Teases & Dares’ Top 100 Non-LP Tracks of 2022

We wrap our review of the year with our final best of list for 2022. This one is always a favourite. It brings together the best tracks which weren’t on an album. There are a few self imposed rules (one per artist in the main but collabs/features are allowed which makes this a bit of a Bunny X/Anniee fest for which I am not the slightest bit sorry – the songs can be from albums which are due in 2023 because you just never know if an album will ever see the light of day).

As per usual the list is very upbeat but there is a smattering of ballads, moody chilled tunes and the occasional surprise to balance things out.

In fairness we could have included about 5 Rose Gray songs and she had better be the biggest pop star on the planet in 2023. Thanks to anyone who checked in with the blog, listened to a playlist and got in touch. As always if you like what you hear, buy a tune from Bandcamp or iTunes or if you are in a position to do so purchase a physical product – it makes the world of difference to these artists. Happy holidays music people. Spotify list for this lot at the bottom of the post.

1. Rose Gray, Prettier Than You
2. Cornelia Jakobs, Hold Me Closer
3. Florian, Janie
4. Jessie Ware, Free Yourself
5. ELSKA, Golden
6. Louise, Super Magic
7. Thought Beings & Bunny X, Cross The Line
8. Tenspeed, Out Past Ten
9. Kelli-Leigh, New Chic
10. Duett & Primo The Alien, Sad Blue
11. Call Me Loop, Year Of The Ex
12. Bangbang, San Fan Gigolo
13. Southlight & Nathan Mahon, Waiting For The Day
14. Denise Van Outen, From New York To L.A
15. Bino Biscotti & Bunny X, Testarossa
16. Maraschino, Hi Desire
17. Molly Hammar, Can’t Stay Away
18. Annie Bass, Owe You
19. Mondmann & Bunny X, Try Again
20. Darin, Memories
21. Brooke, That’s Rich
22. Darby, At The Beach
23. Dabeull & Holybrune, Glitter Fonk
24. Axner, Got The Look
25. Alyssa Bonagura, Paper Airplane
26. VENUS, Amplifier
27. PRIZM, All The Way
28. Holiday Sidewinder & Coastal Elite, Why
29. NICOLAAS & Supertaste, Anyone Else
30. Ariela Jacobs, Hollywood
31. The Soft Pink Truth, Is It Going To Get Any Deeper Than This
32. We Are Domi, Lights Off
33. Anabel Englund, Need Me Right
34. ELISHIA, Rendezvous
35. Jack River, Nothing Has Changed
36. Maja Francis, Please Remember Me
37. Louis La Roche, Some Way
38. Metteson, Second Heart
39. Braxe + Falcon, Step By Step
40. Heartland, Taste For Danger
41. Carl Chaste & Owlle, On My Body
42. Zak Vortex & Bunny X, So Into You
43. Genes, Crumble
44. Anniee, Hide The Sun
45. Leony, Remedy
46. Pure Shores, In My Dreams
47. Eli Escobar & Kim Anh, Take Me
48. The Blessed Madonna, Serotonin Moonbeams
49. SG Lewis, Missing You
50. Pipi Le Oui & Toni Pearen, 1972
51. Romy & Fred Again, Strong
52. Eliza Rose, B.O.T.A
53. Saucy Lady, Hoshi No Suna
54. Moonlight Breakfast, Cool Down
55. Anniee & Von Hertzog, Danger Electricity
56. Klara Hammarstrom, Run To The Hills
57. Bubs & Suki Soul, Sweet Sensation
58. Drew Sycamore, Madonna
59. Oblique & Bunny X, Thing For You
60. Cherry Cinema, Don’t Do it
61. LOWES, Late Night Vision
62. Tams/n Otway, Love Me Always
63. Inge van Calkar, Back To Life
64. Abby Bella May, I Lost My Friend At A Rave
65. Lilac Cove, Bright Lights
66. Natalie Duncan & Lauren Marshall, Found Myself
67. CuteBad, Man Down
68. Michaela May, Crying At The Radio
69. I Am Boleyn, Young Love
70. Jessica Winter, Funk This Up
71. Bella Deer, Bloom
72. DJ Asscar, Don’t Even Know You
73. Original Thieves, Dance Into The Night
74. Harry Nathan & BOONIE, Bus Stop
75. Blue Hawaii, Danced Into My Life
76. Linus and the Moon, Communicate
77. Eline Noelia, Shockwave
78. Cassetter & Anniee, Why Should We Wait
79. Howles, Air
80. Hanna Rua, Light Up Your Dark
81. Kentebee, Loner In The Corner
82. I. Jordan, Always Been
83. Maya Vik, Swipe
84. Primo The Alien, We Are All Going To Die
85. Rebecca & Fiona with Chinaski, ‘Til Dawn
86. BEKA, Don’t Call Me A Friend
87. Sunglasses Kid & Jamythyst, Totally
88. Bertine Zetlitz, Soft Hurt
89. Yune Pinku, Jaws
90. Medicine Cabinet, Factor 50!
91. Lena, Looking For Love
92. Beks, Young Forever
93. Rikky Disco, Love Hangover
94. Catherine Moan, Soda Pop
95. Ann Streichman, Save Me
96. Florrie, Falling Back To You
97. BUFFY, Deep Days And Dark Nights
98. Rainlights, Mazzy Star Reminds Me Of You
99. Tomode, Conversation Starter
100.Kx9000, Sit Back Disco

