My Favourite Albums of 2022
Article by Karl Magi
Introduction
In my work as a synth music reviewer, I listen to a huge amount of music in a year and trying to pick my favourite albums out of all it is a tall order. The synth community produces a great deal of excellent music and trying to decide on “the best” sends me back to the writing desk time and again. In the end, these albums represent the music I find myself coming back to over and over again. I hope you’ll enjoy reading through and getting a flavour of the music that I felt most engaged by in 2022.
80s Dreams found its way onto my list because it oozes neon from every musical pore. The album is unashamedly retro and brimming over with nostalgia. I love it because it celebrates the idealized experience of an ‘80s childhood about which we all dream, even if it never existed.
The melodic strength of this album is another reason why it would up on my list of favourite albums for the year. The Future Kids write melodies that soothe and ache, but also burst with energy and life. I find the pastel-tinted sense of possibility enormously appealing in these dark times.
High production quality is another reason for 80s Dreams winding up on my list of favourite albums. The production manifests itself in the mixture of richness and pin sharp clarity that permeates the album. As a result of the sonic detail, the emotional content of the music is even more impactful.
I couldn’t resist the mixture of neon-drenched sounds, emotive melodic content and high production values that pours from 80s Dreams and that is why I’ve included it on my list of favourite albums for 2022.
The sheer tranquility and peaceful glide of L’Avenue’s Riviera makes it one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022. I love the way in which it carries me off to cerulean water lapping against intensely white sand as a brilliant sun glows above the scene.
All of the soothing feelings emanating from the album’s gliding, enfolding synth palette are deeply enjoyable to me. There’s a pastel-hued sensibility that permeates all of the synths and puts me into a deeply peaceful mental state.
Eliza Devane and George Holliday’s vocal talents are another compelling reason why this album was a favourite. They lend a great deal of expression to L’Avenue’s lyrics that conjure vivd imagery in my mind. I also find the passionate, resonant sax add heartfelt feeling to the music.
Riviera’s evocative, caressing nature makes it one of my 2022 favourites. The journey on which the music takes me is a chance to catch my breath and let go of the world’s worries. These days I feel like that’s a precious gift.
The way in which Russell Nash’s Do Or Die explodes with retro synth sounds and powerful melodies makes in one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022. It revels in nostalgic synth sounds while having razor-sharp production values. I am compelled by the album’s emotional energy.
Russell Nash’s ability to craft strong melodies pulls me into the album. Each melody has clarity and a catchy core while exploring rich emotional terrain. Like all of the best melodists, he is able to mingle shifting feelings into a single melody. The strength of these melodies is a major factor in making it a favourite of mine for the year.
The combination of classic synth sounds with novel approaches to their use is another important factor in making this a favourite album of mine this year. The way in which the synths are used to craft intricate and detailed soundscapes carry me along on an auditory adventure.
There’s a real dynamism in the music on this album that pulls me into it. All of the sonic elements from the massive drums and oscillating bass to the energetic synths flow together to create music that rushes and flies. The energy levels on this album are infectious.
I am a sucker for artists who can make music that is full of joy and Do Or Die feels deeply joyful to me. Russell Nash revels in the retro-nostalgic music he creates and that sheer pleasure is what made this one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022.
Vulnerability, fragility and aching emotion flow from Peacecraft’s Songs For When The World Ends. I am deeply touched by the album and that emotional core made it a favourite of mine for 2022. Moments of tenuous hope run through it which only makes it more affecting.
Feeling and sensitivity characterize the piano performances and compositions on the album in a way I find undeniably appealing. Peacecraft’s compositional skills and piano playing lay bare his soul in a profoundly touching way.
Uncertainty, loss and melancholy fill the album in an engaging way as tremulous, twisting sounds and fragile piano weave together. Resonant strings and accenting synths contribute a pleasing depth to the album’s emotive nature.
The production by Jacket is a contributory factor to my enjoyment of the album as it gives Peacecraft’s composition and performances added depth and breadth. His approach opens up the soundstage and allows the music to breathe.
