First, go read this cranky mini-dissertation on lists. And now that we've gotten that out of the way: Below are some of SF Weekly's favorite records from the past calendar year in a category we've decided to call electro-ish (a direction many a synth-happy indie-rock band went this year). Want to support the local music scene? Go straight to these bands' websites and buy the actual records. For a seasoned expert's thoughts on the local EDM scene over the past year, check out Chris Zaldua's column in this week's paper. (And go here and here for lists of the hip-hop and rock 'n' roll variety.)

Tycho — Awake

Tycho frontman Scott Hansen’s first musical instrument was a drum machine. Tycho is a byproduct of the digital age; a producer that embraced the electronic revolution head-on with his debut release Past is Prologue and really made a splash with his second LP, Dive, on avant-garde electronica label Ghostly International. But on his third effort, Awake (also on Ghostly), Hansen introduced more live instrumentation and it brought new life to Tycho. On the album’s opening track, “Awake,” a simple, yet atmospheric guitar riff opens up into a lush bass groove and we’re transported into a comfortable ambient world. The production leads into electronic intricacies, new-form sounds and another continent on Tycho’s planet. One of the genre's most consistent innovators, Hansen is leading the charge on San Francisco's lo-fi electronic music scene. Adrian Spinelli
Cathedrals — Cathedrals EP
Dammit if Cathedrals weren’t the most pleasant surprise to come out of S.F. this year. The confluence of producer Johnny Hwin’s artistically ambitious sounds and singer Brodie Jenkins’ elegant vocals made for the most ethereal product to come out of the Bay in a hot minute. Hwin is the man behind local artist collective The SUB, where he and Jenkins formed the electronic dream pop duo. Their self-titled EP on Neon Gold has some serious fire behind it. It’s conservative at only six tracks, but that hardly matters when you want to hear every single one of them on repeat. On “Harlem,” Jenkins’ silvery vocals guide us through punchy bass hits, catchy guitar riffs, and a feeling of being arms-open-and-head-towards-the-heavens on the most beautiful day of the year. “Unbound” boasts one of the most spectacular videos of the year and flexes Cathedrals’ unique approach to music and art. There’s so much to love with this band — including a debut release that makes us hopeful for the future of the local music scene. AS
Astronauts, etc. — Sadie
Oakland's Anthony Ferraro is a classically trained pianist — he has the French composer Hector Berlioz tattooed on his arm — which makes it almost seem unfair that he's so skilled at producing the elegant, effortlessly dreamy keys- and synth-heavy electro-pop that made up this year's six-song EP, Sadie. Leave something for the rest of us, you know? We've heard he's at work on an LP that might be less electro, more...we're not sure yet. Truth be told, Sadie's brevity left us jonesing for more of the same, but for the time being, we'll follow him wherever he wants to go. ES
Les Sins — Michael
What do you do when you've reached the apex of popularity in a genre to the degree that people actually credit you with its mainstream rise? If you're Berkeley's Chaz Bundick, aka Toro y Moi, the boy king of chillwave for the last half-decade, you say “fuck it” and make a dance album. Michael, the first full-length offering from Bundick's side project Les Sins, has the kind of energy that only comes from an artist having serious fun while he's creating something — just try and resist a grin (or disco moves) while listening to “Why,” featuring fellow East Bay resident Nate Salman, of Waterstrider, on vocals. ES
The Seshen — Unravel
Insisting that you can't be boxed into a genre is pretty standard fare for bands who combine even a few different elements of rock, pop, soul, or electronic music — but when the seven members of The Seshen tell you that they really, truly don't know how to categorize the sounds they make, you get it. Unravel, this year's EP from the East Bay crew, feels like a transmission from another place entirely: Imagine going to outer space with Erykah Badu while listening to Little Dragon, and you'll start to get the picture. The marriage of percussion-rich live instrumentation and harmonies from Lalin St. Juste and Akasha Orr with a healthy dose of ethereal electronic manipulation from in-house producer Aki Ehara keeps you on your toes. The band signed to UK label Tru Thoughts this year — we're curious to see where the next takes them. ES