BEST OF OCTOBER 2020: TOP 5 TRACKS / EPs OF THE MONTH

It doesn’t take being a full fledged festival EDM raver to know that the word “legendary” doesn’t begin to encompass the man named Eric Prydz. The Swedish DJ and producer has definitely made his way to your ear drums at your Saturday morning spin classes (I’m convinced Call on Me is played at every session) and with his follow up to OPUS, we get…NOPUS? Odd follow up naming, but we get everything we could ever ask for in a Prydz release with this one. The four-to-the-floor drums coupled with Prydz’s uplifting melodies and dreamy synths. All I wish is that we could hear this blessing our eardrums at a festival somewhere warm under the night sky.

Oof, the WAVEDASH boys return with this absolute HEATER. Prepping everyone for their album set to release in early 2021, Drummo Loop is surely to get you excited. Hearing the Porter influence while keeping the signature WAVEDASH massiveness, this is just an all around fun song to get you bangin’ that head on your daily commute home (or at your home office).

Lime Cordiale nails the perfect indie alternative formula with this track: a catchy chorus, fantastic songwriting, & Lime Cordiale making the song. It’s a treat throughout with a variety of sounds and melodies that maintain these positive vibes.

RAC and Hotel Garuda have been going back and forth reimagining each other’s tracks. As listeners, we’re lucky to experience this friendship blossom through the medium of super, hot fire beats. I dub this genre “indie-electronica” (think Tame Impala) with its lead guitar driving the track and those indie drums driving the beat. Hotel Garuda has one hell of an indie voice to lend to the mix. Overall, a solid track from the legend who is RAC and all we can hope is these two just keep sharing tracks for the other to remix.

This track has been on repeat since I first heard it last month. Tiga and HudMo are certified legends within the industry, so when I first saw their names on the collab, I knew it was bound to be special. But the label couldn’t prepare me for this groovy house banger with luscious disco-y vocals. Far and away my favorite track of the month.

Returning with his sophomore album, Kasbo delivers with this emotional 14 track EP. His ability to convey and elicit emotions through his sound design sets him apart from the mundane future bass/chillwave artists seemingly popping up everywhere. Kasbo has a way of not making his tracks sound repetitive or cliche. It feels honest and true song after song. Great, thought provoking album from the Swede.

Vansire grabbed my attention earlier this year when I first dove into their album Angel Youth (2019). I was hooked immediately and when I heard they were dropping a new EP, I was obviously excited to continue adding to my Vansire notes. After Fillmore County is a collection of tracks from the duo who, predictably, are from Fillmore County, Minnesota. Contemporary indie yet nostalgia dropped in every track, the album creates a story of what’s to come in life after leaving “Fillmore County”. Where’s your Fillmore County? Perhaps this album will help guide you.

Mat Zo will always hold a special place in my heart. If he drops a trakc or album, expect it on one of these “Best Of” lists. The British producer is already hailed a modern legend, and Illusion of Depth is just another opus to add to the resume. If you like dance music, massive in your face drums, harsh and dreamy synths, then look no further. Standout tracks on this one are “Problems” and “Colours”.

Quickly becoming one of my favorite producers, Jim-E Stack has blessed us with a short EP with a ton of character. The indie-electronic California native has this special quality of mixing indie, lo-fi, dance, and electronic vibes into a cohesive work that creates these unique nostalgic emotions I can’t find in anyone else’s work. Heavy with features, this album borrows the talents of Empress Of, Bon Iver, Dijon, and Kacey Hill. If you’re in a fall mood as winter approaches, check this one out.

An easy pick for the album of the month. I was absolutely blown away by Mindchatter’s debut album. A fellow East Coast boy, The New York native has is new to the game in regards to releases. But his sound design and songwriting speak for themselves on this album as it flows from song to song until you sadly realize it’s over as the hauntingly beautiful vocals and guitar fade at the end of “Referees Don’t Fall in Love”. Mindchatter never sought after any features on this album as all of the vocals are his own. My favorites are “Choose a Side”, “Scared to Go Home”, and “Days Go Slow”, but this entire album as a whole is just phenomenal. Album of the year candidate?