Here are our favorite albums from 2023 compiled in chronological order.
Boo Williams – Depths Of Life [Boo Moonman]
Chicago legend Boo Williams’ “Depths Of Life” fuses classic melodic deep house with spacey acid and hard swung rhythms in Boo’s signature style. It includes 10 crisp signature tracks, wrapped in a cosmic view of jazzy moods and hypnotic melodies. vinyl
Carl Finlow – Plasmoids [Science Cult]
Legendary electro producer Carl Finlow made his return to Science Cult with a “Plasmoids”. From start to finish delivers with expertly crafted electro. Mr Finlow’s production skills are present across a variety of styles from the cyber funk inspired “Trimonogogo” to the retro-styled “Relic”. This is an album not just for fans of Carl Finlow’s work, but a showcase of electro at its finest. vinyl
Years of Denial – Suicide Disco Vol. 2 [VEYL]
Years Of Denial is back on Veyl with their second LP ‘Suicide Disco Vol. 2’. The follow up to 2019’s ‘Suicide Disco’, the duo makes a triumphant return, elevating their distinct sound which fuses dark wave, goth, new-beat, post-punk, EBM, and techno. The LP features 12 tracks all written and produced at Ark of Noise studio, located miles away from the polluted noise of social turbulences, immersed in isolation, creative indulgence, and poetic writing. vinyl
The Creative Technology Consortium – Panoramic Coloursound [Dark Entries]
The venerable Dark Entries celebrates it’s 300th release with “Panoramic Coloursound”, a triple LP from The Creative Technology Consortium. Traxx, Andrew Bisenius, and Jason Letkiewicz forged the CtC during the depths of pandemic isolation. Drawing from film and television music of the 80’s/90’s and armed with a mighty array of vintage analog and digital synthesizers, they set out to explore heists, vices, and catastrophe. Panoramic Coloursound collapses sound and image into a neon blur throughout its 25 tracks. While retro scores were the starting point for the CtC, the project does more than pay dutiful homage — these notes are warped and skewed, devolving into decaying digital soundscapes. EBM-inflected basslines pop up on tracks like “Catastrophe” and “A Retro Vice”, menacing numbers that recall Traxx and Letkiewicz’s legendary work as Mutant Beat Dance (a project also featuring Beau Wanzer). “Follow Our Kode” pairs heroic synths with funky bass, striking cosmic chords akin to the material that Traxx and Bisenius have released as An Anomaly. Krautrock-esque guitars slide along anthemic pads on “Beautifully Polluted Sunset”, which comes across like an alien Miami Vice closing theme. The CtC channel corroded VHS vibes while making music for the future. vinyl
Ron Morelli – Heart Stopper [L.I.E.S.]
L.I.E.S. Records founder, Ron Morelli, made a rare appearance on his own label with his eagerly anticipated double LP, “Heart Stopper”. Heart Stopper is undoubtedly the “dance” record that reaches back to the early days of his L.I.E.S. Records label where artists such as Delroy Edwards, Steve Summers, Traxx, and Svengalisghost all came together digging into the primitive, foundational sounds of original Chicago, New York, and Detroit House music putting it through a contemporary lens. Recorded between 2019-2022, this LP is the culmination of many years of Morelli honing his craft, from digging and studying old records, to focusing and sharpening his production techniques, the L.I.E.S. boss has delivered an album that is a testament of his true love and obsession of the genre, with “Heart Stopper” being the record to cement the now iconic L.I.E.S. legacy even further. In the often shapeshifting world of modern dance music, “Heart Stopper” is what a House record should be. Full of passion and unfiltered emotion, uplifting at moments, pensive at others; with raw, jakin’ drum programming, big basslines, and anthemic synths driving the release throughout. vinyl
TeslaSonic – Foundation [MinimalRome]
“Foundation” is set in the future when the world is barely remembered and humans have colonized the galaxy. The record introduces Donnie Ozone, a brilliant visionary rapper and psychohistorian whose job is to use lyrics and rhymes to predict the future. It is divided into six chapters, each showing a part of the bigger picture portrayed on the outstanding cover by Infidel. Teslasonic gathers together the galaxy’s top scientists and artists on a bleak outer planet and sets out to preserve the accumulated knowledge of humankind and begin a new human galactic empire based on Art, Science and Technology. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation and designs it to withstand a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that he predicts will last for a long time. vinyl
