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Sarah Spencer writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Sarah Spencer
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ & Special Events Co-Director Sarah Spencer.
2023 was another great year for music. When it comes time for me to decide my top 10 list, that fact becomes a bit of a challenge. And it's a great challenge to have! My approach this year was to go with the records that a) I played the most, and b) the records that really stayed with me this year. It's in that spirit that I present my top ten albums of 2023:
#1 Hit Parade by Róisín Murphy (Ninja Tune)
If I'm going to choose my top record, it's got to be the one that I played the most this year. I would be embarrassed to venture a guess as to how many spins I’ve given this LP so far. It’s a masterpiece six years in the making: a collaboration with DJ Koze that will undoubtedly influence the genre for years to come. I’ve been following Róisín Murphy‘s career for the better part of the last 25 years and this is without a doubt her best record. She’s at the top of her musical game. For a woman who just turned 50 this year, that’s an incredible achievement. That’s not to say, this album is without its problems, and unfortunately, those have nothing to do with the music. I’ll leave it to you to read the background, but suffice to say as a result you won’t find this record on a lot of top 10 lists this year. While I don’t share her opinion, Róisín's comments reveal her stance on a topic of active debate in her home country of Ireland; while controversial, the comments were not hateful in nature. At a time when Pablo Picasso has a current exhibit at the Art Institute, and a newly finished John Lennon song is all the rage, it feels entirely inappropriate and over-the-top to censor Róisín Murphy.
#2 Radical Romantics by Fever Ray (Rabid Records)
Another artist whose career I've followed for the last quarter-century is Karin Dreijer, aka the artist behind Fever Ray, and formerly of The Knife. This record did not disappoint. A layered, often frenetic exploration of love in its many forms. I finally saw them at the Salt Shed last May; it was a show I won't soon forget!
#3 I Came From Love by Dave Okumu and the Seven Generations (Transgressive)
A man who has released a number of records as the front man of the Mercury Prize-nominated group, The Invisible, and as a backing musician for artists like Adele and Jessie Ware finally released his debut solo record this year. Excellent from cover-to-cover (and I highly recommend you listen to it that way), I Came From Love is a multi-genre exploration of the Black Experience, and includes vocal contributions from Grace Jones. An instant classic.
#4 Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley (Jagjaguwar)
Lonnie Holley is a 73 year-old artist, sculptor, musician and wordsmith, and he never performs a song the same way twice. It is in that ephemeral spirit that we're presented with Oh Me Oh My, a beautiful, deep record that features collaborations with Michael Stipe, Moor Mother, Sharon Van Etten and more. The messages of the record: how we overcome adversity and tremendous pain; how we develop and maintain an affection for our fellow travelers; and how we stop wishing for some “beyond” and start caring for the one rock we have.
#5 Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes (Brownswood)
The appropriately-named debut album from multi-instrumentalist and drumming prodigy Yussef Dayes is a masterpiece. Showcasing his stuff with myriad super-talented collaborators over 19 tracks, this record will be enjoyed for years.
#6 Water Made Us by Jamila Woods (Jagjaguwar)
The Chicago-based artist is back with her latest offering: a meditation on love and relationships. The record is as beautiful as we've come to expect from Ms. Woods: poetic, groovy and revelatory. Another LP that should be enjoyed completely and in one sitting.
#7 Strange Disciple by Nation of Language (PIAS)
This group wasn't on my radar until this year, when this record's lead single "Weak in Your Light" instantly became one of my favorite songs of the year. Delightful modern music that scratches my 80s-throwback itch.
#8 Astronaut by Ash Walker (Night Time Stories)
Another new-to-me artist in 2023 was Ash Walker, a London-based musician and DJ who released his 4th record this year. A great, loungey record that features contributions from the late Amp Fiddler, Lamb's Lou Rhodes, and Yazz Ahmed, among others. Fang of trip-hop, jazz, funk and soul, rejoice!
#9 Special Occasion by Emily King (ATO)
The multiple Grammy-nominee Emily King released her 5th LP this year -a break-up record processed through ear-wormy R&B and pop. Tracks like "This Year," "Special Occassion" and "Medal" are immaculate pop songs, guaranteed to please at the first listen.
#10 Good Lies by Overmono (XL)
The Welsh duo released their debut record this year,and for this DJ, it was pure ear candy/ Cohesive without being boring, this dance album got a lot of play in my house, and got a few generations of Spencers up and moving.
Honorable Mentions
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetic order):
Alison Goldfrapp - The Love Invention
Baby Rose - Through and Through
Baroness - Stone
Busty & the Bass - Forever Never Cares
Dawn Richard - The Architect Epoch (EP)
Everything But the Girl - Fuse
Genesis Owusu - STRUGGLER
Hania Rani - Ghosts
Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!
Jovan Landry - Intellectual Frequencies (EP)
Killer Mike - Michael
Lost Girls - Selvutsletter
Margo Price - Strays
Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable and So Am I
Nabihah Iqbal - DREAMER
Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy
Favorite Reissues:
The Cinematic Orchestra - Every Day
Daniel Ögren - Fastingen-92
Mr. Scruff - Trouser Jazz
Recoil - SubHuman
Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
Next entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Tony Breed
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