even bother to release records. Nitzer Ebb delivers on all fronts.
Alan Wilder
Recoil's music is a bit from what most electronic music followers usually listen to, yet most people in the scene appeared to be Wilder fans 2010. The Depeche Mode stage appearance with "Somebody" and the upcoming Depeche Mode remix helped a lot of course.
OMD
Great to have them back, reunited and in with their old style more or less intact.
Niklas
Forsberg
Albums
Code 64: "Trialogue"
Trippy futurepop for the new electro generation.
Hurts: "Happiness"
Bringing back the magic grandeur of Ultravox.
OMD: "History of Modern"
With Paul Humphreys back at Andy McCluskey's side, OMD are yet again a synthpop force to reckon with.
Deine Lakaien: "Indicator"
Horn and Veljanov have re-discovered their roots and created their finest album since "Dark Star".
Robyn: "Body Talk"
Finally crashing into international fame. Aided by dance friendly electropop, no less.
The Birthday Massacre: "Pins and Needles"
Insanely lively goth/powerpop/electropop-combo.
Edge of Dawn: "Anything That Gets You Through the Night"
An eagerly awaited return, sinister and dark yet full of emotion.
Mind.in.a.box: "R.E.T.R.O"
Still pushing the electronic envelope, this time aided by Commodore sounds to mix their potent cocktail.
Kent: "En plats i solen"
Synths and dance beats have taken Kent to new territories. What comes next?
De/Vision: "Popgefahr"
The evidence of still being able to write great tracks finally came. Just in time.
Songs
Miko Mission: "Let It Be Love (Original Mix)"
The old italo disco legend is back with a brand new dance smasher. The synths and melodies are nothing short of brilliant!
Pet Shop Boys: "Together"
Breezy electro number from the Boys to accompany the new compilation. As always, their singles are top notch.
Spark!: "Tankens mirakel"
Melodic EBM in Swedish? Oh yes!
Alphaville: "Heaven on Earth (The Things We've Got to Do)"
Massive ballad from the slightly uneven comeback album. Marian Gold shines on the vocals and the anthemic chorus is to die for.
Sturm Café: "Koka Kola Freiheit"
With some melodies introduced in their sound, Sturm Café became utterly infectious. Grab this 7" single before it sells out!
Live artist
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Newcomers
Hurts
They are the melody makers of today. And tomorrow.
Titans
Brand new signing on Progress Productions. Their debut single "All There Is" promises more. Much more!
Artists
Robyn
Deservedly reaching world stardom.
Hurts
Hats off to a band that made all the right moves in 2010, be it calculated or not.
Devo
Great to hear some fun-loving, tongue-in-cheek Devo-isms again!
Johan
Carlsson
Albums
Robyn: “Body Talk”
There are soon no more worlds to conquer for Robyn, after the
onslaught of “Body Talk” parts 1, 2 and 3. This compilation sums up the
different releases, resulting in a behemoth of electropop goodness.
Front Line Assembly: “Improvised Electronic Device”
Bill Leeb and his team of electronic crusaders managed to really come
together for this one. Varied, melodic, solid production and memorable
songs made this one of their stronger efforts.
Code 64: “Trialogue”
Swedish electropop of the finest brand. Taking influences from techno
and electro and staying away from obvious clichéd sounds, this album
is a fine example of where futurepop ended up.
Nitzer Ebb: “Industrial Complex”
They’re back, and almost better than ever. Heavy, groovy, and packed
with fantastic new material. This old band left the newcomers
quavering in shame.
Hurts: “Happiness”
This slick duo created one of the catchiest albums of 2010. It’s a bit
overly cheesy at times, but the big 80:s sound and strong melodies
rescues it in style.
The Birthday Massacre: “Pins and Needles”
I hadn’t really understood the greatness of this band until this album
came along. Massive sounding songs.
Cryo: “Hidden Aggression”
Cryo takes it to the next level on this album, creating cold
electronic body music with a finesse that leaves others behind.
