This is by no means a snapshot across all forms of electronic music as I have little interest in some strands such as trance, commercial dance music or the mainstream adoption and bastardisation of the name dubstep. I say ‘the name’ as the music itself bears little resemblance to the sounds that were created under that tag through the 00s. My tastes instead drift towards bass music – be it dub, experimental, minimal techno, ambient or drone. This list of releases from 2012 hits the best of those dark, murky suggestive and cerebral places so in no particular order here are our favourites. Click on the artwork to sample/buy any of the releases via Boomkat.
BURIAL :: KINDRED
RAIME :: QUARTER TURNS OVER A LIVING LINE
ANDY STOTT :: LUXURY PROBLEMS
ACTRESS :: R.I.P
SHED :: THE KILLER
DARLING FARAH :: BODY
IRON CURTIS :: SOFT WIDE WAISTBAND
SHACKLETON :: MUSIC FOR THE QUIET HOUR
MONOLAKE :: GHOSTS
FOUR TET :: PINK
LOSCIL :: SKETCHES FROM NEW BRIGHTON
VCMG :: SSSS
ROBERT HOOD :: MOTOR: NIGHTTIME WORLD 3
DAPHNI :: JIAOLONG
TERRENCE DIXON :: FROM THE FAR FUTURE PT. 2
1991 :: 1991