Día

For all that it's a shitty choice for the book, I quite liked this

Way too new to be on this list.

just a pretty straight up fun pop record. I'm really shocked they're adding so much recent music to this list..

Interesting choice, but I liked it!

Synthetic, insubstantial and utterly disposable -- the musical equivalent of single-use plastic. How a veteran music editor thinks this is some milestone record is unfathomable.

Again, too new. And nothing profound.

Drömsk electonica pop. Får lite Björk känsla. Kort album vilket är bra. Broken bäst tillsammans med Combat.

464/1102 (13 new albums added yayyyy) oh i’m gonna be obsessed with this i can already tell before listening. ooh we’re starting ambiently, love that didn’t keep notes going for the rest of the album bc i was too into it. This is so my type of music i really enjoyed my time with it and immediately had it on repeat. faves: QQQQ, BROKEN, UPWARDS, COMBAT 88/100

Less interesting Bjork clone.

#519/1001. This must be the newest album on the list. When it began I was like: this is my music. I thought it was the Knife, then, looking at the name I thought it was some Icelandic artist I hadn't heard of. Well it turns out (analog) electronic pop is a universal thing. I did ask for electronic cumbia from Peru a few reviews ago, I guess this is close enough, although it doesn't really have Latin beats (I guess as a drummer thise rhythms are just boring for her) - nor it is from Peru, but Columbia / NY. After a few songs it starts to get weary... I'd trade it for better party music with Sykur or for electronica weirdness with dj. flugvél og geimskip (both from Iceland) any time. Nevertheless, something fresh and pushes most of my buttons.

Not disinteresting. There’s some value, for a guy who never checks in on new music, to hear a bit of new music and get to think “Hey that’s sort of cool!” even if he won’t likely go back to it. People still doing cool stuff. Great

This is alright. kind of like a more dancey Bjork. If I were at a rave in bushwick somewhere, this would be a good time, but stripped of that, it didn't land with me.

Love some new music out of Colombia. Good vibes, great voice.

Didn't enjoy this.

Somewhat interesting...the production value was high. Still nothing amazing...so far all the adds to this list are pretty underwhelming. 2.5/5

Wasn’t expecting to like this so much.

It's a fine album but not list worthy. The Knife meets Bjork but not as good. Her accent is wonderful, though.

Reviewers referenced Björk, FKA Twigs and LCD Soundsystem. Yeah, I picked that up too. Maybe Nico and Shirley Manson with the vocals too. All with a semi-ambient soundtrack a la Eno. A weird mix. It must be "it will grow on you" albums. Overall: 3/10

