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Matt's Top 10 Releases Of 2023

Posted by Matthew Davies on

The man who needs no introduction, Matt, the creator and pillar of Tangled Parrot - since the year 2000! [This is Rich writing these intros if you hadn't realised, Matt's not pumping himself up, don't worry]
Matt's done and contributed so much to local music scenes, putting on local and non-local acts (even from overseas!), and with the help and recommendations he can give to customers of the shop. I'm sure countless people like myself tie a lot of bands to Matt through him introducing them. The guy is a legend.
Here's to another year and hope we get to share more moments of love through music with you all. Have a good one!
JOHN FRANCIS FLYNN - LOOK OVER THE WALL, SEE THE SKY

Genre: Folk
Label: River Lea Recordings
BUY HERE!
Got to thank John Doran of the most excellent online site The Quietus for the heads up on this one. JFF has a beautiful deep Irish voice accompanied by a music that whilst rooted in folk music has a lot of drone qualities and moments of gleeful guitar discordance.

There's a nice bit of variety on the album from the quite upbeat Mole in the Ground to the deliberately dour but excellent version of Dirty Old Town. Taking Irish folk into new territories.

GINA BIRCH - I PLAY MY BASS LOUD

Genre: Alternative Rock / Indie
Label: Third Man Records
BUY HERE!
To my shame The Raincoats passed me by. Remember listening to this for the first time and thinking how well produced it was and then realising that it was Youth (Killling Joke/Brilliant/Firemen etc, etc.) which made perfect sense as the whole album is drenched in expansive dub.

This is not to take away from the well crafted songs and the tight three-piece band that perform them. Songs of strong women and female energy. Alongside the anger there's an undercurrent of humour - I love the song Rage which really does embrace both.

LISA O'NEILL - ALL OF THIS IS CHANCE


Genre: Folk
Label: Rough Trade Records
BUY HERE!

This came out in the Spring but I only discovered her and this album late in the year. She has such a strong unique voice it probably turns on some but it really moves me.

The track Old Note has reduced me to tears... twice. Another album that seems to be taking Irish Folk further into the unknown whilst remaining firmly rooted in the traditional.

BONNIE PRINCE BILLY - KEEPING SECRETS WILL DESTROY YOU

Genre: Folk / Country
Label: Drag City / Domino
BUY HERE!
I rarely immediately take to BPB albums despite him being one of my favourite artists. His albums usually take a good number of listens before they work their magic and then the return just keeps increasing. This album however just got to me straight away, single Crazy Blue Bells contains my lyric of the year:

‘Blast off into love my friends and decimate cognition.’

LANKUM - FALSE LANKUM


Genre: Folk / Drone
Label: Rough Trade Records

"False Lankum" is on lots of people’s lists this year and rightly so. Dark, brooding and droning but again rooted in Irish folk - what the hell’s going down on the Emerald Isle?

At times they remind me of the dark ambient electronica of Coil - maybe down to their shared use of the hurdy-gurdy drone. Saw them at Green Man this year and they did a great job of commanding the main stage during early eve.

YOUNG FATHERS - HEAVY HEAVY


Genre: Experimental Pop / Electronica
Label: Ninja Tune
BUY HERE!
This really grabbed me at the beginning of the year-really quite unlike anything else - a melting pot of modernity in the same way as Massive Attack were in the early 90s.

Soul, blues, electronica, hip hop and more stirred and blended in Glasgow with offbeat hooky chorus.

KOFI FLEXXX - FLOWERS IN THE DARK


Genre: Electronica / Hip Hop / Jazz
Label: Nature Sounds
BUY HERE!

Jazz/hip hop/electronic fusion from the first release on Shabaka Hutchings label and he's also the producer here. Guest vocals by rapper/wordsmith Billy Woods (his album "Maps" nearly made this list but know it’ll be on Rich’s end of year list and it’s his recommendation) and an excellent contribution from Anthony Joseph who reminds me of some of Gil Scott Heron politically charged readings.

Musically the album continues to keep things interesting throughout veering as it does from jazz to dark rumbling electronic 'scapes. The album grows with repeated listens.

LANA DEL REY - DID YOU KNOW THERE'S A TUNNEL UNDER OCEAN BOULEVARD?


Genre: Pop
Label: Polydor
BUY HERE!

Been following Lana for most of her career. I really appreciate that every album, whilst unmistakably Lana, is different, even if sometimes subtly. This one felt very confident with quite lengthy songs, spoken intros and a really full-sounding production.

This choice is no doubt heightened by seeing her live in Hyde Park with my daughters. A fantastic show, great day and having seen her before years ago she’s become a much more commanding performer. Candy Necklaces is a favourite.

ACTRESS - LXXXVIII


Genre: Electronica
Label: Ninja Tune
BUY HERE!

No-one produces music quite like this: jazzy electronica that has echoes and flourishes from the electronic dance floor. The album is apparently inspired by the game of chess - I can believe the thought that's gone into these compositions comes from the mind of a chessmaster.

ROGUE JONES - DOS BEBES

Genre: Alternative Rock / Indie
Label: Libertino Records
BUY HERE!
One of my favourite gigs of the year was at our shop in 222 with the 7-piece band Rogue Jones squeezed into the cafe space. Such fun, such great energy and so good - they went on to win the Welsh Music Prize shortly afterwards. They were also excellent on the Walled Garden stage at Green Man.

A real sense of fun about them - excellently crafted alternative pop songs that are totally infectious. We all need more Lemonade in our lives.

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