The Ephemeric

So much noteworthy new music, so little time. Looking for a new jam? I hear you buddy. The summer is now upon us, and as such we will be doing the Spring Music Round-Up, a rough and ready summary of some of the most interesting new releases of the recent past.

Specifically we will be looking at the new albums from Arcade Fire, Father John Misty, Beach House, and Kavinsky. Let's dive right in.


"We - Arcade Fire" Album Review
Genre Rock

We represents something of a comeback for Montreal alternative rockers Arcade Fire. That is not to say that their last album, Everything Now was bad, but when your discography to-date consists almost entirely of seminal, genre-defining records, expectations can be high.

If We doesn't quite achieve the heights of albums like Neon Bible or The Suburbs, it is definitely a step in the right direction, musically. My biggest criticism of Everything Now was that it seemed to be an album that put its concept on too great a pedestal, at the expense of the music. We, by contrast, is more melodic, more sincere in its songwriting. This is still Arcade Fire, so of course it is going to be political and full of social commentary. But for the first time in years, Arcade Fire seem to have tapped into that multi-instrumental musical talent that made their early work so iconic. Prime example being Lightning I, II, a song that sounds like it could easily have come from a Funeral-era Arcade Fire album.

Ostensibly written as a reaction to the pandemic and the current state of detachment we feel from society, to the extent that the album is even structured as two separate segments, I and We. It's possible that We may be trying too hard to be loved. The lyrics are clunky and lacking in subtlety, a complaint in common with their previous album. A great example of this is End of the Empire I-III, not a bad song by any means, but one which gets its point across in a rather artless and obvious fashion.

There is plenty to enjoy with We, and certainly you are unlikely to find a more ambitious rock album in 2022. But while the music is memorable, conceptually this album still feels like a bit of an imitation of Arcade Fire's more celebrated work.




"Chloë and the next 20th Century - Father John Misty" Album Review
Genre Jazz-folk

Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty, has had quite a journey in recent years. From the side project of a Fleet Foxes band member, to hipster darling, to bona fide superstar. 

Tillman shows no sign of slowing his roll here, with Chloë and the next 20th Century, an ambitious genre-mash of an album that sees Tillman blend his usual folk stylings with some vintage-flavoured jazz and big-band. 

With Father John Misty, Tillman has always walked a fine line in songwriting between being brutal and raw, versus arch and satirical. He finds himself in funny form again here with dense and witty lyrics that meld the music's ostensibly mid-century trappings with contemporary subject matter; issues of race, women's rights, classism.

The vibrant Hollywood trappings make for an easy listen throughout, but particular mention needs to be made of the opening track Chloë, a delightful Cole Porter-esque jaunt about unrequited love, or the luscious Funny Girl. But if there is one standout track it has to be Q4, an irony-laced critique of the art-for-profit industry that skips along with its rolling harpsichord track.

It all reminds us of why we love Father John Misty and his music. The comedy, the tragedy, it's all here and with new musical experimentations, inventively composed. Definitely not one to miss.




"Once Twice Melody - Beach House" Album Review
Genre Dream-Pop

Baltimore dream-pop duo Beach House are a band that have achieved a fair amount of notoriety in the indie music scene over the past decade. Known for their easy listening style and lush, intimate soundscapes, Beach House has followed in the well-worn tracks of those that came before, like a Stars, Broken Social Scene or Au Revoir Simone for the 2010s. They've had some hits. They've always been a pleasant, inoffensive group. With new album Once Twice Melody, Beach House are launching themselves into the stratosphere.

Once Twice Melody is their grandest vision yet. Bold, epic and "big" from the very first track. The music retains their dreamy, ambient style but with an added drive that allows the music to sink its teeth into the listener in a way that their earlier work rarely did. It's a work of far greater ambition that we've seen to date and one that establishes them firmly among the upper echelons of musicians working today.

Divided into four parts with 18 tracks total, this is also a longer album that we are used to seeing from bands in recent years. Yet it never feels long, so consistent is the stream of strong, memorable tracks. The duo of title track Once Twice Melody and Superstar is an opening salvo that any band would envy, and it follows quickly with Runaway, Over and Over, and possibly the most impressive track on the album, New Romance. It's a remarkable string of music.