Conjure One: “Exilarch”
Rhys Fulber from FLA returns with his third solo album, bringing
sophistication, delicate programming and abundant string sections to
the table. It works.
Kent: “En plats i solen”
They released an album out of the blue, recorded in preparation for
their summer tour, and it was excellent as always. At times more
blatantly electronic than ever, they’re flirting with minimal techno
on one track, and pure synthpop on another.
Killing Joke: “Absolute Dissent”
Anthemic choruses, dirty scraping guitars and dusty, heavy drums all
comes together making this one of the most fascinating albums of 2010.
Songs
Robyn: “Dancing on My Own”
Hands down, single of the year. Fat, sequenced Moroder-bass and punchy
beats driving a sad tale of love from afar.
Front Line Assembly: “Shifting Through the Lens”
The Leebster hit the dancefloors with a big explosion this year, when
the new single was released. It’s been a long time since they’ve made
anything as furious and clubby as this.
Hurts: “Sunday”
Absolutely massive chorus, in an equally massive song.
Code 64: “SOL”
Finest example of Code 64’s electropop.
Röyksopp: “The Fear”
I was disappointed with the album “Senior” as a whole, but this song
is absolutely fantastic.
Live Artists
Front Line Assembly
I managed to catch them both in London and Stockholm, with the former
being one of my top gigs with them. With a great album behind them the
band was confident and full of energy. The crowd was a riot during “Resist”.
Skinny Puppy
While we’re waiting for the new album, Skinny Puppy gave us a great
tour playing lots of classic songs, with both Cevin Key and Nivek Ogre
in excellent form.
Nitzer Ebb
Live, it’s even more evident that Bon and Douglas have more funk in their bodies than the average EBM bloke. It’s just so goddamn groovy.
Newcomer
Hurts
Well, they’ve had massive success with their excellent debut album, so
it’s no surprise that they are on this list.
Artists
Front Line Assembly
Great album, great tour, and it was cool of them to say hello to all
us fans at the pub before the gig in London.
Robyn
Sweden’s finest, further working on Pet Shop Boys' idea that electronic
dance music doesn’t have to be vapid, or be artistically challenged.
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Mike
Whyte
Albums
LCD Soundsystem: “This Is Happening”
Was initially believed to be the last album from LCD Soundsystem – actually the future can’t look any brighter.
The Fall: “Your Future Our Clutter”
The sound of an angry old man regaining his swagger.
Klaxons: “Surfing the Void”
A group who decided to take rave into hitherto unknown directions – a modern day Depeche Mode?
Crystal Castles: “Crystal Castles”
Many people’s album of the year – mine included.
Errors: “Come Down with Me”
Sound better live than on record, but still it’s all about the music - good.
Flying Lotus: “Cosmogramma”
A breakthrough artist for 2010, who has virtually picked up the new electronic music baton and ran off with it.
The Chemical Brothers: “Further”
The Chemical Brothers grow up, and sound better for it.
Autechre “Oversteps”
Frighteningly dark at times – these guys know how to get emotion from machines.
The Orb feat. David Gilmour: “Metallic Spheres”
Ambient legends meet Pink Floyd legend. Results? Legendary.
Songs
Mia: “XXXO”
Another year, another classic from the non-conformist “paper planes” artist.
LCD Soundsystem: “Drunk Girls”
A party record if ever there was one – don’t go yet LCD!
Kelis: “Acapella”
A guilty pleasure, very lush and almost as iconic as “Milkshake”.
Cee Lo Green: “Fuck You”
Another guilty pleasure – if you have heard this and got bored of it, you’ve been listening to the wrong version; the original, full fat swear-fest is a delight to behold!
Live Artists
Errors
Quite simply a night full of electronic, proggy madness.
Autechre
By creating a dark, claustrophobic, womb like sensation you just had to focus on the music – risky, but paid off.