# In-Depth Review: *DÍA* by Ela Minus **Released:** January 17, 2025 (Domino Recording Co.) **Genre:** Electronic / Techno-Pop / Experimental Electronic **Length:** 33 minutes, 47 seconds *DÍA* (Spanish for "day") is the sophomore album from Colombian producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Ela Minus. Following her critically acclaimed 2020 debut *acts of rebellion*, this record marks a significant shift in both process and perspective. While her debut was crafted in the isolated, nocturnal confines of her Brooklyn home studio, *DÍA* was born out of a nomadic period of displacement and self-discovery, recorded across studios in Mexico, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and London . The result is a record that trades the claustrophobic intensity of the club for the expansive, sometimes harsh, clarity of daylight. ### Lyrics and Themes: The Private Reckoning The thematic core of *DÍA* is **honesty and self-confrontation**. Minus has stated that she initially thought the album was finished but realized the lyrics weren't "brutal or honest enough" to match the intensity of the production . She scrapped and rewrote much of the lyrical content to dig deeper into personal trauma, anxiety, and the difficult work of healing. - **Trauma and Vulnerability:** The album does not shy away from dark subjects. "IDOLS" is directly inspired by a spiking incident in London that left Minus in intensive care, featuring visceral lyrics like "I took a blow, straight to the face, there was blood everywhere" . "BROKEN" tackles the realization of underlying suffering, with Minus admitting she thought she was fine until the songwriting process revealed otherwise: "I tried to keep up the pretence... Like pulling bones through my skin" . - **Self-Improvement as a Struggle:** The centerpiece "I WANT TO BE BETTER" is described by Minus as the core of the record. It is a raw, anxious plea for forgiveness and growth, set against a backdrop of hand-clapped house beats that feel like "self-flagellating strikes" . It captures the messy, non-linear nature of trying to change. - **Resilience and Light:** Despite the heavy subject matter, the album is not nihilistic. The title itself refers to "a period of time defined by the presence of light," and the closing track "COMBAT" (sung in Spanish) serves as a plea to never give up . As Pitchfork noted, the record recognizes that self-care is a crucial first step toward building a better world . ### Music and Production: Precision and Space Musically, *DÍA* is a masterclass in balancing **experimental sonics with pop accessibility**. Minus, who studied jazz drumming and music synthesis at Berklee, brings a drummer's precision to her programming and a synthesist's ear for texture . - **From Hardware to Laptop:** Unlike her debut, which was heavily reliant on hardware and live recording, *DÍA* was produced largely on a laptop due to her nomadic lifestyle. She used a limited palette of trusted gear (Elektron Analog Rytm, Moog Minitaur) and heavy use of EQ to carve out space in the mix, ensuring that frequencies didn't fight each other . - **Vocal Evolution:** A major progression on this album is Minus's vocal presence. On *acts of rebellion*, her voice often blended into the icy soundscape. On *DÍA*, she sings with newfound clarity and confidence. Tracks like "COMBAT" showcase buoyant, graceful tones, while "I WANT TO BE BETTER" uses a deliberately compressed, "annoying" vocal delivery to convey anxiety, creating a sense of relief when the voice stops and the beat drops . - **Dynamic Range:** The production shifts seamlessly between ambient expanses ("ABRIR MONTE"), syncopated Latin-rhythm-infused bangers ("QQQQ"), and dark, ominous reverbs ("IDOLS"). The three-track suite "ONWARDS," "AND," "UPWARDS" is a particular highlight of her production prowess, building relentless energy . ### Influence and Context Ela Minus occupies a unique space between the experimental club underground and the realm of accessible pop. Critics have drawn comparisons to **Kelly Lee Owens** for her blend of techno and pop, and **Caribou** for his organic approach to electronic music . Mojo even dubbed her the "Phoebe Bridgers of Techno-pop" for her depth of melody and nuance . Her background as a punk drummer and synth builder (she helped design the Organelle for Critter & Guitari) informs her DIY ethos . *DÍA* demonstrates that electronic music can be both intellectually rigorous and emotionally vulnerable. The album earned a Latin Grammy nomination for "QQQQ" in the Best Latin Electronic Music Performance category, signaling her growing influence within the Latin electronic scene . ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Lyrical Bravery:** Minus succeeds in her goal of creating a "brutal and honest" record. The lyrics are unflinching in their examination of anxiety, trauma, and the desire to be better, avoiding clichés about dancing or escapism . - **Exceptional Production:** The sound design is meticulous. The mix is wide and dynamic, with a perfect balance of aggressive low-end, shimmering highs, and careful use of space. The transition from the anxiety-inducing vocal compression to the euphoric release in the beats is brilliant . - **Vocal Growth:** Her voice is no longer just another instrument in the mix; it is a central, expressive force that commands attention, whether she is singing in English or Spanish. - **Cohesive Flow:** Despite being recorded in different locations over years, the album feels remarkably cohesive. The 34-minute runtime is tight, with no wasted moments, and the three-song suite is a standout structural choice . **Cons:** - **Structural Ambiguity:** Some tracks, like "IDK" or the interlude "AND," can feel more like sketches or mood pieces than fully realized songs. This may frustrate listeners looking for traditional verse-chorus structures . - **Emotional Density:** The album's relentless focus on internal struggle and anxiety can be an intense listen. While the beats are often danceable, the emotional weight requires active engagement, making it less suited for casual background listening. - **Familiar Territory:** For listeners deeply embedded in experimental electronic music, some of the sonic palettes—while executed perfectly—might feel familiar. The "techno-pop with emotional vocals" lane, while occupied uniquely by Minus, is not entirely untrodden territory . **Verdict:** *DÍA* is a triumph of vulnerability and sonic precision. Ela Minus has successfully turned the chaos of displacement and personal reckoning into a cohesive, cathartic, and often danceable record that proves she is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary electronic music.

2.5

3 o 4

It was fine but there are way better albums from 2025. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No

It was fine

Not bad modern pop, but also struggling to see this really stand the test of time.

The opening track was dull, but then it picked up. But then it got a bit samey so it went dull again.

3.3 - Something about the arrangements and mixing makes this record sound amateurish, like Dia added too many layers on Garage Band and now they’re all clashing against each other. It’s cacophonous, and not in a fun or exciting way. Maybe lurking underneath there’s a good record that simply needs a patient hand to pull it out from the muck? In the meantime, if I’m looking for this type of avant-garde hyperpop, I might look to FKA Twigs or even early Grimes.

An interesting reach outside the typical 1001 fare, cool to see a smaller electronic artist represented on the official list. Ela does bite off more than she can chew at times on this LP, clearly aiming for a grandiose statement that yields some needless grandstanding on a few songs. For the most part, however, this LP offers some solid dance tracks that are well-composed and delightfully upbeat. Not the most groundbreaking album ever, but a fun effort and a solid listen.

2/5

I’m not familiar with Ela Minus, but I always get excited when I get the chance to check out an electronica album that I’ve never heard before. I hope Ela can deliver some really slick tunes! This album is a bit short of five stars for me, but I enjoyed it quite a bit more than I thought I would. Ela did a really great job of utilizing different ways to achieve the emotions and sounds on this album, but she still found a way to create an album that was pretty cohesive throughout. It didn’t matter if the song was a dance song, slower and contemplative, or atmospheric, Ela found a way to put her thumbprint on each song. It might be a bit premature to put this album on the main list, but I think it’s impressive that Ela recorded all of this with analog synths. On top of that, I think this album is an interesting piece of COVID era music, and how artists were forced to adapt quickly to stay relevant and to keep their creative processes fresh. This was an enjoyable album, and I’d be quick to listen to more from Ela Minus.