This is an album worth listening to, with great tracks, great variety, and consistency throughout. Top notch work and another reminder of why this band is so highly regarded.




"Reborn - Kavinsky" Album Review
Genre Synthwave

There aren't many artists who can be credited with having invented a genre. But while it would be a stretch to say that Kavinsky truly invented the synthwave genre (he still owes much to his French House forebears, notably Daft Punk) his music has so come to typify the genre that the name of his first album, Outrun, is often used as an umbrella term for music and other media connected with this aesthetic.

For a while, it looked as though Kavinsky would take the iconic status of his debut and ride off into the digitised sunset (Outrun came out almost a decade ago at this point). But in recent years he had been teasing a return and in 2022 that has finally come to fruition with the release of Reborn. 

Fans of Kavinsky will certainly recognise the staples: a slickly produced paean to the music and film of the 1980s, cinematic in scope and content. But while Reborn is clear on its influences, it is by no means stuck in the past; often experimental in form and with a digital quality that is as futuristic as anything in the genre. 

But where Kavinsky's debut felt like a relentless livewire of energy, Reborn often feels somewhat more measured. The sound is fuller and more polished, but also slower and more introspective, sometimes bordering on balladic. At its finest moments, Reborn dazzles, but at other times it can come off as surprisingly bland and mainstream. Certainly there is nothing wrong with an artist trying to evolve his style, but Reborn is still very much at its best when it captures that energy, as with lead single Renegade and title track Reborn.

But the absolute highlight of this album is Zenith. Billed as a spiritual sequel to Kavinsky's most famous hit, Nightcall, this is the one track above all others that manages to successfully marry the new introspective approach with the wild exuberance of Outrun. An instant classic of brooding intensity and white hot saxophone solo. 

Kavinsky returns in strong form and with a level of polish that leaves us excited for what the future holds. While the album as a whole may not leave the indelible mark of its predecessor, it does contain some absolutely fantastic tracks that are not to be missed.

Another doozy of a season in the record books, which means it is time for The Ephemeric's traditional end of season review. We had drama, tension and last minute twists, but who did what and which players caught our eye? Read on to find out.

The 2021/22 season kept us in suspense right up until the final whistle, but in the end it is another title for well-funded Manchester City, a title that may seem something of a consolation prize for a team still eluded by the European glory they so crave. For runners up Liverpool, however, it is a tale of oh-so-near. Having been within a realistic shout of an unprecedented quadruple just days ago, they instead need to settle for the two domestic cups, neither of which, it has to be said, were claimed all that convincingly. The tale of English football's top clubs is rounded out by Chelsea who, while injury crisis prevented them from sustaining a title push, did manage to end the season as Champions of the World and with another Super Cup to boot. 

Now we head into the next season with so many tantalising plotlines to follow. Have Tottenham finally got it right with Antonio Conte? Can Erik ten Hag work his magic and find a way to turn Man United's cast of disparate starlets into a cohesive unit? What does the future hold for Chelsea in a post-Abramovich world? The Premier League remains football's most exciting competition, and we are already looking forward to next season.

Now without further ado it is time to move on to the Ephemeric end of season awards, followed by our carefully selected Premier League team of the year.


The Ephemeric Premier League Awards 2022:

Winners: Manchester City 

Relegated: Burnley, Watford, Norwich 

Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - Arguably the best player in football today. Salah topped both the goals and assists table and remains the essential player of one of the world's best sides.

U-21 Player of the Year: Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) - A competitive year for this prize. On another day I could easily have awarded this to Reece James or Phil Foden, but in the end it is the Crystal Palace loanee that has most impressed. To make his Premier League debut and immediately exert such influence and poise is a remarkable accomplishment and hopefully the beginning of a very strong career.

Best Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool) - The most clean sheets, and just a constant presence in this Liverpool defence. Alisson just seems to have every attribute a keeper needs.

Top Scorer: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) & Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) (23) 

Most Assists: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) (13) 

Manager of the Year: Antonio Conte (Tottenham) - For years Tottenham have seemed like a club adrift, consistent only in their underachievement, even under the stewardship of some top level managers. In Conte it seems the club may finally have found someone with the will to elevate these players and finally achieve some level of consistent results.

