AMMAR 808 - Maghreb United

Score: 8.1 

The debut album from this mysterious Tunisian artist is a clash of retrofuturism and arab-electronic songs that come together to form something galactical, glacial and effervescent at the same time. Propelled by several artists from countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia itself, the producer melts countless details into the folky chants and wry melodies, and the results show pieces that are as timeless as ancient and in-the-moment. Maghreb United is one of those records that remind you that music, as a form of art, is nothing more than proofs we humans try to express in order to transcend space and time. With this album, humanity is left with another great testimony of our rich, diverse legacy.

Tracks I like the most: Degdega, Ain essouda, El bidha wessamra, Layli

Tracks I like the least: Ichki lel bey

Artist: AMMAR 808

Country: Tunisia

Album: Maghreb United

Released: 15/06/2018

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, Sha'abi, Mahraganat, Gnawa, Pop Raï

Length: 36:27

Dwarfs of East Agouza - Rats Don't Eat Synthesizers

Score: 8.2 

The sophomore and long-awaited record from the Egyptian trio Dwarfs of East Agouza is a hypnotic, exhilarating journey through experimental, world rock and electronic music. Two long pieces compose this hell of an album, which moves from danceability to schizophrenia in a matter of seconds, with loops, syncopation and atonal melodies that disarm and delight ears and bodies alike. Rats Don't Eat Synthesizers is enveloping and cacophonous, showing extreme versatility, joy and a strong physique du role from a band that slaps as a norm and not as an exception.

Tracks I like the most: Rats Don't Eat Synthesizers

Tracks I like the least: Ringa Mask Koshary (the first part)

Artist: Dwarfs of East Agouza

Country: Egypt

Album: Rats Don't Eat Synthesizers

Released: 02/03/2018

Genres: Experimental Rock, Electronic, Avant-Garde, World Music, Jazz, Psychedelia, Nubian Music

Length: 35:37

Georgia Anne Muldrow - Overload

Score: 8.0 

The prolific and underappreciated artist Georgia Anne Muldrow returns with what might be her most eclectic and complex record to date. Fueled with soul, jazz, hip hop, funk, pop and rock (to name a few) the singer-songwriter continues to explore the beauty in black culture and social justice while cremating some of the catchiest tunes of the year. There's an enormous sense of empowerment in Overload, but the pinches of sweetness and imperfection make it even the more palatable.

Tracks I like the most: Play It Up, Vital Transformation, These Are The Things I Really Like About You

Tracks I like the least: Williehook (Skit)

Artist: Georgia Anne Muldrow

Country: United States

Album: Overload

Released: 26/10/2018

Genres: Alternative R&B, Neo Soul, Synth-Funk, Pop, Rock, Experimental, Jazz, Hip Hop

Length: 36:55

Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

Score: 8.3 

Following the trend of young talented rappers who go fully experimental, Earl Sweatshirt delivers some of the weirdest, most abstract and viscerally cacophonous records of the year. 15 tracks compose this lo-fi, sloppy rollercoaster that embarks on the artist's most intimate and dark corners of his complex mind, and the results constantly pay off, whether it being with heavy-sampled or fully-composed music. Some Rap Songs might seem rather random at first, but repeated listens offer layers of detail, connection and substance; is this the best Sweatshirt album? 

Tracks I like the most: Shattered Dreams, Nowhere2go, Ontheway!, The Bends, Peanut

Tracks I like the least: December 24

Artist: Earl Sweatshirt

Country: United States

Album: Some Rap Songs

Released: 30/11/2018

Genres: Hip Hop, Rap, Experimental, Lo-Fi, Electronic, Avant-Garde, Jazz Rap, Glitch Hop

Length: 24:39

Ian Isiah - Shugga Sextape Vol. 1

Score: 8.2 

The second mixtape from this New York-based R&B artist is a fascinating, chillingly intimate record about what it means to live, love and feel in the 21st century. It's a beautiful musical statement, one that mimicks deconstructed club and eerie soul with finesse, delicacy and vulnerability. Shugga Sextape is kinky, raw and malevolent at times, but it's at the same time so well-produced and so emotional that's even more idyllic and romantic than most pop nowadays.

