DAEMON'S
BEST OF 2024

In 2024, we had an abundance of amazing releases, keeping me busy with set building all year. I have put together a list of twenty of my favorite releases from the past year that significantly influenced my setlists and the dance floors I've managed, along with a few albums that, while not featured in my sets, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. Compiling this list took than expected due to the wealth of quality releases to revisit and reviewing my Rekordbox history to see what found a place in my sets.

To start, here are the TOP 5 releases that didn't make it into my sets but were fantastic listens:

The Cure

Songs Of A Lost World (Polydor)

It was a long time since 2008's 4:13 Dream, and we were wondering if The Cure had packed it in after a long and illustrious career. Of course, off the heels of a very successful arena tour (of which I had worked the Seattle show) and teasing these songs on said tour it would be inevitable that we would see a studio release for the first time in sixteen years. Songs Of A Lost World really taps deep into the feeling of being in the twilight of our lives, diving deep into lyrics about time passing us by as well as personal loss (including that of Robert's own brother in "I Can Never Say Goodbye"). With long and sometimes repetitive ballads with very deliberate instrumentation and the hauntingly serene voice of Smith that hasn't really changed much over the years, I can't really pull this out in the clubs. However, the album dropped during a time of uncertainty and internal chaos that made me listen to this on repeat for a few days. This may not be Disintegration, but this hits all the right places in the feels at a time we needed it.

Haujobb

The Machine In The Ghost (Dependant)

Like Bob did with Songs Of A Lost World, Daniel Myer and Dejan Samardzic made us wait almost a whole decade for the follow-up to 2015's Blendwerk, but somehow they continue to remind us that this project will continue to push whatever the sonic borders happen to be at the time no matter how much they had changed within that decade. The clattering noise mixed in with minimal beats reminded me of some of my earlier works with Pixelpussy, but done in ways I couldn't even imagine doing when I was first taking up this project. The chill yet menacing vocals of Myer also help tie this all together, and while this doesn't necessarily have any dance floor bangers this release really scratched those audio itches.

Kite

VII (Dais)

I'm not sure I can call this an album or an EP, per se...as this is mostly a collection of some of the Swedish duo's deepest and dynamic anthems over the last five years all remastered. I have enjoyed their previous releases as singles and EPs, and their live show is something incredible to experience. These are not what I would normally spin as a mass crying fit wouldn't be a good look on a dance floor, but for those times when you are feeling a bit of a way, this is a painful yet beautiful listen front to back.

Nox Novacula

Feed The Fire (Artoffact)

I don't really spin a lot of deathrock, so naturally it wouldn't be featured as much in my sets. However, having seen this band a few times in the last couple of years it would come as no surprise that this release would deliver that same energy. This fuses that deathrock and post-punk energy with some electronic darkwave sounds that don't take away from each other, and the way it combines full-blown rage over the deliberate yet anthemic delivery of Charlotte Blythe's vocals make this one a must-have for those who love deathrock, post-punk, or even first wave goth rock.

Nuda

Stranger (self released)

Now I have played Nuda's music during a few sets here and there. and have even used their single "Tension" in some of my promo videos, but to call this a dance-oriented record would sell it short of what the bigger picture is. It has songs such as "Trigger" and "Break" that would pass as club tracks, but overall the album is a lesson in sound design and instrumentation. It feels like some music that Ade Fenton should be writing for Gary Numan. I wonder if we can make that collab happen...

And now for the best releases that have impacted my setlists (in no apparent order other than alphabetical):

Ashbury Heights

Ghost House Sessions Vol. 1 (Out of Line)

This is another collection on this list, as they describe as an anthology of “the unreleased, the rare, and the weird." as the trio collected singles as well as some unreleased cuts over the last four years. While known as a synthpop outfit, this collection has songs that can fit into many different types of sets. "Wild Eyes" and "A Cut In A Place", each with Madil Hardis, have been a part of my sets this year, as well as the 2020 single "Spectres From the Black Moss" in which my partner is really partial. There are some other collabs with the likes of Blutengel's Ulrike, Danny Blu, and Corlyx as well, and then you have some oddballs thrown into the mix that mixes EDM stylings ("Escape Velocity") to even cod-reggae ("In The Dark"), but it remains cohesive with the others and consequentially very "Ashbury Heights-like".

Bill Leeb

Model Kollapse
(Metropolis)

Bill Leeb, known for defining the dark-electro post-industrial sound of bands like Front Line Assembly, Cyberaktif, and Noise Unit, embarks on his first solo release with Model Kollapse. The track "Demons" quickly became a staple in my sets upon its release, setting the mood for the start of many nights. His distinctive vocals are a highlight on this album, enhancing rather than overshadowing the tracks, particularly in collaborations with fellow Vancouver artists ACTORS on "Muted Obsessions" and Shannon Hemmet on "Terror Forms." Given Bill's extensive involvement in various projects over the years, it's surprising he hasn't pursued a solo endeavor sooner, but perhaps this won't be the last we of him in this capacity.