Best signing of the season: Luis Diaz (Liverpool) 

Worst signing of the season: Dele Alli (Everton) 


The Ephemeric Premier League Team of the Season 2022:


A surprisingly difficult XI to pick this year. Alisson in goal picks himself, along with the league's two standout players Salah and Son, but for every other position there were at least two or three players who could have made a credible claim to be in this team. 

The inclusion of Reece James over Trent Alexander-Arnold may raise a few eyebrows, but quite frankly it shouldn't. TAA has shown himself time and time again to be shaky at the back (as we saw this past weekend to tragic effect), while James has been arguably Chelsea's most rock-solid defender, to the extent that he has often played at centre-half. James' attacking talents are also underappreciated, the fact that he has a higher combined goals and assists tally than TAA despite being injured half the season says everything. Trent is a fantastic footballer, but Reece James, when fit, was arguably among the league's best players this season.

Harry Kane is another who seems to have flown under the radar, possibly as a result of Son stealing the headlines. While it is true that Kane has had a quiet season by his standards, the statistics don't lie. 17 league goals and 9 assists, a very formidable tally by anyone's standards. Kane remains one of the most dependable attacking talents in world football.

Then there is Kevin de Bruyne, the Premier League's official player of the year. His pick over the likes of Salah and Son may be questionable, but there is no denying that he is a world class talent and the beating heart of a very good Manchester City side. I choose a tantalising central midfield for this XI with the marauding creative talents of De Bruyne and Mount (fun, underappreciated fact: only two players in the Premier League had a greater combined goals/assists than Mount) playing off a Declan Rice fulcrum. 

Completing the defence with the standout players of the league's most miserly defences seems like a no-brainer.

So there we have it, another season of Premier League football gone by. We'll see you again next season!

Directed by Rupert Goold
Written by Mike Bartlett
Starring Bertie Carvel, Tamara Tunie, Lydia Wilson
Theatre Old Vic


Even though his time in office has come to an end, it's clear that it will take some time for the world to shake the spectre of the 45th President from its collective consciousness. This fixation comes not just from a place of revulsion, but fascination. There are many out there who still yearn to understand, not just the man, but his following. How could such a person command a fervent and loyal base of support from so many? How could his reprehensible ideas and obvious nonsense find any measure of resonance, not just among the uninformed, but in some cases the intelligent and powerful? For all his controversies and corruption, Donald Trump remains a mystery that compels interest in even those who stand against him. The 47th indulges that fascination and in doing so crafts some superb entertainment, without ever really providing any deep new insights.

The 47th is an immaculately presented piece of theatre marked by a spellbinding central performance. But much like its subject matter, it is gaudy and designed to elicit a visceral reaction, rather than a true exploration.

• Belfast – Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas
• CODA – Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger
• Don't Look Up – Adam McKay and Kevin Messick
• Drive My Car – Teruhisa Yamamoto
• Dune – Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter
• King Richard – Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith
• Licorice Pizza – Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson
• Nightmare Alley – Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper
• The Power of the Dog – Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier
• West Side Story – Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger

Hello and welcome back to 2022's final post from the Hot List. This week we will be looking at the most exciting new movies set to hit the big screen in 2022 from March onwards, after the cutoff point for this year's awards season.

In particular, the 2022-2023 awards season is looking to be highly competitive. Spielberg, Chazelle, O'Russell, Scorsese, Cameron, Mendes, Iñárritu... name a great filmmaker and chances are they have a film coming out this year. A Baz Luhrmann biopic of legendary musician Elvis, a new project from renowned auteur Wes Anderson, these are among the films that did not make final cut, so you can imagine how exciting the remaining projects on this list must be.

So without further delay, the key films to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:


15. Men

First up is Men, the latest from noted author turned director Alex Garland. 

Release Date: May 2022


14. Canterbury Glass

For a while, filmmaker David O'Russell was considered one of the darlings of prestige filmmaking in Hollywood, earning four Oscar nominations for his work on The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. But between sexual misconduct allegations and a tepid response to his last film, Joy, the last few years have seen the director go quiet. That changes in 2022, which will see the release of O'Russell's newest film, Canterbury Glass. 

Described as a period film in which a doctor and a lawyer form an unlikely partnership, Canterbury Glass features an all-star cast of frequent O'Russell collaborators including Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Rami Malek, Robert De Niro, Taylor Swift and several others. O'Russell will also collaborate for the first time with the great Mexican cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, best known for his Oscar winning work on Gravity, Birdman, and The Revenant.