Very nice stuff. Great production, vocals, songwriting, and lyrics. This is solid, but not really my genre. Even still, I respect and admire her hard work. I don’t know that it’s one of the best albums of all time. I feel like it’s probably not, but it ain’t bad at all. 4/5

I’m baffled why Dimery would choose an album like this over Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay. This album is fine but lacks substance and creativity.

Fine, but not really exceptional. Nothing particularly grabbed me with it.

Good electronic album. Average pop album. All in all, it adds up to a decent electropop album.

Too recent and not popular/influential/groundbreaking enough to justify the inclusion of this album. The same applies to most of the new additions, really. ABRIR MONTE consists entirely of two low drone notes on synth, separated by a whole tone, and some background noises to keep it interesting. I'm annoyed to admit that I kind of enjoy it. It's intriguing in a soundscapey, King-Crimson-crossed-with-Daft-Punk-esque way. We get a much more active series of instruments in BROKEN, helped out by the synth arpeggios and decent vocals. A much poppier and more accessible endeavour, and I really like it. IDOLS approaches a kind of dark, ultra-synthetic club sound. Pretty cool, though not at all groundbreaking considering the year of release. I also hear a bit of that indie singer enunciation (see the "waylecome to my kitchaayhn" meme, or any of Lorde's/Olivia Rodrigo's music) but unusually, it doesn't ruin the song. Side 1 ends with IDK which sounds like depression in sonic form. It also sounds pretty great, so take that compariosn how you will. The synths blot out the mix in a sort of gazey way. QQQQ is definitely a generic, repetitive dance track on paper, but it comes alive in recording form because of the sheer emotion Ela Minus exudes. Plus, those high synths towards the end are pretty great. I'm a lot less convinced by I WANT TO BE BETTER, a track that tries to be a poppy electronic club track but ends up sounding a little confused and all-over-the-place. It's fine, mind you – just not great. The melody in ONWARDS is so cheesy that I can't take the track seriously at all, and the abrasive, experimental interlude (AND) does little to help its case. To reinvigorate the album, UPWARDS brings in a nifty danceable beat to which one could easily strut down the runway. I approve. However, it's nothing compared to the gorgeous COMBAT, a sexy slow synth soundscape with great use of reverb. 3/5 Key tracks: BROKEN, QQQQ, COMBAT

So there's an opportunity to add new albums to the list and THIS is added. It was ok, but not stellar.

I quite liked this! Not groundbreaking but executed in a way I found myself being caught up in. Also not an English artist for once!

Music for cool youths to impress each other with.

This was fine.

Det är album med många fina kvalitéer. Tyckte det fanns flera finfina låtar. En positiv överraskning.

Nope

It had some small moments but this wasnt for me.

Favorite Track: Broken

Right off the bat, this record earns some bonus points based solely on this, from the Wikipedia entry: “The project differentiated itself immediately by the motto of only using analog synthesizers and producing outside of the computer, using computers solely to record audio.” As a fellow analog synth enthusiast, I appreciate this approach to making music, which is similar to my own. There are some incredibly thick, brain-rattling synth sounds on this record, like around the :20 second mark in “IDK”. Elsewhere, the synths can be more mellow or noisy depending on what suits the song, but throughout, the synths are rich and vivid. I gotta give Robert Dimery credit on this one - this is one I needed to hear before I die, because it appeals very specifically to the type of person I am. If you don’t give a shit about analog synthesizers or couldn’t care less about the ethos behind someone’s recording process, then I’d imagine you might not have the same interest or enthusiasm for this record.

Rubbish

A little beep boop a little la dee da

Modern art pop without being too “dark breathy girl”. Always interesting never boring. Pretty good!

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Broken, Qqqq, Onwards, Upwards

The opening track ABRIR MONTE was fantastic. It got me engaged and ready for an atmospheric journey. I heard someone say recently that pop music of today’s generation is more sonically pessimistic compared to that of yesteryear; Día sums up this sentiment precisely. The remainder of the album sidestepped from the ether I initially thought it’d take me to, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, enough for a 4★

Good, but not great

Better than I expected, but the cursive singing damn near ruins the entire album.

Album #1093 (1001 challenge): "Día" by Ela Minus (2025) "Día" is the second studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ela Minus (Gabriela Jimeno Calda). Electronic and dance pop are the musical genres. The album is described as "a massive sonic expansion from her lo-fi club debut into a highly introspective, space-shuddering blend of electropop, industrial tones, and avant-garde sound design." Critically, the album had universal acclaim. The album opens with the electronic instrumental "ABRIR MONTE." Ominous and stark synths, quick electronic beats, high-pitched lasers and jungle sounds. The song gets louder, hopeful and leads into the next song "BROKEN." Ela with emotional vocals stating she's broke. Organ synth waves and eventually a synth-dance beat. A great poppy dance song and she's going to make it. The next song "IDOLS" has an a capella start. Swirling synth and electronic beats. Emotionless, talking vocals and a dark vibe. Don't chase idols, they're phantoms. "QQQQ" begins with long organ-like synth notes which become swirling. Dance beats come in along with distorted vocals. The pace picks up and slows down and layered synths. I love the tension when a song threatens to break out and never quite does. "UPWARDS" has club-like beats and pumping beats. The beats become faster and the song hypnotic. She can only save herself. Another winner. The album closer "COMBAT" starts with synth strings. The only song Ela sings in Spanish. An air of hope. An equal mix of club-dance and electronic music. The atmosphere is sometimes dark and ominous, sometimes hopeful and mostly deeply personal as she doubts herself and wonders can she survive. There's an edge to this album which I really liked with the electronic music reminding me of The Knife/Fever Ray and the dance music, Robyn. That's high praise and it deserves it. Here's an album that I have no problem with added to the 1,001. Recommended for any club-dance or electronic music fans. 4.5 out of 5

