Image via Radio Potato
As the music industry evolves, it's amazing to see that even though sales of music seem to fluctuate, and move towards more of a singles-driven market (which the dance music scene has always been built on), artists still want to knock out albums. It's one of the areas where they are truly allowed to represent themselves, bringing forth all of their knowledge of sound and crafting a statement. That alone speaks to the importance of an album, no matter what the industry is actually making money on. Producers want to provide that sole piece to be remembered by, and much of our excitement stems from these releases. Heading into 2014, a number of electronic music artists are gearing up for album releases, and we wanted to make sure we rounded up the projects we are definitively aware of, regardless of how much info is out there. Here are the most anticipated albums of 2014.
Skrillex
Title: n/a
Label: OWSLA?
Release Date: n/a
At least we can hope it comes in 2014 right?
Hardwell
Title: n/a
Label: Revealed Records
Release Date: n/a
The DJ Mag#1 DJ in the world has proven he can make club hits, but can he translate that to an album of equal merit?
Porter Robinson
Title: n/a
Label: Astralwerks
Release Date: August
Fellow Astralwerks-signed act Mat Zo released his debut in November of 2013, and Porter's is due sometime in August. Wonder how they'll compare, as these two will always be tied at the hip.
Madeon
Title: n/a
Label: Columbia Records
Release Date: n/a
He already announced it and he's worked with the likes of Two Door Cinema Club and Lady Gaga, so we have big hopes for the debut!
Duck Sauce
Title: Quack
Label: Casablanca
Release Date: n/a
Talk about a drip feed release right? We just want the quack already!
Dillon Francis
Title: n/a
Label: Mad Decent
Release Date: March
"Without You" was a promising beginning for Dillon's album, but just how deep is Dillon going to go?
Afrojack
Title: n/a
Label: Island Def Jam
Release Date: Early 2014
Doesn't matter what you think of Afrojack, there's no question that the Universal-signed act's album is about to be a cultural event in dance music.
Tiësto
Title: n/a
Label: Universal/Republic
Release Date: n/a
With the release of "Red Lights," we have a pretty solid idea of how far into the mainstream Tiesto's looking. With his signing to Universal, he has the major label backing needed to truly be the king of EDM.
Steve Angello
Title: Wild Youth
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
Will Steve's album be his true North American solo re-emergence?
Above & Beyond
Title: Above & Beyond Acoustic
Label: Ultra
Release Date: January 28, 2014
The Anjunabeats heads have been translating their massive tracks into impressive acoustic treats.
David Heartbreak
Title: Rose Colored Bass
Label: OWSLA
Release Date: n/a
Heartbreak has always had a prolific output and while we loved his OWSLA debut, The Foundation. His debut album, Rose Colored Bass, should be a treat.
Gareth Emery
Title: n/a
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
Apparently Gareth is pretty unhappy with the state of dance music becuase he made a point to say that his album will not be "'that sound' we've heard in about 10000 EDM tracks this year." Cheers Gareth, here's to originality!
Flying Lotus
Title: n/a
Label: Warp?
Release Date: n/a
FlyLo already shared a grip of ideas, drafts, and loops that give us an idea of where he's heading, but with his deal with Warp still up in the air, and an album's worth of material seemingly done, we're awaiting word on when this one will drop.
Knife Party
Title: n/a
Label: Earstorm?
Release Date: n/a
An album worth of "Internet Friends" and "Bonfires?" Probably not, but one must wonder what an album of "seizure music" could sound like.
Pendulum
Title: n/a
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
We were ready to write these guys off, but we'll take Rob at his word.
Paul Oakenfold
Title: Pop Killer
Label: Perfecto?
Release Date: n/a
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Gnarls Barkley, OneRepublic, B.o.B., Azaelia Banks, ZZ Ward, and Miguel; every single one of these names has been announced or rumored to be on the album. What we DON'T know is how far along Oakenfold is. If this featured list ends up holding weight, could Paul be the EDM DJ Khaled?
Markus Schulz
Title: Scream II
Label: Armada Music
Release Date: February 2014
Trance heavyweight followed the first Scream album with a U.S. bus tour, so Scream II should be out just in time four a second go 'round - even though he missed his fall 2013 expected delivery.
Spor
Title: n/a
Label: Sotto Voce
Release Date: n/a
Feed Me's Calamari Tuesday kicked off Sotto Voce, and from what he's saying, the return of Spor isn't that far behind.
Kim Dotcom
Title: Good Times
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
While the music will probably be less then stellar, the story around the album and why it's being made? Fascinating.
Tensnake
Title: Glow
Label: Astralwerks
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Tensnake's delightful mix of '80s pop, disco and indie dance is sure to get people groovin all year long - March can't come soon enough.
DJ Sliink
Title: n/a
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
The world finally recognized how promising Jersey club could be in 2013, and Sliink's set to make it much more enticing to dance music fans. Or he can at least make some of our dreams come true.
Plastikman
Title: n/a
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
This just in: You can cure an 11-year creative drought with a DJ set at the Guggenheim and create an album in five days later.
NERO
Title: n/a
Label: MTA Records?
Release Date: n/a
Welcome Reality was a revelation when it dropped, so here's to round two?
The Prototypes
Title: n/a
Label: Viper Recordings
Release Date: n/a
One of the more promising duos in the drum & bass scene, the newly-signed Viper Recordings act is set to drop their debut album this year on Viper.
Ali Love
Title: n/a
Label: n/a
Release Date: n/a
Scant details are available but the Hot Natured band member has been at work on his follow up to Love Harder.
Sampha
Title: n/a
Label: Young Turks
Release Date: n/a
One of the 2014 debut releases we can't wait for, especially with the notion that SBTRKT should have his hands on this in some way, shape, or form.
DJ Q
Title: n/a
Label: Local Action Records
Release Date: n/a
London's Local Action Records announed the the UK Garage phenom's debut album when they released his "proper champagne-popping cut" Mariah Carey remix.