This is due for release in the awards season friendly month of November and will likely be one of the year's big hitters when it comes to the 2023 Oscars.

Release Date: November 2022


13. Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese's long-gestating adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon will finally see release in 2022. 

Based on the non-fiction book of David Grann, this is the story of a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma following the discovery of oil on local tribal lands. A core cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons, with smaller roles for Brendan Fraser and John Lithgow. 

This will mark the most ambitious foray into feature films yet by AppleTV+, whose success in TV productions has yet to see similar consistency on the big screen. Killers of the Flower Moon is targeting a November release date.

Release Date: November 2022


12. Wendell and Wild

To say this one has been in the works for a long time would be an understatement. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline are such beloved films, and yet for some inexplicable reason no studio ever seems to want to give their director Henry Selick work.

Well, Netflix finally seem to have seen the vast opportunity in embracing that fanbase and will produce his next feature film Wendell and Wild. Selick will be supported by Hollwood man of the moment Jordan Peele and Peele's long-time collaborator Keegan-Michael Key who will write and star in the film.

Release date is still very much up in the air, but I for one am very excited to see more of this man's unique vision come to the screen, and let's hope it leads to a long and fruitful relationship with Netflix.

Release Date: TBA 2022


11. Nope

The exciting nascent filmmaking career of Jordan Peele continues. The comedian turned horror maestro has earned massive plaudits and Academy Awards for his early directorial output with Get Out and Us. 

His latest, Nope, remains shrouded in mystery. Focused on a small town in America that bears witness to a mysterious and abnormal event. The trailer doesn't give much away either, although there's plenty of imagery there to suggest aliens.

The cast sees Peele reunite with Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, and Emmy award winning actress Keke Palmer, who has worked with Peele on some of his TV projects. The addition of Swedish cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, known for his work on Let the Right One In and his collaborations with Christopher Nolan on Interstellar and Dunkirk is also quite exciting. Whatever else comes of this, Nope will certainly look a treat.

Nope releases in July.

Release Date: July 2022


10. Next Goal Wins

Taika Waititi is having something of a moment, the New Zealand filmmaker and actor has come a long way from indie comedy hits like Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows to running the Thor franchise for Disney and, of course, his Oscar winning success with Jojo Rabbit.

His next film, Next Goal Wins, is based on the true story of Dutch football coach Thomas Rongen and his efforts to take the American-Samoa national team, then considered the worst in the world, to the 2014 World Cup.

Michael Fassbender stars as Rongen, and he will be joined by Elisabeth Moss, Armie Hammer, and long-time Waititi collaborator Rhys Darby.

Release date is still TBA, but after a number of delays filming is said to be complete and should see release in 2022.

Release Date: TBA 2022

9. Avatar 2    

Whatever you may think of the original film, it is impossible to do this list without mentioning the sequel to a film that, more than a decade later and even without adjusting for inflation, is still the highest grossing worldwide.

Avatar 2 was announced almost immediately after the first film in the series released, along with an improbably large number of sequels. Despite this, the project has never seen the light of day and has barely leaked any details through the veil of secrecy. 

I'll be honest, I thought the first movie was perfectly fine. Nothing amazing. I am bemused that such a great filmmaker has deigned to devote the latter portion of his career solely to this franchise (if it can even yet be called such), much less that a further four sequels are said to already be greenlit. But clearly Cameron sees something in Avatar that makes it worthy of such attention. This will either be one of the most high profile flops of all time, or the birth of something major.

Release Date: December 2022


8. Bardo

It seems that Alejandro González Iñárritu is going the Alfonso Cuarón route for his next film and returning to his roots in Mexican cinema for Bardo, a nostalgic comedy about a journalist and documentarian who returns home to Mexico City to face the problems of family, his memories, and changes in his home country.

Iñárritu, of course, is best known for his back-to-back Oscar wins with Birdman and The Revenant. Bardo will mark his first production in the seven years following the latter of those.

While it may seem like a surprising move, turning back from success in Hollywood to work on something more low-key and local, it is worth remembering that when Cuarón pulled the same trick with Roma it ended up being one of his more acclaimed and decorated films to date.

