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10. Martijn Horsten – Subsignal

I found Martijn’s bass on the latest Subsignal album to be dynamic and interesting. He creates the shape into which the rest of the music fits, and I really noticed that this time.

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9. Jez Martin – Southern Empire

So much of the new Southern Empire album sounds fantastic, and behind it all is Jez’s voluptuous bass grooves. He provides such warmth and such vibe, and the album benefits greatly.

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8. Amber Star-Goers – Troller

Troller has a dark and downtempo sound, and Amber’s bass is a huge part of that. With gritty and even distorted grooves that almost make your skin crawl, her playing is essential for the album’s effectiveness.

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7. Chris Tackett 

– Dream the Electric Sleep

Chris Tackett’s bass is one part of Dream the Electric Sleep’s new album that elevated it greatly. He has energy and pomp that really make things sing with electricity, and he has style and grooviness that make it fun.

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6. Jessica Martin – Hemina

I think Jessica’s bass has become one of my favorite aspects of Hemina’s sound. She has plenty of flourish and retro groove in her style, and yet she keeps up with the technical pace of the guitars. It really helps the band find the balance that makes them so colorful and interesting.

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5. Mariusz Duda – Riverside/solo

Mariusz is one of my favorite bassists ever, and his work on the new Riverside album is impeccable. With roaring presence and larger-than-life engagement, his bass grooves help define the band’s sound. On his solo electronic release, too, his work is even more experimental and “out there”. He never disappoints.

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4. Caitlin Kullberg – Half Shell

Half Shell offers a fresh sound full of energy and bounce, and Caitlin’s bass sells it. There’s something about how hard her grooves hit and how full they feel that instantly made me like the band.

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3. Itai Disraeli – Opium Moon

Itai’s bass is the heartbeat of Opium Moon’s sound. I love how powerful and monolithic it sounds on some tracks, and how groovy and I daresay cool it sounds on others. I really enjoy his style.

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2. Dave Greenaway

– The Emerald Dawn

The Emerald Dawn’s rhythm section is one of the best around, and maybe not in the typical ways. I am mesmerized by the powerful and groovy bass that Dave injects into every nook and cranny, creating strange and interesting foundations for the dreamy music.

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**1. Johan Niemann – solo**

Johan’s solo album contains, without a doubt, the most vibrant, off-the-wall, and luscious bass grooves I’ve heard in years. It was an experiment, this album, and so Johan comes to us unfettered and untamed. I cannot stress enough how amazing his bass compositions are here. Absolutely fantastic work!

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