As we countdown the final weeks of 2024, our team has curated a list of the year’s standout psytrance albums. Each one offers a distinct journey into the diverse and ever-evolving world of psychedelic music—from emotive progressive narratives to high-energy daytime full-on anthems, and deep, mind-bending dark psy explorations.
While these 20 albums represent a slice of the year’s best, they reflect our personal tastes, and of course, many other exceptional releases have also made their mark. Join us as we delve into some rad releases that are constantly rocking the office!
Uncharted Territory – 925 (Stereo Society)
Shahaf Efrat (Freedom Fighters) and Asaf Tsemach (Modus) from Israel join forces on 925, a thrilling album that combines psychedelic trance, goa, and acid techno. With high-energy grooves and colourful atmospheres, this seven-track release creates a deeply engaging sonic journey for those drawn to progressive soundscapes.
Listen: Spotify
Sphera – Every Mind is a Place (Iboga Records)
Liran Elkayam from Israel presents his debut album under the moniker Sphera after a career of releasing drum & bass music. Every Mind is a Place marks a return to the roots of progressive psytrance, after the genre appeared to deviate in the wrong direction for many years. Fusing intricate soundscapes with rhythmic depth, this 11-track album showcases Elkayam’s vision of dynamic transitions and atmospheric textures.
Listen: Spotify
Shanti V Deedrah – Form & Void (Shamanic Tales)
The collaboration between Shanti from France and Deedrah from the Netherlands delivers a cosmic blend of psychedelic and progressive trance. Form & Void offers ethereal melodies and punchy basslines, making for a compelling journey through the realm of progressive sounds.
Listen: Spotify
Mindbenderz – Celestial Gateway (IONO)
The progressive psychedelic trance duo Matthias (Cubixx) from Germany, and Philip (Motion Drive) from Switzerland return with their sophomore release, Celestial Gateway. The album blends intricate basslines, melodic progressions, and immersive textures, taking listeners on a forward-thinking journey through progressive psytrance.
Listen: Spotify
Ital – Rukapillan (Digital Om)
Daniel Gonzalo Carcur Arredondo from Chile, a respected psychedelic trance producer and manager of Antu Records, delivers Rukapillan, his 10th full-length solo album. This release radiates vibrant, festival-ready energy with enveloping sounds and dynamic build-ups that are perfect for peak daytime listening.
Listen: Spotify
Martian Arts – Ashram (Stereo Society)
Nectarios Meidanis from Greece solidifies his place in the scene with Ashram, an album that blends groovy, mellow vibes with high-energy full-on psytrance. This release is a perfect balance of serene atmospheres and vibrant energy, ideal for daytime festival vibes.
Listen: Spotify
Terrafractyl – Facet (Kinematic Records)
Felix Greenlees, the Australian founder of Kinematic Records, presents Facet, an album that blends psychedelic elements with jazz influences. A genre-defying work, it’s an acquired taste but offers a funky, experimental vibe perfect for adventurous dance floors.
Listen: Spotify
Alien Art – Alpha Centauri (Iboga Records)
Yoni Oshrat (Ace Ventura) and Reshef Harari (Captain Hook) from Israel come together as Alien Art on Alpha Centauri, their debut album. A fresh wave of psychedelic energy surges throughout this full-on psytrance release, featuring expansive soundscapes, deep basslines, and mind-bending melodies that bring a new edge to the genre.
Listen: Spotify
Bumbling Loons – Thirst LP (Stereo Society)
Dick Trevor and James Monro from the UK unite as Bumbling Loons on Thirst LP, an EP-length album that delivers smooth, vibrant full-on psytrance. With its steady groove and uplifting rhythms, this release is tailor-made for the daytime dancefloor, capturing the spirit of classic festival vibes with modern polish.
Listen: Spotify
Mandala – Multiple Revelations (Nano Records)
Angus Young from the UK crafts Multiple Revelations, a rich album of funky basslines, infectious grooves, and hypnotic melodies. This release delivers a blend of bright atmospheres and solid progressive psytrance, ideal for daytime listening or dancing.