Release Date: TBA 2022


7. Lightyear

Lightyear looks set to be one of Pixar's strangest ideas to date and also one of its most ambitious.

While on the surface this would seem to just be another film in the Toy Story universe, this is not the case. Lightyear is actually a film based on the in-fiction character on which the toy in Toy Story is based. Slightly confusing, sure, but the rub of it is that there are no toys here, just a good old fashioned sci-fi adventure the likes of which, certainly, Pixar have never attempted. The result is something that looks closer to Interstellar or Star Wars than a typical Pixar movie, and that is quite exciting.

Directed by Pete Docter, arguably the best in the business as the only man to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar three times. Chris Evans, Keke Palmer and Taika Waititi star.

Release Date: June 2022


6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)

Pixar have typically been considered the animation kings in recent years, and to a lesser extent Disney. So you can imagine the surprise when this unassuming Spider-Man animation from Sony managed to beat both (and Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs to boot) to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar back in 2019. It was deserved, Into the Spider-Verse was an outstanding film. 

In 2022, we will see the sequel: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One). The title itself is interesting, indicating not just some sequel but the start of a new series. This is in addition to potential film and television spin-offs in discussion. 

This sequel will see Mile Morales traveling across the Spider-Verse, teaming up with an array of alternate Spider-Men to take on a new enemy. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller return as writers. The main cast of the original returns, Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, and Hailee Steinfeld. They will be joined by Oscar Isaac, who made a brief appearance in a post-credits scene in the first movie.

Spider-Verse 2 releases in October. I'll tell you one thing, the Best Animated Feature category this year is going to be competitive.

Release Date: October 2022


5. The Banshees of Inisherin

Now we're getting into the real cream of the crop when it comes to this year's awards calibre films. The Banshees of Inisherin is the latest from Martin McDonagh, writer/director of pitch black comedies In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and, most recently, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.

Starring Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Brendan Gleeson, and Kerry Condon, Inisherin follows a pair of lifelong friends on a remote Irish island who find themselves at an awkward time in their relationship when one of them no longer wants to be friends.

McDonagh is one of those artists you can't ignore. His work shocks as much as it entertains and it generally enjoys great commercial and critical success. McDonagh already has an Oscar to his name for short film Six Shooter. Nominated twice for Three Billboards, but ultimately missing out. Could Inisherin be his turn for the biggest prize?

Release Date: October 2022


4. Empire of Light

Sam Mendes' career in film has been a bit hit and miss, starting brightly with American Beauty and Road to Perdition, but generally delivering one dud for every gem in the decade that followed. An ill-advised foray into the world of James Bond occupied much of his 2010s, although he did end the decade with arguably a career highpoint in 1917.

If he is currently on a good run of form, then his next project sounds positively delightful. Empire of Light is a period romantic comedy set in an English coastal cinema in the 1980s. The cast includes Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Michael Ward, and Toby Jones. The almighty Roger Deakins is on as cinematographer. This is, notably, Mendes' first solo screenplay, having co-written 1917 previously.

Filming is apparently still in progress, but this is nevertheless scheduled for a release towards the end of the year.

Release Date: TBA 2022


3. The Fabelmans

A semi-autobiographical coming of age period film from Steven Spielberg, penned by the Tony, Pulitzer, Emmy, Olivier Award winning writer Tony Kushner? Sign me up.

The Fabelmans is loosely based on Spielberg's childhood in Arizona and features a cast of Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, and Seth Rogen. An all-star behind the camera team of Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan) as cinematographer and the great John Williams scoring. 

Yes to all of this. It's hard to think of a film that looks better on paper. The Fabelmans releases in November and I will eat my hat if it is not one of the big awards season contenders next year.

Release Date: November 2022


2. She Said

I suspect She Said is going to be some essential watching in 2022. Penned by noted playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz, She Said is the story of how journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey brought down Harvey Weinstein. This is also the first major Hollywood project of award winning German actress and director Maria Schrader. 

The duo will be played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan. Mulligan currently has two Oscar nominations to her name but zero wins, despite being widely regarded as one of the finest actors of her generation. Could this finally be her year? 

This is another November release. Its timely subject matter and strong talent throughout should make this one of 2022's most notable films.

Release Date: November 2022


1. Babylon

But my number one pick for the year is the latest from writer/director Damien Chazelle, best known for La La Land and Whiplash, Babylon.

