Another year, another December, another month of reflections on times past. This year seemed different, alight with an energy of renewed vigor. Half making up for lost time, half taking advantage of every moment, and acknowledging how good or bad it may be because last, it may not. The stories told through music ranged far and wide but a common thread was reflection, of processing the down times and igniting personal conversations about how to move forward. 

Our selections mirror ourselves, as personal anecdotes, each unique in itself. There are no ‘Best of Best’ or rankings from 1-10. It’s been an incredible year of music, and we’re so happy to share our personal favorites. Onwards, and upwards.

FAVORITE TRACK OF 2022

Irina:

map.ache - Love (S.O.S) [Giegling]

Ever since Gilles and I listened to map.ache's latest EP for the first time, I knew this track would stick around for a long time. It's elegant, intricate, and complex and triggers emotions every time I listen to it.

Theresa:

nthng - Sub-Sonar [Delsin]

“Underwater love” : “When I first saw you, I was deep in clear blue water the sun was shining, calling me to come and see you”. The crystalline hook calls you - and you wanna follow it instantly as if it was a siren. Hooks with this recognition value are rare nowadays, too.

Zach:

ASC - Sunless Sky [Spatial]

I seem to pick up a different auditory element every time this comes on, everything just tickles the senses so well. Goosebumps always.

Gilles:

Ben Kaczor - Lights [KCZ]

Ben is a producer who left the biggest impression on me in 2022. I can't pick a favorite between two long players he released this year, 'Lights' and 'Petrovo Uho.' The consistency in quality with a palette of different moods and atmospheres always puts me in the mood to turn that 96 in the other room.

Sabrout:

Iro Aka - Oort Speis [Iro Aka]

Definitely my most played track this year, an incredible 303 line. Works in so many different settings too, and always turns heads.

Michael:

Eusebeia - Becoming [Livity Sound]

Eusebeia has quietly been amassing a great collection of quality releases, and it's nice to see him getting some bigger releases.  The opener to his EP on Livity Sound really sets things off nicely.  A seriously assertive, muscular subbass workout.  Merging the insistent and impulsive aspects of dnb with the richness, space and foreboding of dubstep, and articulating these moods within a more contemporary context, this is another classic in Livity Sound’s prestigious catalogue.

Daniel:

Ménage - Poprocks [Menage Records]

Crunchy & fun yet still dreamy minimal from Naarm Trio Ménage. Suspends dancefloors with eyes closed moments, tons of ear candy and lovely produced atmosphere makes this one of my favorite unexpected bangers from the year.

FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2022

Irina:

Yugen - You [Semantica]

I listen to this album a lot, and it's a powerful, diverse source of inspiration for my music productions and DJ mixes.

Theresa:

ZDBT - Evening Star [Specials]

The brilliance of this one is that it will never be out of time, no matter what year, that it’s perfectly produced and elegantly sliding along the intersections of different genres so that you don’t even wanna try and box it. Add a few high value collaborators (Byron the Aquarius!!)  to it and there you go, a heavyweight appears,  but elegantly wasted.

Zach:

Marco Zenker - Channel Balance [Ilian Tape]

 Cover to cover, the textures, the emotions, the thoughts running through your head, all incredible.

Gilles:

Daniel Avery - Ultra Truth [Mute]

Ever since this album was teased with the release of a few singles during the summer, I was eagerly looking forward to listening to it. An incredible album, as simple as that. Very emotional and compelling release that I still have to discover completely.

Sabrout:

Ojerime - Bad Influence [Never Seven]

I found it very difficult to resonate with almost all the albums I heard this year, but Ojerime’s Bad Influence was my most played album. Lots of standout tracks but also a great album as a whole. Notable mention: SZA’s SOS. 

Michael:

ASC - Colours of Absence [Auxiliary]

Right from the start, Colours of Absence feels deeply personal and delicate.  ASC’s ‘focus on instrumentation’ - particularly piano - has produced some of the most vulnerable and mournful music of his I can recall.
Compared to the immense, immersive world-building or renderings of space and vastness common in ASC’s work, tracks such as Avoidance and Frailties are far more confined, localised, and intimate.  And the music here benefits from that intimacy.  Then joined by the melodic beauty of The Shadow of Everyone and the textural heaven of Set in Stone, this album is both gorgeous and evokes my memories of, I guess, DIY post-rock and lo fi bedroom minimalism.  Everything feels private, yet warm and cosy.  This almost low key, personal touch just really resonated for me.

Daniel:

Saphileaum - Ornaments [Oslated]

Polyrhythms & ambience, i appreciate Saphileaum’s patience in letting each track unfold organically across this album, transporting me to a mystical place. For me the beauty of this album lies in the arpeggios explored across different instruments in each piece.

FAVORITE EP OF 2022

Irina:

Artefakt and Claudio PRC - Collaborations I [De Stijl]

The first release in the Collaboration series on Artefakt's De Stijl label features label founders and one of my favorite producers and DJs, Claudio PRC. It's an impressive record that touches on various moods and rhythms.

