Electronic music albums often mark a point where artists really push themselves. With more scope to work with than the traditional double-sided 12” (unless you’re Ricardo Villalobos dropping 37-minute two-trackers),new approaches can be explored, new themes touched upon, and new sounds experimented with. All the while, tying these strands together into a fully-formed and cogent statement of your artistry.

2018 has been a fine year for the format. We’ve seen fresh faces drop groundbreaking debuts and returning heroes deliver their best ever works. Artists have surprised us with unexpected directions, and others have acutely met expectations by channelling their formula into LPs of unrelenting quality. Collaborators have worked together and synthesised their styles to achieve next-level sounds, and international scenes have gained new attention thanks to breakout records from emerging stars.

Check out our picks for the top 50 albums of 2018 below.