The sheer emotional power of Songs For When The World Ends is the reason why it goes on my list of 2022 favourite albums to have reviewed. I find it as moving and touching each time I hear it as I did on first listening to the album.
I selected Void as one of my favourite albums to have reviewed this year because it weaves together threads of sweeping majesty, fragility and pained emotion into an intensely pleasing synthscape. I find myself drawn into the music in a most compelling way.
A full range of ear-catching synth sounds intertwine in intriguing ways on this album. I find their complexity and depth strongly engaging as they move from magnificently massive bass into shimmering astral light. I also enjoy the textural variations that range from gritty growl to fragile chiming.
I also find the sensation of galactic vistas being revealed as the music unfolds strongly appealing. The mixture of cosmic bass with fascinatingly interlinked synth layers has a way of painting starry images across my mind’s canvas. The album makes me feel ready to explore the universe.
Melodies are something to which my ear is naturally drawn and Pashang capably crafts them on this album. They have an expressive quality that can fill a single track’s melody with a range of emotions from mournful to victorious. The synths chosen to carry each melody also tend to reinforce their emotive strength.
In the end, it is the way that Pashang takes me on a subtle, complex and deeply felt synth voyage across a vast astral canvas that made Void one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022.
I chose Peter Gagliardi’s Artwave as one of my 2022 favourite reviewed albums because of the sweeping operatic feeling that it exudes as it unfolds. It has the spirit of a colossal sci-fi space epic combined with luscious synth layers and emotional power.
The sensation of being in a spacecraft crossing the vast stretches of interplanetary space that Artwave captures is another reason that I put this album on my favourites list for 2022. The way in which all of the various sonic elements are combined results in music capable of drawing vivid images of outer space in my mind.
Expressive melodies that hold mingled emotions as they unfold are also draw me into this album. Each melody is clearly delineated and they carry me through rich emotional terrain as they travel through the music. I deeply enjoy Peter Gagliardi’s strong focus on melodic writing on this album.
The level of detail in synth use also pulled me toward the album. All of the synths used are carefully combined in layers that interact in ear-catching ways. Tonal colour, sonic texture and timbre are varied and complement or contrast with each other to form entrancing auditory moments.
In the world’s current state of upheaval, Artwave takes hold of my mind and carries me across cosmic soundscapes. I find that I can become absorbed in the sonic world that Peter Gagliardi creates in a rather pleasing and edifying way.
Aeronexus’ Aeon Intergrade goes on my favourite reviewed albums list because it is full of complex sonic layers that are intricately detailed along with ear-grabbing melodies that evoke a pulse-pounding, intergalactic voyage.
All of the intense, clear melodies carry deep emotion in a way that makes the album stand out for me. As each melodic segment evolves, it expresses a wide variety of emotional content from aching pain to rising energy in a memorable way.
Aeronexus’ musical guests also help to put this album on my 2022 favourites list. Dimi Kaye’s talented guitar chops add intricacy, Draven contributes dark shadows and a classical music sensibility and Tim Capello unleashes his fiery sax with wild abandon.
Unique and well-combined synth sounds also drew me into this album. I especially enjoy the choral synth sounds that contribute majestic energy and synths with quite hard to define but fascinating auditory textures. The way in which Aeronexus integrates all of the synths creates an irresistible sound.
Aeon Intergrade finds its way onto my list of favourites because it represents the pinnacle of the Aeronexus sound which is one I have enjoyed ever since I first became aware of his music. It was an adventure in listening!
I chose Meow At The Moon for inclusion on my favourites list because it is a truly entertaining listening experience. The album is drenched in a super fun retro horror movie sensibility. I like the fact that Cat Temper takes music making seriously while retaining a light-hearted attitude.
One of the reasons I’ve included the album on my list is the high quality melodies that Cat Temper has written for it. The melodies are grabbing and seem to have been designed to heighten the creepy, dangerous atmosphere that permeates the music. I find myself humming them after listening.
I also dig the interlocking synth parts on the album that explore all of the sonic variety of which synthesizers are capable. The way that the synths can growl demonically, trail ghostly tendrils and howl with terrifying intensity add to the cinematic feeling of terror that fills this album to the brim.