Rapid Ear Damage – R.E.D. [Höga Nord Rekords]
With distorted arpeggiated synthesisers and cold metallic drum-machine patterns, William Wiffen from Yorkshire invites you to his sonic warzone. Höga Nord Rekords presents R.E.D. (Rapid Ear Damage), a stripped and harsh take on postpunk, motorik and EBM. With haunting and reverbdrenched synthesizers, Wiffen’s new project sometimes resembles acts like Two Lone Swordsmen in their dirtiest moments. R.E.D. is not a wholesome and pleasant experience. Heavily modified vocals, used more like an additional instrument, breaks through the distorted, hard, backbeat, contributing to the feeling of being trapped in a mental slit trench or bomb shelter: no light coming in – only sound. vinyl
The Exaltics – 7th Planet [Clone West Coast Series]
Clone Records released a sci-fi electro-techno album by The Exaltics, its the 3rd album project for Clone Records after the 2014 ”Some Other Place” and critically acclaimed 2019 album ”2 Worlds”. The Exaltics deliver an album full of futuristic modern techno tracks with beautiful distant atmospheres, alienating techno tracks and energetic robotic electro beats. Joined by Paris the Black Fu & Mr. Remy for a critical view on the current state of affairs on our home planet. vinyl
Timothy J. Fairplay – I Lay Awake At Night Scheming [Dungeon Module]
Timothy J. Fairplay presents a new 8 track album ‘I Lay Awake At Night Scheming’. This is to some extent a lost album, the bulk of the album was made for a project which never came to fruition, and there’s a few tracks which have been in Timothy’s live sets for a few years, but have never had a proper release. Raw emotional synth and rhythm tracks for late nights in the dungeon.
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest – Evolution [Axis]
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest is a theory initiated and put into action by late Afro Beat creator and Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen and Detroit Techno’s Jeff Mills. Each belonging to a long tradition of using music to reach higher levels of consciousness, along with veteran keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary, the three toured internationally until the untimely death of Tony Allen in 2020. “Evolution” was recorded live during Nuits Sonores, Brussels, 2022.
Fabio Monesi – Piano Vandals [L.I.E.S.]
Italian House Music producer, Fabio Monesi, delivers a smoking 8 track double LP of old school bombs for L.I.E.S. Records. You’d be forgiven for thinking these were produced in the ’80s as all the classic and authentic elements are intact; catchy Yamaha DX basslines, crunchy TR-707 and Juno strings. Eight cuts all primed for the disco tech and nights of pure hedonism. These tracks go right back to the essence, hitting the full spectrum with stripped back classic New York and Chicago House cuts that wouldn’t seem out of place in a BMX or WBLS mix from back in the day. Catchy dx basslines, slammin reverb drenched drum programming, and deep strings are on order for this one. vinyl
T/Error – Control Paradox [LDI Records]
What if Kraftwerk’s “Computer World” had a more dystopian message? Then you would get this album: “Control Paradox” by T/Error. This double 12 inch vinyl is filled with Kraftworkian moments, but is more updated to our current times. Today computers, smart phones, AI and algorithms have taken over our daily lives. This release features 9 original tunes and 3 remixes by none other than: Cygnol, Lloyd Stellar and Heinrich Dressel. vinyl
Cosmetics – Baby [Cititrax]
Cosmetics is a Vancouver-based synth wave duo formed by Nic Emm and Aja Emma in 2008. Cosmetics have been relatively quiet since its very memorable releases on Captured Tracks in 2010. In 2023, the band returned with a phenomenal full-length LP entitled ‘Baby’. Their music is sultry, minimalist, and atmospheric, backed by lush analog synths and sparse drum machines. Aja’s seductive vocals cut through the perfectly crafted dark synthpop forming a filmlike narrative that draws us in. The ‘Baby’ LP will have you listening on repeat and the single featuring alternate versions of two songs from the album will bring you from your bedroom listening to the dance floor. vinyl
Tom Carruthers – Future Wave [L.I.E.S.]
