2024: The Top 6 EPs
My picks for the best electronic short projects (EPs) released in 2024. Yes, I didn't listen to many EPs this year, unfortunately, but these were all the standouts. So here's my list, enjoy! Note: for legacy purposes, this list will probably not change even when my opinions inevitably change over time.
6)
Blue Hour
Ipsiom
This EP is the entire reason why I've made this list 6 items long, rather than a nice round 5 — because Ipsiom did one hell of a good job crafting this thing. EPs thrive on cohesive moods, and "Blue Hour" is both creative and well put together, wistfully colourful and melancholically wistful. A couple of good vocal performances, some very mood-influenced sampling, a few bursts of colour here and there, and "Blue Hour" is genuinely a fantastic EP, one to be reckoned with. I'll admit, it's got its flaws, but Ipsiom's efforts here are highly commendable, enough to force it into this list. Read the full review here.
5)
Prequel: "The Dawning Path"
Burr Oak
Burr Oak strike again, and they strike hard, rounding off their already strong year with an even stronger EP containing some of their boldest work to date. "Prequel: The Dawning Path" is a potent two track wombo combo project of confident grime and gritty neurofunk that swipes at your feet hard and fast, and lifts them clean off the ground. Burr Oak are relentless in their production, stabby and nasty in all the good ways, and the rappers they bring on — Jakes for "Get A Grip", and KNARS and Multiplex for "Dystopia 2.0" — provide their own flair with some phenomenal verses.
I just have to commend this EP for its brilliance in sheer flow and unceasing barrage of pure bass. That's why it lands in the top 5, because despite having only two tracks, the quality of both vocal and production packed into these two tracks is incredible. I don't usually go out of my way to review two-track albums, but the fact that this one's landed on this list is surely a statement. Read the full review here.
4)
Sorcerer's Symphony
Caster
Towards the start of this year, Caster popped off another hauntingly themed EP, on Monstercat of all places. And honestly, it held up throughout the entire year as one of my favourites. In part this is due to "Infortunii", but I can't deny that the rest of "Sorcerer's Symphony" sure does some serious heavy lifting. Caster's production quality simply feels more immaculate than usual here, and when you combine that with the diversity and hard-hitting nature of this project, this is certainly one of his strongest performances to date. "Sorcerer's Symphony" demonstrates Caster's maturation as a producer, but it's also just really damn good. Read the full review here.
3)
Play Games
Teddy Killerz
I cannot stress enough how Teddy Killerz have absolutely steamrolled practically everyone in the drum n bass scene this year. Practically every releasse of theirs has been greatness after greatness, a slew of the most innovative bass music to hit the scene. With "Play Games" being their only EP of the year, and considering the track quality on it that not only matches their annual output but perhaps exceeds it, there was no doubt in my mind that this project would find itself a spot comfortably on this list — the only question was: where? Here. Snugly fit into the top 3, "Play Games" is the best neurofunk has on offer on 2024, whether it's the dense "Wiiru" or the impactful title track. Eatbrain has sure had one hell of a strong year, and it's artists like Teddy Killerz who are spearheading the neurofunk charge; and with projects like this, you start to understand why.
2)
Digital Reassurance
Marcix
Sometimes an EP is produced that causes an artist to break through the crowd to find themselves in the spotlight of the bass scene. It seems oddly fitting to me that "Digital Reassurance" is Marcix's breakthrough project, because it breaks through basically everything. This project is freakishly violent, with a penchant for deafening high-ends and frenzied leads and pure sonic pandemonium on all levels. Marcix went all out for his debut on Disciple, and it's got to be one of the best EPs Disciple have put out in a very long time.
No, the mixing isn't perfect. No, the production isn't super technical. No, you will not find cohesive leads or catchy hooks. What you will find, though, is a breathtakingly destructive experience, packed with maniacal density and absolute madness. Read the full review here.
1)
The Fae
YMIR
Lots of very good bass projects this year, but it's YMIR who rises above the sea of bass and takes the top of the podium with his offbeat blend of pop, rock, electronic, and whatever else he wants. It's incredible how big of a margin this project wins by, but the project itself is even more incredible. With a better narrative than most full-scale albums could hope to achieve, YMIR brings emotion, storytelling, progression, production, vocalisation — you name it — to this magnificent beast of a project, and it's very difficult to discredit his pure musical talent. Nothing about this project is wrong: the technical accuracy is very impressive; the genre diversity is immense; the atmospheres are awe-inspiring and evocative; the narrative is spine-chillingly, jaw-droppingly good; I can genuinely name no flaws.
Not only does YMIR avoid doing anything wrong, he does everything right. With a fantastic mind for mythos, YMIR constructs a mindbending fantasy narrative to which he can synchronize his captivating voice to, and a bunch of incredible production, whether that be neuro, future bass, or breakbeats. That's why this project not only sits comfortably at #1 on this list, but also rather stubbornly at a perfect 100/100 rating. Read the full review here.