QRO Magazine - Features » Electronic Albums of Summer '07

Features

The summer is when everyone's energy is at its maximum, so you gotta have a way to release it. Thankfully, there are a handful of electronic albums this year that will help you do just that. They're not all club-hopping booty-shakers though; some of them will actually make you think:

Justice - Cross Country: France Standout tracks: "D.A.N.C.E.", "Genesis" Info: One of the most talked-about albums of the summer features tons of club-worthy dance beats and infectious melodies.
*The Chemical Brothers - We Are The Night* (QRO Review) Country: England Standout tracks: "Das Spiegel" Info:** Indispensable veterans of electronica feature tons of friends and a loungier, groove sound rather than anthems.
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release Country: England Standout tracks: "I Believe", "It's the Beat" Info: Two former members of Simian help kick start the dance craze of 2007 with unnatural DJ skills and plus help from friends.
*Apparat - Walls* (QRO Review) Country: Germany Standout tracks: "Hailin' From the Edge", "Fractales Pt. 1" Info:** Slick lounge dance-ready beats with amazing articulation through a wide variety of instrumental and electronic forces.
*Digitalism - Idealism* (QRO Review) Country: Germany Standout tracks: "Zdarlight", "Digitalism in Cairo" Info:** Helping to bring the Daft Punk redux alive, the German duo rocks ultra-digital dance riffs like a couple of robots would.
*Unkle - War Stories* (QRO Review) Country: England Standout tracks: "Hold My Hand", "Restless" Info:** Superstar DJ James Lavelle gathers another all-star line-up together that includes Josh Homme, 3D, Ian Astbury, and Autolux.
*Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye* (QRO Review) Country: Germany Standout tracks: "Shine", "Stars" Info:** Sweeping, mellow waves with ghostly vocals form one of the more relaxing (but not chillout) albums of the year.
*People Press Play - Self-titled* (QRO Review) Country: Denmark Standout tracks: "Always Wrong", "Hangin On" Info:** Downtempo electronics paint a dark urban picture