Very experimental, love it.

Wow. Some newer released music. Pleasantly surprised. This Colombian artist is pretty talented.

The opening track and Wikipedia entry had me really hopeful (I'm a sucker for analog synths), but it was just fine in the end. Went back to her 2020 album and liked it better. I know it's not quite the same, but I'd rather be listening to The Knife who somehow never made this list. Tragic.

Ok, wow. Great album. Scandicolumbinavian? ABRIR MONTE is the front door, BROKEN is so lovely, IDOLS is great. IDK → QQQQ is a knockout combo. I WANT TO BE BETTER — who doesn't? ONWARDS, AND, UPWARDS feels like a trilogy, with COMBAT such a wonderful closer.

Crunchy and full production with soft, almost spoken lyrics.

Souvent grave et solennel, parfois pétillant, quelque part entre Giorgio Moroder et Enya.

It was ok

Mjög áhugavert. Mun hlusta aftur!

Don't judge an album by its wiki page - I thought I was going to be wading into an electronic little treat of an album, and it teases me into thinking I'm going to but it begins to fall into the all pervasive hushed/vocal fry with some burbling underneath it to try and make it sound different to a million other artists but just makes it seem all the more the same. Now, the fact it was only released last year means I think it shouldn't get in (there's that fucking recency bias again with this book), but parts of it are more of what I am expecting from this book as they are interesting (cool, analogue beeps and boops, some clear dance pop influences and some nice glitchy goodness) but its still becoming the same. I genuinely can't hear the difference between this and Eilish and xcx. Maybe it's me, but like Principal Skinner, it's the children who are wrong. But do I need to hear it? Nope as it was only released last year. Again, this book just reveals its own shortcomings and stupidity. Best Tracks: Broken; QQQQ; Upwards

Música un tanto hipnótica, mezcla de de pop y algo de dance. Disco sin pena ni gloria. Se deja escuchar, porque es tranquilo, pero no le veo ningún aliciente.

Some songs went a little too poppy for my taste, but enjoyed the album overall. Synths were great

I'm confused and feel like I have some right to be angry. What is this album? My best friend gave it a 5/10 so it must not be great (though she also gave Pure Guava by Ween a 5 and that album's a near-10). It's like, it's a fine album. It's like kind of intriguing and interesting, but in no way is it a significant album. Fuck, man. This is on here but no Ween albums? No Merzbow? Hell, there's no Rosalia, no Arca, no The Knife, no Crystal Castles, nothing that influenced this pretty lukewarm and insignificant album. If anything it's unfair to this album. It's fine, but oh my FUCK! "Broken" is a really pretty song. I enjoy it plenty, even if the lyrics are a little bit surface level, and the whole song isn't nearly as out there as it could be. "Idols" is a really annoying song. I don't enjoy it. The entire album just sounds like a less inspired, less interesting Arca, if she took more cues from poppier sensibility. The album is consistent, sure, but it's really not special at all. I feel so bad about this, but it's just not really interesting at all. I don't really know why it's on this list. 5.3/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: NO REASON: FORGETTABLE, INSIGNIFICANT WHAT WOULD I REPLACE IT WITH: LUX by Rosalia

Haven't heard of her. Interesting to see a 2025 record. Starts off pretty cool. Ambienty techno. Then a more poppy dance sound. Of course nothing original here. Always nice not to hear guitars on this list. Nice and short too. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No, 112/453 (24%) Will I get: Probably not

I don't recognize this artist or any of these tracks by title, so I'm going into this blind. This isn't bad, but it's also not really special either. I find myself wishing these tracks would shift and do something unexpected, but it just doesn't happen.

Most interesting of the new batch so far

This album was not one I had heard of, but it was really good. Loved how aggressive the synths could be. Quick breezy runtime too. Biggest downside of this was how the intro was just kinda nothing for the first two minutes. Favorites were Broken, IDK, and I Want To Be Better.

3.4 2x Marta before ATL to SLC (OAK)

A fun eltro album, love the mistic vibes of the artist

Sure

Interesting. Not something I’d rush back to, but the instrumental tracks are solid.

Another one of dubious longevity. It’s good. But will we still look at it in 5 years?

Autotuned Bjork with a tin drum.