Still young by Hollywood standards at 37, Chazelle already has three Oscar nominations and one win to his name, and is considered one of the most exciting filmmakers in the world. His latest is a period drama set in 1920s Hollywood, with a cast that features Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Babylon once again sees Chazelle team up with composer Justin Hurwitz, the Oscar winning magician behind the music of La La Land, and cinematographer Linus Sandgren, who also won an Oscar for La La Land.

Chazelle is on something of a hot streak. His three last films all won Oscars, and if there's one thing the Academy loves, it's films about Hollywood. This releases in December and is my most hotly anticipated film of 2022.

Release Date: December 2022


So there you have it folks: The 2022 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now stay safe and let's make 2022 a great year together.

Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2022 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting new music due for release in the coming year.


Music is always the most difficult list to compile. Every year the volume of new content seems to increase, doubly so over the pandemic years. On top of which, the advent of digital self-publishing through services like Spotify has made it more difficult to keep tabs on all the promising new talent in the industry, and resulted in release schedules that are less formalised and harder to predict.

But an abundance of options can hardly be a bad thing and while many exciting artists were axed in the process of whittling down to this short list, those that remain are very promising indeed, encompassing a healthy mix of old returning favourites and newcomers.

So without further ado, here is our list of the top albums to keep an eye on in 2022, starting with number 15:


15. Arctic Monkeys

Alex Turner has become something of an icon in the British music scene in recent years, but it is still his first vehicle, Arctic Monkeys that represents his most successful outlet to date. In 2022, AM is returning with their 7th, as yet unnamed, LP.

Given the lack of a formal release date, yet the apparent completeness of the record, I would expect this one to drop on short notice. Potentially in the spring, but more likely a summer release.

Release Date: Summer 2022


14. Sarah Kinsley (New band)

A release date has yet to be confirmed, but this is expected to be a 2022 release.

Release Date: TBA 2022


13. Gabriels (New band)

Another exciting newcomer in the form of LA's Gabriels. This soul-singing trio has been hotly tipped for success by many pundits in the industry and attracted glowing endorsements from heavy hitters like Elton John, who described last year's EP release as one of the most seminal releases of the past 10 years.

12. "The Tipping Point" by Tears for Fears

Release Date: February 2022


11. "Time Skiffs" by Animal Collective

Always intriguing, Animal Collective's latest will launch in February.

Release Date: February 2022


10. "As I Try Not to Fall Apart" by White Lies

An underrated part of the British music landscape, White Lies have been putting out consistently solid music a number of years now. New album As I Try Not to Fall Apart releases in 2022.

Release Date: March 2022


9. "Once Twice Melody" by Beach House

Once Twice Melody will release in February.

Release Date: February 2022


8. Toledo (New band)

New York-based indie due Toledo have been quietly building a reputation with a string of well-received single and EP releases over the past two years. 2021's return to the touring circuit saw them partner up with a number of well-known artists including Julien Baker and Dirty Projectors. With work now underway for an unnamed debut LP, many are tipping the band for success.

Release Date: TBA 2022

7. "Unlimited Love" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I do not think it would be controversial of me to say that the legendary California rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers have recently been punching somewhere below the peak of their heyday. But they are far from the spent force that some would suggest. There is a reason that the band has enjoyed the remarkable longevity of a nearly forty year career, during which time they have crafted an enviable discography.

As they approach studio album number 12, there is particular cause for excitement with the return of longtime guitarist John Frusciante, who had sat out the last two albums. For many, Frusciante's sound is key to the band's identity, and his return bodes well for what could be a major return to form.

The newest album Unlimited Love is said to be in the late stages of production, with a release expected this spring. So far, we have heard just the one single Black Summer, an introspective track with gorgeous guitar-work reminiscent of the Californication era. Looking forward to this.

Release Date: April 2022

6. Skullcrusher (New band)

A name like Skullcrusher evokes the blackest of heavy metal, but this couldn't be further from the reality of Helen Ballentine's music. This is some delicately crafted multi-instrumental folk pop. Tranquil, lush, and grounded with some deft lyrical work.

Release Date: TBA 2022


5. "From Capelton Hill" by Stars

Canadian band Stars are an iconic name in the indie music scene for many of my generation. A soundtrack to many a coming of age story and a consistent purveyor of gorgeous music over many years and nine albums. Album number 10, From Capelton Hill releases in 2022.