Theresa:

Claudio PRC - Challenger Deep [Delsin]

Another late -in -the -year- gem, and another one from Delsin in my list. Also, I got a little (actually big) aquatic theme going on in my favorites this year. “Challenger Deep” invites us to a dive within, from the light and wavy “Haidou” to the spooky and mysterious underwater world of “Kaikou”.

Zach:

Tonto - Cong Burn 07 [Cong Burn]

Downtempo dub goodness

Gilles:

Luis - 057 (Schwyn) [AD 93]

I'm pretty sure this EP I listened to the most in 2022. It is a great soundtrack while driving through the streets of Brooklyn and the ultimate material for my radio show.

Sabrout:

Sector - The Trilogy Tapes [Welcome to Unreality]

Really well-crafted EP that shifts through a variety of sounds, tempos, and moods. Every single track on this EP is a belter, each having a different purpose and context in which they can be played in and sound amazing. 

Michael:

Ovïd - everything changes, nothing perishes [Captured Visions]

Not much needs to be said on this one.  Just like the Fragile Gesture EP from 2021 on Open Tapes, this is borderline perfect tape music.  Lush ambient electronica with warmth, pillowy textures, interesting micro-rhythms, and floating melodic fragments.  Three thumbs up. 3

Daniel:

Patricia - Less Than 7 [Acid Test]

The way that space is treated on thiAcid Tests EP ties this package together. Really tight acid / braindance music exploring a few different themes. No more words!

FAVORITE REMIX OF 2022

Irina:

Aspetuck - Holding Pattern (Adam Strömstedt Remix) [self released]

Very well-balanced track with infectious polyrhythm, beautiful texture, and a tranquilizing airy feeling. A perfect after-hour treat.

Theresa:

Lb Honne - Making Matters (Martinou remix) [Vorgott]

LB Honne’s Record “ A move” already got a lot of “awwwws” and this remix gave it an extra emo-floater touch that makes it feel to me like a big big hug.  The label vorgott is one of my favorites this year!

Zach:

Gold Panda - Plastic Future (Skee Mask remix) [City Slang]

Skee Mask took this in a fantastic direction and has been on repeat through so many djing sessions.

Gilles:

Francis Harris - Earth Moves (Hidden Spheres remix) [Scissor & Thread]

This release can easily go as my favorite, but we'll highlight this remix for the occasion. Hidden Spheres gives that beautiful UK breakbeat feeling to the original, which features my all-time favorite trumpet player Greg Paulus. Great collaboration among talented people

Sabrout:

Mathew Jonson - Marionette (Shanti Celeste remix) [Sapiens]

All I need to say about this remix is that the day after I got the track ID from Zach, I listened to it on repeat the entire day at work.

Daniel:

 Primal Code - AI Calculator (Priori Remix) [Kalahari Oyster Cult]

I couldn’t really contain my excitement when I saw these two pairing up. Priori adds some spicy detroit flavors to the original and takes it down the rabbit hole. Deep Techno looks good on Priori.

FAVORITE MIX OF 2022

Irina:

Delayed with… Philipp Priebe

One of the producers I discovered this year that has become my favorite. The live set he made for our 'Delayed with...' series has a beautiful flow, hazy atmosphere, and vibrant melodies.

Theresa:

Page 90: Antonio Ruscito & Luigi Tozzi (LIVE)

My favorite mix was determined for a while already until this one sneaked in. This is for me the music that symbolizes the “age of the aquarius”. The shift, back to a philosophy with more reflection and in depth human connection on the dancefloor. And damn, how the pads are sailing down onto the listener!!!I could write pages about this mix and how it touched me, but i keep it at: Tozzi and Ruscito shared a journey with us that takes us to space and the earth’s core simultaneously. Or as one guy commented on sound cloud: to see the light one must have been in the dark.

Zach:

Lux - Nachtipod // Waiting for NACHTIVILLE

There’s not a lot to say about this other than it being an 83-minute master class in building, and maintaining a fantastic vibe. Lux always ends up on repeat and this one is no different.

Gilles:

Delayed with… Adhémar

I bookmarked this mix for our “editors' picks” list long ago. This was an easy one to pick. The mix we listened to many times during our Delayed mountain house getaways. It's sleek and intelligently programmed with an incredible flow.

Sabrout:

Martinou - Nousklaer Radio #35

I think I heard more mixes this year than any other year in my life, and this mix was still an easy winner. Beautifully crafted mix by the amazing Martinou. So many different sounds put together so smoothly and skillfully. It would be very difficult to make a DJ mix this versatile yet coherent, but this live set makes it even more impressive.

Daniel:

Aleksi Perala - Grains of Peace

Aleksi’s mixes are really a snapshot into some of his live sets and a real blessing as he releases very few of them! Peaceful meditations make my time perception pause but there are some rhythmic minimal pieces in this too.