The Most Anticipated Electronic Albums for the Rest of 2014

While the electronic music scene has been built on singles, you can't deny the necessity of albums in this space. There's still something to be said for artists who know how to create full album-length projects, especially in the EDM world. With 2014 already showcasing solid album projects from Aphex Twin, LAKIM, and Wen, it's interesting to see what the final lap of 2014 holds for the electronic music scene. While we know a number of projects are on the horizon (and even more that don't have official release dates as of yet), these are the album projects that we're anticipating the most for the rest of 2014.

Release Date: September 30, 2014
Label: Ultra / Dim Mak

While we've already heard collaborations with Flux Pavilion, Waka Flocka, and Chris Lake from Neon Future I, we have a feeling that the full release will be something EDM lovers can't wait to get their hands on. With an Afroki track as well as collaborations with will.i.am, Fall Out Boy, and MGK, this is shaping up to be the biggest mainstream EDM album to hit in Q4, set to take Aoki through the remainder of his 2014 tour dates. The question is: will people be listening?

Release Date: October 6, 2014
Label: Virgin EMI / Black Butter

These UK dons have been delivering a touch of the most soulful and bass-heavy house music in quite some time. There 2013 hit "Real" propelled them into a new strata and hace since only built. Next month the duo drops their heavily anticipated debut LP Sirens. GC fans have probably heard about half of this album already, based on previously-released singles, but with collaborations from Katy B and Jennifer Hudson also included, it'll be interesting to see where Sirens could take Gorgon City on the more mainstream side.

Release Date: October 6, 2014
Label: Metalheadz

Ulterior Motive signing to Metalheadz was a great look for all parties involved; something about the duo clicked when they'd signed with Subtitles, but the drum & bass jedi Goldie guiding their future has really drawn something special out of the pair. He took an even more active role with The Fourth Wall, and like most LPs on the rebooted Metalheadz, we're bound to expect some fierce, mind-boggling drum & bass rhythms alongside some more somber, chilled flavors.

Release Date: October 7, 2014
Label: Young Turks

The features (and the roll-out) on this album has been special. Sampha, Ezra Koenig, Jessie Ware, A$AP Ferg, and Raury are all featured, but it's the album as a whole is what you should be focusing on. SBTRKT's 2011 debut was a critical success and is what propelled the enigmatic artist into the spotlight he's in now, so the follow-up comes with high expectations.

Release Date: October 7, 2014
Label: Merge Records

Caribou has history touring or working with the likes of Radiohead, Four Tet, DJ Koze, and Junior Boys. We're not if sure there's anyone else on the planet with that kind of cred dropping a record in 2014 other than Dan Snaith aka Caribou. He's been pretty much critically acclaimed since the jump and there may not be a producer who can go from techno to folktronica to shoegaze as effortlessly as him. Know that a ton of heads are really salivating over this one.

Release Date: October 7, 2014
Label: Warp

It's one thing to be fucking around and say "let's call the album You're Dead." It's another to turn that inside joke into a conceptual statement that still works on both levels. After hearing features from Kendrick Lamar and Herbie Hancock, it's great to hear that FlyLo's free jazz side is in place. It's going to be interesting to see how people react to the journey FlyLo's planning on taking them with this release.

Release Date: October 21, 2014
Label: PMR

Jessie Ware is straight up one of the coolest female vocal presences in all of music right now. While not 100% "EDM" by any stretch of the imagination, it definitely seems because she's been remixed and featured by so many huge names in dance music that the correllation was really only a matter of time. Four tracks have already had snippets drop so far, including the immaculate title track. This promising and quick follow up from her 2012 acclaimed debut and the hype may only be getting started here.

Release Date: October 27, 2014
Label: Earstorm / Big Beat

So while tracks are apparently "leaking" left and right, the excitement for Knife Party's debut album Abandon Ship seems to be only growing. The leaked tracks have KP's usual crushing bass, razor-sharp sound design, and flair for epicness, but their most recent track, "Begin Again" seems to put all of it in perspective. "Begin Again" is wildly reminescnt of "The Island"–a progressive house and electro house fusion single off Pendulum's final album Immersion–the group that apparently tons of KP fans didn't know in fact pre-dates and gave birth to the duo they so proclaim to love. Regardless of all that, the album should be an exciting step forward for Knife Party and electro house in 2014.

Release Date: October 28, 2014
Label: Columbia

Once we heard that Dillon Francis signed with Columbia (which is also the home of Steve Angello and Daft Punk), we knew this album would be something special. If the strength behind his massive single "Without You" (featuring T.E.E.D.) was any indication, Dillon's working with something special, where he can balance his goofy, fun-loving side with something a bit more grounded and real. With features from Twista and Major Lazer on the project, he's either a) doing what comes naturally or b) truly living that IDGAFOS life and going for his. We hope it's a bit of both, as that when we love Dillon the most.

Release Date: November 3, 2014
Label: dirtybird

Not only does Belgian producer Kill Frenzy win the "dopest album title of Q4" title, but from the sounds of "All Night Long" and "No Panties," the dirtybird sound will be alive and kicking throughout this release... and we're happy for it. With an early November release date, it'll be the perfect temperature outside to make it hot and sweaty up in the club. A project that Claude VonStroke has called his "secret weapon" over the summer, we have a feeling Taylr Swft will have heads bouncing throughout New Years.

Release Date: November 3, 2014
Label: Mute

Arca's been on the low, quietly captivating heads in the know with his submersive sounds, all the while lending production to both Kanye West and FKA twigs. While his work for others might be a bit more accessible, his solo productions definitely highlight the quirky, fascinating world he embodies... which just happen to be filled with tight drums and meaty bass.

Release Date: November 4, 2014
Label: Astralwerks

Dirty South has a new home (Astralwerks), and came to the table with a fully-realized project (similar to Porter Robinson) in that his album With You is also a movie. Now, he didn't get the idea for the film (which he wrote, shot, and directed) until listening to the album for the first time, but it's amazing that he went through with turning his vision into something visual. It's a step in a different direction for Dirty South, who incorporates more indie sounds to this project, and at the very least you have to give it up for an electronic artist who's doing much more than making you put up your hands.

Release Date: November 17, 2014
Label: Green

This Amsterdam house and techno veteran has really blossomed in the last five years or so with his acclaimed mixes but hasn't realeased an artist album since 2007. Resident Advisor favorite and heavily-supported by the likes of Pete Tong if it gives you some idea to the versatility of what this guy can bring to the table, especially for those DAD readers who may be unfamiliar. If his remix of Lykke Li is indication on what to expect from Nobody Knows, then we seem to believe the dance music community may be in for a real treat.

Release Date: November 18, 2014
Label: WeDidIt

From the sounds of "Core," many probably assumed that RL Grime's debut album Void would be the WeDidIt family member's turnt odyssey, but he had a curveball for us in the form of "Reminder." The How To Dress Well-featured track was at a slower pace, had infinite more feels to it, and showcased the chops that RL Grime's more than likely working with. He's set the world ablaze with monstrous trap originals and remixes, but is also the 808-loving guise of Clockwork. How could we NOT expect something different. Don't count your "best of 2014" album list complete before listening to this one, trust.