Black Nail Cabaret

Chrysanthemum (Dependent)

This Hungarian dark electro-pop duo combines minimal yet striking electronics with hauntingly soothing vocals in their previous releases, including one of my favorites, Gods Verging On Sanity. Chrysanthemum follows suit, creating an airy and mesmerizing atmosphere while its pulsing beats maintain your engagement (just ask anyone who has danced to my darkwave sets). "Autogenic," "Darkness As A Friend," "Totem and Taboo" stood out as my from the past year, but the album is also enjoyable as a cohesive listen while tackling tasks in my everyday life.

Circuit Preacher

Made To Burn (darkTunes)

I wasn't sure how I came across this album, but the debut release from Richmond, Virginia's Circuit Preacher would become a staple in my EBM sets this year, especially when I relaunched my 2nd Wednesdays back in October. This combined pounding beats and pulsing rhythms with haunting melodies and aggressive vocals. "Test of Faith" and "Con Man" were living in my sets all year, and I want to see more from this artist in the future. With some new singles being released on Bandcamp, including collabs with ANTIBODY, genCAB, and MOBIIUS, I think my wish will be granted soon.

Dark Chisme

Self-titled (self released)

Last year saw the emergence of Chicago-turned-Seattle DJ Dark Chisme come about with her own darkwave project, and even in its infancy the EP Yo Puedo Vivir Sin Ti was making waves all over the dark music scene, and made my list of best EPs of 2023. Now that EP has developed into a full-blown LP with more of that songwriting whose simplicity is only enhanced by Christine Gutierrez's powerful voice. Songs from the original EP such as "Move" and "Cold" as well as the newer additions "Sombras" and "Vete de Aqui" were all taking turns in my darkwave and EBM sets, and this release has been on many "year end" lists from scene publication to KEXP and even The Seattle Times. I see this rocket that is strapped to their backs to not run out of fuel anytime soon.

Kontravoid

Detachemnt (Artoffact)

This wall of synths has taken a turn that has really elevated this project into new frontiers. There really isn't much of a standout single on this record, but I don't say that as a bad thing. I do play "Reckoning", "For What It Is", and "Death Shot" a lot in my sets, but each one of these songs have the ability to stand out on their own. While I haven't been able to find a spot for the nu-italo banger "Losing Game" featuring Nuovo Testamento's Chelsey Crowley, but I'm sure that will change soon enough. Every EBM or Synthpop set should have cuts from this lurking about.

LEATHERS

Ultraviolet (Artoffact)

Shannon Hemmet of ACTORS fame has come into her own with her side project LEATHERS, and while there is some of that familiarity in some of the songwriting with her main project she still sets herself apart with this release that fuses darkwave, synthpop, and even bits of shoegaze into a neat little package. My darkwave sets found "Runaway", "Highrise", "Crash", and the title track to be effective on the dance floor. Overall, a very dreamy and sonically seductive listen that's very easy to vibe with.

Matte Blvck

Vows (self released)

The sophomore release from San Diego's Matte Blvck hits you hard with shadowy soundscapes and melancholic melodies that have fit in numerous different dark club settings. The title track was one of my favourites, as well as "Proxy", "Bliss", and "Holy Wars", while "Midnight and Angel" is great for those swoopy Depeche Mode-like settings. The entire record dabbles with different styles but yet still remains true to the sound that brought them to the dance to begin with. DJing their show back in July was definitely an honour and a privilege.

Matteo Tura

Disobey Club
(self released)

This six-song EP from Italian producer Matteo Tura delivers it short and sweet with techno and body music inspired club music, and tracks such as "I'm Selfish", "Femme Fatale", and the title track lived within my dark EDM sets as well as at Tech Noir this past year. Probably the biggest surprise on this record was the darkwave sounding combo breaker "Molotov Cocktail", which I was not expecting to work in the way that it did.

Mortal Realm

A Stab In The Dark
(Negative Gain Productions)

The brainchild behind HAEX known as Adam Jones really just came out and smacked us all in the face with this seven song album of pure unadulterated electro-industrial. You may have noticed that "The Face" has lived in my sets over the last couple of months, and I've also sprinkled in "Death Debt" here and there as well. This can live within EBM, electro-industrial or even aggrotech setlists, and I can't wait to see more from this project in the future.

MVTANT

Electronic Body Horror
(Dream)

This first proper LP from the San Antonio-based solo project MVTANT takes us through a pulsing and frenetic electronic journey that gives it to you raw and heavy, just as an album with this title should. I really enjoyed the first two tracks "Disintegration" and "Pretty Flesh" in my sets but the overall body of work doesn't stop there as it can take you through an aggressive and uncomfortable journey while remaining artfully deliberate in its execution. You cannot listen to this record without thinking about the overall state of the world.

