Another stellar year in 2023. I say year, but a vast majority of this list comes from the 2nd half of 2023. I had only bought one new album by April. There was no need to panic as things picked up beautifully. I remember saying I’d buy less music this year, I’m not sure that played out.
10. The Ballad of Darren – Blur
I was never big on Blur but then britpop passed me by in a haze of house music. I got them as a band when they released Think Tank. This is full of great pop songs and was pretty immediate. Someone once said to me that Blur were the only Britpop band that will stand the test of time. I don’t know if that’s true but I’m glad they’re back producing high class albums.
9. I DES – King Creosote
It’s a joyous affair when a new KC album is released. Given how much music he’s made over the years, it’s criminal it has been 7 years since Astronaut Meets Appleman. It was one of those worth the wait situations. I’ve yet to listen to the 30 odd minute Drone in B#. Waiting on the right time (when the house is empty). I love Kenny’s voice, Fife’s finest.
8. Yarns From The Chocolate Triangle – Chocolate Hills, The Orb
A surprise album that popped up on my Spotify Release Radar. It’s Alex Paterson and the chap from Bomb the Bass collaborating. It’s a meld of styles providing a textbook late night soundtrack.
7. Chaos For The Fly – Grian Chatten
I’m daft for Fontaines DC and love Grian Chatten’s voice. His first solo album is short but perfectly formed. One of those albums I knew I’d love before hearing it. I did/still do. It’s much more folky than Fontaines but that style suits him well.
6. Think of Me When You Hear Waves – John Massoni with Sonic Boom
After The Sundowner Sessions I was curious what this would be like. Sundowner was almost unlistenable but this one falls on the tuneful side of Sonic Boom. A really lovely album and a bit gothic in parts. It was one of my 2 RSD purchases (along with BRMC Live at Levitation) this year. The nine minute title track has Sonic written all over it. The album I didn’t expect to be so good in 2023.
5. Everything Is Alive – Slowdive
Slowdive felt like a secret between a few of my mates back in the early 90s. Just For a Day is a top 10 album in my lifetime. It brings back a lot of memories. It’s so good to see how popular they are now. Far more so than they were in my day. Everything Is Alive is modern day Slowdive being slightly more ‘upbeat’ than they were but no less ethereal. Album closer The Slab is also the best tune I heard all year. Looking forward to The Barrowlands in February.
4. Hard Light – Drop Nineteens
If Slowdive felt like secret between a few, Drop Nineteens felt like my own. It’s been over 30 years since the lesser known classic Delaware. The musical suicide of National Coma is long forgotten. It’s a return to the glory days. It’ll never be the same as when I was 21, but Hard Light is Delaware in my 50s.
3. Black Bay – Silver Moth
I heard about Silver Moth on the Twitter from Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai fame, who is one of the band. It’s 6 tunes, 40 odd minutes with the epic Hello Doom covering most of side 2. I saw them in November touring the album, ending with Hello Doom in deafening style. As it usually does, seeing a band live made an already great album, greater. I hope the project keeps going. Been there, seen them and bought the T-shirt.
2. Rain Before Seven – Penguin Cafe
I bought this on a whim from my local store as I loved Penguin Cafe Orchestra from the Cafe Del Mar days. I think they are the next generation of PCO without the ‘orchestra’. They have a very similar sound to the previous incarnation including a tune the bears more than an uncanny resemblance to the Beatless mix of Smokebelch II. The most uplifting album I heard all year.
1. Stereo Mind Games – Daughter
Daughter were new to me this year. It’s great to discover a band a few albums in. Their sound could be viewed as Slowdive/Cigarettes After Sex/Drug Store Romeos in style. From the first tune ‘I got a feeling that we’ll repeat this evening’ throughout both sides, it’s class. Each time I heard it, a different tune would pop out at me. In the end, the entire album is wedged in for life. It’s always a good sign when Mrs W gives an album a thumbs up as well. I’ve not done it yet but I will revisit the back catalogue very soon.
Notable mentions to Sigur Ros with Atta, James, Helios, Rufus Wainwright, BJM and The Lemon Twigs with the ridiculously catchy Everything Harmony.
Jaykits 