Flying Lotus
Sound so loud and bass so deep your head feels like it’s going to turn inside out!
Anti-Pop Consortium
So good I had to see them twice this year – talented doesn’t go anywhere near describing them.
Newcomers
Flying Lotus
Not necessarily new to this year, but really made an impact for me with album release and live sound – awesome.
Crystal Castles
One to watch out for as they get bigger through 2011 and beyond.
Artists
Autechre
Changing the game to suit themselves – yet again.
The Orb
Back on form after years in the wilderness – good to have you back!
Tobias Eliasson
Albums
Portion Control: “Violenty Alive”
For the first time I gave out a 10 in a review. Still haven’t changed my mind, this is an amazing album. Powerful and suprising, it hits you like a bulldozer while keeping a stupid smile on your face.
Cryo: “Hidden Aggression”
Martin Rudefelt took a big step towards making a mark in the EBM-scene. This is an album that shows vitality and hope for the future.
Pure Reason Revolution: “Hammer and Anvil”
With their third album I found this interesting UK act combining elements of progressive rock with electro. New and exciting, check it out if you want to broaden your horizons.
Kopfer Kat: “Skrammelpop”
Finally there is a new interesting act in the Swedish noise scene. Been waiting for an album from these guys for some years and when it arrived it was well produced and oh so very angry.
Architect: “Consume Adapt Create”
A really interesting look into the musical mind of Daniel Myer, filled with sounds it constantly craves your attention, like a good album should.
Anna von Hausswolff: “Singing from the Grave”
A Swedish blend between Kate Bush and Tori Amos. She made an album that gives me goosebumps with her haunting vocals.
Devo: “Something for Everybody”
They finally returned in style, and the album really is something for everybody with playful tunes, performed deadly serious as usual.
Kent: “En plats i solen”
Well, of course. They keep the electronic soundscape and I’m stuck once again. How can they keep this up? I’m stunned.
Twice a Man: “Icicles”
They took a step backwards, exploring their roots; but at the same time they took a big step forward exploring the flatlands of pop once again.
Robyn: ”Body Talk”
I’m impressed, very impressed. This collection of the three mini albums really shows that Robyn is ready to take over the world.
Songs
Spark!: "Tankens mirakel"
The jägerbody took a little step backwards when these guys released an EP taking the band in a new, more pop-oriented direction. Still kicks ass, of course, but I enjoyed this, the B-side, more.
Röyksopp: "Tricky Two"
I really liked the darker style of "Senior" and especially this track has stayed in my playlist during the year.
Hurts: "Better Than Love"
When they released "Wonderful Life" I was in shock, but with this single, they totally blew me away. This is modern retro at its best.
Crystal Castles: "Baptism"
Slick, cool, dark and oh so very haunting.
The Ting Tings: "Hands"
Cool electropop that could go far in 2011, if the album is as good as this single. Addictive and haunting with a sweet beat.
Live artists
Ultravox
I finally got to see them live and my, what a show it was. The music was in focus and the band seemed to love every moment. Clean, cool and simply stunning.
Skinny Puppy
To see this band doing an intimate club show was a dream come true.
M.I.A
Her show at Way Out West was really impressive and she managed to take advantage of the big stage. A truly unique artist.
Newcomers
Modiga Agenter
Their sound is really a trip down memory lane, some classic Swedish synthpop.
Lisa Pedersen
Smooth electro with a good voice that deserved more attention.
Anna von Hausswolff
The album arrived and was really strong, and live she owns the stage. I’m really looking forward to her next move.
Artists
Nitzer Ebb
They once again warmed up the audience for Depeche Mode, and once again were as good, perhaps even better, than the main act. And the new album definitely showed that they are back to stay.
Robyn
She was everywhere during 2010, and rightfully so. Will she continue in the same frenzy during 2011?
Page
A comeback where the new material was even better that the old stuff, now
that doesn’t happen every day.
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