The time has come for our annual roundup, and good lord, what a fantastic year it's been. Our speakers have been blessed with a constant flow of incredible music all year, with so many excellent albums, compilations and reissues coming in from start to end. Music scenes across the globe have bounced back with new energy post-lockdown, we're truly living in a new era. May music continue to be the force that connects us all, the beautiful, ugly, loud, quiet, weird and wonderful avenue for expression that it is. As always, it was such a challenge to pick out favourites this year, but here are 20 titles (in no particular order) that certainly made their mark.
Charles Stepney – Step On Step
Splendid compilation of songs from the legendary R&B producer and arranger Charles Stepney. The tracks here are all demos recorded in Stepney’s Chicago South Side basement, working up songs for Earth, Wind & Fire, Rotary Connection and other collaborators during a dazzlingly fruitful decade before his untimely departure in 1976 at age 45. The intimacy of Step on Step can be felt throughout with the soulful touch of the electric piano, the raw grooves of drum machines and the trademark Moog sounds that reach deep into your soul! A treasure of a release and a truly wholesome sound! We will be putting this one on for a long time.
Available here.
Amanda Whiting – Lost In Abstraction
Classically trained performer & lecturer Amanda Whiting has won us over once again, taking us on a journey with her explorations on the harp with her 2022 LP. Accompanied by the mesmerising lines of flautist Chip Wickham and bassist Aidan Thomas, drums - Jon Reynolds and percussionist- Balso Verdú- this album saw its genesis during a time of standstill and confinement. A poetic album- where listening feels like a conversation between all instruments waxing and waning.
Available here.
The Greg Foat Group – Blue Lotus
The classic Greg Foat Group returns with a vintage broken beat sound in a nu-jazz package. Joined by special guests Art Themen on Soprano Saxophone and Morgan Simpson (Black Midi) on Drums. Heavy synth and percussive grooves all day on this one, excellent for zoning in or background grooving.
Available here.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – Cold As Weiss
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio here with their third studio album! Recorded with now permanent drummer Dan Weiss, pushing funky instrumental music to a new generation of fans. Infectious and tight as ever, with that trademark Colemine records sound from one of the most exciting organ trios of late.
Available here.
Anteloper – Pink Dolphins
Far out on International Anthem we have the super endangered new album from Anteloper, Pink Dolphins. Jaime Branch and Jason Nazareth make up the duo, bravely abandoning the known and leaping forward into a path less travelled. Dive in to this freewheeling, other worldly, improvisational music and embrace the moment for the betterment of the here and now.
This rare aquadelic creature is available here.
Carlos Niño & Friends - Extra Presence
Carlos Nino was a welcome presence back in our shelves with this 90 minute, 17 track collection showcasing the spiritual, improvisational space collage sound he’s known for, featuring an incredible cast of collaborators that includes Jamael Dean, Shabazz Palaces, Sam Gendel, Laraaji, Iasos and more. Entire worlds are encased in each track, full of sonic journeying and performative energy. Put this on and have a wander :)
Available here.
Theo Parrish – Detroit Forward
The legendary & influential Theo Parrish joining the esteemed DJ-Kicks series with the first of its kind, pulling through a collection of all brand new material from Theo’s Detroit connect. Definitely a must have LP that brings that magical Detroit electronic sound as well as some of the freshest grooves! “Detroit creates, but rarely imitates..” Check it out for yourself!
Available here.
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Kendrick Lamar comes in strong and geniune with his introspective effort to turn away from the limelight and look inwards, highlighting his insecurities and beliefs. The whole album is packed with strong personal messages paired with clean musical production that make room for all the intimate spots to shine. Featuring many greats from Sampha, Beth Gibbons of Portishead, Ghostface Killah and many more, Mr. Morale is a record about real life, in all its surprise twists and turns. Do not give this one a miss.
More on this release here.
Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant To Be
Firm favourites here at TAV with their new album, pulling us in from the very first track with Sampa The Great! Such bangers from start to end, pulling from funk, reggae and hip hop influences to push that jazz baton into the future. Marrying cool confidence with bright energy, 'Where I’m Meant To Be' is a thumping celebration of life, an affirming elevation in the Ezra Collective’s winding hybrid sound and refined collective character.
Available here.
Kikagaku Moyo – Kumoyo Island
The end of an era. The fifth studio album and last euphoric musical journey to Kikagaku Moyo’s imagined island “Kumoyo Island”. The album represents the end of a journey for Kikagaku Moyo with their decade long career as a group and Kumoyo island is their last offering for us listeners to soak it all in. The album is truly a special listen from start to end, with moments of the moyo psychedelia we have all learnt to love along with nostalgic melodies to draw you into their magical land. Lovely way to go out from our friends at Guruguru Brain!
