My Top 10 Music Discoverys In 2022

The relationship with music is changing. Having adopted Spotify, I not only have access to a larger library of music but the whims to pursue sounds at the click of a button. With this, I've found many new acts and novelties I'd of missed out on as a purchaser of records alone. Its been my most "productive" year with this blog, amassing 217 entries. I've also decided its time for a change. In the coming year I want to lower the amount of albums I get stuck into and focus on more of an transient experience, following my fancy and committing to records only when they seem to show something of merit. This means less dissections on music that didn't click, a shift to focus on what resonates deeply. My goal is to make next year the richest reading experience, yet not abundant. As for discoveries, there were plenty to pick from but a group of clear favorites emerged swiftly.

(10) Old Man's Child

Not a discovery but simply a joyous journey over a bands discography from the years of youth exploring Symphonic Black Metal. Revisiting these Old Man's Child record's brought about immense pleasure, unearthing a few new gems too with the albums I didn't fully digest back then. I'll always have a soft spot for Galder's solo project and last I read, we might get a new one in the next year!

(9) Toadies

Although it was the lone record, it left nice to get stuck in with a sound that an older me would have turned a nose at. Their Alternative post-Nirvana sound is not one I am familiar with but the character of these songs and the energy they roll out with struck a vibe. Perhaps one to go a little further with!

(8) Kero Kero Bonito

With quirky pleasures of simplistic expressions and lively instrumentation unabashed by aesthetic, often more musical merit than initial impressions, Kero Kero Bonito made a splash with a style marked by childlike innocence. Their youthful joy and happy energy ran counter to my musical norms yet with an open mind I found a fond connection to uplifting and spirited music, occasionally wrapped in a contrasting twist.

(7) Timewave

Soundtrack to my summer holiday ambience, these lengthy stints of lively Pysbient Downtempo bangers scratched a niche I rarely encounter. Much of the electronic music scene explores vibes and melodic styles that don't resonate with me. This shift to an astral, cosmological focus gave it exactly what I needed. Since discovery, its been a constant throwback when in need of energized focus.

(6) Kyros

One of Spotify's recommendations, something that will dominate the list next year no doubt, is Kyros. Reset/Rewind is still a juggernaut song that I can't get enough of, yet plenty more we to be enjoyed in this Progressive Metal band's discography. They have a distinctive expression and when it comes together, its wondrous yet their output is somewhat mixed. I have no doubts they could pull off something remarkable so anything new will come with giddy speculation!

(5) Tamaryn

With roots in Shoegazing and Cocteau Twins influences, Tamaryn's steady progression over four albums to Synthpop is where the magic lies for me. Each record has matured with Pop sensibilities that resonate strongly. Ditching dreary guitar aesthetics and incorporating bolder, punchier melodies was a delight to behold. If this direction continues, the next installment could be something special!

(4) Dreamstate Logic

Always in search of cosmic ambiences, the discovery of Dreamstate Logic was a blessing. Not only a dense discography of records with a keen focal point on mellow spacey Downtempo drones but a license to use the music commercially. Therefore, it has been a welcome soundtrack to my livestreams, creating a cool, calm atmosphere fit for introspection and astral thought. The pace and temperament is perfect. Plenty of Synth lead lulls that gently swell into drum lead grooves. A pleasure to unearth.

(3) Andrew Odd

Discovering the term Pysbient led me to Andrew Odd, who also operates under the alias Timewave. His distinct approach to melding Psychedelic, Berlin School adjacent synths with cosmic ambience and the steady blooming of Downtempo grooves struck a nerve. Of this genre I have dabbled with through the aforementioned artists, his Random Thoughts record moved me the most. Its energy another to invoke deep focus and relaxation when needed.

(2) Matt Uelmen

Matt Uelmen is no stranger to me, in fact his Diablo II and Starcraft soundtracks have been an eternal source of endearing warmth over the years. Deeply tied to youthful nostalgia, imagine my astonishment when discovering his Torchlight II soundtrack was built of the foundations of that Diablo magic. A gift I have literally dreamed for over the years. Normally reserved for artist discovery, this record had to make the list.

(1) Type O Negative

A name I've known over the years, possibly once encountered directly yet was never taken in by. It took a friend to nudge me into the dreary heartbroken beauty of Type O Negative. Eclectic and estranged, their musical genius stems from the sluggish carved grooves of Black Sabbath and chirpy appeal of The Beatles. Yet these pillars manifest into romanticized Gothic soundtracks, oddly brash and deeply emotive, the expressions of Peter Steele are immortalized in the soaring brilliance their songs offer routinely. Between enigmatic anthems lies an unrestrained creativity, peering into Hardcore energy, metallic sway, Noise aesthetics and Pop Rock sensibilities with a most curious origin. The union of these four men is a blessing, one for the ages. I can only dream of discovering more deep connections again. Type O Negative have touched the peaks of my personal musical landscape. Brilliant.

Toadies "Rubberneck" (1994)

 

Accruing influences from 90s Alt-Rock scenes I am less acquainted with, American rockers Toadies debuted with Rubberneck. A rapid thirty six minute introduction that reeked of accents I fumbled to land my finger on. With rough rabbles echoing Skate Punk and Post-Hardcore in energetic spurts, their mostly Grunge era music dodged the lingering scent of Nirvana, whilst seeming fundamentally similar. Between the hardness of estranged "anti" solos and brittle crashing guitar riffs, emotive melodic lulls and sung vulnerabilities birthed Toadies' songs to straddle terrain built by others.

Their approach paints consistent reminders, unable to escape a partial sense of deja-vu. These tracks cut to the core, flying right into the memorable meat of the music. Each song swiftly embarks on its key appeal, an appetizing listen. Vaden Lewis' youthful groans sways between a soothed playful charm and roughened anger when spearheading with strained shouts. Percussion seems to go subtly by with Punkish beats and linking rhythms powering the musics drive without getting in your face.

The guitars play with short, repetitive, simplistic riffs. Impactful power chords, burning at the edges given the ferocity they are performed with on its displays of anger and frustration. Any foray into melody and tunefulness feels intentionally stripped back and flipped over, often lingering on minimalism and noisy rebellious embellishments. Its all cohesive, coming together to be felt first before picking apart its constructs.

After many enjoyable spins, I'm left with a solid record where I'm unsure if it was influential, or influenced by. It did however encroach on the very best of early 90s Rock sounds I once was quite dismissive of. Its nice to find albums that help you creak open the door of your own ignorance and this certainly did that for me.

Rating: 7/10