Sound Records top 10 albums of 2022

What does it mean to “make it” as a band? How do you know if you’ve got there? (Or if you’re “on your way”?) Crucially, do you even want to?

Over the past couple of months, I’ve spoken to a range of people involved in the island’s music scene in some way in order to get a better picture of personal success in the industry ー as defined by those who seek it. The thanks go to musicians Ben Donaldson (Voodoo Bandits), Lily Wolter (Penelope Isles), Simon Pott (Isvisible Isinvisible) and the boys from Man in the Woods, plus promoter Kevin Madigan, for helping me figure this all out.

Penelope Isles are what many Manx bands might call an Isle of Man success story: they’re signed to a record label, and they’ve played major shows and festivals across the UK and beyond ー in fact, right now they’re gearing up for a summer of touring Europe and the US. With their sophomore album Which Way To Happy getting its vinyl release this week, we thought it would be a good time to share a chat we had with Lily Wolter, who leads the band with her brother Jack.

After the global disaster of 2020, 2021 was meant to be everyone’s year. And although that worked out for a lucky few, for many others it was all just as confusing. Through bad and good, through pain and pleasure, music helps us explore our emotions. You can lose yourself in an album, even if that just means running away from the world for 45 minutes.

In the midst of a deep dark forest, a shadowy figure is telling stories. Perhaps an apocalypse is looming, and he’s warning you of your sorrowful fate; or maybe the doomsday arrived many moons ago, and he’s telling you how he survived. Add in drenched guitars, pulsating drum beats and a whole lot of heavy rock and you’re starting to get to know Manx four-piece Man in the Woods.

2021 was a big year for music on the Isle of Man ー and we would know. When it’s been allowed, we’ve been up and down the island listening to it in action. More and more people are realising not only that there is a music scene on the island, but also that it’s bloody good! We’re making it our mission to spread the word to as many people as possible. With that in mind, we’re taking the time to celebrate the wonderful singles, albums and even vinyl that Manx musicians have released in 2021.

A lot of people come into Sound Records and tell us how surprised they are by the resurgence of vinyl as a format. After all, the introduction of CDs, and more recently the dominance of streaming, should have meant the end of vinyl for good. So, what changed? Why has it lasted when the odds say it shouldn’t have? In this article, I’m trying to find out.

It seems like every time we’ve interviewed anyone for a Sound Records article they bring up Compton Vaults. Although it officially closed over a year ago now, its impact is still felt on the Manx music scene. And although founder Juan Christian may have cut ties with that particular business model for his own complex reasons, the ethos of the project is not dead, and there is still some partying to be done.

“Here for a good time, not a long time” ー Peggy’s has always had it as a part of their branding. And yet, when the beloved glittery nightclub and home of the leopard print booths announced a few weeks ago that they would be closing their doors for a final time, we couldn’t quite believe it. It seems like yesterday that they first opened up their doors as a pop-up Christmas venue. And yet, it is now three years later. In that time, they’ve made quite the mark on an otherwise sparse landscape of Manx nightlife.