Listen: Spotify
Faders – Storyteller (Shamanic Tales)
Or Kopel from Israel brings Storyteller, an album full of powerful full-on psytrance, delivering an upbeat, high-impact energy that’s perfect for the daytime dancefloor. With its uplifting rhythms, Storyteller creates the perfect soundtrack for an energized festival experience.
Listen: Spotify
Iridian – Eyes in the Sky (TIP Records)
The duo consisting of legends Franke (Koxbox) and Jakob (Rishi) from Denmark return with Eyes in the Sky. Their third LP in four years, this album is packed with rich, uplifting full-on psytrance. Infectious rhythms and deep grooves make it a perfect addition to any daytime playlist.
Listen: Spotify
Hujaboy – I Choose To See Light (Future Music)
Nir Shoshani from Israel brings I Choose To See Light, an album full of deep basslines, groovy leads, and distinctive, sassy vibes. This release offers an energetic yet atmospheric sound perfect for dancefloors. Hujaboy’s signature style keeps listeners captivated with vibrant, hypnotic rhythms and engaging melodies, making it an essential daytime psytrance album.
Listen: Spotify
Burn in Noise – Burn in Noise & Amigos (Nano Records)
Burn in Noise from Brazil delivers Burn in Noise & Amigos, a collection of collaborations with other artists in the scene. This vibrant album is a celebration of driving, high-energy full-on psytrance, making it the perfect soundtrack for daytime festival adventures.
Listen: Spotify
Infected Mushroom – Reborn (Mushroom Touring)
The pioneering Infected Mushroom from Israel returns with Reborn, a collection of remixes of their classic tracks, reimagined for a fresh generation of listeners. This album offers an exciting blend of nostalgia and new energy, perfect for both long-time fans and newcomers alike, bringing the duo’s timeless sound into new light.
Listen: Spotify
Penta – Hard Drive Malfunction (AuraQuake Records)
The 8th album from Nikita Tselovalnikov (also known as his darkpsy project Ingravel), Hard Drive Malfunction delivers a driving, high-energy full-on psytrance experience. With an undeniably vibrant daytime vibe, the album’s intricate, fast-paced beats are primed to keep the energy high and the dance floor moving. Its upbeat tempo and powerful drive make it the ultimate soundtrack for sunlit, carefree moments.
Listen: Spotify
Fractal Joke – Tales of Dimension (Zenon Records)
The latest offering from Heitor Amaral Gonçalves, better known as Fractal Joke, hails from Brazil. Tales of Dimension stands out with its deep, dark progressive psytrance. Spanning five tracks, this album takes listeners on a journey through meticulously crafted atmospheres and hypnotic rhythms.
Listen: Spotify
Mavzÿ – Soul Kall (Digital Shamans Records)
From New Caledonia, Mavzÿ’s Soul Kall is a collection of funky, bass-driven night-time psytrance. This album, with its immersive low-end grooves and deep atmosphere, takes listeners on a ride into the heart of the night. The smooth, rolling beats and engaging rhythms offer a hypnotic and groovy vibe that is sure to captivate those who love to get lost in sound as the night unfolds.
Listen: Bandcamp
The Horrids – Biohackers (Transubtil Records)
Made up of Shred’er and Radikal Moodz from France, The Horrids takes night-time psytrance to another level. With an organic, deeply immersive sound, the Biohackers album is rooted in dark, psychedelic territory. Its sinister atmosphere and precision-crafted layers of sound make it perfect for those seeking a truly engrossing auditory experience under the cover of darkness.
Listen: Spotify
Act One – Mio (Bom Shanka Music)
Act One’s sophomore album, Mio, comes after two years of development, with the artist streaming the entire process on Twitch. The UK artist’s night-time psytrance style is intense and evolving, offering complex arrangements and deep, enveloping atmospheres. With its dark, brooding energy, this album takes listeners deep into the night, keeping the mood elevated and exploratory in its sonic quest.
Listen: Spotify