The band has many classic tracks to their name, including Your Ex-Lover is Dead, Ageless Beauty and so many other near flawless tracks. If early single Pretenders is any indication, then the band finds themselves in fine, if familiar form.

From Capelton Hill releases in May and I personally am looking forward to it with great relish.

Release Date: May 2022

4. Aloboi (New band)

Another year gone with no LP, but still Aloboi remains one of the most exciting new artists in electronic music. The Berlin-based composer has continued to release new tracks at a steady clip, each highlighting the artists flair for dreamy soundscapes and eclectic influences.

Aloboi's work-to-date has been highly impressive. From the retro chill out vibes of A Pleasing Smile, to the more danceable electronic stylings of Want To Love, the classical remix of Night Train (Claire de Lune), or the dazzling genre mash up of Somebody Feel, it's a very impressive array of work for a newcomer that is fast establishing Aloboi as one of the more exciting talents in the industry.

As we await a debut album, one gets the impression that there is a lot more to come from this artist, whether its in 2022 or beyond, Aloboi is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Release Date: TBA 2022

3. "Chloe and the Next 20th Century" by Father John Misty

In any case, we won't have long to wait with a release set for April. This won't be one to miss.

Release Date: April 2022


2. The xx

French house artist Kavinsky spent much of the 2000s developing his signature synthwave sound, inspired by the cinema and pop culture of the 1980s. That process culminated in his debut, and so far only studio album, OutRun.

An ambitious concept album, complete with its own mythology and distinct artwork. But it's the great singles we care about, including his most famous tracks Nightcall, and Odd Look. Indeed OutRun was so successful that it is considered among some internet subcultures to have created its own aesthetic genre, and is now an umbrella term used to describe any form of neo-futuristic 1980s revival.

Yet despite the success, there has been almost complete radio silence since that album's release in 2013. Until now. A follow up album, Reborn, is finally on the way and we have the first two singles. If Renegade makes for a delightfully funky, over-the-top slice of nostalgia, the second release Zenith is an absolute masterpiece. Oozing with atmosphere, melancholy, and even a twist of irresistible saxophone goodness. This is as close to an "event" album as it gets.

Release Date: March 2022

Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2022 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting theatrical productions coming to the stage in the coming year.


The last two years have not been kind to theatre, with pandemics, lockdowns, and tight restrictions on when and how you can congregate indoors. So much so, that this blog skipped the Theatre list entirely in its 2021 preview. But in 2022, theatre makes a comeback. The playhouses are reopening, the great thespians of the world are returning to the stage, and the pent-up creative output of two years is ready to be unleashed.

Make no mistake, we are still not back at 100%. I hold tickets for several 2020 productions that have still yet to be rescheduled and there is no guarantee that conditions won't worsen once again. For this reason, this year's list will be reduced from 15 to 10.

So without further ado here's our list of the top 10 theatrical productions to keep an eye on in 2022, starting with number 10:


10. "Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, at Duke of York's Theatre

9. "Marys Seacole" by Jackie Sibblies Drury, at the Donmar Warehouse

A new play about the pioneering Jamaican nurse who braved the battlefield to heal soldiers in the Crimean war. Billed as a metafictional biography, Marys Seacole is a story about what it means to be a woman who is paid to care, and how, ultimately, no one is in charge of their own story.  

Marys Seacole will run from April until the end of June.


8. "4000 Miles" by Amy Herzog, at the Old Vic

A dramatic comedy and Pulitzer Prize finalist when it launched on Broadway, Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles is one of several delayed 2020 productions looking to make its long-awaited curtain-fall this year. 

The exact date of this launch has yet to be confirmed, but is said to be sometime in the summer.


7. "The House of Shades" by Beth Steel, at the Almeida

Another rescheduled 2020 production, The House of Shades promises a working class epic, told over five generations of a family struggling through the industrial landscape of 20th Century Britain.

This world premiere at the Almeida comes courtesy of Hampstead Theatre regular Beth Steel, best known for her productions of Wonderland and Labyrinth on that stage. Here, she collaborates with director Blanche McIntyre, a familiar face for patrons of the Almeida following her star studded production of The Writer.

The House of Shades will run over the summer, with previews commencing in May this year.

6. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Aaron Sorkin and Harper Lee, at the Gielgud Theatre

But not all of 2020's rescheduled productions have re-emerged unscathed. The Gielgud's production of the classic Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird will finally see the light of day in 2022, albeit with a notable casting change.

This is a production of the adaptation by legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, previously a mega-hit on Broadway that has earned rave reviews from the critics. The London production had originally been cast with Rhys Ifans, but following a two year delay, he has been replaced by Rafe Spall. Ifans is one of the greats, but in Spall we have a very capable replacement. It will be interesting to see how he fares.

It is sad that in 2022, the 60th anniversary of the novel's original publication, its themes of racial injustice remain so pertinent, hopefully this production can serve as a timely reminder, and stir some fresh impetus into solving some of the problems that we still face as a society.


5. "The 47th" by Mike Bartlett, at the Old Vic

Mike Bartlett is one of those playwrights that merits attention any time he puts out new work. His plays have drawn critical acclaim and big budget adaptations. 

The 47th sees him tread the familiarly political ground of King Charles III and Albion, with a new darkly comedic script that imagines the hypothetical 2024 Presidential campaign of Donald Trump. Exciting casting news sees the highly accomplished Bertie Carvel in the starring role, seen recently in his Olivier award winning turn as Ruper Murdoch in the excellent Almeida production of Ink.

The 47th will run from the end of March until the end of May at the Old Vic.


4. "The Father and the Assassin" by Anupama Chandrasekhar, at the National Theatre

One of the main tentpoles of their summer line up, The Father and the Assassin is the National Theatre debut of acclaimed Indian playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar. 

A dramatic epic about the man who would become Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, The Father and the Assassin traces the life of Nathuram Godse over thirty years during India's fight for independence.

The Father and the Assassin opens in May and will run through the summer on the National's Olivier stage.


3. "The Pillowman" by Martin McDonagh, at Duke of York's Theatre

One of the most celebrated works of the multi award winning playwright, screenwriter and director Martin McDonagh, best known for his work in Hollywood that includes In Bruges, Seven Psycopaths, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. The Pillowman made its debut at the National Theatre back in 2003. Now, some 19 years later, it returns to the stage at Duke of York's Theatre.

The Pillowman is the story of Katurian, an author living in a police state whose work comes under scrutiny when it becomes apparent that the violence depicted in his writing bears striking similarities to a series of gruesome child murders that take place. This West-End revival comes with a fairly prominent star in Aaron Taylor Johnson, and a dark turn for comedian Steve Pemberton. 

This was one of those productions originally slated for 2020 before the pandemic hit. While a new release has yet to be confirmed, it is expected to hit the stage later in 2022.


2. "Jerusalem" by Jez Butterworth, at the Apollo Theatre

One of the most unmissable pieces of theatre to come along in a long while, yet unfortunately also one of the easiest to miss due to the high demand for tickets.

Jerusalem is a revival of the 2009 Jez Butterworth play, previously at the Royal Court Theatre. But the main attraction is its world-renowned star Mark Rylance, whose starring turn in the original production is commonly viewed as one of the all time great theatre performances. Rylance, incredibly, returns to the role some twelve years later, offering a new opportunity to witness this great piece of theatre.

This new production comes courtesy of the Apollo Theatre and begins its run in March. Tickets are going fast.


1. "The Burnt City" by Punchdrunk Theatre

But our number 1 play to see in 2022 is the latest from hugely ambitious immersive theatre maestros Punchdrunk, The Burnt City. While Sleep No More continues to run strong in New York some six years later, and now also in Shanghai, this marks their first London production since 2013's The Drowned Man.

A loose adaptation of Greek tragedies Agamemnon and Hecuba, The Burnt City will be another immersive showcase, taking place in not one, but two former military arsenal buildings in Woolwich. Attendees will be free to explore these sprawling, immaculately detailed environments while actors perform the rather loose narratives around them. 

A Punchdrunk theatre production is an experience like few other. An extraordinary mix of theatre, open-world videogame and hallucinogenic waking dream. Many others have since followed to try and do what they do, but none have pulled it off so convincingly. This will be a must-see event, possibly even multiple times..



So there you have it folks: 2022 in theatre. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new music coming this year!