Theatricality is another feature of this album that draws me in. I like the mixture of horror elements that aren’t taken too seriously. Cat Temper has fun with creating auditory imagery that sends shivers down the spine while dark shadows boil up and reach their evil fingers out towards me.
Ultimately I have included Meow At The Moon amongst my favourite 2022 albums because it combines playfulness with musical skill. Cat Temper knows how to create well-crafted tunes but he never forgets to have fun along the way.
Terrifying shadows fill Draven’s Abyssal Arcana as the album’s growing terror is unleashed in a ferocious tide of darkness. It is that unrelenting feeling of danger that makes it one of my favourite albums to have reviewed this year.
The overwhelming power and weight of the musical elements is one reason I am so engaged by the album. The drums create an abyssal storm, the bass is crushing and the dramatic orchestral instruments and dangerous synths move in muscled lines. This is music that flat out looms.
I am also compelled by the horrifying sonic imagery that Draven creates. Fear, nervousness and tension all mingle to create a sensation of ominous evil that may strike at any moment and from any direction. I love the chills that this music sends through me as I listen.
A growing tide of keening strings, howling Theremin and pounding drums combine with complexity in the synth layers to bring the sense of terror to a fever pitch. I feel myself being dragged violently into the lurking shadows and held captive within them.
Mingled darkness, raging bloodlust and never ending sensations of danger pour from Abyssal Arcana in a way that pulls me in deep. I had to add this album to the list because I find Draven’s musical approach so engaging.
The way in which Terrordyne’s The Dead Will Walk the Earth is veiled in miasmic fog, churns with rage and slavers hungrily makes it one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022. It is unrelentingly terrifying in the best possible way and I love the horror movie vibe that fills it.
The dread-filled atmosphere makes this album so appealing to me as Terrordyne has filled it with crushing fear and a horrible lurking sensibility. The mixture of a bass onslaught with a shattering drum attack and howling, screaming synth sounds drenches the music in unceasing hunger and soul-sucking darkness.
A solid musical collaboration between Terrordyne, Dan Dave Larson and LordNikøn is another reason for my enjoyment of this album. All of these artists understand how to imbue music with a terror-filled feeling and their creative cross-pollination helps pile on the fear in a most pleasingly chilling way.
The powerful emotional pull that musical contrasts within the album exert on me is another reason for including it on my favourites list. When the unrelenting darkness is pierced by poignant emotion, it serves to make the pain more intense and the shadows even more threatening.
The Dead Will Walk The Earth captures all of the existential dread of a zombie invasion and for that reason I had to include it on the list of favourite reviews for 2022. I’ve never enjoyed feeling intense dread in quite the same way before.
I chose Victor Roy’s The Curse of the Daydreamer for my 2022 favourite reviewed albums list because of the way in which it tells tales of grand adventures, forgotten lands and epic journeys. The album skilfully combines a lush synth palette, engaging melodies and the soul of a storyteller.
One of the reasons I have this album on my 2022 favourites list is the way in which the synths used by Victor Roy capture the moods and emotional tenor of his compositions. They are intriguing to my ears and encourage my imagination to roam freely through the album’s soundscapes.
Touching, deeply expressive melodies are another reason I included The Curse Of The Daydreamer on my 2022 favourites list. I enjoy how well composed the melodies are as they explore the complexity of human feelings without overdoing it. They manage to create nuance through emotional juxtaposition.
I am also drawn to the ways in which the synth instruments, melody and harmony combine to sweep me away on a thrilling adventure through fantastical realms. I enjoy the album’s ability to transport me away from workaday concerns.
The Curse Of The Daydreamer found its way onto my 2022 list of favourite reviewed albums because it effectively carries me away and lets me escape for a while into a place in which adventure and storytelling reign.
I included Here Be Dragons on my list of favourite albums I reviewed in 2022 because it is a richly woven musical tapestry that freely roams between genres, emotional states and intriguing soundscapes. Blue Nagoon (Michael Maas) and his guest artists’ mingled talents come together to form an intensely enjoyable album.