Tom Carruthers is back in full form on L.I.E.S. with a massive 18 track tripple LP set. This has everything you could possibly want on it, going in heavy with the 88-92′ vibes all the Bleeps, Detroit strings, shuffling 909s, and Chicago 727s one can possibly want. Every track is a winner, full dancefloor fodder you’ll swear are lost classics unearthed from the grave. Carruthers has consistently proved he has mastered the formula to create perfect old school tracks that will have you jackin on the floor all nite long. This collection is what dance music is about and explores the full range of formative styles in all their intricacies from top to bottom. Undoubtedly his most comprehensive and definitive work to date. vinyl
Anatolian Weapons – Teachings In Stone
‘Teachings In Stone’ is a self released album by Greek producer Aggelos Baltas AKA Anatolian Weapons. It is available for download only on his bandcamp page. All tracks produced 2019 and remixed 2020.
Rude 66 – Conditioning Consciousness [Bordello A Parigi]
Ruud Lekx aka Rude 66 returned to Bordello A Parigi with twelve darkened tracks for ‘Conditioning Consciousness’. Tempos glide low in the opening incantations. From the breathy murmurings of “Magick Angels’ Invocations”, the listener is brought into Rude’s world. Shauna Lekx’s signature vocoder lyrics and blackened subject matter are central tenets, as are hauntingly delicate melodies. “The Riddler In Me” is a deep psychological journey through cable and circuit, an unsettling monologue accompanied by liquid analogue lines. BPMs are allowed to rise for the shimmering warmth of “In Exile” and in the reverb soaked “The Chariot”. But these are the outliers. Across the collection, percussion drives without ever being a central force. Instead, the focus is the bewitching and brooding compositions. Take the drugged low slung groove of “The Talisman of Algol” or the loose modulations of “Le Sagittaire”, here the listener is brought into the heart of the machines and the musician. The curtain close, “The Five Swords Of Venus In Aquarius” gathers a spread of influences, bringing them together into one piece. Synth. Soundtrack. Strings. All culminate in this superb climax, a climax to an album that broaches the boundaries between terrifying and terrific. vinyl
Credit 00 – Midnightlife Crisis [Pinkman]
Credit 00 delivered the album “Midnightlife Crisis” on Pinkman. Hopping between genres whilst remaining resolutely coherent, the twelve-track LP is a showcase of the Rat Life boss’ many influences. From the driving, mesmeric techno of Music Is A Spiritual Thing to the sci-fi electro on Bouncing Bell and Love Warrior’s downtempo, half-time shuffle, the collection of tracks is broad and varied yet simultaneously unified by belonging to the club. Whether it’s warm-up material, peaktime rollers or afterhours sludge for tired legs and scrambled heads, there’s something for every scenario on Midnightlife Crisis. And with recurring themes of melancholy and anxiety throughout, the album perhaps reflects that all too familiar period for every club enthusiast when the years are ticking by and the lights are coming on. vinyl
Dircsen – Helical Structures [Gated]
Germany’s Dircsen first full-length vinyl outing on Gated Recordings. Across these two slabs of wax he slips and slides between electro, deep techno, jacking house, and psychedelic live workouts, but throughout the eight tracks the silver boxes work their indefinable magic. vinyl
Datasal – Totem Och Tabu [Höga Nord Rekords]
The second album in this lists, from Höga Nord Rekords is “Totem Och Tabu”, the debut album of Swedish electronic psychedelia artist Datasal. The sound is built around repetitive sequencer loops and programmed beats where electric bass, electric guitar and flute improvise around a theme, creating a sound that is best described as cosmic flute house. vinyl
Die Gestalten – All Die Leeren Worte [Die Gestalten]
Die Gestalten’s commitment to gnarly underground electro continues apace with this triple-pack monster from the shadowy figure. As ever there’s a steely, almost industrial focus to the sound, where machine funk goes heavy on the machine. There is space for some melodic warmth as well, such as the cosy lead lines cresting over the top of ‘Der Sucher’ and the artfully modulated live version of ‘Traenen’. But even in these more approachable moments there’s a sense of robotic detachment – this is electro in the purist, icy sense of the word. If you thirst for a large dose of truly underground gear from a lone wolf, this payload will have you body popping for days.
Enjoy!
The Hipodrome Of Music 