My Favourite 2023 Albums…So Far

Introduction

As we hit the halfway mark of 2023, I decided to round up all of the albums that have grabbed my attention and really tickled my ears thus far this year. All of the artists I’ve reviewed have produced superb music so far in 2023, but these are the albums that most stood out for me.

One of the things that has just blown me away this year has been the stratospheric height of the musical bar that has been set. The #synthfam is truly excelling at the top end of the genre! The vast majority of the albums I have reviewed are of uniformly high quality. My choices for this list have to do with the way the albums made me feel, rather than anything else. Synth music is continuing to grow in quality as time passes.

Each album on this list was chosen for the emotional or musical impact it made on me. The artists involved, both the originators and guest contributors, all created music that drew me in. Sometimes it was the way an album tugged at my heart and at others, it was the complexity and depth of the music that pulled me deeply into the listening experience. Either way, these albums represent music that was deeply engaging for me.

I also want to add that the #synthfam continues to be an enormous inspiration for me. I enjoy every minute of reviewing all of the tremendous music being brought into existence by your fertile imaginations and compositional, vocal and instrumental abilities. Thank you all for your hard work, passion and dedication to your craft. It is a privilege to share this community with all of you!

My Favourite Albums Thus Far

Jessy Mach - Night Shifter

I found Night Shifter to be a heady concoction of ‘80s-inflected synth energy, first-rate vocal performances and Jessy Mach’s pleasing guitar chops. There was a lively dynamism to the album that carried with it an emotional quality and intermingling synth sounds. It created an entertaining listening experience for me.

The fusion of retro nostalgia and modern, pin-sharp production on Night Shifter was another attractive quality in Jessy Mach’s music. His balance between high quality sound and classic synthesizers allowed the unique auditory qualities of those instruments to shine.

All of the guest performers on Night Shifter came in for praise from me. I found the excellent vocal work added more depth and emotive strength to the album as it unfolded. Each singer brought their own individual characters to bear which added to the engaging nature of the music.

I was also enamoured of the intensity and finger-bending agility of Jessy Mach’s guitar playing. The skillful use of his guitar abilities helped strengthen the overall listening pleasure in the music. I also enjoyed the way in which the guitar playing enriched the feelings pouring from the album.

Andrew LeSynt - The Lost City

The Lost City attracted me with the intertwining synth layering that painted intriguing soundscapes and immersed me within their sonic storytelling. The music has a living, breathing quality to it as it unfolds. I found myself wanting to listen to it again to extract more musical detail from each track.

I was fascinated by the way in which all of the sonic layers interacted with one another on The Lost City to create complex sonic worlds. I felt that all of the individual synth sounds worked well together to form a nuanced and varied whole. Into that mix, I also enjoyed the guitar sounds that Andrew LeSynt wove into the mix to add more ear-pleasing sound.

The Lost City’s allure for me was further increased by the elevated quality of Andrew LeSynt’s melodic writing. I enjoyed the way in which his melodies were able to capture powerful emotions and transfer them to my ears. Each of the melodies weaves together to create more feeling in the whole album as they mesh together.

The clear, clean quality of Andrew LeSynt’s production was another decisive factor in my listening pleasure. There’s a precision and detail to the sound that make each track stand out. I was drawn to the way in which the auditory quality allowed every element within the music to find clear expression.

Turbo Hamster - Obluda

I felt myself attracted to Obluda because of the complexity and darkness that it combined into one emotive, melodic whole with a lurking sense of threat hanging over each track. Turbo Hamster took me on a journey across shadowy terrain with melodic beauty and seething danger with this album.

One of the reasons why I was so drawn to Obluda is the balance and contrast between different sonic elements. The way in which lacerating synth moves below tenderly caressing notes and dominating bass provides support for propulsive drums creates an ear-pleasing electronic orchestra. The end result is engaging audio storytelling.