All of the wonderfully emotional and powerful vocal performances on the album are a major reason for including it on my list. Each vocalist brought their own unique style and beauty to the songs and skilfully interpreted Michael Maas’ well-crafted lyrics.
The satisfying guitar performances that are delivered with flair by Michael Maas also made it one of my favourites of the year. The guitar skill he demonstrates fill the music with expressive soul as they roam across many genres. I also enjoy Elevate The Sky’s excellent solo on “Withernsea”
Diversity and variety characterize the intricately interwoven synth sounds and help add depth to the album. The sounds are full of character and work together across a broad spectrum of influences to create ear-pleasing auditory imagery as they unfold.
Ultimately Here Be Dragons is on my year end favourites list because it keeps me spellbound with its emotional expression, vocal power and engaging sonic imagery. I enjoy the way that it moves beyond strict genre definitions to showcase superb music.
Indigo’s INDIGO fuses her distinctive voice with Steve Wilcoxson’s intriguing synths and her songwriting that cuts to the heart of the matter. I find this fusion so successful that it compels me to include this album on my list of favourites for 2022. This is adult pop music that explores complicated emotional terrain in an effective way.
The strength of Indigo’s voice is a major factor in making this one of my favourite albums this year. The way in which her voice captures vulnerability underpinned by strength is deeply engaging. Tenderness can become seduction and delicacy can exude power in a way that captivates me.
Clarity and directness characterize Indigo’s songwriting in a way that allows her to drive her point home with expressive depth and makes this album so appealing to me. I made an intensely emotional connection to her songwriting that keeps me coming back for more.
Steve Wilcoxson’s synth work contributes to my interest in this album. He keeps Indigo’s voice upmost in the mix while using his talent to interweave many unique tonal, timbral and textural sonic elements into an evocative supporting structure for the song writing and singing talents of our lead singer.
The way in which emotion, musical richness and Indigo’s songwriting come together here makes for an irresistible package and that is why INDIGO has made it onto my list of favourite albums that I reviewed in 2022.
Mars Nord and Kasson Crooker (Symbion Project) have created an album in Saturnine that is full of melancholy, aching emotion and fragility in such a poignant way that it became one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022. I find it powerfully affecting each time I hear it.
The way in which Mars Nord imbues his songwriting with intense vulnerability creates an elegiac emotional strength in the album that made it one of my favourites of the year. His emotive voice brims over with intense feeling and deepens the beauty in his lyrics to touch my heart. There is tragic yearning pouring from him in each song.
Kasson Crooker paints mournful soundscapes with trembling, shadowed piano melodies which draw me into the album. The synth elements are anchored by towering drums and dense bass. Each layer of synth sound builds another emotional layer into the music, using unique textures and timbres to add depth.
Saturnine combines Mars Nord and Kasson Crooker’s impressive musical abilities in a way that cuts right to my heart and makes it one of my favourite reviewed albums in 2022. I love the fact that it still speaks of hope, even in the face of loss and pain.
The shadowy, fierce power and sometimes challenging emotional content of Eva X’s I Dream of a Reality made it one of my favourite albums to have reviewed in 2022. The way in which the album combines Eva X’s unique voice with her powerful lyrics and lacerating synth background creates a wonderful intensity.
Eva X’s vocal strength is one of the reasons this album is a favourite for me. Her voice can ooze seduction, crack like a whip or exude defiance. The way in which she can use her voice allows her to fully capture all of the emotion written into her lyrics.
Another way in which the album attracts me to it is the high quality of the lyrics written for it. Eva X combines an ability to dissect social issues, express deep emotion and create inspiration in her writing. Her fearless songwriting cuts right to the heart of things in a way that I enjoy.
Sheer musical ferocity is a factor in my great enjoyment of the album. There are slicing synths, Stygian bass rumble and percussive attacks that ram the music forward aggressively. The introduction of lighter, gentler elements creates intriguing contrasts that I quite like.
An evocative mixture of emotional vulnerability, righteous anger and shadow fills I Dream Of A Reality in a way that I find utterly engaging. I am compelled to add this album to my list of favourites by the sheer expressive power which fills it.
