I didn’t post once in 2021. I have a couple of drafts half-heartedly, half-finished I might get around to in 2022, but I thought the least I could do was give some folks some record recommendations.

The list

Like last year’s, it is in no particular order, but I have once again a list of 21 records, so I guess that’s a thing now.

Looking back at last years list, I think 2021 was full of records I liked even more, it’s been a really strong year for music I’ve liked.

Like last year, the only rule is to only include tracks/albums I heard for the first time in 2021, but looking at the list, most of these were new releases, and they’re all albums.

I’m no music critic, and I need to get this done while a lasagne is cooking so I have tried to be brief. Your time is important to me. :-)

1. Mastodon - Hushed and Grim

Woo! Mastodon are back. I’ll be honest, I didn’t enjoy Emperor of Sand or Once More ‘Round the Sun, but this is just the right level of “prog” for me, some nice stuff.

2. Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders - Promsies

I think this is my favourite record of 2021. I adore every second of it.

3. Hannah Holland - Tectonic

I felt like I’d been waiting ages for this record since hearing a track from it on the Radio. It didn’t disappoint.

4. Haina Rani - Home

I haven’t listened to this recently, so don’t have any vivid feedback, but I know it should be on this list.

5. Black Country, New Road - For the first time

I heard about this record at the start of the year, but didn’t get around to listening to it until a few months ago. I regret that.

6. Ishmael Ensemble - Visions of Light

Listened to this after seeing Huey recommend it as his favourite album of 2021 and really enjoyed it.

7. Jessy Lanza - DJ Kicks

I don’t love every DJ Kicks release, but I really like this one (and most of the others if I’m honest).

8. Jon Hopkins - Music For Psychedelic Therapy

Ambient(er) Hopkins.

9. BADBADNOTGOOD - Talk Memory

My favourite BBNG album is III, which this is a bit closer to than IV was.

10. Japanese Breakfast - Sable (Original Video Game Soundtrack)

I also recommend Sable, the game this is from. It has a very chilled, non-combative experience with some nice visuals and a focus on exploration.

11. Hannah Peel - Fir Wave

2021 had a high bar set by Hannahs. Well done Hannahs.

12. Gotts Street Park - Diego

I think this was an algorithm recommendation, but it’s a good one. Jazz from Leeds.

13. DARKSIDE - Spiral

Had been quite eagerly anticipating this record for a while and it didn’t disappoint.

14. Black Midi - Cavalcade

This sophomore effort keeps up the standard set by the first.

15. Charlotte Day Wilson - Alpha

Smooth and soulful, a little bit rich. Like a nice sticky toffee pudding.

16. Les Filles de Illighadad - Eghass Malan

Came by this recommendation from a Canadian.

17. Alessandro Cortini - Scuro Chiaro

I love pretty much all of Cortini’s stuff, and this minimalist record is lovely.

18. El P - Capone OST

Somewhat surprisingly I think the best drone record I’ve heard this year is El-P’s soundtrack to the Tom Hardy Capone biopic.

19. Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz)

I remember listening to this and thinking that it didn’t sound like I had expected from the title, and that putting expectations on artistic endeavour is rude and I shouldn’t do it.

20. Om Unit - Acid Dub Studies

Thanks again to perennial recommender, “Paul from work” for this one.

21. Bonobo - Fragments

This’ll be played to death in every single hipster bar in the country, which comes with the territory I guess, but I still really enjoy this style of music, especially for work listening.

If someone reads this, listens to something they’ve not heard before, and likes it then that’s a real result and would make me enormously happy.

Wishing you all well and good listening 2022.

Lasagne time.