Día for sure is an unusual and unique album with its electronic punk sound. I learned about Ela Minus, whose background is fascinating. Her percussive background makes her electronic music sound unlike your typical electronic music. And how she performs and creates her music is different, too. I won't claim to be a super fan of electronic, but I like what Ela Minus did. The bilingual lyrics help!

This album was part of the 2026 edition of the book, and the first from those additions that I chose to listen to. It may be for this reason that my expectations were set firmly at: "this is your first update in several years, and you chose to add THIS?" Don't get me wrong. This album isn't bad. Parts of it are quite catchy and easy to listen to. But all in all, I found it to be rather average.

Better then i was expecting. don't think i'd listen again.

I was very bored

Ela Minus, real name Gabriela Jimeno Caldas, is a fairly accomplished musician in the technical sense: she has a double major from Berklee, designed and built synthesizers for work, and played as a touring drummer for various bands. When Minus started releasing solo electronic work under her pseudonym, she made a point to only use analogue synthesizers in order to limit the amount of reliance on computer programs. Would listeners be able to hear the difference? Would it matter? Following the success of her debut album, Acts of Rebellion, she became a far more prominent live act, performing at Coachella and Primavera. This reputation followed her into this sophomore album, and now we're here listening to Día. I get the feeling that critics projected the idea that she would be the next Jamie xx or Bjork, fusing forward-thinking electronic elements into pop songs. And there are a lot of great sound electronic elements in here which makes me think she has a clear knack for producing memorable pop with a lot of personality to boot. On top of that, her albums are entirely recorded in her home studio with all her cool music gear that she has accumulated over the years. There are a lot of cool things about this album that makes me want to relisten and learn more from it, though I can't be sure if it will maintain a legacy to be remembered as an album we must hear before we die.

Some quite o.k. electronica- tunes on: like the Björkish "IDK, "QQQQ", "I Want to be Better", "Onwards", Upwards" 2,5

At a 1000 albums in, one of the things you start to realize with newer albums is how thin the line is between "inspired by" and "derivative of." I've heard this before. You have too if you've listened to Kraftwerk. Or Stereolab. Or Moby. Or Dity Projectors. This isn't bad. It isn't exemplary.

As a fan of Ela Minus, why on earth is this album on this list. There was a five year wait from her last album to this one and honestly this one was quite disappointing. A lot of the English parts sound janky which could be excused if most of the album wasn’t in English. When she’s singing in Spanish it does sound a lot better but overall I didn’t enjoy this as much as her last album. That said, this area of music has been underrepresented in previous versions of the album but there were better albums Robert and the gang could have chosen.

Not lots to say about this. Definitely an interesting electronic record from someone I have never heard of. Also short and sweet, although I ended up giving most of it a couple of listens (a privilege definitely not extended to some of the dafter new book additions) as I was interrupted yesterday. One to add to the 'come back to this later' list. I find it interesting how often Bjork has come up in the reviews already despite this person being from literally the other side of the world. I do understand it, in some of the slightly clipped vocal style, and on the cover she has a little bit of the look about her. I just find it interesting. And now I've contributed to those numbers. Maybe Bjork will be a keyword. Bjork Bjork Bjork. Glad I heard it. There are a shedload of records in the 1102 that I wouldn't say that about. Could be good upbeat working music to add to my flow playlist. If I happen to see her name on gig listings (and remember it isn't Dia) I'll take the recommendation of the person who said she was better live, and go along. Best tracks, QQQQ, I WANT TO BE BETTER, UPWARDS, COMBAT

First track - brrrruhhhh, brrrrrwwwwaaaah. Repeat for three full minutes. By the time UPWARDS comes along I'm actually pretty invested in how this sounds. It's a good album. But not a great one.

When you blend equal amounts of Charli xcx, R2-D2, and an eastern european tiktok-er having an online mental breakdown. Mix together and spoon into 10 cupcake cups.

I like the beat

Going in quite blind on this, as there isn't really much to read about on this album. It starts off nice and atmospheric, but slowly gets a little more abrasive as the vocals start to come in. Very Björk-like in a way (but not nearly as memorable). Just felt mostly inconsistent and unremarkable, I guess. Not sure what this album does in particular to evolve or add to the electronic/dance-pop genre. This probably won't last long here.

It's only day 3 of the new albums having been added to the generator, and in that time, this album has gained around 150 reviews. I'm willing to bet that at least 3 quarters of those people (including me) have never even heard of this album or artist. The sheer audacity of it is almost respectable, and to be fair I really enjoyed this one. But I've seen some of the other picks for the 2026 edition, and in typical 1001 albums fashion, the choices are utterly bizarre. I guess this is one of the bizarre ones, but one that I see as more of an undiscovered gem, as opposed to the random irrelevant bullshit nobody cares about. 2025 was a great year for music, and I can think of many great albums I would have chosen in place of this. For that, it's not a good choice at all. But from the perspective of it putting me onto a new album I would likely have never heard of, at least having some really random oddball picks pays off in one way or another.