Available here.
Kribo Records – Sounds of Lecak vol 1
Can't mention Guruguru Brain without mentioning Kribo Records! Highlight of the year for us for sure, this release was truly something special coming out of Singapura, a joint effort from our sidecar label TAV Records & Guruguru Brain. Thank you all for your support on this one!
More on this release here.
Various – Tanamur City
We were beyond grateful to finally get our hands on this lovely compilation when it came out, compiled by Harry Munir Septiandry of the influential Indonesian DJ collective “Midnight Runners”. Tanamur City features a distinctive Indonesian dance-pop sound that draws from that AOR, disco & jazz sounds that make your feelings tingle and your body jiggle. The compilation features acts such as Chaseiro, Rafika Duri, The Rollies and Lydia Kandou - an inspiring ode to an influential discotheque.
Available here.
Various – Padang Moonrise (The Birth Of The Modern Indonesian Recording Industry (1955 to 69)
Ridiculously good compilation of Indonesian music that emerged underneath the volcanoes of Java and Sumatra. Java, the most populous island in the archipelago of over 17,000 islands and 1300 distinct ethnic groups, and its capital city Jakarta, was where most of the post-colonial national identity, politics, administration and music production was centred. The results are a unique blend of styles that have remained mostly insulated from the world outside of Indonesia until a recent worldwide resurgence in the interest of recorded music of all forms has shone a new light on these nearly forgotten recordings.
More on this release here.
Adhianto Aryo – Sintaksis 
Still in Indonesia but moving forward to another end of sounds, here's a potent offering on DIVISI62 - one for the leftfield & experimental heads. The fluctuating sonics take on a chaotic disposition, representing the accumulated distress and volatility that have become the fabric of normalcy in Jakarta. Untangle your clots of negative energy and give this a try.
More on this release here.
The Observatory and Koichi Shimizu - Demon State
‘One pit stop in glorious hell.’ The Observatory reach their long gestating, rhythm focused electronic reinvention, coming together with an improv studio session Koichi recorded. Dark, tangly, engulfing soundscapes to get lost in. Midnight Shift really blew us away with this one.
Available here.
Various - Saigon Supersound Vol 3
Entry number three in this exceptional compilation series put together by music lover, producer and DJ Jan Hagenkötter, focusing on the lost sounds of South Vietnam. During a difficult and complicated era of the Vietnam War, a lovely pop culture had developed and it disappeared after the War ended. Many vibrant moods can be found here that draw inflections from the western world mixed with their own twist of flavour, sound and groove. A killer comp for your collection!
Available here.
Various - Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol. I (Deep, Heavy & Beautiful Jazz From Japan 1968 1984)
Massive compilation of Japanese Jazz, straight from the vaults of Nippon Columbia. This one's been a low key hit all year, pulling people in with that stellar cut from Hiroshi Suzuki's Cat - Romance. Japanese Jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa presents an essential 14 track collection of ‘WaJazz’ - from blazing hard bop to free Jazz, introspective soloing and massive big band sounds. The curation here is on point and so is the sound quality, not to mention that great looking package. An excellent choice for aficionados and newcomers alike.
Available here.
The Kahil El'Zabar Quartet - A Time For Healing
Kahil El’Zabar and his quartet here with a special double LP of ancient/future music for the mind, body and soul. From classic swinging jazz, talking drums and gentle spiritual grooves that reconnects Black Classical music with African roots. An album nurtured carefully to produce a magical potion for some needed healing. ❤️
More on this release here.
Nu Genea - Bar Mediterraneo
Nu Genea's follow up LP to 2018’s Nuova Napoli, which is still being rinsed across the globe today. The new record, Bar Mediterraneo comes from an idea of a shared space that leaves its doors open to travellers and their lives, always exposed to the whims of fate. Coming through in the multitude of sounds that are layered in the tracks, merging into that signature funky blend we’ve all come to love.
More on this release here.
Khruangbin & Vieux Farka Toure – Ali
Rounding up the list here we have a beautiful tribute album from Ali Farka Touré’s son Vieux Farka Toure & Khruangbin, bringing Malian music to broader groups of listeners. The record was finished in 2021, as the global pandemic shuttered businesses and forced us to take stock of what Earth was becoming. A moment of peace within a raging storm, a conversation between past and present without allegiance to suffering. Bless up and check this out ❤️
More on this release here.
Honourable Mentions
(Click image for more info)
