Favorite Releases from December 2022
With December focused on voting for the favorite album or artist of the past twelve months, selecting the best and most memorable underground electronic music tracks, and discussing the biggest surprises, controversies, and most incredible moments in dance music, it is fair to say that 2022 was an excellent year for electronic music. December, in particular, is an outstanding month in release delivery, closing this year in style.
We’ve hand-picked the ten favorite tracks of December featuring Lord Of The Isles, Move D & Dman, Aspetuck, Jascha Hagen, Javier Marimon, Martinou, Inskape, Viktor Birgiss, Pressburg, and Orion. Tracks are listed in no particular order.
Lord Of The Isles
Solo
Lapsus Records
Hot on the heels of November’s album “Night Of The Endless Beyond,” which landed on ESP Institute, Lord Of The Isles returns with a new album. “Subtle Thoughts” is a beautiful work that craftily blends the essence of the natural world of his native Scotland and sonic explorations of ambient, IDM, and electronica sounds.
“Subtle Thoughts' is an album of sumptuous melancholic electronica that, like all his previous works, avoids being pigeonholed,” the label describes. “In it, we find ambient and IDM, but also breaks and down-tempo 4x4 beats with deep ruminations, and even passages akin to new age and Balearic. In Neil's own words, the real concept behind 'Subtle Thoughts' is "The spaces in between. We were listening to the quiet voices. Freedom of expression and being open. It also contains my hopes and fears for the future of our world, but mainly hope and love.”
Move D & Dman
All You Can Sweep
Smallville Records
Move D and Dman unveiled an album of previously unreleased materials through the ever-reliable Hamburg-based Smallville Records. “All You Can Tweak” comprises seven tracks recorded mostly in Dean’s Blaues Zimmer studio space between 1991 and 2021. Each track channels a sense of raw energy and explores a realm of funk obscurity and the sophisticated side of deep house.
We had the pleasure of premiering the tracks from the album “All You Can Sweep.” Read the full article here
Aspetuck
Tart Jam
Telomere Plastic
New York-based producer continues his upward trajectory with the vinyl release of his new “Mind Wandering “ EP through Wex Records’ offshoot label Telomere Plastic. Following the debut album on Oslated, a self-released EP, and multiple appearances on various compilations, the prolific artist delivers four tracks drawing on hazy deep electronics and crystalline sound design.
We at Delayed were delighted to premiere the acid-tinged “Tart Jam.” Read the full article by Zach Huenink here
Jascha Hagen
L7 Dream
Oath
For the label’s third LP release, Oath is extremely proud to present this extraordinary sonic journey from Jascha Hagen, one which continues to showcase the producer’s penchant for defying expectations and finding consistency in flipping switches and moving from one form of expressionism to the next.
Two years after his debut LP effort, ‘Harmonies Romantiques’, Hagen graces us with the presence of ‘Songs for a Future Generation’. Continuing with a similar vein of musical exploration that occurred on his debut LP and records such as the highly vibrant ‘A Touch of Cold Water’, Hagen turns on the style in regards to creating a deeply compelling series of sounds that all for one but deeply individual all at the same time, with the micro evolutions that occur throughout giving much over to the idea of creating a rounded and fulfilling experience. The album begins and ends with two uptempo numbers in the form of ‘QQQ’ and ‘Slide Through the Valley’, both of which allow for a release of sorts through the inspired use of live instrumentation and the layering of elements that makes the music feel so very alive. Quiet spaces are found in the cuts ‘Rivers of Absence’, ‘Too Far’, and ‘Swaying’, all of which persist between the rhythms impeccably and act as these thoughtful, beautified interludes that touch upon the question - what will the future look like? All of which is answered in three differing tonal ways. ‘L7 Dreams’, ‘Gem’, and ‘XX Blues’ all shift between the other vibrations, exploring in their own exciting ways a very conceptual manner of being, and it caps off the experience beautifully.
Martinou
Epilogue
Lost In Translation
Lost in Translation is a record label based in Brussels founded by two friends in the Spring of 2022. Anchored in the heart of Europe, the project aims to deliver a unique artist-driven vision centered on a collaborative approach to musical storytelling. Their first release is “Anthroposcene” featuring stunning contributions by Saphileaum, Moon Patrol, Alfred Czital, Human Space Machine, Orca Silent, Owl, and Martinou.
