RB Writer Picks: Breakout Artists of 2024
December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024
Albums are a labor of love and offer a glimpse into an artist’s universe where they create entirely new worlds. With a full-length album, an artist can truly flex their creative muscles, crafting a more cohesive piece compared to a single or an EP. Because of that, an EDM album is often dynamic, exploring different facets of an artist’s style beyond just their primary genre.
Welcome to “The Greatest Album by Album” series, where we dive into albums that I believe belong in the top echelon of the industry.
Tipper – Marble Hunting – Released in 2023
I’d bet most people reading this don’t know who Tipper is and would be surprised to hear just how popular he actually is—especially considering he invests basically no time in social media, an anomaly in today’s social media-driven world. Tipper is truly top-tier, and his success speaks for itself if you know where to look. From selling out huge venues with barely a social media presence to commanding so much respect that Hulaween let him choose what stage he wanted to play on, Tipper is one of the kings of the space bass genre. He operates in the often glitchy, trip-hop realm, creating incredibly complex melodies that are both funky and smooth, infused with space bass elements that give his music an alien feel. Strap in, because this album is a ride.
Tipper released Marble Hunting in 2023, and I was never the same after. This album is a true testament to his production skills, with each song creating sonic landscapes filled with complex journeys and arrangements. You can get a sense of his style right from the first song, “Guilty Feet,” which is truly a brain tickler. Some highlights include “Deal With It VIP” and “Mason,” both of which will send you straight to space. “Low Battery Acid,” my favorite track on the album, is a world-bender. This song is funky, with accents that create beautiful rhythms and countermelodies, leaving you wondering how he combined all these seemingly random sounds into a cohesive masterpiece. “Pillow Roulette”, the final track on the album, ends it on a high note, with cascading melodies that leave a lasting impression.
Tipper is here for a good time, but not a long time (though, in reality, he’s been in the scene for decades). He’s announced that he’s retiring sometime in 2025, so if you ever get the chance to see him, you need to take it. Strap in when you do, because his logo is a question mark for a reason—his sets will make you question reality.
Connect with Tipper: Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud