Best of 2023 – Top 25 singles
The 25 45s that made 23 a great year for singles
1
Sleaford Mods – West End Girls (Rough Trade)
“Sometimes you’re better off dead… There’s a gun in your hand and it’s pointing at your head..” Sleaford Mods re-rub the Pet Shop Boys classic ‘West End Girls’ with typically sardonic Midlands wit – you must know by now, this one has been impossible to avoid. As, indeed, have the Sleaford Mods themselves. 2023 belongs to them much more than anyone else, pretty much everything they’ve touched this year has turned to gold, from the Cold War Dave video for ‘UK Grim’ and the wonderfully pottymouthed contribution of Dry Cleaning’s Florence Shaw to ‘Force Ten Navarone’ to a triumphant end to their world tour at London’s Alexandra Palace, where they assembled a bill that included everyone from Stewart Lee to John Grant and Hot Chip. The fact that Shane MacGowan’s sad but ultimately anything but untimely death stopped this single from being the UK’s Christmas number one does nothing to diminish its utter brilliance: it sounds like the Pet Shop Boys, at the same time it sounds like Sleaford Mods. What’s even better than all that is the profits are going to homeless charity Shelter. Even PSB purists can’t complain, either, as the duo have contributed their own extended mix to the five track affair. So here’s to you Jason and Andrew – it may have been a grim year for the UK, not to mention other places, but you have soundtracked the degradation perfectly.
2
Silent Servant – In Memoriam (Tresor)
Juan Mendez is back on Tresor in Silent Servant mode with another masterclass in techno with a punk attitude. Since the beginning, Mendez has been able to demonstrate powerfully how to join the dots between post-punk, EBM, electro and techno and this EP might be one of the most fluid demonstrations of that attitude. The numbers in the titles hint towards specific years, and ‘M-87’ certainly has a flavour of late 80s Detroit techno sensuality, as if Carl Craig’s earliest BFC and Psyche work was given a dusting up by some cyberpunks. ‘M-90’ has a more electro-tooled backbone, but there’s still a pervading gothic tone to the composition. ‘M-99’ meanwhile heads straight for a broader techno propulsion, albeit carrying plenty of noise along for the ride, and ‘M-00’ loops things up for the most incisive cut on the record.
3
Jamal Moss – The Times Are Changing EP (Release Sustain)
London-based underground label Release Sustain is proud to announce the release of a brand new EP by Chicago’s Jamal Moss, Mathematics Recordings label head, is one of the most uncompromising artists in the game. Famed for his raw, lo-fi approach to house, he messes with the rules and makes unpredictable, unforgettable sounds like few others. Here he arrives on London’s Release Sustain with four cuts of relentless drum programming and acid melodies that traverse the line between house and techno. From the slow and wonky opener to the coruscated ‘The Dark Hold of the Bold’ via the distorted and deprived ‘The Nu Glance Sound’ this is a fine EP.
4
Turnstile/BADBADNOTGOOD – New Heart Designs (Roadrunner)
The sheer meteoric rise of Turnstile from everybody’s favourite hardcore act to simply everyone’s favourite band has provided immense goodwill to the hardcore punk scene, casting an expansive light across the entire genre and offering smaller artists a more poignant form of attention. While 2021’s breakout success Glow On (one of Juno Daily’s albums of that year) is largely to thank for their current popularity, the groundwork was initially laid upon signing to Roadrunner for the release of their stellar 2018 sophomore effort Time & Space, which would later receive a companion remix EP titled Share A View, crafted in collaboration with London’s adopted Aussie son Mall Grab, offering up techno and progressive house reimaginings of the band’s melodies. Opting to follow the same pattern for their third LP, New Heart Designs sees the band link up with hip-hop oriented nu-jazz collective BADBADNOTGOOD (known for their previous collaborations with Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt) to craft a lush array of free form jazz around the three most accessible cuts from Glow On, those being ‘Mystery’, ‘Alien Love Call’ and ‘Underwater Boi’. It really does seem with each passing day that Turnstile are becoming that hardcore band of which we ask, “Is there anything they can’t do?” *sighs dreamily*
5
Deetron presents Soulmate – Path (Ilian Tape)
Deetron’s been turning out serene house and techno for many a year but he changes tack here and presents Soulmate on Ilian Tape. It’s an EP with a wide array of influences and kicks off with ‘Path’ which is bright, melodic, electric house music with cow bells galore. ‘Zoom’ is tightly coiled, loopy, dusty, turbocharged tackle with a warming intensity and then ‘Screen’ pairs more balmy and blissed-out chords with hurried beats and layers of FX and percussion. Last of all is the best of the lot – ‘Blade’. It’s a tribal, percussive cut that cannot fail to sweep you off your feet.
6
Scowl – Psychic Dance Routine (Flatspot)
Santa Cruz hardcore punk new schoolers Scowl initially made waves with their 2021 debut LP How Flowers Grow, though hardly anyone could’ve predicted the major surge in popularity they would experience in 2023. Following a much-discussed set at Coachella of all places, highlighting the increased exposure of the hardcore scene, their Psychic Dance Routine EP has elevated all of their potential promise to staggering new heights. At fivetracks and barely over ten minutes, this collection is a total get in/get out experience yet boasts far more expansion and dynamism than their entire preceding full-length. Finally taking full advantage of vocalist Kat Moss’ impressive range and embracing influences from 90s grunge and punk acts such as L7, Hole and The Distillers, these grungecore bangers are equal parts feral, seductive and catchy, while anticipation for LP2 continues to swell to ludicrous levels.
7
DJ Seinfeld/Confidence Man – Now U Do (Ninja Tune)
Much adored Ninja Tune alumni DJ Seinfeld linked up with Aussie electro-pop duo Confidence Man earlier this year to deliver what he describes as “quirky, naive and an ode to all the summer flings out there”, while we prefer to simply call it the feel good hit of the summer. Following a few personal hangs, the trio felt it natural to see what their meeting of musical minds could accomplish, and thus an overnight mini classic that went off across festival season was born. Channelling the unpretentious Ibiza-vibe tropical house of the 90s with some Balearic flourishes, Now U Do genuinely sounds like one of those bangers you’re near certain you’ve heard before and then are totally shocked to discover you haven’t. Complete with a vibey UK garage version as well as a more minimal deep house remix from Carlita, if you do one thing before the end of 2023, grace your ears with this euphoric banger.
8
Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21f (Aphex Twin)
While his AR antics and massive stage shows might be a far cry from the subversive rave culture he came up in, Aphex Twin remains one of the most fascinating and gifted electronic dance music producers of his generation. Get past the fanfare and bluster, and it’s still an incredibly exciting prospect to be opening up a new box of his charms, and he’s as generous as he’s ever been on this new four-track EP. As a key architect of the braindance sound (whether he likes the tag or not), Richard D. James demonstrates his gift for uncanny emotionality and dexterous drum programming on the lead single ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’, hitting a spot not too far from the realm of his last album Syro and The Tuss material. With a lush fold-out sleeve to house it all in, it’s another fine addition to the canon of a true cult phenomenon.
9
Yard Act – The Trench Coat Museum (Island)
Laying the groundwork for 2024’s upcoming sophomore effort, Where’s My Utopia?, Leeds based Mercury Prize nominated post-punk newcomers Yard Act delivered a bizarre eight-minute opus-like standalone single The Trench Coat Museum earlier this year. Absorbing a new wave promiscuity complete with jittering synth-work into their pre-ordained sound, while lyrically swaying between deprecating self-analysis and reliably whimsical absurdity, the lengthy cut offers an indicator of the band’s future trajectory, while exuding an introspective insight into their overnight meteoric rise since the release of their 2022 debut full-length The Overload. Accompanied by a Black Mirror-style video directed by James Slater, and featuring a B-side remix by the incomparable Arthur Baker, anticipation is now well and truly rife for LP2 off of the back of one solitary single, that simultaneously extends the narrative established on their debut, while lowering the bridge to their next aesthetic era.
10
Dillinja – Lionheart VIP (V Recordings)
A welcome and precious addition to the new ‘Legends’ series by V Recordings, ‘Lionheart’ is a tune made with friend and equal talent Berty B, that has existed since 1994 and is famous for its opening “ready? get set… music!” sample and vinyl-spinback oneshots. It’s a nigh-timeless track that straddles raggatek, jump-up and jungle techno in almost a single breath. Much later came the VIP (variation in production), which added far glossier and more heavenly variations and a harder-edged sheen. Also here comes the brand new VIP of ‘Love 4 You’, which is a masterclass in airy, spacious intro-work, which segues into pure drum-driving as per the formula.
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11
Pole’s 2022 album Tempus featured one particular track, ‘Stechmuck’ which was centred on the sound of his dying Minimoog. It’s a tidy continuation of the faulty Waldorf filter which inspired his project name in the first place, and now Stefan Betke has taken the inspiration of his broken gear further by inviting a heavyweight cast of remixers to reversion the track. You might not have expected UK electro punk agitators Sleaford Mods to be crossing paths with German minimalist dub, but here we are and the results are incendiary. Elsewhere, Rrose delivers a textbook slice of writhing, tactile techno and Alessandro Cortini brings his grandiose synth expertise to bear on the track.
12
Plant43 – Reflection/Reaction Part 2 (Plant43 Recordings)
Four more lively, lovely electro offerings from Plant 43, the second in a limited edition series of EPs focussed on tracks written over the course of the winter of 2022/23. Opener ‘Submolecular Shifting’ is bright and bubbly, joining the dots between Kraftwerk and Model 500, while ‘Eccentric Elliptical Orbit’ follows on slower and more grandiose, echoing early New Order’s icy cool synth sounds. ‘Encased’ has a more otherworldly Aphex-like feel, although the juddering, on-off bass keeps it plugged into the dancefloor. ‘The Forgotten Storm’ closes proceedings, more low key again and graced with ethereal, adding angelic choirs. Energised enough and streamlined enough to be good dancefloor gear, but expertly executed and, as ever, brimming with enough personality to be a decent home listen as well.
13
Normy – What The Fuck Planet Are These Guys From? (Smartpunk)
There’s likely fewer artists doing more to lead the modern charge for pop-punk than Cleveland, Ohio native Eric Egan. Most widely known for his primary project Heart Attack Man (who sold out the Boston Music Room in Tufnell Park last summer and are set to return to Camden’s Electric Ballroom in January), he also moonlights in the much smaller project Normy. While HAM plumb the depths of all the facets of pop-punk from emo to grunge forays (exemplified on their excellent new album Freak Of Nature), the second EP from this side-hustle, titled What The fuck Planet Are These Guys From?, relies on breakneck-paced skate-punk of the 90’s, with the majority of these five cuts not sounding at all out of place on an early Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack. With nods to early Blink-182, Millencollin and New Found Glory (apart from the minute-long hardcore stomper ‘Straw Man’), this is pop-punk heavy on the latter, and furthers Mr. Egan’s quest to rejuvenate the genre of his youth and keep it out of the hands of insincere infiltrators (looking at you, Machine Gun Kelly).
14
Crazy P – Crazy P Curates Volume 4 (20/20 Vision)
20/20 Vision and Crazy P continue their long and fruitful relationship with a fourth volume of carefully curated and super-fresh new cuts as part of this fine ongoing series. Scandi-disco don Ray Man opens up with typically lush cosmic melodies and loose-limed nu-disco beats with more than a hint of funk. Tigerbalm then heads into a tropical oasis with ‘Cosmic Union’ (feat Joy Tyson) which has Afro rhythms and steamy vocals bringing the heat. Ruf Dug shows his multi-genre chops again with ‘Vape Quarter Rhythm’ which is part proto-house cut and part dreamy Italo bliss out with rave whistles and hands-in-the-air chords. Ibiza’s Tuccillo closes out with one of his signature Balearic gems in ‘Siroco’, which is as breezy and carefree as cocktails by the sea at sundown.
15
DJ Sneak – Back To Love EP (Heist)
Some 30 years on from the release of his debut EP, DJ Sneak is still serving up indispensable dancefloor workouts marked out by chunky, swinging drums and energy-packed arrangements. Here the Chicago house legend pitches up on Dam Swindle’s Heist Recordings label for the very first time. He begins in deep and dreamy mode via the punchy drums, wide-eyed vocal snippets and sumptuous string loops of ‘Love Can Make It Happen’, before slamming down some breathlessly brilliant ‘bompty beats’ and sleazy acid bass on the brilliant ‘Going Back To It’. His ability to work short loops into a frenzy of heads-down and hands-aloft dancing comes to the fore on ‘Full Cycle’, while ‘Pockets’ is a breeze of brilliantly programmed, loose-limbed house beats, vocal stabs and wonderfully deep chords.
16
Krust has been more than generous in opening up the archives and letting die-hard junglists get access to some of his most prized plates from the glory days of Full Cycle and V Recordings. Okbron have been a great conduit for such wares over recent years, and so it continues with these deep-cover diamonds from one of the genre’s greatest. ‘I Believe’ is a tightly clipped bit of drum flair with razor sharp programming, film noir chops and swooning pads – a truly soulful excursion for those who like their beats steeped in jazz. ‘Accepted Meaning’ is a rougher breakbeat workout which is just as next level, with bright and bold synth pads that join the dots between Detroit and Bristol in powerful fashion.
17
Mike ‘Agent X’ Clark – Activate EP (Third Ear)
As Mike ‘Angel X’ Clark told us recently over at Juno Daily, environmental activism is what has inspired the lead track from his new Activate EP. Clark, who is known as ‘The Detroit ambassador’ amongst local heads, serves it up on the excellent Third Ear along with three other tracks that collide his take on techno, electro and disco. Aside from the thump of the title cut, ‘Going Off The Wall’ brings some edgy synth drama that you might hear in a futuristic spy cop show while ‘It’s Coming For Ya’ is slow, dubby, dark deep house. The closing cut ‘Mr Mitchell’ shows another look entirely with hints of futurist jazz funk that cannot fail to get you going.
18
Seba & Paradox – Volt (Ilian Tape)
Seba & Paradox link up for this new 12″ on the cultured Ilian Tape label and in doing so explore all new and hard hitting bass depths. The influential pair serve up two top cuts here bit both hit the mark. ‘Volt’ kicks off and is turbo charged by synths that come on like electric shockwaves and drill down through the mix of bright chords and tight breakbeats. ‘Trezub’ is a more lithe rhythm that darts about the stereo field with thundering bass and haunting pads in the distance. Truly devastating stuff.
19
Kyle Hall – Bacci Ballers EP (Forget The Clock)
Kyle Hall has been hailed as the new boy on the Detroit block for some time now, forgetting perhaps that he has been putting records out since he was 17 – some 15 years ago. The three tracks on the ‘Baci Ballers’ EP show he’s capable of holding his own among the biggest of big hitters, taking house music and giving it a nicely grimy makeover that will ensure these beauties a place in many a techno set too. The title track has a triumphant, rampantly rampaging vibe to it, a throbbing, insistent bassline slapped down by meaty handclaps and brutal hi-hats. ‘Big Moma Tech’ adds a smattering of female vocal as bleeps and jazzy keys battle it out like Stevie Wonder and LFO having a jam. ‘Ground Up Dub’ completes the set, based around a panther-like bass keyboard riff that anchors the track while the rhythmic quotient surges and retreats gloriously. Three tracks that differ in everything but their playability and quality.
20
Marcellus Pittman – Eastside EP (Adeen)
Adeen Records is on a roll right now and this time out they welcome the Detroit hero that is Marcellus Pittman for a new and beguiling four-track 12″. Known for his work with The 3 Chairs collective a
‘ which is a real mental maze of rickety loops and blurts of degraded synth. ‘Another Spring Lover’ is another rusty and lo-fi piece of archetypal Detroit house that is very clearly machine music but with a unique sense of human soul. ‘I’m Gonna Be The Everything’ is a raw drum track with sparse, heartwarming chords and ‘Slick Nickle Pladium Investment’ is a knackered downbeat hip-hop closer. Magnificent.
21
Pledits – VOL5 (Paranoid London)
Paranoid London’s latest offering, the ‘Pledits 5’ EP, is a veritable sonic feast for the senses. The tracks feature a diverse array of samples, including very subtle snippets of vintage spoken-word recordings, woven together with a precision that could rival the accuracy of a humanoid electron microscope armed with a pin. Subterranean basslines, acid sloshes and rim-heavy drum rammings make up this three-track monster.
22
Loefah/Coki – Disko Rekah/All Of A Sudden (reissue) (Deep Medi Music)
We’ve been saying for a hot minute that a dubstep reveal is due, if not already here – even though, as is the case with any revival, the purists will say the sound never went away. We would like to submit as supporting evidence this reissue of a stone cold classic split 12″ from 2009 from serious dubstep heavyweights Loofah and Coki. It came on the pioneering Deep Mehdi Musik label and some 14 years on still has plenty of dark late night allure and killer low end wobble. Two definitive tracks that we can’t wait to start hearing out again on loud systems.
23
Boo Williams – Hypnotic Teck (Pariter)
Chicago house artists don’t come much bigger or more accomplished than Boo Williams. The man has a famous signature sound that is full of party but never short on class. His chunky drums are always the foundational element and they come embellished with superb synth work. This new EP on Pariter finds him lean into tech with the loopy acid squelches of ‘303 Effect’ keeping you in suspense, ‘Acid Smoke’ layering soft 303 lines into a punchy deep house cut and then comes the EP highlight, ‘Extension Time’. It’s a zoned-out roller with tender piano chords turning you inwards for deep reflection as the rubbery drums keep things moving.
24
Magda Rot – Soft Metallics (Return To Disorder)
Chilean artist Magda Rot makes a head-turning debut here with some ice-cold electro rhythms on the Return To Disorder label which is now fast approaching a quarter century of releases. There is no messing with these sounds – they’re built on tight, kinetic rhythms with fierce sound designs and stark futurism. ‘Triads’ is a mix of crisp hits and gurgling synths with dramatic background chords. ‘Black Sense’ is a slamming cut with a twisted bassline and hammering drum funk and ‘Coincidences’ brings the chilliness with its frosted lines and cold waves of synth. ‘Unusual Theory’ shuts down with a far sighted sense of electro-techno doom.
25
Robot 84 – Robot84 Vs The Raff (Robot84)
London producer Scott Ferguson is the man behind the Robot84 alias. He has a love for 80s gear that very much defines the sounds he makes, from proto-house to darker disco. His self-titled label is back with more of that good stuff here as he faces off with The Raff for ‘Get It Right Next Time’. This one has a creeping groove and warm chord sequences that tease and please beneath sweeping Balearic synths and celebratory melodic sequences that build to a crescendo. The drums get the hips swinging and the sprinkling of cosmic magic finishes it off in style making it a perfect cut for open-air dancing by the beach.
Compiled by Ben Willmott