Tracks I like the most: Killup, Bedroom, Persistent, GOD

Tracks I like the least: Bleach Report

Artist: Ian Isiah

Country: United States

Album: Shugga Sextape Vol. 1

Released: 23/11/2018

Genres: Alternative R&B, Electronic, Experimental, Deconstructed Club, Art Pop

Length: 28:20

cupcakKe - Eden

Score: 7.9 

The fourth full-length record and second 2018 album from up-and-coming rap star cupcakKe feels condensed in its relatively short time, where each second, bar and beat seem to matter at the deepest. Her raw, naughty lyrics are still the centerpoint of her persona stage, but it's her vulnerable and more "humane" side that gives her enough personality to be an intriguing, enthralling entertainer. Eden snaps with flow, charisma, truth and dare; it's another strong step on the rapper's implacable catalogue.

Tracks I like the most: Cereal And Water, Fabric, Quiz

Tracks I like the least: Blackjack

Artist: cupcakKe

Country: United States

Album: Eden

Released: 09/11/2018

Genres: Hip Hop, Dirty Rap, Pop

Length: 33:51

Poppy - Am I A Girl?

Score: 8.5 

The third album from the enigmatic, hard-working persona under the pseudonym Poppy sees her cementing her wobbly pop tracks and also mixing her sunshine atmospheres with some metal and industrial sounds. The results are utterly arresting and captivating, as one can see the prolific mixture in between as well as the heart-wrenching critiques on society, environment and even gender standards. Am I A Girl?, as its title suggests, is philosophical in its core and powerfully fruitful in its execution; it also widens the prospect for an already-significant artist.

Tracks I like the most: Play Destroy, X, Time Is Up, Girls In Bikinis, The Rapture Ball

Tracks I like the least: Aristocrat

Artist: Poppy

Country: United States

Album: Am I A Girl?

Released: 31/10/2018

Genres: Electropop, Dance Pop, Alternative Metal, Industrial, Synth-Pop, Synthwave

Length: 39:28

Vessel - Queen Of Golden Dogs

Score: 8.6 

In what's his rougher departure from his established post-industrial sound, the Bristol electronic producer Vessel plays with chamber and medieval music to form this deranged rollercoaster of an album entitled Queen of Golden Dogs. With warped voices, windy instruments and a severe rhythmic contusion, the artist creates something fascinating and constantly surprising, going quieter and frenetic from one track to the other and even from one second to the other. This is musical discovery and maturation; this is a voice as permeable as touching. This album is touching.

Tracks I like the most: Paplu (Love That Moves The Sun), Fantasma (For Jasmine), Argo (For Maggie), Arcanum (For Christalla), Torno-me eles e nau-e (For Remedios)

Tracks I like the least: Good Animal (For Hannah)

Artist: Vessel

Country: United Kingdom

Album: Queen Of Golden Dogs

Released: 09/11/2018

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, Deconstructed Club, Chamber Music, Medieval Music

Length: 43:57

Gaye Su Akyol - Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir

Score: 8.0 

The latest release from this fascinating Turkish artist mixes her folky traditions with some psychedelic rock, glitch pop and heavy electronica to form a solid, ever-expanding and effervescent LP that manages to sound both timeless and in tune with current trends. Gaye seems like a relentlessly whimsical artist, constantly searching for the transcendent sound; lucky us that we're able to testify that quest.

Tracks I like the most: İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir, Meftunum Sana, Halimiz İtten Beter

Tracks I like the least: Hemşerim Memleket Nire

Artist: Gaye Su Akyol

Country: Turkey

Album: Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir

Released: 26/10/2018

Genres: Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Turkish Folk Music, Electronic

Length: 42:45

Zuli - Terminal

Score: 7.4 

The debut full-length from this adventurous Egyptian electronic producer features Middle Eastern rap passages, alien chants and a cerebral representation of space and time in full flow. It's its similarity with Iranian producer Ash Koosha what makes us think that this part of the world has some pretty mind-blowing minds to bare in mind, too. The tracks on Terminal rarely follow conventional patterns, and the further they seem to be tackling on, the starker they smash.

Tracks I like the most: Bump, Mazen, Archimedes

Tracks I like the least: Stacks & Arrays, Follow Your Breath

Artist: Zuli

Country: Egypt

Album: Terminal

Released: 02/11/2018

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, IDM, Hip Hop, Rap, Ambient

Length: 44:39