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(s) of the Day: Secede & Kettel

Despite tormenting me with his brief absence from the wide and wonderful musical world, Secede must know that I will always forgive him, if not just for the fact that he created Bye Bye Gridlock Traffic back in 2003: an album continuously stuck in place as one of my favourite records of all time. Somewhere amidst the charming subtlety, child-like mysticism, and astounding imagination I fell in love; and although later musical outings would see Secede travelling more standard paths I never gave up.