I also took pleasure in the complexity of the melodic writing on Obluda. Each melody travels through varying moods and emotions as it unfolds. I was enamoured of the way that Turbo Hamster’s melodies could move from tenuous delicacy to ominous danger within each track. I always enjoyed him taking me on a journey.

Musical imagery was a strong point for Turbo Hamster on this album. He carried me through tales of perilous darkness and melancholy. He transported me over black voids and jagged mountain ranges. I felt myself imbibing all of the different mental states through which the album traveled with ease.

Dudikoff - Bright Lights, Big City

Dynamic motion, retro ear candy and melodic pleasure came together to pull me into Bright Lights, Big City. I became addicted to the way in which drum and bass muscle mixed with layered, luxuriant synth sounds and the aforementioned melodic joy. I concluded that this was an entertaining slice of neon glow and energy.

I felt that the biggest attraction on Bright Lights, Big City was Dudikoff’s ability to write catchy, engaging melodies. I enjoyed the deep emotional connection that his melodies made with me, finding that they touched my heart and drew me into their beauty. I added that they had a great deal of repeat listening value for me.

Gigantic, full-fat drums and bass were another standout feature of Bright Lights, Big City for me. I took pleasure from their chest-pounding power, shaping effect and forceful motion that accelerated the music forward and gave it a potent punch. The percussive elements helped tie everything together well here.

I was impressed by Dudikoff’s skillfully layered instrumental sounds on the album. He had the ability to wrap different layers of tone, timbre and sonic texture together in a deliciously pleasing way. The imagery of oily puddles on broken asphalt, flickering neon and city lights was strongly conveyed in his music.

jacket - Vol. II: Void

Combining stratospheric production quality, intricately interlocking synth sounds, well-written lyrics and talented musical guests is what got jacket’s Vol. II: Void onto this list of my favourite albums of 2023 so far. I was impressed by the tremendous soundscapes that were woven by jacket on this album.

I ran out of superlatives to praise Vol II: Void’s production quality. I found the detailed, nuanced and razor sharp sound that he created on the album only increased the strength of the other musical elements. The clarity of the music added depth to the emotional expression that jacket brought to the album.

The way in which the songwriting on Vol. II: Void was able to freeze moments of human experience was engaging for me. I enjoyed the way in which each vocalist featured on the album was able to interpret those lyrics in a way that complemented the overall mood of the album.

A synth palette that simply erupted with a plethora of different sonic elements was another reason that Vol. II: Void found a way onto this list. I found the way in which each carefully selected sound was woven into a luscious tapestry to be mesmerizing. The synth mix brought a great deal of depth to the album.

This album was also a tribute to the talent with which the #synthfam is blessed. I was happy to hear so many members of the community bringing their unique musical vision to the party. It made the end result truly memorable.

Hill Valley Hero - Arcades

For me, the way in which Hill Valley Hero’s Arcades caught me up in its expression of youthful energy, nostalgic yearning for past joy and lingering hope made one of my favourite albums thus far in 2023. I was pleased by his ability to take classic synthwave building blocks and use them to create expressive, emotional music with them. I was surprised by how much I was touched by this album.

The album brims with superb musical moments, but the most compelling aspect of Arcades for me is the way it tugged at my heart. I found that it evoked feelings of exuberant energy and pleasant memories along with a mournful ache for times past that can never return. Hill Valley Hero reached me at a deep level that kept me fully engaged with his music.

Emotional strength poured from the melodies that Hill Valley Hero wrote for the album. His melodic writing was a crucial part of the appeal of Arcades for me because it allowed him to drive home the feelings he created. I was drawn in by his knack of writing melodies that radiated mingled emotion as they evolved.

Rich, intensely layered soundscapes played a role in my attraction to this album. I took pleasure in the way that Hill Valley Hero wove together passionate sax, textural electric guitar and a wide range of synth sounds to produce expressive, affecting music. There was a feast of fascinating tones and timbres that all worked well together here.

Oceanside85 - Love Warrior

Oceanside85’s superb voice, the emotional weight of the song lyrics and the excellent line up of guest artists is what attracted me to Oceanside85’s Love Warrior in such a powerful manner. I also felt a strong pull from the way in which the music explores the complexities inherent in human relationships on the album.

Oceanside85’s potent vocal performance was an enormous drawing card for me on Love Warrior. Her voice is a finely tuned instrument that can snarl, soar and delicately caress as needed and she put it to full use on the album. I was also enamoured of the way in which she captured the passion, pain and need expressed within the lyrics in her voice.

I was also pleased by the way in which all of the guest producers on Love Warrior employed their considerable talents to create a rich, cohesive whole. Each producer managed to skillfully integrate their own unique sound into a smoothly flowing album. They showcased their talents while still working together to produce a seamless end result.

A more ephemeral, but still engaging aspect that drew me into the album was the depth of human feeling that filled it. Oceanside85 showed a vulnerability and openness in the way that she explored the emotional heart of the music on the album. I found it pulled me deeper into the listening experience.

DASHCAM - Sundown On Volcano Beach

Neon glow, heartbreaking melancholy and unctuous synth layering were the elements that combined to pique my interest in Sundown On Volcano Beach. I enjoyed the way he and his musical guests combined their talents to create an album full of affecting emotion and musical beauty. I found myself listening to the album over and again to enjoy the journey.

All of the mixed emotions that permeated Sundown On Volcano Beach were another reason the album made this list. DASHCAM and his musical collaborators have infused each song with yearning, passion and a dreamy nostalgia. I was attracted by the atmosphere of pastel imagery and soft focus feeling that arose as the album revealed itself to me one song at at time.

Those musical collaborators I mentioned are another reason why I so enjoyed Sundown On Volcano Beach. They combined their own fascinating and enjoyable sounds together in a way that heightened and deepened the overall feeling of the album. I enjoyed how they all put a fresh spin on the overall theme of the album while keeping a cohesive feeling intact.

I also took pleasure in the way DASHCAM brought together his well thought out synth palette with the emotional core of the album. He took the variety of tones, timbres and sonic colours available to him and masterfully mingled them to paint musical layers. As a whole, they drove home the atmosphere and expression that filled each song.

Cat Temper - Furio

The sheer depth and complexity of the synth tapestry on Furio is what gave the album such an intense appeal to me. His synth palette, the way in which he chose to deploy the sounds and his well-cxonsutrcted melodies all came together to pull me into the music. I enjoyed the chance to listen to the music several times and found new and interesting aspects to enjoy within it.

Another major factor that made Furio such an entertaining listening experience for me was the fluid movement of moods within Cat Temper’s melodies. There was a range of emotional expression within each melody that could be complementary or conflicting, but never failed to hold my interest. I was happy to have my mind so engaged by the listening experience.

Intensively layered synth sounds that formed intricate synthscapes were a hallmark of Furio. I found the way in which Cat Temper blended raging, caressing, threatening and soothing sounds quite captivating. He created a complete package that told tales in tones and musical colours that wove imagery all around me.

I was also drawn to the low end elements of this album because of their sheer variety of percussion sounds and the enormity and weigh of the bass. When these different elements combined, the end result were intoxicating beats that shaped and directed the music as it unfolded.

The Pyramid - Behind The Lights

Behind The Lights made its way onto this list because of the absolutely inspiring nature of the melodies that The Pyramid wrote for it. In concert with the artist’s ability to paint detailed sonic imagery and his well-chosen synth sounds, this album made a deep impression on me as it unfolded. I was touched and moved as I listened.

Melodic beauty suffuses Behind The Lights from beginning to end. I was bowled over by the uplifting, inspiring and heartwarming melodies that filled the tracks. There was a sweeping sense of joy in some of them and tender melancholy in others, but all were infused with a nostalgic feeling that leaves a pleasant ache behind it. I was never less than filled with uplifting emotion, leavened by a gentle yearning.

