ABSYNTH EDITORS: Top Records of 2023
The year came and went rather quick! 2023 brought a lot of bejeweled moments as well as memorable releases from artists we love. However, the Absynth team did certain things a little different this year. The Absynth video podcast took a much slower pace than usual this year as each of our hosts took a break to do some life-rearranging and soul-searching with the post-pandemic world opening up fully. This year, while Jake continued his hiatus from music-related endeavors, we found Thorisson exploring India and Nepal, and CZARINA went on her first Spain mini-tour and German gothic fest debut. However, certain exciting releases got the video podcast re-engaged again with our favorite special guest host, Chi of ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK for some much-needed face time and chats. Karl Magi continued to deliver a steady stream of stellar album reviews, leading and anchoring our editorial front throughout the year. Atomic Robo-Kid joined our team this year as contributing editor to cover our dark synth category.
In the past, Absynth had the annual Holiday episodes featuring performances and appearances by friends and fellow artists. This year, the Absynth Editors put their heads together to gather the list of records that gave the biggest impression and were most memorable, and vividly notable.
KARL MAGI’S PICKS
Bunny X’s Love Minus 80 takes listeners on a lush synth journey through sci-fi inspired tales. It creates engaging music, full of intense feeling. Excellent vocal performances, strong songwriting and guest artists lend extra depth to the music.
Jacket’s Vol. II: Void is staggeringly well-produced, intensely layered music featuring songs with engaging lyrics and ear-pleasing soundscapes. The album also features superb musical guests and an expressive synth palette that deepens its emotional appeal.
Peter Gagliardi’s Pandora Unlocked: Interstellar Black weaves a tale of cosmic fear, heart-rending pain and hope. The album uses the ability of synths to create intense auditory imagery in service of his imaginative, carefully considered compositions.
GammaFlow’s Sunset Deluxe carries me through a surreal ‘80s dreamscape, full of pastel colours and soft-focus sound. GammaFlow and his musical friends bring together their skills and imagination to pull me into the alternate reality that is this album.
Yota’s Room 412 is an emotionally affecting synthpop journey that erupts with superb ‘80s vibes. Yota’s inimitable voice carries the music while the synth backdrop creates an excellent balance between nostalgia and aural pleasure.
Coastal’s Heartbeats has a tremendously deep emotional core that permeates every aspect of the music. The mixture of expressive melodies, beautiful synth layers, and Aaron Hetherington’s first-rate vocal abilities keeps me listening as it unfolds.
LAU’s Circumstance (Take Two) allows listeners to explore the emotional complexity of a relationship challenged by distance and uncertainty. LAU’s musical guests create a sound that is impassioned, expressive and ear-catching on the album.
WOLFCLUB’s Desert Hearts mixes passionate vocal performances with well-crafted lyrics and a deeply engaging sonic palette. The music flows along on a synthesized tide, full of a plethora of ear-catching sounds that grow together into a well-produced whole.
Elevate The Sky’s Dreaming In Color is a luscious slice of retro-synth beauty spiked with his powerful vocals, beautiful melodies and a richly interwoven synth palette. Elevate The Sky’s emotive guitar performances, a host of skilled musical supporters and well-written lyrics
CZARINA’S PICKS
I had a couple of overlaps with Karl including Bunny X’s Love Minus 80, Jacket’s Vol. II Void, and Elevate The Sky’s Dreaming In Color; and with Thorisson with Alpha Chrome Yayo’s Heart Engine. 2023 has been an amazing year for music for all the “Wave” scenes. It was hard to narrow down, but here are my top album picks. They’re not in any particular order as they each represent something unique and special.
Cat Temper - Mystic Kitten
Our most beloved and iconic synth feline delivered his Lucky 13th Long Play just in time for Halloween this year, as tribute to Alice Cooper’s “Welcome To My Nightmare.” Mystic Kitten is super fun and eclectic synth and retro electro with catchy, layered compositions that tend to get prog at times with its surprising moody twists and turns, along with Cat Temper’s brilliant signature camp. I must also say that Cat Temper vinyl LPs are memorable collectibles - each writ with clever cat-themed puns for song titles, as well as beautifully executed album art and visuals.
Shadowrunner - Ocean of Time: Rebirth / Ocean of Time: Oblivion
Shadowrunner gets us to play a favorite game from childhood - Pick Your Own Adventure! - but with his brand of synth music with this double LP release. A pretty neat concept that I don't think has been done before and thus lands a spot on this list. Each LP carries his signature crystalline and lush compositions and storytelling, but each one ends with a different twist ending: One carries hope and the other deliberate demise. But why choose when you can experience both, right?
Dimi Kaye - The Neon Shredder
Dimi is the zen guitar master of the synth world and this LP might be his best as of yet. Action-packed, exhilirating compositions that harken retro video games and 80s action flicks, The Neon Shredder just absolutely smashes through with drive and emotion - proof that Dimi is one of the few guitarists that could make his ax sing and go far away places but still maintain tasteful expression while treading between modern and nostalgia.
Sunesis - Orbital
Sunesis is probably one of the most underrated synth artists that it is positively criminal on the synth scene’s part. Orbital is a wonderful box of delicately refined space jewels only Sunesis can create. Painterly, tasteful and mesmerizing spacewave artistry, the record plays like cascading comets in the night sky that can transport you to the next galaxy and beyond.
It was also an honor to share the stage with her in Barcelona earlier this year. She is a true talent.
