Jonny's Top 10 Releases of 2012

If there was ever a year to get into electronic music, 2012 was probably that year. As well as Burial and Clubroot showing the world how dubstep should be done, we've had an explosion of talent from Russia in the likes of Night Shift and Clonki  as well as local scenes blossoming in both the east (Borealis, Liar) and west (Kettel, Secede, Chymera) of mainland Europe. In the meantime, Indie music seems to be suffering from an identity crisis in this Hipster-conscious age if Metronomy singles are to be believed, Metal continues to go the way of pop-punk by continuing to stagnate and Pop itself is even embracing the deeper sides of electronic. Folk's done alright, actually, but for the purpose of getting you to listen to electronic we'll ignore that. Ambient, as ever, has enjoyed a fantastic year.

So here it is, my personal top 10 releases of the year.

Artist of the Day: Amon Tobin

I think it would be a little cheeky if I were to approach you with IDM, trip-hop and DnB extraordinaire Amon Tobin and flag the very old-news that he's incredible. With a catalogue reaching back into the furthest parts of the 90's, old Tobin has been pumping out some of the best experimental electronic music to be found for - and it makes me feel incredibly young to say this - as long as I've been alive. There's been no sign of restraint, either, as the round of end-of-year lists in 2011 saw his most recent LP, ISAM, clasp hold of surprisingly low numbers. With good reason, of course: it's an absolutely jaw-dropping mindfuck. In fact, I'd be remiss to leave out the fact that it was one of the key albums in accelerating my tastes towards the weird (and the wonderful) notes that routinely reach my ears today.