MUSIC 2022: TOP 5 reissues

T'is the season again! Time to start with those dreaded end of the year lists! I'm trying to keep them short, even though it always pains me to leave out so much worthy stuff.

Today I'm starting with one of the "B categories" that doesn't need much explanation: just my personal favorite reissues which came out in 2022. So here we go!

TOP 5 REISSUES:

1. DOLPO - Inner Himalayas
   
   
   
   Seriously? A tape with a not really convenient packaging wins against several vinyl releases including a box set? Of course the value-for-money ratio plays a little bit into that, right?
   Yes, it does. But this WV Sorcerer Productions reissue of Dolpo's 2019 album, wrapped in cloth, with a rice paper credits sheet and a cone of Tibetian ritual insense, also looks cool. But most importantly this very raw cosmic drone doom experience, enriched with authentic Himalayan field recordings and traditional Asian instruments is just a phenomenal intersection of Bong, Bell Witch and Saba Alizadeh. With this run of cassettes long gone I still recommend anyone who digs the merging of doom with ethnic influences (think Rinuwat or SteppenDoom) to give the digital version a listen!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. BLUT AUS NORD - 777 (Sect(s) / The Desanctification / Cosmosophy)
   
   
   
   This box is not perfect (one poster mix-up and why no downloads for that price?), but it comes pretty damn close. The three albums in beautiful colour pressings and gatefold cover plus the slipmat, which is still rotating on my turntable, don't give me any regrets buying Blut Aus Nord's complete "777" trilogy, which was originally released in 2011 and 2012. Musically these avantgarde black metal meets industrial, doom and even French hip hop classics are a class of their own anyway. Enormous! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. MAGMA - Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh
   
   
   
   This reissue from Music On Vinyl is pretty straight-forward. The album from 1973 is far from being an unearthed obscurity, but an absolutely legendary, genre-defining (the genre of course being Zeuhl) masterpiece. The quality pressing is gold, the cover artwork of the gatefold shines gold, too. Oh sorry, it's not gold, but "copper". Well who cares? It looks and sounds great. No fancy extras beyond that needed. Beautiful edition of an untouchable work of the century.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. KONSTRUKT & PETER BRÖTZMANN -  Dolunay
   
   
   
   This one looks even less spectacular: Just two black records in a single sleeve, a card, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. But I'm in it for the music and this wild free jazz gathering of Turkish quartet Konstrukt and saxophone giant Peter Brötzmann from 2008 is a fantastic slice of exciting chaotic manic fun. Further proof that Konstrukt and Karlrecords are always a worthwhile combination.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. SINISTRO - Hóspedes Silenciosos
   
   
   
   The doom band from Portugal re-released three demos from 2012 on one CD. Over one hour of cineastic (apart from a couple of rather textural primal screams) instrumental sludge enriched with samples, slightly Mediterranean clean guitars, post rock, synthie scores and trip hop beats. Huge and heavy, deep and visonary emotional music. And of course a perfect reminder that Sinistro were already great before they had a certain fantastic lead singer for a couple of years and releases.