Teases & Dares’ Top 100 Albums of 2022

Here it is – the big one! I hope you enjoy exploring my countdown of the top 100 albums I have enjoyed spending the most time with this year. It gives me great pleasure to announce my album of the year is Pensacola Mist’s ‘Lost In Love’. The shared male/female vocals really sold me on this album and it manages to blend the best of Paper Kites and Chvrches as well as being the standout synthwave record of the year. Playlist at the bottom so please do enjoy my favourite track selected from each album.

1. Pensacola Mist, Lost In Love
2. Confidence Man, Tilt
3. Tom Aspaul, Life In Plastic
4. Au Suisse, Au Suisse
5. Hikaru Utada, Bad Mode
6. Isabella Manfredi, Izzi
7. Honey Dijon, Black Girl Magic
8. Tove Lo, Dirt Femme
9. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, When The Lights Go
10. Wet Leg, Wet Leg
11. Metric, Formentera
12. MUNA, MUNA
13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool It Down
14. The Knocks, HISTORY
15. xPropaganda, The Heart Is Strange
16. Sally Shapiro, Sad Cities
17. Charli XCX, Crash
18. PVA, Blush
19. Marci, Marci
20. Hot Chip, Freakout/Release
21. Darren Hayes, Homosexual
22. Acid Klaus, Step On My Travelator….
23. Daniel Avery, Ultra Truth
24. Shygirl, Nymph
25. TSHA, Capricorn Sun
26. Dubstar, Two
27. Little Boots, Tomorrow’s Yesterdays
28. The Soft Pink Truth, Is It Going To Get Any Deeper Than This
29. Beyonce, Renaissance
30. Weyes Blood, And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
31. Meg Washington, Hot Fuss
32. Rheinzand, Atlantis Atlantis
33. Desire, Escape
34. Hatchie, Giving The World Away
35. Charlotte Qvale, Easy ‘Cause It Hurts
36. Electribe 101, Electribal Soul
37. Charlotte & Bolis, Topical Dancer
38. The Midnight, Heroes
39. St Lucia, Utopia
40. Royksopp, Profound Mysteries
41. Tanzer, Disco Automatic
42. Decius, Decius Vol 1
43. Gemma Cullingford, Tongue Tied
44. L’Avenue, Riviera
45. Josef Salvat, Islands
46. Lizzy McAlpine, Five Seconds Flat
47. Kyla La Grange, While Your Heart’s Still Beating
48. Ultraflex, Infinite Wellness
49. Winston Surfshirt, Panna Cotta
50. Laura Jean, Amateurs
51. Juliette Armanet, Bruler le feu
52. Lola Marsh, Shot Shot Cherry
53. Maya Killtron, Persimmon
54. Gabe Gurnsey, Diablo
55. Harry Styles, Harry’s House
56. Clara Luciani, Coeur Encore
57. Bananarama, Masquerade
58. Bonobo, Fragments
59. Ariana & The Rose, Lonely Hearts Club
60. Syntronix, The Roots
61. Perel, Jesus Was An Alien
62. Beach House, Once Twice Melody
63. Caroline Loveglow, Strawberry
64. CZARINA, Arcana
65. Vitesse X, Us Ephemeral
66. Italians Do It Better, After Dark 4
67. Working Men’s Club, Fear Fear
68. HAAi, Baby, We’re Ascending
69. Tinlicker, In Another Lifetime
70. Boy Harsher, The Runner
71. Don Dellpiero, Ocean Breeze
72. Suki Waterhouse, I Can’t Let Go
73. Let’s Eat Grandma, Two Ribbons
74. Causeway, We Were Never Lost
75. Taylor Swift, Midnights
76. Rina Sawayama, Hold The Girl
77. Editors, EBM
78. MICHELLE, After Dinner We Talk Dreams
79. Say She She, Prism
80. Wolfgang Flur, Magazine 1
81. Foxes, The Kick
82. Reva DeVito, Goodbye For Now
83. Sofi Tukker, Wet Tennis
84. Lovers Lake, Lovers Lake
85. Alina Valentina, Life Is Like A Fairytale
86. Your Planet Is Next, Mr Music
87. Andy Bull, People You Love
88. Mitski, Laurel Hell
89. Mr Little Jeans, Better Days
90. Sabrina Carpenter, Emails I Can’t Send
91. The 1975, Being Funny In A Foreign Language
92. Sonny Ism, Clock Without Hands
93. Maxx Parker, Infinite Blue
94. Heidrunna, Melodramatic
95. Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Third Album
96. Hollie Cook, Happy Hour
97. Cannons, Fever Dream
98. Eden Samara, Rough Night
99. Minimal Schlager, Love, Sex & Dreams
100.Holodrum, Holodrum

