Groundhog Day turned into Groundhog year. Music I presumed I’d owned since 2020, I only purchased in May? And so forth. Could things get weirder? Well yes, actually. Apartment had its busiest year since 2014. An EP, an album and merch? Sure have a look over on the Bandcamp. Huge thanks to everyone who has already supported this year. Running a small dance label in 2021 is a bit of a mugs game. Roll on 2022 so.
Gigs were understandably rare for everyone, so huge thanks to Another Love Story and Dublin Digital Radio / Alternating Currents for giving me the opportunity to get people dancing (and also the latter for allowing me 10 hours of airtime a month to play music I like) and also for my home from home (from home), The Big Romance.
Big ups to everyone who came to Sherkin Island to lose it for that one banger of a night in August.
Thanks to All City for asking me what music I enjoyed this year. You can check out all their EOY charts here.
Top Ten Favourite Musical Things for All City
Pink Oculus presents Before Wisdom – Live at Le Guess Who? (12/11/21)
Momentous, entrancing performance.
Naive Ted DJ at Emerge / Open Ear (28/08/21)
The release.
Sons of Kemet – Black to the Future [Impulse] & Live at Le Guess Who? (14/11/21)
Energy, sweat, anger, elation.
Various Artists – Madre Lingua LP [Mother Tongue Records]
A beautiful celebration of music and record.
Terrence Dixon – Reporting from Detroit LP [Rush Hour Recordings]
A drive around Detroit soundtracked by the lunatic stylings of Dixon’s mind mushing minimalism.
The Paradox – Counter Active LP [Axis]
Jeff goes jazz. Everyone wins.
Jordan GCZ – Introspective Acid EP [Rush Hour Recordings]
As fully formed a 4-tracker as I heard this year. Techno with soul innit.
Endrik Schroeder – The Quest [Bordello A Parigi]
Will it change the world, no. Will it melt your heart as you pump your fist, yes
Dynarec – Twisted Helix Posture [Return to Disorder]
See above.
Senonix – Messier [Apartment Records]
Techno with soul innit.
Ten More Great Pieces of Music
Westcoast Goddess – Late In The Midnight Hour (Feeling Blessed) [Mango]
Thumping end of the night not-gospel house.
T-Woc – Crazy Bronco [Strangelove Music]
the slower-dance jam of the year.
Emma-Jean Thackray – Yellow LP [Movementt]
Bold as brass.
Danae – Good Fruit LP [BubbleTease]
Came for the Maurice Fulton, left with the discovery of the glorious Danae.
Konstantin Unwohl – Im Institut Fu?r Stro?mungstechnik LP [aufnahme + wiedergabe]
Techno, EBM, post-punk and earnest-as-they-come pop/wave vocals. Dunno what he was on about but he meant it.
Various Artists – A Thousand Promo Shots Could Never Compare LP [Infinite Wisdom]
Woozy delights from a rag tag bunch from Glasgow; the brooding, cinematic Cutting Floor from the aptly named Michael Mann was my go-to.
Tim Jackiw – Bass Equations [Physical Education]
I really don’t get the appeal of dancing to jackhammer hard dance masquerading as techno when Jackiw’s whiplash, euphoric acid is perfectly suited to whatever big ol’ tent or field people found themselves sausaging around in this year (if you were, eh, lucky).
Anz – You Could Be (ft. George Riley) [Ninja Tune]
Anz’s music covers a wide spectrum of influences, but here she sets the machines straight for your synth-pop heart. Irresistible crossover pop gear.
Theo Parrish – In Motion [Sound Signature]
Sure look.
Leeroy Burgess & Logg – Dance Till You Can’t [Omniverse]
Marc Mac remixing brand new Logg? A surprise in 2021 that was actually welcomed.
RIP Paul Johnson & Kelli Hand.