Pitchfork's 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016

From Arca to Moor Mother to Tim Hecker to Meredith Monk, the best experimental records of the year

Published: December 09, 2016 06:00 Source

# 1

AS by Amnesia Scanner

EP • Mar 25 / 2016 Deconstructed Club Glitch Hop UK Bass

# 2

Varmints by Anna Meredith

Album • Mar 04 / 2016 Art Pop Progressive Electronic

# 4

The Ship by Brian Eno

Album • Apr 29 / 2016

# 5

$uccessor (ded004) by Dedekind Cut

Album • Nov 11 / 2016

# 6

The Demon City by Elysia Crampton + Rabit

Single • Jul 01 / 2016

# 7

Ez Minzoku by foodman

Album • May 13 / 2016 Plunderphonics Electronic

# 8

For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) by Huerco S.

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Ambient Electronic

# 9

In Summer by Jefre Cantu-Ledesma

EP • Jul 29 / 2016 Ambient Hypnagogic Pop Noise

# 10

Blood Bitch by Jenny Hval

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Ambient Pop

# 11

EARS by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Album • Apr 01 / 2016 Progressive Electronic

# 12

FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith + Suzanne Ciani

Album • Sep 16 / 2016 Progressive Electronic Ambient

# 13

Schaum by Jan Jelinek + Masayoshi Fujita

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Ambient Electroacoustic

# 14

Ultimate Care II by Matmos

Album • Feb 19 / 2016 IDM Musique concrète Glitch

# 15

On Behalf of Nature by Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Post-Minimalism

# 16

Zelalem by Mikael Seifu

Single • Mar 04 / 2016

# 17

Fetish Bones by Moor Mother

Album • Sep 16 / 2016 Industrial Hip Hop Political Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 18

blisters by serpentwithfeet

EP • Sep 02 / 2016 Art Pop Alternative R&B

# 19

Love Streams by Tim Hecker

Album • Apr 08 / 2016 Ambient Glitch

# 20

Serpent Music by Yves Tumor

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Sound Collage Hypnagogic Pop