Teases & Dares’ Top 100 Remixes of 2022

It’s that time at last! I have laboured over the three year end best of lists like never before, in the hope of bringing you a killer set of playlists for you to enjoy and discover any music you may have missed earlier in the year. For the top remixes of 2022 the rules are pretty loose – multiple entries from the same artist/remixer are permitted (but I don’t include different remixes of the same song no matter how good they might be).

If you heard me on Steve Anderson’s Such A Good Feeling podcast earlier this week you’ll know that Bunny X and Kim Wilde’s ‘Perfect Paradise’ – remixed by Ricky Wilde – has been our musical moment and event of 2022. Look out for the top non-LP tracks of 2022 coming later because it’s positively packed to the rafters with Bunny X goodness! Top albums of 2022 also on the way.

Enjoy and get bopping! There’s a Spotify playlist for this lot at the bottom of the page.

1. Bunny X & Kim Wilde, Perfect Paradise (Ricky Wilde Remix)
2. MOTHERMARY, Pray (Tensnake Remix)
3. Tom Aspaul, Thessaloniki (Remix)
4. Pure Shores, Back On My Love (Slowz Remix)
5. St Lucia, Touch (Until Dawn Remix)
6. Beyonce & Madonna, Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)
7. Zoe Badwi, Don’t Mess With My Man (Sgt Slick Remix)
8. Darren Hayes, Let’s Try Being In Love (Louis La Roche Remix)
9. Axner, Got The Look (Al Kent’s Feel Good Remix)
10. Kylie Minogue, In Your Eyes (Infinite Disco Livestream Version)
11. Peggy Gou, I Go (Soulwax Remix)
12. Chemise, She Can’t Love You (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
13. Sandor Gavin & Neon Boulevard, She’s A Professional (Fine Like ’89 Mix)
14. Lizzo, About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
15. Bohannon & Dr Perri Johnson, Let’s Start To Dance Again (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
16. Juliette Armanet, Le Dernier Jour Du Disco (Remix)
17. KA’BEL, Heartstrings (My Miami Spandex Initial Talk Remix)
18. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolf (Boys Noize Remix)
19. Confidence Man, Holiday (Erol Alkan OOO Rework)
20. Sheila, Les Rois Mages (2022 Fred Falke Mix)
21. Jessie Ware, Free Yourself (Paul Woolford Remix)
22. Will Joseph Cook & Tessa Violet, Gummy (Jean Tonique Remix)
23. Heidrunna, Planningtomakeloveeasy (Planningtorock Remix)
24. Denise Van Outen, From New York To L.A (Steve Anderson Extended Disco Mix)
25. Kelli-Leigh, New Chic (Tom Brownlow Remix)
26. Kal-Elle Jagger, Faith – Lost In Space (Syst3m Glitch Remix)
27. Spiller & Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Groovejet – If This Ain’t Love (Purple Disco Machine and Lorenz Rhode Remix)
28. Visage, Fade To Grey (Lecomte de Bregeot and Violet Chachki Remix)
29. Sally Shapiro, Dulcinea (Ben Macklin Remix)
30. Jerk Boy & Micci, Simple Life (Extended Vacation Mix)
31. Nina Luna, Force Of Nature (Diamond Field Remix)
32. Tomohisa Yamashita, Face To Face (Vantage Remix)
33. Perel & Marie Davidson, Jesus Was An Alien (Club Mix)
34. Tove Lo, 2 Die 4 (Jax Jones Midnight Snacks Remix)
35. Lonelady, Fear Colours (DMX Krew Remix)
36. Sheila & Funky French League, Samedi Soir (Woody Braun Remix)
37. Hot Chip, Eleanor (Braxe + Falcon Remix)
38. LoneLady, (There Is) No Logic (The Other Two Remix)
39. Late Night Therapy, Backseat Heartbeat (Extended Mix)
40. Jungle, Good Times (Braxe + Falcon Remix)
