Crate Digging is a monthly roundup of top-tier tunes you might have missed from across the electronic music spectrum. From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

Note from Andrew Wowk: This is the final edition of Crate Digging for Selector. Thanks to everyone who has followed the piece each month — I really hope you have enjoyed the selections and discovered some new artists and labels to follow! I will be looking to publish the piece elsewhere in the future. Until then!

1. Out Of Fuel – Kohti [Initiate Records]

Out Of Fuel goes deep with “Kohti,” an atmospheric drum and bass trip that eschews big, aggressive drops in favor of creating a subtle, unfurling soundscape punctuated by tight percussion and gritty low end.

2. not without friends – Loco [Rose Avenue]

No-nonsense, big room tribal house from not without friends. “Loco” is continuously propelled forward by thunderous drums, playful carnival-inspired percussion, and gnarly effects.

3. vakhtang gorgasali – queen’s loop [Self-Released]

Centered around a hypnotic, bleepy synth sequence and stripped-down percussion, “queen’s loop” sees Georgian producer vakhtang gorgasali demonstrating that you can do a lot with a little.

4. Dycide – Swamp [IO-Records]

“Swamp” lives up to its name, combining a rich blend of organic tribal elements with Dycide‘s futuristic, sci-fi-inspired sound design. This is the theme song of an ancient alien civilization from the outer reaches of space.

5. Lemon D – High Tech Souls [Infrared Records]

Veteran jungle producer Lemon D lands on longrunning imprint Infrared Records with “High Tech Souls” — a lush, soulful roller that’s equal parts delightful and deadly.

6. Mark Williams – Take My Love [Hardgroove]

Mark Williams ends 2024 on a high note, delivering his second EP for Hardgroove. “Take My Love” is quintessential Mark Williams and Hardgroove: Pounding low end, rugged percussion, funky melodic elements, and soulful vocal samples.

7. Sublee – Metime [RAWAX]

Sounding like it could have come right out of the golden era of progressive house, “Metime” is nine minutes of beautiful, subtle melodies, warm atmospheres, and classic drum grooves.

8. Jones&Roth – Schneller Chili Salat [W133]

“Schneller Chili Salat” is playful deep house that incorporates elements of electronica and chillout to excellent effect. Jones&Roth channel the spirit of Kruder & Dorfmeister for this vibrant, low-slung cut.

9. Missterspoon – Morgan [Self-Released]

Slow-burning, gnarly acid house from Missterspoon. A wonky 303 line snakes around crisp, analogue drums in “Morgan,” creating a twisted, infectious groove.

10. Skin Teeth – Caustic Soundboy [Torre]

You can never go wrong with a free download, especially from a label as consistently high quality as Torre. “Caustic Soundboy” from Skin Teeth is a raucous breakbeat banger ready to smash up sound systems.

From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Biemsix – The Payback (James Ruskin Remix) [Symbolism]

U.K. veteran James Ruskin remixes “The Payback” by Biemsix, keeping the original’s psychedelic, moody atmosphere intact, while adding some energy and funk in his inimitable style. Dance floor-ready machine funk at its finest.

2. Cinthie – Mellifluous [803 Crystal Grooves]

The first release on 803 Crystal Grooves in over two years, “Mellifluous” sees label head Cinthie drop a smooth, feel-good deep house cut that encapsulates her extensive knowledge of the history and key elements of the genre. Lush chords, shuffling drums, and a bumping bassline make this feel like an obscure B-side from a forgotten New York record label.

3. Aserr​í​n – Memories of Green [Pan-Am Tracks]

Aserr​í​n explores electro’s close ties with science (real and fictional) in “Memories of Green,” a heady, leftfield journey through sparkling melodies, glitchy effects, and otherworldly atmospheres to explore the concept of signal propagation and how it mediates the world around us. A great example of how a strong concept can add extra value to a great piece of music.

4. bluhol – Light and Shade [Oomycota]

“Light and Shade” lives up to its name with a psychedelic trip through contrasting elements. The debut release from Sydney/Eora-based label Oomycota sees Loïcc reinvent themselves as bluhol to explore the interplay of organic and synthetic through immersive soundscapes and creative use of modular synthesis.

5. FTP Doctor – Discomfort Dance (Dycide Remix) [IO-Records]

Dycide‘s remix of “Discomfort Dance” by FTP Doctor blends elements of techno, drum and bass, dubstep, and electronica into a melting pot of bass-heavy rhythms. Gnarly, up-tempo percussion and glitchy sound effects urgently bounce along above low-slung, speaker-shaking beats.

6. Llyr – Pareidolia [Mesh]

Immersive, densely-detailed breakbeat which reflects Llyr‘s flair for combining cinematic sound design with dance floor-ready grooves. “Pareidolia” gives a nod to the meaning of its title by subtly changing the melodic patterns and sequences throughout its runtime, adding a lot of re-listening value.

7. HVL – Lancet Mxi [Reclaim Your City]

“Lancet Mxi” combines thunderous breakbeats, gritty sound design, and melancholy melodic sequences to create a forlorn soundscape with a surprising amount of punch. HVL explores the intersection between dance floor functionality and hypnotic introspection to excellent effect on this one.

8. Josh Wink – Progression [Ovum Recordings]

Written on a flight from San Franciso to Philadelphia, “Progression” continues the 30th birthday celebrations of Josh Wink‘s Ovum Recordings. A captivating, ten-minute odyssey, it takes the listener through a heady, soulful blend of bleeps, beats and soaring pads.

9. Debasser – Gem [WIDE Records]

“Gem” is a unique, minimalist take on future garage, combining Debasser‘s signature bass-driven sound with quirky glitches, fluttering melodies, and shuffling drums.

10. IDA – Currents [Sävy Records]

Sitting comfortably in the space between techno, electro, and breaks, “Currents” is a rolling, gritty cut with touches of dusty, swirling melody. Ida draws on her eclectic taste to present a club-focused track with heart and intelligence.

11. Dubfire & Flug – Magma [CLR]

Dubfire releasing on CLR was most definitely not on my 2024 bingo card, but this collaboration with Flug is an incredibly welcome surprise. “Magma” is a dark and driving interpretation of the classic dub techno sound that plays to each of its creators’ strengths.

12. Ross Harper – Knocked Back Hard [City Wall Records]

“Knocked Back Hard” is a psychedelic, mechanistic take on downtempo electronica, inspired by Ross Harper‘s tantric stories about a character known only as Ambient Girl. Although it’s comprised entirely of synthetic sounds, it uses them in a way that feels organic and natural.

13. Shlomi Aber & Kashpitzky – Rust [Blueprint]

Reminiscent of some of James Ruskin‘s best work, it’s no surprise that “Rust” was released on his label Blueprint. It sees Shlomi Aber and Kashpitzky deftly weave melancholy pads between tough, driving percussion and round, punchy bass.

14. Sun People – No Fear No Hope [Defrostatica]

Austrian producer Sun People continues to explore cross-genre pollination, this time finding a soulful and playful nook in between footwork, jungle and techno. “No Fear No Hope” is the uncategorizable kind of 160bpm track that showcases how fruitful the tempo is for experimentation.