So this is a very recent addition to the list featuring in the 2026 list. I thought that an album should have received some sort of notoriety to be included which as a 2025 release fail to see how it can. Some of the 77 albums chucked off the list to make room for the likes of this include Radiohead’s Amnesiac which to me is a travesty and a crime against musical tastes. Regardless of all this I did listen but found the whole thing a monotonous drawl. The initial reviews of this album were an interesting read as they argued about the whys and wherefores of the album being included on the list. The first ever reviewer got it spot on and made a prediction that the overall rating would end up at 2.7. It currently sits at 2.89 so in deference to the reviewer I give it just 1 (Her/His average is 2.69 similar to my own so I feel some allegiance to a fellow critic) 1/5 20/10/26

01) Abrir Monte - 7,0 02) Broken - 7,0 03) Idols - 7,0 04) IDK - 6,5 05) QQQQ - 7,5 06) I Want To Be Better - 7,0 07) Onwards - 6,5 08) And - 6,0 09) Upwards - 7,0 10) Combat - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,80 (68/100) Current ranking: 671/1069

It’s ok I guess

Enjoyed this.

'BROKEN' is a monster track! But the rest of Día somewhat uneven and I would have like for it to either lean more into poppy tunes or into the experimental production choices and song structures. Interesting listen though!

Ela Minus starts off by promising a rather daring album with the ambient "Abrir Monte" - the rest of the album is in doubt if it wants to go full pop or stay on course though. Diá was altogether a fine listen but really nothing out of the ordinary.

Absolutely not.

Fed nok opdagelse, som så mange andre ved jeg ikke om det er en must listen før man dør ligefrem

Synes den her var ret fed! Ret divers!

Nothing special, but it was more interesting than Wuthering heights... veri veri smol 3

I liked it yesterday but by today had forgotten most of it. Listened again today and liked it again, but I'm not sure if I'll remember it tomorrow. High three.

Listened to this one a couple of times and I came away both times with a positive impression. The album feels very much influenced by Bjork in the sense that it is female lead electro experimentation that often plays with space (Abrir Monte, IDK), but also gives attention to dance-pop-adjacent impulses (QQQQ, Onwards). There are a number of other acts that behave in a similar way, though I fail to bring them to mind right now (maybe FKA Twigs?). In any case, this was a really interesting listen and from an artist I probably would have otherwise never explored. This is a solid 4 / 5 with potential to push 5 territory given to the right mood.

This is produced pretty well. Definitely different and a little fun and dancy.

Gorgeous, interesting, drew me in and kept me

kul med modernt och okänt. ganska bra

Listenable

Not bad, but just a newer bjork

I found it an interesting album. She's not trying to be Bjork, but I got the vibe from the music regardless. It's harmless electronica kind of thing. There is a bit of variation between songs, which is good. I liked the "Onwards And Upwards" trilogy, finishing off with "Combat". You don't want it to all sound the same, you know? "QQQQ" makes me think of the joke on Phineas and Ferb "Sir, you have your finger on the Q key." But so far, there has not been an album that has been added to the list that I think "yes, that should DEFINITELY be on the list." And this album is not an exception. Just not seeing it. Top tracks: "I Want To Be Better," "Upwards," "Cobat"

very good, would like more listens. A worthy addition.

This album is hard to pin down. It's got some Chemical Brothers style songs, it's got songs that sound like Eurovision parodies, it's got beeps and boops for days. Also, a bold strategy to have your 35 minute album start with 5 minutes of almost nothing at all. It's electronica with some interesting choices throughout, and as someone that enjoys downtempo electronica, I kind of liked it. It being a new addition to the pool, I had hoped it would be more impressive than what it was. It's well produced, it's different, and it's kind of fun. But is it something that’s going to stand the test of time, I sincerely doubt it.

Very much sounded like an album from 2025, built on the spacy electronic music from recent years but adding faster and more dynamic parts. Which I approve of, kept things interesting. At its best was a bit chvrchesy. Still feel like this sort of modern electronic pop is a bit too fixed on sounding atmospheric but this was mostly on the good side. 3.5.

Had no idea what to expect from this and when I saw it was a Colombian artist, I expected some sort of more traditional south American sounding thing..... Was pleasantly surprised though and I enjoyed it mostly. Not quite my thing, but it reminded me of Fever Ray. That kinda dreamy/ethereal electropop with heavily altered vocals going on. I think 3.5 but on the 3 side I

Fine. Quite varied at points, some for the better, some for the worse.

Bjork-lite.

Not bad for a genre I generally am not a fan of

I thought this was really interesting. I'm glad it was added to the 1001. The new additions are a real mixed bag, but some of them are a good listen.

ABRIR MONTE // BROKEN // QQQQ // 3.5/5

If a friend suggested I give this a spin, I would. And respond that this sounds good. That I would look forward the future work the artist releases. But there is no world where this should be in the book. And this is a prime candidate for removal in future editions. It's good. Not good enough to be here.

This is again, quite pleasant but nothingy. Just because something is new doesn't make it good or original..

A combination of 80’s New Age music with Bjork’s vocal tendencies. Solid 2.5/5

Vocals strongly after the style of Björk, maybe by way of Nico a bit. I found this dragged at length (helped in this regard by its less than LP length). I like an analog synth as much as the next guy but found this a little spare and lyrics a little self-serious. But overall a fine listen.