Each track on Behind The Lights drew potent images in my mind’s eye. The Pyramid’s effective use of engaging melodies, ear-pleasing harmony and a richly detailed synth palette resulted in music that carried me across landscapes mingling emotion, sensation and musical pleasure. I felt myself visualizing a plethora of different images as each segment of the tracks revealed themselves to me. The images are another crucial element that led me to add the album to this list.

The way in which The Pyramid integrated his synth palette on the album was another reason for my listening pleasure. He had a way of combining the varied sounds to create detailed, emotive music, using the evocative tonal and timbral qualities of different synths. As the album unfolded, I was pulled further into its world.

Toxxic Project - The Secrets of Planet Helios

The way in which The Secrets of Planet Helios lifted me up and transported me to the spectral beauty of a remote world was a primary motivator for including the album on this list. Toxxic Project was able to fill my mind with intense sonic imagery, painted with richly interlocking synth sounds. I also felt attracted to the music by the fine guest artists who were featured on the album.

I am a sucker for musical storytelling and The Secrets of Planet Helios does a bang-up job in that department. Layers of lush synths intermingled to create clear images in my mind’s eye. The way in which tonal, timbral and textural elements were combined carried me above sweeping, majestic landscapes and over an eldritch planet’s landscape.

Melodies are often what makes music pleasing to me and Toxxic Project wrote some superb ones for the album. They had a touching emotional core within them that served The Secrets of Planet Helios well. Not only did the album take me on an image-rich journey but it also took me on an emotional one through the complex melodic shifts expressed in each melody.

All of the album’s musical guests brought their talents to the overall sound to lend depth and breadth. Each guest contributed to increasing the auditory impact of the music on this album. I also had to mention Sinuhe Navarrete’s mixing and mastering because it, too, added more strength to the overall sound.

Bunny X - Love Minus 80

An intricately interlaced synth journey unfolded as I listened to Love Minus 80 as Bunny X explored their love of science fiction through their music. I was pulled into the auditory world that they created by the emotive vocal performances, finely crafted songs and guest artists who deepened the music. I felt the music take me over and carry me away across the stars.

Hugely talented guest artists were another reason for my appreciation of Love Minus 80. Each guest performer brought an individual style and talent to bear on the album. They helped add to the emotional impact of the music without breaking the flow. Their own talents helped augment the high level performances of Bunny X themselves.

Elevated production values made Love Minus 80 an ear-pleasing listening experience for me. Bunny X along with their co-producer Gosteffects created a crystal clear sound that still managed to capture all the retrosynth vibes that poured from the album. I was also happy with the way in which the synth palette’s intricate and detailed nature shone through in the production quality of the music.

The sci-fi inspired nature of the album gave it more depth and meaning in my view. I enjoyed the way in which Bunny X used the tales as creative catalysts for writing fresh and interesting music on the album. The songs captured the essence of the original stories while adding a new dimension to them.

Coastal - Heartbeats

Moving, emotional depth was the reason why I felt so pulled in by Heartbeats as the album revealed itself to me. Melodic expression, gorgeous synth tones and Aaron Hetherington’s heightened vocal talents came together with the finely honed songwriting to pierce my heat with emotion, I found this album difficult to put down as a listener.

Melodies that wove golden sonic threads into a complex fabric of mingled emotion were another reason for my attraction to Heartbeats. Aaron Hetherington and Jonathan Fletcher brought their talents together to create heartfelt, eloquent music and lyrics on the album. They managed to capture human feeling within a musical prism and reflect it back to the listener.

I also found the embarrassment of sonic riches provided by the album’s synth palette to be compelling. So many different synth sounds were skillfully woven together to created nuanced and heart-touching music. I was also drawn to the reedy sax warmth and dynamic electric guitar that were used on the album.