“The album was built track by track, providing a space for the featured artists to bounce off of each other’s sonic influences and weave together a cohesive musical story told from studios around the world,” the label explains.
Brimming with nuanced sonic moments that capture the atmosphere, the closing track, "Epilogue," offers a breathtaking journey into deeper shades of hypnotizing grooves, intricate organic textures, and subtle electronic touches.
Javier Marimon
Day 57
Huinali Recordings
The Jeju-Island-based record label Huinali Recordings Huinali Recordings signs off 2022 with a special treat in the form of an extensive various-artist compilation riddled with a mixture of mystical, deep, and atmospheric electronic music across ambient, downtempo, and techno sounds. “Mirinae,” which means Milky Way in Jeju Island dialect, fosters eighteen artists across the electronic music industry like ABSIS, Doctrina Natura, Javier Marimon, Night Sea, Aspetuck, Vice City, Sanguine, Earthen Sea, Atomic Moog, Emika Elena, and more.
Javier Marimon’s “Day 57” evokes a continuously shifting soundscape filled with abstract organic textures and aquatic ambiance.
Viktor Birgiss
Að handan
Lagaffe Tales
Lagaffe Tales celebrates its 10th anniversary with the 10th EP in its vinyl series featuring four tracks from the label founders and affiliates.
The EP opens up with Cohen Social Club by Flexi Leifs, aka Felix Leifur. Our man Felix lost his drum machines last spring, but luckily he found a guitar and some drums. The track starts with suspicious-sounding guitar notes that somehow up as pure beauty, giving hope in the darkest of places. Frodo with the ring stuff, if you know what I mean. Playful reverbs and echos give the tune the classic Felix Leifur feel to it!
Moff & Tarkin has the next track "Pure Fury," some breakbeats and cheesy disco vocals; why change a winning recipe?
Next up is "We are not alone " by label boss Jonbjörn. I think this is what Elton John meant when he said "thank god for those electro bangers!" Solid 909 drum work featuring dramatic chords and some original vocal work. If you can spot the sample write us on Soundcloud and you might win a year's worth of LaCafe Tales!
With "Að handan" Viktor Birgiss comes back to the label in style. Our mastering engineer described it as having the loudest kickdrum in history, imagine that! Lo fi dub sounding drums interlaced with atmospheric chords, made for those late night intimate moments on the dancefloor, again Frodo with the ring stuff, if you know what I mean.
Inskape
Lost
Cellar Door
The final release of 2022 on the UK-based Cellar Door Records welcomes Inskape. The Indian artist previously released on Diffused Reality and AEDI Records brings four authentic pieces featuring deep and atmospheric techno sounds mixed with rich textures and groovy percussions. The package comes complete with remixes from Minjoon and Adhémar.
The “Voyage” EP opens with the track “Lost,” where deep and murky sounds conjure an enthralling ritualistic atmosphere drawing inward every percussive sound and juxtaposing organic textures with ambient-tinged techno rhythms. In the artist's own words:
Part I. - Lost
“I am not certain about the time anymore. It has been, what it seems, weeks since I had contact with a human voice. Without anything left behind and with a very uncertain journey ahead, my last memories of the happy times before The Disaster are now slowly fading away.”
Orion
TWC
Orion Records
December brings the release of a new solo EP from Orion. Hailing from Milan, the prolific production collaboration duo unveiled the “Tenet” EP drawing together a broad range of electronic music influences while creating a distinct sound of their own. Creating a diverse tonality across five tracks, the record displays a shape-shifting blend of ambient soundscapes and hazy breakbeat-driven rhythms. We had the pleasure of premiering the A3 track “TWC.” Read the full article by Sabrout here
Pressburg
Dubbyrim
Someguy Records
The German-based producer and Palham Music owner Pressburg takes a more strip-down and dubby approach to house music with his latest release ‘Insides’ EP. The three-track record delves into dubby, cottony lo-fi house rhythms and low-slung vibes sprinkled with warm electro-acoustic mist. The opening track, “Dubbyrim” has premiered at Delayed. Read the full article here