I really liked this! I don't see a reason that it should be on this list but I'm happy it was.

Loved the raw energy of this, reminded me of early Chems

very nicely dreamy but i dislike her vocal affect quite a bit. 2.5

I've listened to this before, I enjoy it, I think adding some contemporary Central/South American work is a good call here for the 2026 update. I find her musical background really interesting and enjoy the poppiness of some of the tracks on such a drum- and metal-heavy foundation. Really dedicated to the craft, can't complain on this addition at all.

This one grew on me a bit while reading the wikipedia page. I think I would have found this a little less interesting if she hadn't taken the approach of trying to make all this synthesizer music without using a DAW for anything other than recording. Really cool, and it helped make some of the music make a bit more sense to me. Overall a neat album that she clearly put a lot of work into. The influences within electronic feel pretty broad too; this sounds like a lot of different things 4/5

Yeah, really liked this. A little Bjorky. Really good.

In one ear and out the other first time, tbh. Had to give it a second spin. Turns out I like it quite a lot. Like a better version of The Knife.

2.8 Again, don't think this will last very long in the book. The comparisonsnto Bjork feel a bit lazy, it just comes across as generic electronica. Like someone you'd find playing at 2pm on the smaller stage at Field Day in London. Enjoyed QQQQ, but other than that don't see how it impacts anyone.

I do hear the early daft punk influence, where there's a long buildup followed by lots of instruments playing together with overlayed vocals. I would give this a 3, I do think it lacks abit of uniqueness and there's consistently abit too much synth in the vocals.

Hmm... okay. Why is this on the list? Like, I'm genuinely curious as to where specifically the people making these recent updates are getting the albums from. This album is not very popular, not particularly unique or ground-breaking, only somewhat highly praised by a couple of music publications, and it doesn't really represent anything special for the music world. It just kind of exists, so why is it considered a must-listen on a list like this? I don't get it! I guess this is supposed to be the obligatory "album that isn't entirely in English" of the update, but would it really have killed these guys to add something from an actually popular artist like Bad Bunny? Like, I understand not wanting the list to look exactly the same as everyone else's "best of the 2020s so far" list, but did they really have to dig this far deep into the nichest of niches? I don't know... This list confuses me. I guess the best mentality that I should try to take is to imagine that each of these picks is an individual suggestion that someone is making as an album that I might like rather than an album that I have to listen to before I die. But do I even like this album at all? Eh. It's alright, but it's definitely the weakest of the three that I've heard so far for this update. Genre-wise, we're dealing with some sort of artsy synth-pop with some noise elements thrown in. It's not bad, but it really isn't my thing. There are some decent songs though. "Broken" and "QQQQ" were solid highlights. Ela Minus's vocals aren't my favorite. She doesn't have much energy in her voice, which is a little odd for such a bouncy album. The lyrics do have some level of depth to them, but they're not exactly mind-blowing either. Still, there's a sense of relatability to them that I can get behind. Overall, Día is an album that exists. It has some nice moments and it's not exactly a redundant pick for this list, but it's still a questionable one that I personally didn't vibe with as much as some other recent albums. Also I don't like the album cover. It's weirdly unsettling. That doesn't affect my opinion on the album though, which I'd say is closer to positive than negative. 3/5.

Good album, vocals remind me of Bjork as someone who only knows Bjork from this challenge.

Really enjoyed this. Knew Broken already 5

I really tried to get behind this, but given that it replaced another album I find it difficult to believe that it was better. I didn’t gain anything from listening to this.

Another that was just released and apparently in the new edition of the book? Preposterous - and no offence to the artist and music whatsoever - read the damn title of your own book. In 100 years of recorded music something that came out less than a year ago cannot be declared something you need to hear before you die. Yeah I'm taking it too literally. What do you want from me dammit. :) Anyways ... electro-pop that's a bit cold/sterile for me. Obvious talent here but not sure the technology can properly mask songs that don't make me feel a lot outside of "this album feels longer than it actually is..." which isn't really what I'm looking for. 4/10 2 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

Really? An album from 2025? Apple Music and Spotify curate new and recent music already. This list is supposed to be about albums that stand the test of time and retain essential “must hear”value. The one star review is for the list makers. Since I do not know this artist, I’ll pass. If I live long enough and they are still on the list (if they aren’t removed for a new album in 2030), I’ll gladly give it a listen.

I was having a very nice time and then it ended too soon...

Wonderful! Listened to it five times.

