Apparently a concept album about a love story between two merging corporations, the debut of this duo from Minneapolis is at first a difficult bundle of noise, but underneath the surface there is a serenity that grabs its audience. Guitarist Jenna Wilhelm's vocals, that are reminiscent of Broadcast, are coupled with the digital noises of electronics-man Mark McGee, resulting in a very dark atmosphere. Perhaps it's the constantly overruling noise that makes The Patron peculiar, but it's interesting to listen to a battle between heaven and hell, with hell ever so victorious.

Minimal techno expert Dapayk (Niklas Worgt) and his supermodel vocalist wife Eva Padberg return with their second LP, this time less Eurotrash and more contemplative, with a dressing of delicious hip-hop. Black Beauty is a base for discussion as to what will happen to techno in the near future; refraining from imposing opinions but provocating. You might be surprised by how easily Dapayk challenges his audience saying "I hit the table with a wooden spoon, and you dance", but there is a significant honesty in their confused music.

Mitchell Akiyama's newest excursion with Jenna Robertson (of Avia Gardner) and Tony Boggs (of Désormais) is a unification of indie/pop vocals blending into lo-fi noise. With the air of improvisation reigning all over, Letters Letters takes the clichés of pop music and turns them into an experimental novelty. Singing out of tune, constant rustling and the insistant repetition - these may stop Letters Letters from being a superstar indie act; but this album is one of the most interesting and experimental albums of the year.

Although Jake Fairley is more widely known with his works under his own real name, the melodic minimal techno goodness of the Paper Stars LP from 5 years ago and Gazebo EP of last year provided him with a different audience. Coloured in Memory, the new Fairmont LP, is a mixture of different genres that takes a radical stance. The tracks are undeniably disconnected, but this itself forms a new coherent whole. Border Community's new neotrance attack will make you think "If Mogwai made techno it would sound like this".

Just as I was thinking "Can I really take another Kettel record with exactly the same style" (now that IDM is drifting away from us with each day), I'm surprised with one that is experimental jazz with electronic beats. There are even a few ballads here too! This lighthearted album relies on melodies that are sweet but won't blow your mind, and shows us that there's still good IDM to be made.

I've been eagerly awaiting this debut for a while, since Morgan Packard's collaboration with Ezekiel Honig last year was absolutely amazing. Airships Fill the Sky does more than to just satisfy my expectations, I have really been moved by it. There is a competence here that manages to bring together so many different genres but still make it very minimal and subtle. Very highly recommended.

If you already know and like both of these artists then you know what to expect. The dreamy drones of Fennesz meets the heart warming piano of Ryuichi Sakamoto, and the result is an album of wandering compositions that take you to so many different places. The mild electronics added as a layer on top of everything here and there moderately are helpful in creating an avant garde aura. You just can not afford to miss the collaboration of these two masterminds.

I hadn't really been a great fan of Porn Sword Tobacco with his first two efforts, but it must be said that his new album is a great achievement. I don't think this is an album from which you can select a track and enjoy immensely on its own (perhaps with the exception of the 6th track, Cubical Fever, which is insanely good!), the tracks following each other so well making the 14 tracks a fascinating whole. Some might say that it's all too depressing but I would disagree, because there are uplifting melodies sprinkled here and there that make the overall atmosphere uplifting. It's also intriguing how at times New Exclusive Olympic Heights manages to sound very Eastern; but quite like an interpretation of Eastern music rather than a direct example of it. All available thumbs up Porn Sword Tobacco.

It's highly likely that you have inevitably run into Ben Frost's name somewhere in the last few months, as he is getting huge respect at the moment. Alright, Ben Frost is certainly not saving electronic music; but it's hard to deny that the music he makes encompasses huge fields and addresses a good timespan. There is the possibility of hearing Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson in here, but also modern masters such as Mika Vainio, Alva Noto and Max Richter. Blending a handful of genres into a complete whole and thus standing outside conventional genre descriptions, Ben Frost creates very dark atmospheres that will leave you panting doused in sweat.

It seems Kompakt's huge acclaim over the past months that made them a precious commodity is a boost for great releases. Chromophobia is a rich work of art that stands not only as mere dancing goodness but also as intricate musical articulation. It's impossible to deny the strong presence of Boratto's Brazilian roots that make this album a hot and humid dancefloor, and if this doesn't tickle your ears it's such a shame.