Zanias - Chrysalis
Somber, emotive, with stunning, sharp edges, Zanias’ lush Chrysalis openly conveys heartfelt, painful clarity and deep personal truths around topics of loss, growth, self-doubts, and just simply being human finding her way in the harsh realities of our current world. Chrysalis is a beautifully layered experience with writing and performances teetering between strength, vulnerability and resolve against a backdrop of modern, eclectic synthpop and minimalistic darkwave. Zanias also earnestly uses her voice to challenge oppressive industry systems, and advocates for the welfare of independent artists throughout her tours.
Bethan Lloyd - Metamorphosis
One of my favorite discoveries of the year, Bethan Lloyd’s debut full-length combines traditional Celtic ritual chants and sublime vocal performances with modern ambient electronica all in one powerful, soulful delivery. Her songs give playful imagery of “transcendent folklore on the cool, modern dance floor” vibes. I had her song “Aria” on repeat the entire year!
NINA and Ricky Wilde - Scala Hearts
Probably the best record and collaboration of the year (and maybe ever), NINA and Ricky are like two giant, majestic eagles in flight with Scala Hearts. I wrote a separate in-depth review earlier as it truly was a magnificent experience that elevated the bar in the synth scene. These are the types of collaborations I love to see - each bringing their own weight and genuine perspectives that are complimentary and even throughout. We saw the best vocal performance of her career from Nina thus far. I look forward to experiencing this record live one day.
Elsiane - Elsiane
The Quebec-based trip hop and ethereal electronic duo Elsiane’s captivating self-titled LP delivers otherworldly soundscapes, combined with poignant and mystifying lyricism. Produced by legendary Grammy-winning producer David Bottrill, the 5th studio offering carries the signature transportive elements of earlier Elsiane releases, but this time more organic in instrumentation and atmosphere while retaining vivid details and rich imagery. Moving and emotive throughout, with Elsiane’s unique soulful vocals carrying listeners through peaks and valleys, the record is truly a complete journey filled with varying degrees of emotions in its world-class production.
THORISSON’S PICKS
Moyka - Movies, Cars & Heartbreak
I rediscovered my love for Moyka at this year’s iceland airwaves festival in november. After seeing her live I saw she had also released a new album this year. That was a good week.
Gusgus - Danceorama
GusGus have been at the forefront of Icelandic electronic music since the 90s. I’d say they’ve still got it.
Blankiflur - Cosmic Wounds
Technically an EP, but I’m going to slip it into my list because I think it’s magical.
Hania Rani - Ghosts
I don’t think I can describe Hania’s music in a way that does it justice, so I’ll just say: I really, really enjoyed this album.
Alpha Chrome Yayo - Heart Engine
Alpha Chrome Yayo's 4th album release this year. I've stopped questioning how this man is able to produce so much quality music at such a high frequency; but I love this album and I love ACY.
ATOMIC ROBO-KID’s TOP PICKS
I'm a huge supporter of Synth' and 'Wave music of all flavours! So, compiling a top DarkSynth albums of 2023 has been very tricky for me. Given that I have listened to so much and there is so much great music out there, which you' ll discover if you're brave enough to journey deep into that rabbit hole! So, bare with me, in no particular order…
Fixions - Cybermagic Tales
I'm always impressed with Fixions work and Cybermagic Tales certainly lived up to the high expectations I have for this highly skilled, technically brilliant artist. 'Cybermagic Tales' was released in March, yet I can honestly say this has been my go to album for the last 9 months and in my eyes very well deserves to be in anyone's top 5 Darksynth releases of 2023. We bare witness to furious, blood pumping, speed driven tracks. Tracks with intricate synth work, aggression and moments of calm, amazing drum sequencing and catchy hooks has certainly left me in complete awe!
NightWav - A Darksynth Compilation
Perhaps I'm cheating by including a compilation album in my top 5, consisting of the works of a range of artists rather than one. But, I dare anyone to find a track on here that they don't like. It's brimming with talent that all have released killer tracks aside from this compilation so it's a very worthy top 5 candidate. Let's be honest you can't go wrong with the sheer force that is Draven, Connör, Ectoplague, MASKED just to name a few! All electrifying, dark and dangerous! For me I discovered a few new artists with this album, which is what I love most! I've missed out not having any Vétu De Noir or DreamReaper in my collection previously. Go check it out, you'll find something different and a new way to get your freak on!
Magnavolt - MOTOKO 2
This is a deeply immersive listening experience, providing a deep dive into the dark underbelly of dystopian cityscapes. This is a well produced album filled with interesting sonics that work in transporting us into a stark future fuelled by violence. A combination of mid tempo and Cyperpunk flavours have kept me hooked. I highly recommend you tap into the mainframe release that anger and fight to the bitter end!
Isidor - S T Y G I A N
It would be hard not to have noticed Isidor's mammoth release S T Y G I A N. It's an album that has had a ton of plays across multiple channels and rightly so! A slightly more light and sparkly release than my other best 5 of 2023! But, It would be a crime not to include it. The tracks are tightly composed, with breaks and changes that will surprise you with a nice leaning to EDM styles. This, blended with retro' 'punk accents work a real treat. A definite must listen!
Occams Laser - New Blood III
I always look forward to a Occams Laser release and I was buzzing when New Blood III was pumped into the world. Classic fare from the Darksynth genius, with all the dark, rock-esque synth sounds That had me hooked as a fan many years ago. So many catchy, Darksynth party tunes in here. Jaw dropping song composition, melodies that effortlessly interchange and evolve, that growling bass. It's just Darksynth bliss, don't miss out!