41. Whitney Houston, I’m Every Woman (SG Lewis Remix)
42. Metric, All Comes Crashing (CVCHE Remix)
43. Debbie Gibson, One Step Closer (Until Dawn Remix)
44. St Lucia, Rocket On My Feet (The Knocks Remix)
45. Sgt Slick, Gimme Gimme Gimme (Super Disco Club Remix)
46. Teddi Gold, Boom Boom (Classixx Remix)
47. Serge Gainsbourg, Sea, Sex & Sun (Montmatre Remix)
48. Driver86 & Bunny X, If You Say Goodbye (Aisle 9 Remix)
49. Nina, Ill Wait (New Radio Wolf Production)
50. Poolside, Harvest Moon (Roosevelt Remix)
51. Claptone & Dizzy, Queen Of Ice (Pet Shop Boys 7” Mix)
52. LeAnn Rimes, Spaceship (Dave Aude Remix)
53. Call Me Loop, Year Of The Ex (Welshy Remix)
54. Pipi Le Oui & Toni Pearen, 1972 (Pipi Le Oui Remix)
55. Tom Aspaul, Effigy (Extended Mix)
56. Steps, Stomp (Steps 25 Revisited Mix)
57. Rose Gray, Cupid (Godmode Mix)
58. Donna Summer, Mystery Of Love (Le Flex Summer Mystery Remix)
59. SG Lewis, Something About Your Love (Cerrone Remix)
60. Dragonette, Sunnery James, Ryan Marciano, Cat Dealers, Bruno Martini – Summer Thing (Les Bisous Remix)
61. Aly & AJ, Slow Dancing (Hazel English Remix)
62. Dom Dolla & Mansionair, Strangers (Flight Facilities Remix)
63. Daddy Squad & Hard Ton, We’re So Lovely (David Jackson Remix)
64. The Knocks & Dragonette, Slow Song (Strange Talk Remix)
65. Unloved, Mother’s Been A Bad Girl (Horse Meat Disco & Darren Morris Remix)
66. Bright Light Bright Light, Cry At Films (John JC Carr & Bill Coleman 808 BEACH Main Remix)
67. Betty Boo, Get Me To The Weekend (Until Dawn Radio Edit)
68. Slayyyter, Troubled Paradise (Le Matos Remix)
69. Anniee and Von Hertzog, Danger Electricity (Tony Clarke Remix)
70. ELIOT & Silverhook, Neon Bluebird (Fear Of Tigers Remix)
71. K.I.D, It’s Hot – Take It To The Top (Mark Lower Edit)
72. Francesca e Luigi, Watch Me Dance Tonight (Paul Rein Remix)
73. Rebecca & Fiona, Savannah (Tiger & Woods Italovision Radio Edit)
74. Diana Ross, I Still Believe (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
75. Lou Hayter, What’s A Girl To Do (Lone Remix)
76. Genes, Run (Euro Remix)
77. Sofi Tukker, Summer In New York (Ownboss & Fancy Inc Remix)
78. Lime, Angel Eyes (Tiga Remix)
79. Luxxury & Jill Lamoureux, Just Like It Was Before (Art Of Tones Remix)
80. Mecha Maiko, Change A lot (Makeup And Vanity Set Remix)
81. COBRAH & cupcake, Good PusS (Remix)
82. Flight Facilities & Broods, Forever (Roosevelt Remix)
83. TOPIA, City (Noise Network Remix)
84. KYTES, Apricosa (Mind Enterprises Remix)
85. Las Bibas From Vizcaya & Julie Hicklin, Defender (Big Room 12” Remix)
86. Lou Casablanca & Sadako Pointer, One Queen (Hotmood Remix)
87. Anniee, Stars Leave Me Now (Caspro remix)
88. Bright Light Bright Light & Jake Shears, Sensation (Pool Side Disco Remix)
89. HARLOE, PWR RNGR (Treasure Fingers Remix)
90. Rikky Disco, Love Hangover (Justin Faust Remix)
91. Flashbaxx, Brooklyn Love Boat (Moods Remix)
92. Talc, De Gui Ding (The Reflex Vocal Revision)
93. Mr Little Jeans, Intentions (Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix)
94. Jake Wesley Rogers, Dark Bird (St Lucia Remix)
95. Kita Alexander, Run (Breakbot Remix)
96. Acali, You Can’t Plan No Shit (Anna Prior Remix)
97. The Knocks & Donna Missal, Bang Bang (Eden Prince Remix)
98. Alex Hosking & Majestic, Need Your Love (Sgt Slick Remix)
99. Bunny X, Back To You (The Secret Chord Remix)
100.Desire, Ghosts (Nicolaas Remix)