Night Club

Masochist (Gato Blanco)

I can't really say too much about this record except for the fact it's catchy and every time I play a track from this album, the dance floor gets packed. It's a blend of dark-twinged electro-pop that not only makes the goth clubs go nuts but can also fit into more adjacent electronic with its very accessible hooks. I've played "Another Side of You" and "Fatal Crush" as well as "Crime Scene" and the cover of Funboy 3's "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)" being favourites of my Mercury colleagues. No matter how you feel about how pop music has influenced our music in the scene, I think we can agree that this will get you moving no matter what mood you're in.

Normal Bias

Kingdom Come
(Synthicide)

This one fell into my collection a bit later in the year, and was a nice recommendation from my friend DJ //SHE// out of Phoenix. This duo describes themselves as "industrial body funk", and the debut LP from this project of Matt Weiner (TWINS) and Chris Campion (Multiple Man) definitely lives up to that moniker with a little more finesse than one might think. "Falling Down" and the title track has been in my sets since I got this, while "Earth Dies Burning" has also really started to grow on me. It's more lush and polished since their debut EP a couple years ago, but if you like Depeche Mode but funkier then I recommend this 100%.

Orange Sector

Feuer & Flamme
(Infacted Recordings)

Honestly? I thought this longtime EBM group were done. But somehow they went viral on TikTok with a modified version of their track from 2019's Alarm "Farben" to where they re-released the single earlier this year. Their 13th album is a straight down the pipe EBM record, complete with clean rhythms and vintage yet minimalistic synths including a Moog DFAM. "Tanzfabrik" was featured on one of my latest mixes, and I've loved "Folge dem Licht" and "Wo Bist Du" as well. There's even a bit of a ballad at the end of the record in the form of "Niemand", which tells of personal tragedy in Martin Bodewell's life. Overall, this is an EBM record definited and will fit in any classic industrial set.

Sacred Skin

Born In Fire
(Artoffact)

What's old is definitely new again, and with The Decline of Pleasure being such a big hit last year (and was one of my best records from 2023) I was surprised to see such a quick turnaround with a very solid sophomore release in the form of Born In Fire. Just like with the previous record, you would not believe that an album of this type of production and sound would've been released in the year 2024. Like the style of its forefathers of the 80's it's bombastic yet soulful and groovy and really shows the range of the songwriters...all of it done tastefully and deliberately. My sets featured "Too Hard To Find" a lot since this was released, but front to back it's an absolute pleasure. You could slip this into an 80's night and people won't realize it was NOT made in the 80's...it's that well done.

Sleek Teeth

self titled
(self released)

This L.A. duo seemed to have come out of nowhere with some singles over the last year or so, starting with "Gone" and "Endless", which end up on this five song self-titled EP that just comes at you hard by blending EBM, synthpop, darkwave, and other forms of electronic dance music which can find homes in many different types of sets. I've played the first two singles in sets as well as "Powerless" which has that dark EDM feel that integrates into my Tech Noir sets. It's hard to tell with such a small sample size, but this duo has the ability to re-invent a few genres within our thing.

tassel

A Sacrifice: Unto Idols
(self released)

A year ago I saw this Arizona-based band at a show in Vegas on the weekend of a gig, and I was blown away with how they blended body music with post-punk and deathrock. Now they released A Sacrifice: Unto Idols to give us DJs the ability to make them both mingle with each other in the clubs. I've incorporated "IV. Nativity" and "V. Crawling" in a few of my sets, and that's not even counting how many post-punk or deathrock sets this album can invade. Goth or industrial? Both. Both is good.

Twin Tribes

Pendulum
(Beso de Muerte)

With darkwave enjoying the resurgence it had been over the last five years or so, it's natural to feel that the sound can become a bit tiresome after a while. However, Twin Tribes bucks that trend of knock-offs and the latest release Pendulum cements their legacy as one of the top dogs of modern darkwave. I've had "Cauldron of Thorns" and "Monolith" as regular visitors into my sets, with "Another Life" scratching that second wave goth itch as well. This band continues to build off of Ceremony and Shadows and continues to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that was in danger of getting stale.

Urban Heat

The Tower
(Artoffact)

Another Texas act that managed to blend modern darkwave with groovy midtempo electro, post punk, and gothic butt rock and with quality songwriting and tight arrangements wrapping it up into a neat little package, Urban Heat took the energy from their live shows and translated it into a full blown LP! Count "Sanitizer" and "Too Much Too Soon" as additions to my sets this year, which barely makes it onto this list as I wouldn't see too many club hits on this record, but that doesn't detract from the fact that there are just some great songs and makes the entire album an enjoyable experience. I hope as they continue to evolve as a band that they continue to carry this same authenticity in the songwriting as we see here.

XTR Human

Schrank
(Wie Ein Gott)

Whoever said EBM was dead was 1. lying through their teeth, and 2. obviously didn't tell Johannes Stabel. Schrank incorporates the sounds of classic anhalt and EBM with Berlin warehouse rave energy. While I have incorporated "Neid", "I Want More", "Beton", and the appropriately-titled "EBM Train" in my sets, this whole record can take you through the club, the gym, or even just jogging in the streets without any hesitation. It does the job and then some.

DAEMON'S BEST OF 2024