I've been getting the suspicion that there's alot of great recent anime that I've not noticed in the deluge of trash.
Would appreciate any suggestions as to stuff really worth checking out.
To give an indication of anime that I've loved/liked:
- Serial Experiments Lain
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Studio Ghibli
- Ghost in the Shell
- Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Akira
- Cowboy Bebop
- Samurai Champloo
For sci-fi, I will recommend Steins;Gate. It overlaps with some of your other interests you mentioned in the comments and it's one of my favorites. Made in Abyss is somewhat sci-fi, but not primarily, and that's an anime I'd recommend just generally.
Junji Ito's Uzumaki is supposed to be released this year, I think. That is a great manga to read, if you're open to manga. You can read the whole thing in one (long) sitting. I couldn't put it down.