How do you write about 2022 ?

Anything hifi and music related becomes minor when compared to the rest of the world

There's a war in Europe

Refugees fleeing Ukraine in need of food and clothes

World storms floods fires and hurricanes indicate that climate change is gathering pace

And when you look to leaders/politicians to take action on any of this where is there anyone you would trust?

I used to think our lot were the only useless corrupt self-serving cowards that got elected but it turns out that the mainland lot are identical. 

They'd sell their granny's silver for another 4 years with their snouts in the trough and tell you it's for your own good, for a better world.

Anyway, before I go into full rant mode, and believe me I had to stop myself there as I was just warming up, I am restoring my blood pressure with my personal painkiller, a piece of music.

Norah Jones, Come away with me, oldy and goldy, thank you.

This year I have seen a lot of gigs. From local heroes like Ronnie Greer, Ken Haddock and Kyron Bourke to heroes such as Neil Finn and recently Horslips I have been transported to where none of the rants are important for a few hours. 

And that is what a good hifi/music system does as well. The best systems transport you into the music with it's feeling and emotions to release you to another place. That is still what drives me to select the best and most musical equipment from the best engineers and manufacturers. Second best is not enough.

I am passionate about Lyric Hifi not being a supermarket who provide 'choice' by having almost everything and then direct you to their choice with deals. It doesn't matter that I buy a different brand of breakfast cereal once and go back to my favourite next time but it does matter when you buy an average/poor piece of gear and stop listening to music because it is actually crap and you can't just buy another one the next week!

And I honestly know that most brands out there are pretty crap, designed by the marketing departments to shift boxes by any means necessary while using slogans, i.e lies, about loving the music and the pursuit of excellence.

Some of them missed their calling, should have been politicians, or bankers.

We have a reason, a solution for a customer need, for stocking every product we sell.

We are specialists and experts and our expertise is free to help you own a cracking music playing system and for us to eat well and drink some decent wine.

Some of our equipment choices cost lots and some don't, though they have a common denominator. 

You cannot find better gear elsewhere, only something inferior and often not even cheaper.

Many times people want to tell me what they have bought and how much they spent and I have to cringe and say nothing at the waste and what could have been

What could have been is that they could have been enjoying their music far more with a little help from Lyric Hifi

Rant over, Happy New Year for us all