Electronic

(Depeche Mode, Orbital, Kraftwerk)

Happy Elf “Sexmachine” – free funny electro-pop album

Happy Elf is the performing name of Dutch multi-instrumentalist Jeroen Elfferich. As Happy Elf, Elfferich has released more than ten albums since 1999. He considers his music "electropopmusic," but the truth is that it is a good mix of various styles thrown together with a nice electronic beat. His latest release is "Sexmachine," a five-track mini-album that's all about dreams, sex, love, and relationships. Don't expect a thoughtful and introspective album, though; as the release information says, "[D]on’t take it too seriously: it’s Happy Elf!"

Mindburner “Your Slave” – 80’s inspired free electronica album

Mindburner, AKA Alan Watkins, was born in Belfast in 1968 and he has been producing electronic music for the past 15 years. He owns several vintage synthesizers and enjoys playing them very much. He involves various styles in his music, and incorporates influences from early 1980s electronic pioneers such as John Foxx, Gary Numan, and others. His music generally ends up being about the darker side of life: the half shadow, the unanswered question, or the hidden fear. These emotions drive him to write and produce.

WhiteRoom – a neoromantic pop album by WhiteRoom

Ever heard of neoromantic pop? I must confess that I haven't, that is, until I came across WhiteRoom's self-titled album. "WhiteRoom" is fast-paced, mournful, and thoughtful---all in equal measures. The sound is quite unique. "If Radiohead’s unborn bastard children had survived, been raised on a steady diet of Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and Duke Ellington, you might have managed to engineer a group like WhiteRoom," says one music review. I couldn't agree more.

Reead “Nobody’s Innocent” – a pop-dance album with an acoustic touch

Nobody's Innocent is a pop-dance, electro/club album by 27-year old French artist Reead. If you can summarize the whole album in one word, it would have to be "surprising". The collection is a tight mesh of dance tunes and quiet acoustic serenades, which from the sound of it doesn't seem too appealing---but trust me, this album is one surprise you shouldn't miss. The dance tracks reflect the artist's funky side as influenced by constantly evolving pop singer Madonna while the soothing acoustic tracks show the strong impact of pop-rock band Lifehouse on the French singer. Reead manages to pull off this unlikely union of two different genres with admirable aplomb.

Anois – Tree House Whispers – fragile folk-electronica album

Anois is made up of the German pair of Lars Kranholdt and Anne Baier. They describe their songs as "fragile folk-electronica," and they record their songs with instruments as varied as the guitar, melodica, fan organ, glockenspiel, and other acoustic instruments. The result is a rather introspective album that you can relax to, while giving you greater insight into their world if you really listen closely and pay attention to their lyrics. "Tree House Whispers" is a 13-track album available for free via the netlabel Aerotone. As a special bonus, if you subscribe to their newsletter, then you get another EP for free!

“The Politics of Desire” by Revolution Void – a free electric jazz album

With a consistently high ranking on Jamendo, Revolution Void's latest album, The Politics of Desire, has set the standards of electric jazz music quite high. Revolution Void is a music project by Jonah Dempcy, who started it way back in 1995. With the quotation 'We are the facilitators of our own creation' boldly stated in his website, Dempcy released his albums through Creative Commons.As the third album released under the Revolution Void Records net label, The Politics of Desire has a polished selection of electro jazz instrumental songs. It was described as a fresh take to electronic music and had a blend of different sounds.

“Trip to Trip” – a free electro-punk album by Ben et Béné

Ben et Béné is an Electro-8bit-Punk duo from France. Ben started playing his own music in 2003 after singing and playing in other punk and indie rock groups, composing his music on a cheap computer, then Gameboy and Reason. Béné, who just qualified for art-school, shows her "Real Video," which is a blend of TV movies and domestic video, during their concerts. Ben et Béné recently released "Trip to Trip," a CD/DVD combo EP, via Da! Heard It Records. Now, all the songs and videos from that EP are available for download for free via the record label's website.

Fhernando “Sweet Addiction” – a free Creative Commons licensed dance album, now on FrostWire

Fhernando is a great young Mexican DJ whose most recent album, "Sweet Addiction", got some amazing reviews on free music download websites and social networks. Fhernando, or Fernando Ramires Rios, has been composing music since he was a teenager and has already released several EPs and singles. "I Love New York", his previous release, was a house/trance/electro composition. "Sweet Addiction" falls in between the disco/house/funk genres, with more complicated arrangements and "sexy & glam" style. Both are happy, energetic and capturing.

Mushrooms Suck by Jupiter Skydive – a high energy dance/electronica

Just recently I came across some tracks from this album on thesixtyone.com and couldn't resist digging more. Mushrooms Suck is a very energetic compilation of breakcore/electro/industrial/drum 'n' bass tracks that will just keep your head moving. It is Jupiter Skydive' (Nick) second (out of three) albums and, in my opinion, the best. Every track of the album is different and interesting - my favorite is "Off Road Ice Cream Truck", but it is a close call.