a personal choice of 13 records from 2023

Anohni And The Johnsons – My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross (Rebis Music)

Anohni returns with The Johnsons and crosses all musical boundaries in order to get the message across and tell what’s going on. Strong.

•

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan – The Nation’s Most Central Location (Castles In Space)

Mr Gordon Chapman-Fox reaches new heights with his 4th album as Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan, a perfect mix of up-to-date electronica with just the right amount of nostalgia. Unmatched in excellence and pure style.

•

Acopia – Acopia (Acopia)

Melbourne’s Acopia present their second album simply called Acopia, the band has found what they were looking for and this is their sound. Romantic and restrained – it’s 2023’s best pop album.

•

Uruk – The Great Central Sun (Mind Travels Serie)

COIL’s Thighpaulsandra & ZU’s Massimo Pupillo join forces again to reach for the great central sun and embark on a mystic, sensory journey that explores a world beyond reality.

•

Stephan Mathieu – Mauve District (Schwebung)

There are no words for Stephan Mathieu’s delicate ambient work, but it is unique and precious. Mauve District is a longform work composed on Piano (1998) and processing for a Helen Frankenthaler show
at Museum Folkwang, Essen. The 2023 CD release on Schwebung looks stunning thanks to a Caro Mikalef / Cabina design.

embedding not allowed, to listen go here: https://schwebung.bandcamp.com/album/mauve-district

•

Isolated Gate – Universe In Reverse (Darla Records)

We had to wait a very long time for a new album from Pale Saint Ian Masters, but this year, with the help of Tim Koch, together as Isolated Gate, we were treated to a masterful blend of pop, melancholia, happiness and absurdness that is pure Ian Masters. Thank you.

•

Steve Roach – Sanctuary Of Desire / Integration Being (Timeroom Editions)

You might think the world has enough Steve Roach albums but wait until you hear Sanctuary of Desire and its accompanying EP Integration Being with three extended versions. Deep ambient sounds and electronic forms melt in your ears, combining everything that is best about this amazing artist.

•

The Soft Pink Truth – Is It Going To Get Any Deeper Than This? [Zero Draft] (self-released)

When The Pink Truth’s 2022 album posed the question if it’s going to get any deeper than this you could have been forgiven for thinking that it probably won’t, but this year Drew Daniel self-released the Zero Draft for his 2022 album, a raw first demo that finally evolved into separate tracks, this longform version blew me out of the water and was a permanent companion on my walkman in 2023.

•

Field Lines Cartographer – Tone Maps (Quiet Details)

Fields We Found’s new Quiet Details label made big waves in 2023 with 12 stunning releases, 11 of which came as beautifully designed CDs with mixed longform versions of the albums that were digitally available unmixed. This is my favorite so far where Mark Burford tones it down without neglecting his signature FLC enveloping soundscape atmospheres. Best label of the year.

•

Statische Musen – Diskretion {Aufabwegen)

Asmus Tietchens returns with a new project, this is music to listen to while in your car and having sex (most likely with a stranger), whatever this was made for, its great for around the house, warm atmospheres that are welcoming yet very discreet.

•

Erik K Skodvin – Nothing Left But Silence (Sonic Pieces)