Despite 2020 being an incredibly hard year, it’s fair to say that some phenomenal music has come about as a result. Whether it’s artists turning their hand to a new genre, re-imagining the sound of dance music, or just tracks that have us desperate to be back out on the dancefloor – there’s been something for everyone. With the closure of clubs and festivals, artists lost more than just spaces to perform, they lost the global exposure of tracks that would be played at these events across the world. Nonetheless, tracks still found a way to blow up via the medium of live streams and radio shows. Who would’ve thought there would be a time where we all sat in anticipation of an online stream? Where we might usually discover new tracks on the dancefloor, these streams did an impeccable job of keeping us up-to-date with the latest heat – and giving artists well-deserved exposure that would usually come from live music events. Deep-digging sessions became the norm, and in a time where there wasn’t much to look forwards to, the importance of music releases increased ten-fold; here are some of our favourite dance albums of the year. – Jeremy Lin, Beth Taylor, staff writers
Amtrac – Oddyssey
It was beautiful to see Amtrac bring his own experience to an album format. Oddyssey is brilliant for its ability to meet in the middle of 1970's rock and contemporary electronic music. – Steph Evans, Managing Editor
CamelPhat – Dark Matter
With the release of "Witching Hour" ahead of the release of the full album, CamelPhat fans were eager for this one and it did not disappoint. From start to finish this album is packed to the brim with star-studded collaborations that are ready for some serious play-time on the dancefloor. – Jeremy Lin, Contributing Writer
Caribou – Suddenly
This got me through summer 2020. It's consistent from start to finish and gets the energy up! Caribou continues to stay true to his distinct sound but somehow reinvents himself all at the same time. – Nicole Proctor, Contributing Writer
Catz 'n Dogz – Moments
This one sees Catz 'n Dogz experiment with their more mellow side. A collection of sublime tracks that has grooving hair-raiser moments and notes for a chilled out nightcap. – Jessica Burr, Contributing Writer
Dance System – Where's The Party At?
Floor filler after floor filler with some impressive guests on every single track. "Where's The Party At?" is the soundtrack of all those overdue parties that are almost in touching distance. – Jessica Burr, Contributing Writer
Dua Lipa & The Blessed Madonna – Club Future Nostalgia
Dua Lipa has well and truly defined new-age pop music, having the confidence to lend her tracks to the dance world and take future nostalgia to another level. Allowing herself not to be confined to one genre, Dua's ability to go beyond the pop spectrum truly sets her apart. The Dua Lipa and Blessed Madonna collab is a track I never knew I needed, the result is heavenly. – Jessica Burr, Contributing Writer
Franc Moody – Dream In Colour
A fun, dancey album – Franc Moody's sophomore effort really hit the spot. A great summer soundtrack, that was robbed of the opportunity of playing out at pool parties and festivals, the album still remained one of my favorite bodies of work of the year. – Max Rosenfield, Contributing Writer
JOYRYDE – BRAVE
I don't think I'm in alone in my struggle to connect to certain kinds of dance music in a year where most of it was spent without live events. Without the ability to hear music live at full volume, the bigger forms of dance music took a back seat for me, but this was the exception. This will get my energy going at any time. – Steph Evans, Managing Editor
Horse Meat Disco – Love And Dancing
A positive to reflect on for the year, 2020 has been the year for disco and may it continue. With huge collabs on the LP like disco legend Kathy Sledge, Horse Meat Disco's Love & Dancing is a culmination of their renowned club nights and their tastemaker Rinse FM shows that keep disco's flame and heritage burning bright. – Jessica Burr, Contributing Writer
Hot since 82 – Recovery
No stranger to dancefloor hits, Hot since 82 released a much-needed album packed full of amazing features from some of the industry's biggest names including Jamie Jones and Rudimental. – Jeremy Lin, Contributing Writer
Photay – Waking Hours
Waking Hours is a stunning offering from the up-and-coming producer Photay, who delivers a blend of meditative soundscapes and a healthy dose of club-ready beats. Highlights include "The People" and "Pressure.". – Evan Crandell, Contributing Writer
Selci – A Soft Place
Selci was a personal highlight for me in 2020, she blew me away with the release of her single “Bein’ Alone”, and her record is highly underrated. – Steve Likoski, Contributing Writer
The Vision – The Vision
Paying true homage to the disco era, The Vision's debut album takes inspiration from classic hits with their own modern spin that places disco back at the forefront of the scene. – Jessica Burr, Contributing Writer
