Top 10 EPs Of 2022 (Quickie)

 

Greetings, fellow machines! This is DalekTurret32 commencing his 2022 End Of Year countdown. Starting off quick with the Top 10 EPs of 2022

This year, I didn’t listen to a lot of new music (at least compared to 2021). I was hoping to branch out my listening to past albums that have been on my 'to listen to' list for a while, and not just listen to everything that just comes out. However, I listened to plenty of new projects in 2022, this included a good amount of EPs, which were enough to fill a Top 10 list.

For an EP (Extended Play) to qualify for this list

• It must have at least three tracks
• If an EP has two tracks and is at least ten minutes long in total, then that is do-able
• The artist must be a verified artist on Spotify with at least 300-400 monthly listeners

Let’s start the list

Honourable mentions:

• Angel by SAULT (It is at least ten minutes long, but since it’s one single track, I’m not sure if it qualifies for this list)
• Tommy by Anna Calvi
• Baby Shack by Panic Shack
• 2022 An EP by DijahSB
• Volume II by Sad Night Dynamite
• HEAT! by Deadletter
• Four Songs by Blood Orange
• Banshee by NewDad
• Must Be Nice by 49th & Main
• [BUMP] Pick Me Up by Bas
• Postcards by Anish Kumar

#10. Resentment Is Always Seismic - A Final Throw Of Throes by Napalm Death

I’ve been stepping into some unfamiliar territory.

I have not listened to a lot of grindcore, but this EP caught my interest. Since this was a companion piece to the West Midlands band’s 2020 album Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism, I listened to that album first to get a better sense of the aesthetic that this project would offer.

I described the sound as ‘delightfully dark, with the guitars sounding more rapid’, but the guitars are also energetic in both sound and rhythmic, and the growling vocals help shape the desolate land this band paints a picture of.

Fave Track: "Man Bites Dogged"

#9. Forbidden Feelingz by Nia Archives

Out of the throes and into the thrills. Nia Archives provides a style of drum ‘n’ bass with a vibrant atmosphere. I also notice an occasional dub echo in places, which is quite enticing.

Fave Track: "18 & Over"

#8. She Might Bleed by SIPHO

An NME discovery that turned out to be a delight. Such a delicate project where SIPHO conveys a lot of emotion in his voice over production that mixes soul and rock together.

Fave Track: "OCCASION"

#7. Yellow Peril by Jianbo

The beats sound real chill as Jianbo brings some flows that can switch between laidback on “Mongkok Madness” and assertive on “S.H.A.O.L.I.N”. The EP also features a surprise appearance from Henry Wu (a.k.a. Kamaal Williams) and a colourful wub-wub synth on “Jianbo Express”. Recommended for those who want a late night vibe.

Fave Tracks: "Music Or Money"

#6. Hi-Fidelity by Lava LaRue

I checked out this artist’s Butterfly EP at a time when we were gradually getting out of the lockdown period of 2021. Alas, that project just missed out on the Honourable Mentions cut of my 2021 EP countdown, but this year, Lava certainly gets a spot in the Top 10. 

Hi-Fidelity evokes a delightfully dreamy, and sometimes psychedelic, vibe, and we get some hints of vaporwave every now and then.

Fave Track: "Motel"

#5. Shades Of Red by Eliza Rose, M4A4

This year saw newcomer Eliza Rose get lots of attention thanks to her phenomenal hit “B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All)”. For those who’ve only listened to that hit, what this EP will offer may be quite different: a 90s garage house style that is excellent for a club night. Parts of it remind me of Smokin’ Beats, especially in the production and the way the vocals are mixed.

Fave Track: "Delectable"

#4. Bluff by Yune Pinku

More house music. But this one leans more towards an ambient style than the garage house sound of Eliza Rose. And boy, was this EP quite the atmospheric listen. “DC Rot” contains one of the highlights of this project, as the drum break that comes in at 1:18 feels like euphoria.

Fave Track: "Laylo"

#3. Satanic Slumber Party by Tropical Fuck Storm and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Two psychedelic bands from Australia come together to deliver a hellish soundscape lasting for 19 minutes. The EP starts off with a mix of chiptune, synth-punk and post-punk, before unnerving the listener (in a good way) with a collage of random experimental electronic noises.

Fave Part: "Part 3"

#2. Hip Hop 50, Vol. 1 by DJ Premier

DJ Premier has been involved in hip hop production for a long time now. For this EP, he brings together an array of older acts, such as Slick Rick and Nas, and newer acts, such as Joey Bada$$ and Rapsody. The record scratches elevate his already excellent production palette, which contains some uplifting beats, especially in the soulful closer “The Root Of All”.

Fave Track: "Beat Breaks"

And my pick for the number one EP of 2022 is...

#1. Human And Kind by Folly Group

Takes all the finest qualities of Awake And Hungry and feels more tense and energetic. There’s also some hints of experimentation as we get some minimal moments scattered throughout the EP, as well as indie pop on “Paying The Price” and industrial electronic music on the title track “Human And Kind”, the latter feels like Nine Inch Nails meets Massive Attack.

Fave Track: "I Raise You (The Price Of Your Head)"