Decius – Look Like A Man

Damn these late entries trying to nab a place on our albums of the year list. We literally heard Decius’ ‘Look Like A Man’ once, bought the album, hit play and were transfixed. We can’t recall who told us about this record on Twitter (thanks whoever you are) but we know it mentioned Man 2 Man Meet Man Parrish and we listened based on that comparison. There’s really no way of improving upon the blurb on The Leaf Label’s website promoting the album, it goes something like this:

“Unwashed acid house and disco through a broken South London filter – from ‘70s New York bathhouses to ‘80s Chicago nightclubs via the Brixton Windmill. Bring a towel.” Ooo-er.

Decius · Look Like A Man

Meg Washington – Mr Brightside

The artist formerly known as Megan Washington and/or Washington returns with a bit of a statement moment. She’s only gone and covered the whole of The Killers’ ‘Hot Fuss’ album in the style of breathtaking piano ballads. The whole thing is just exquisite. ‘Mr Brightside’ is now the torch song we never knew we wanted. Meg this is such a beautiful record.

Meg Washington · Mr Brightside

Will Joseph Cook featuring Tessa Violet – Gummy (Jean Tonique Remix)

We are just a couple of days away from sharing our three best-of-the-year columns and a late contender for the best remix of 2022 is here for your listening pleasure. Jean Tonique gives Will and Tessa a groovy yachtpop makeover and it’s a funky little pre-Christmas treat.

Will Joseph Cook · Gummy (feat. Tessa Violet) (Jean Tonique Remix)

Tenspeed – Disappear

Avid followers of Teases & Dares will know that we feel most strongly that the biggest pop injustice of all time is that Holly Palmer is not a household name. Her 2nd album ‘Tender Hooks’ (on which she collaborated with Howie B) is a unique record blurring the lines between jazz and alternative electronica. We’ve never heard anything like it since. Until now…….

Earlier this year, Aussie father/daughter duo Tenspeed made their T&D debut with ‘Out Past Ten’ (check back soon to see if that one makes our best of the year list – spoiler alert, it does). That track was no fluke as we are now rather wowed by ‘Disappear’ which was released earlier this week. Sofie’s vocals are way beyond her years and as much as we adore her smokey, velvet tones in the first half of the track we sure appreciate it when she lets rip as the production soars to an epic, fuzzed out conclusion. The artwork for the single is proper dreamy and so fitting for this woozy, jazz synth masterpiece. Indeed it feels like a continuation of one of the many stand out tracks from ‘Tender Hooks’ – this being ‘A Rose By Any Other Name’ (sadly the album isn’t on Spotify but you can still find it on iTunes). A Tenspeed album is on the way in 2023 and we suspect this time next year we will be speaking of it as a contender for record of the year.

The Secret Chord – Hadley’s Hope

Those stunning Swedish synthwavers The Secret Chord return with a new single to close out the year. ‘Hadley’s Hope’ leaves us longing to believe that the problems of man could be solved up in the stars and a trip to space might seem a very welcome escape to many of us right now! The track is an instant classic in the genre with enough Radio Wolf-esque guitar edge to lift it above the average. Swooning at the cover art.

Anabel Englund – Need Me Right

Right at the close of 2021 Anabel Englund came along and scuppered what we thought was our final draft of our albums of the year list by releasing her ‘Messing With Magic’ record which blew us away. Just as we thought we had settled on the listing for our best 100 non LP tracks of 2022 here she comes again to disrupt things with the bangertastic ‘Need Me Right’. A short but perfectly formed dancefloor diamond.

Anabel Englund · Need Me Right

Linus And The Moon – To The Moon And Back

Linus & The Moon might well be our favourite new Scandipopper to emerge in 2022. He completes a hat-trick of exquisite pop singles with ‘To The Moon And Back’. We often use Scritti Politti as a reference point and we sure hear some Green Gartside on this one. Dare we suggest some Ricky Wilde production values on display too. I mean those ingredients add up to a song we will be having on repeat. Pure class.

Linus and the Moon · To the Moon and Back