I've always liked seeing end-of-year lists, they're fun to read and it feels like a nice and discreet closure. There are many ways you can approach one. You can quickly glance over the list or carefully read and decipher the trends and topics that were relevant these past 365 days. Look for that one specific title you want to see or count how many you missed this year. Lists are fun.

That's what I've been doing for as long as I can remember spending time on the internet. Reading lists. I've read probably hundreds of list: in random order, from worst-to-best, lists consisting of multiple lists, made up of inexisting people, where you had to pay to be in it.

The list goes on and on (pun intended).

I've made lists in the past, never had anyone read them, and I've been thinking about what it means to be a curator. About what it means to collecct taste and information and present it ina meaningful way. To spark new connections. Maybe it's to add a sense of order in my life, maybe it's because lists are fun, but here are my

top albums of 2022

(in random order)

Richard Wagner - Soft Valkyrie (in English, narrated by Stephen Fry; MIDI arranged by David Kanaga)

While technically not written this year, and technically not an album, David Kanaga set out on a special mission: re-arranging "The Valkyrie" for the podcast age. The events are no longer sung by opera singers in a big concert hall, but softly whispered in your ear. Twirling synths and MIDI presets replace the orchestra as Richard Fry explains in his warm voice the events of the opera. The result is incredibly interesting and playful. It's obvious there's a deep love for the original material, and it's a huge work that didn't nearly receive the attention it deserved.

A special moment: the ride of the valkyries in all its glory with detuned supersaws that wouldn't sound out of place in a trance track.

you can listen to it together with the accompanying score.

Babii - SCREAMER

This mixtape has found again and again my ears throughout the year. It's no surprise considering how many fun hooks/melodies/moments are packed in here. The songwriting is concise and straight to the point, and every moment is meaningful.
This is also thanks the instrumentals, which are inspired by UK garage. They are bouncy, fun to listen to and full of little details and ear candy. Coupled with the mid 90s inspiration there's an excellent knack for contemporary sound selection, which makes the whole thing sound fresh and unique.
It feels like Babii had a lot of fun making this mixtape, and I can't wait to hear her nex projects.

A special moment: Butterfly. You should see my face listening to Butterfly. Disgusting.

Vanessa Amara - Fonetica Amara

This is by far the album i've listened to the most this year. It's one of those works where if I listen to one track I'm surmounted by the urge to listen to the whole thing. Magic.

The music escapes any categorization: vocal chops are coupled together with warm orchestras, there's like 4 drums total, everything is near and very little reverb is used. The result is a unique, playful and sprawling set of ideas.

If you gotta listen to just one release from this list, please be it this one.

Jean Dawson - CHAOS NOW*

The songs in this album are not exactly on the subtle side. To be honest, they're huge, loud and anthemic; but I'm sure you've already figured that out if you've listened to the first song. It's extremely blunt, and doesn't hide a mix of indie rock, early 10s rock and alt-pop that is just irresistible.
I've seen people criticize the lyrics and delivery as corny, but it honestly didn't bother me, mainly because they're so well assembled, but also because lyrics are the last thing i pay attention to. hehe

death's dynamic shroud - Darklife

dark music is dark. forbidden knowledge.

9DEN - POST GENRE

A series of 3 interconnected EPs, what I particularly love about 9DEN's debut project is how imaginative and vivid it feels: in the visuals, the sound design, in the masked persona lies an alien world made of cold circuits, pistons and neon liquids. The songs are HEAVY, and I mean it. They're thumping and angry and everything you'd expect from a pissed off android.

A special moment: Backup.

goo age - Open Zone

From one extreme to the other, if 9DEN is energetic and violent, goo age is reflective and utopian, the tracks are gentle, they shift shape and morph under the listener's attention. Twirling melodies and lush chords are surrounded by an incredible sense of space and silence, which is used to great effect. The result is an electronic but highly organic album.

Likasye lost music from a long gone civilization.

The excellence of this album is in its balance, it's very easy for projects like these to drag for too long, or for the composion to feel unimportant, but it's not the case here. Every track is exactly the length it needs to be and the end result is an engaging listen that unravels under many repeats.

23wa - 3

This french experimental hip-hop is chaotic, refined yet raw, and songs are arranged in a free-form structure where no section is repeated. As 23wa raps beats explode, twist and corrode at a second's notice. The samples are sometimes recognizable, other times their original form is unintelligible from what they have become. The result is an ambitious project (it clocks at almost 1 hour) that isn't afraid to go subtle or spit out its truths.

23wa is not only an incredible producer, but also a very talented rapper as well, perfectly riding under whatever instrumental he's written. He knows exactly when to let the beat breath and when to go hard.

A special moment: the first track is a masterpiece.

Honorable mentions

-Nosaj Thing - Continua
-galen tipton - Nymph Tones
-Hudson Mohawke - Cry Sugar
-Sylvan Esso - No Rules Sandy
-Kai Whiston - Quiet as kept, F.O.G.

See you next week :)