Interesting throughout and different for me - I liked the whole album but Broken and QQQQ really stood out on my first listen. I see myself listening to this again!

some electronic stuff. A few were ok, a few made me wish it would end. after listening to the whole thing, I've come to like it a bit more. Still not a great album for me but better than the 1 had originally thought it should be. Bumping it up to a 2

Nay, not bad but heavy bjork rip here

One of the tracks is “I WANT TO BE BETTER.” Same gurl. This is all right, it’s just not my tempo. Top tracks: “IDK,” “UPWARDS”

This is album is fine, good even. Ela Minus should be proud. But this is the 1001 Albums (and some change) I should listen to before I die, right? If this is worthy of the 1001, then where are the Knife, Todd Terje, or Robyn? Robert Dimery's insistence on adding new music and only new music to the list for each revision doesn't leave room for historical context. So now, here we are, with this above average LP making sonic statements that have been made several times before but we don’t get those albums? Maybe there's nothing new under the sun, but even short memories should know this is nothing groundbreaking ******************************************************************************* --Abrir Monte...oh my. some synth droning. sounds like the Knife --Broken...she has a spacey, ethereal voice. I dig it. driving-home-at-night-with-the-top-down music --Idols...I'm once again reminded of the Knife --IDK...maybe just add the Knife to the list instead of an album that came out last year? Her voice even sounds like Karin Dreijer's --QQQQ...typical club beat --I Want to be Better...interesting sounds, not sure it's a good song --Onwards...okay, this club beat adds some much needed heaviness. Trent Reznor would be proud --And...interlude --Upwards...here we go. dark and cool club bop --Combat...dreamy closer

Kelpo nykyversio Björkin genrestä, muttei ihan yllä samalle tasolle. 3.5/5

I liked this. I’m getting Chvrches vibes. Don’t remember a great deal about it after the fact though. May have to revisit

totally fine with a couple of real bangers, let's all meet back here in 5 years and see how we all agree that it's one of the 1001 best/most important albums ever

I actually like this record, started listening after a playlist included one of these songs

Crazy stuff. It's this wild blend of Nine Inch Nails and Björk and all of this weird stuff in a pop album. There's even a noise song towards the end of it. All of these songs are very well done, too. My two favorites of this album are right next to eachother, AND and UPWARDS. They both show the creative power of this album incredibly well and make it fairly hard to pin down where she could go next with this kind of stuff. That being said, This list tends to be comprised of artists that are either British, incredibly popular, or both, so I'm not 100% sure how this album made it to the list, but I'm glad it's here.

1. abrir - 2 2. broken - 2 3. idolz - 1 4. idk - 2 5. qqq - 2 6. better - 2 7. onuuardz - 2 8. and - 1 9. upuuardz - 2 10. combat - 2

I hear a blend of different electronic styles, from electropop to rave to dark wave. It's less repetitive than a lot of other electronic music and different enough from everything else in the book, but I'm not sure how essential it is.

We're back! Not sure I can really remember how to stack this up against all the other albums but I liked some of it, wasn't made to suffer too much and will be checking out more. So that's a four.

Ok I guess

Wow, quel bel album que tu nous a trouvé Robert! Allez, je vais le mettre avec les autres *Garroche dans la pile de 600 albums 3 étoiles

Probably the album is way better than 2 stars, but I am really not into Electro.

Día is competent if unremarkable dream/synth pop, okay to listen to but not especially memorable, and I dunno why our first two offerings from the updated list are 2025 and 2026 albums, they've not made a big enough impact to immediately say we must listen to them before we die. 2/5.

not for me

Better than expected… a solid 3, maybe would have been 4 after a few more listens.

strange, pseudo-ethereal, chill-out house music. I didn't know what to expect, and I'm still not 100% sure of what I just listened to.

This is my first album for the new additions to the book. I had to check multiple times that I wasn’t submerged underwater with how distorted and muted the music was. I kept having to turn up the volume. The music was so boring and it didn’t really come up for air until the last 2 or 3 songs. Awful.

Love this, bit of a Fever Ray off-kilter vibe

Electronic, dance pop. Ni fu ni fa.

Like it

The first of the new ones and something new to me. I really tried to engage with this as on paper it should be my bag, but i didnt get on board. There is so much more interesting electronic and diverse music released in the last 2 years that this just seemed quite generic.

Didn't fit my tastes

Really cool electro pop. I was surprised how much I liked this

Dreamy, poppy, forgettable. Recognizing the album cover, I think I might have listened to this album already recently. But if so, I completely forgot it. Which is I imagine will happen again if I stumble across this album again.

Oh we are so back. Here we go again, for 13 days only. Maybe he's discovered Neutral Milk Hotel in the last few years! Not yet, it would seem, as we get this actually very pleasant slice of Columbian electronica. I enjoyed this really quite a lot - it had a good level of weirdness and the right amount of chirp. I will say that as the Project clarion call came, I was involved in a collaborative playlist called Bummer Jamz, designed to create the bleakest music collection of all time. So this was a gear change.

I wanted to like this, but it took too long to get off the ground,and I lost interest. 2/5.

I enjoyed this one, but am curious on why these new albums added should be on the list. They’ve removed quite a few albums that shouldn’t have been. With the biggest offender being The Mars Volta. Here’s to hoping the rest of these new albums are decent, since 3 in, the only one that I loved was the one that was already on the user reccomended list.

Absolutely amazing find Maybe it’s because it soundtracked a session on the treadmill But this was relentlessly cool and the good songs never let up

I Found this to be a surprisingly fun album

4/10. Not my thing

Kinda Bjork-y in a way (certainly a bit more conventional but I think it has to do with the vocals). I see why Dimery liked this and put it on the list, it's just not always my favorite type of music. 6/10