Best Albums

October 2022

- Soma Records
  Deepchord - Functional Designs
  
  Another banner entry in a dub techno discography that keeps getting better and better.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Stones Throw
  Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen
  
  The American producer, violinist and singer shapes Black histories into exciting futures on this stunning fusion of R&B, hip-hop, soul and more.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Kaoz Theory
  Kerri Chandler - Spaces and Places
  
  With endless vocal hooks, heart-in-mouth breakdowns and tons of live instrumentation, Chandler's deep house is generous with melody.
  
  Listen:
  Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Because Music
  Shygirl - Nymph
  
  With a clever blend of rap and pop, ambitious production and bitingly funny lyrics, Shygirl impresses with her long-awaited debut album.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Modern Obscure Music
  Susumu Yokota - Baroque
  
  Another welcome reissue from the Japanese techno hero's archives, highlighting his unique use of samples and textures.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music
- Tresor
  Maedon-X - The Lion & The Ram
  
  Walloping industrial techno from a genre legend and exciting newcomer, made at refreshingly mid-paced tempos that really let the heaviness sink in.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- XL Recordings
  Makaya McCraven - In These Times
  
  Drum & bass, jazz and hip-hop collide on an LP of beautiful compositions that highlight the non-stop evolution of Black music.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Domino
  Tirzah - Highgrade
  
  A remix album that lives up to the creativity and heartfelt nature of Tirzah's work, with Actress, Arca, Loraine James and more.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Incienso
  James K - Random Girl
  
  Industrial-adjacent experimental pop soundscapes from an artist whose work only becomes more impressive with each new release.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Text Records
  Hagop Tchaparian - Bolts
  
  The long-time Four Tet associate makes gently experimental club tracks embellished with Armenian instrumentation and intimate field recordings.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify

Best EPs

October 2022

- unknown - untitled
  Cameo Blush - Template
  
  "Template" is the latest anthem to tap into the post-dubstep revival sound, where the colours are pastel and the vocals high-pitched.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Hessle Audio
  Shanti Celeste - Cutie / Shimmer
  
  Even for a producer who already had a knack for an earworm, "Cutie" seems significant, like it could be destined for big things.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Evar Records
  Force Placement - Aerobicide
  
  Brilliant, classic techno, electro and acid from one of LA's best-kept secrets, with a jaw-dropping remix from Detroit In Effect.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- TerraFirm
  Loopchasers - Lunagenesis
  
  Priori and Ciel team up for a record of high-definition trance bangers.
  
  Listen:
  YouTube
- Omnidisc
  Jonny From Space - No Swim Advisory
  
  Swampy techno and electro from the artist and promoter who operates quietly but crucially behind the scenes in Miami clubland.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Pretty Weird Records
  Chloé Robinson + DJ ADHD - Steamin
  
  Contorted, slippery 909s steal the show on the Pretty Weird head honcho's production debut.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Kynant Records
  Cio D'Or - Polar Q
  
  The German artist creates techno symphonies out of small, subtle ingredients.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Nowt Recordings
  Hoover1 - Hoover1-5
  
  Hoover1-5 presents jungle and hardcore revivalism with a genuinely original twist—the Shed sound.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud
- Ba Dum Tish
  Buck Bumble - Buck Bumble
  
  Is 2022's best speed garage EP a Nintendo game soundtrack? It just might be.
  
  Listen:
  SoundCloud
- Paryìa Records
  Small Crab - Flowing With Honey
  
  Slow-burning techno soundscapes from the Dublin artist on Marie Montexier's label.
  
  Listen:
  Bandcamp / Apple Music / Spotify / SoundCloud

Best Mixes

October 2022

- Tony Fairchild
  Potrox Pres. Rejoiced (Gasoline Radio)
  
  Pittsburgh DJ Tony Fairchild—head of crucial labels like is / was and TerraFirm—lays down a glorious session of techy grooves, acid lines and more for Kyiv's Gasoline Radio.
- DJ Plead
  Boxout Wednesdays 205
  
  This live recording from Boxout Wednesdays in New Delhi catches DJ Plead at his absolute best, with gymnastic rhythms, out-there club beats and a dash of hip-hop.
- upsammy
  Passing Notes 186
  
  upsammy presents an uptempo yet still laid-back mix for Pjenné's Passing Notes series. As with most things upsammy touches, it's fantastic.
- Ryan Elliott & Evan Baggs
  Live At Butik Festival 2022
  
  Earlier this summer, Ryan Elliott and Evan Baggs played back-to-back at Butik Festival in Slovenia. They said it was "one of those rare and special days when everyone—the dancers, the festival staff, the bartenders and the DJs—were all locked into one continuous groove and sharing a moment in time."
- Mama Snake
  HATE Podcast 304
  
  Mama Snake takes the normally punishing approach of the HATE series and turns it on its head into brisk, lush and often floaty trance-techno.
- Kessie
  Hyper Violet #005
  
  Leeds-based Love Muscle resident Kessie delivers an adventurous but smoothly-paced mix for Hyper Violet, featuring tracks from Nikki Nair, Hassan Abou Alam, Mani Festo, I-F and more.
- FULL EFX (Anthony Parasole)
  Bleep Mix #249
  
  Meet FULL EFX, Anthony Parasole's newest project, which has an album coming out on L.I.E.S. He calls this an "anti peak-time" mix that rumbles between 118 and 120 BPM.
- Reece Spooner
  Balamii Radio ClubPop Special
  
  Reece Spooner returns to Balamii after three months off with another ClubPop show highlighting trance and creative club sounds, including his own first-ever tracks.
- Scuba
  CRSSD Festival 2022
  
  This 75-minute recording from San Diego's CRSSD Festival includes several unreleased tracks from the UK artist's upcoming 2023 album.
- BLUMITSU (Jossy Mitsu & Bluetoof)
  Rinse FM October 12, 2022
  
  This team-up between Bluetoof and Jossy Mitsu is remarkably energetic, with plenty of jittery samples, breakbeats and thrilling transitions. In other words, the kind of back-to-back Rinse FM was made for.

Best Albums

October 2022

Best EPs

October 2022

Best Mixes

October 2022

Ryan Elliott & Evan Baggs

BLUMITSU (Jossy Mitsu & Bluetoof)