Top 10 Things I Heard in 2023

So here we are. The Top 10 things I heard in 2023. As per usual, it's not stuff that necessarily came out in 2023, but what I first heard this year. 

And TBH it was a bit of a struggle. Maybe I've been more depressed than I thought? Or busier? Why not both? Despite a late flurry of posts, this year has been the quietest on the blog since I started in 2009. No radio shows, not even a Buzz review. Maybe next year will be different. Maybe not.

Anyway, fuck you 2023, here's a final playlist...

In no particular order:

• Yellow Magic Orchestra - Cue (1981)
• The Style Council - Shout To The Top (1984)
• Idris Muhammad - Could Heaven Ever Be Like This (1977)
• Midnightrats - Goalmaker [Instrumental Version] (1983)
• Hudson Mohawke and Nikki Nair - Set The Roof feat. Tayla Parx (2023)
• Com Truise - Brokendate (2011)
• Dampé - Glow (2023)
• Sfire - Sfire 1 feat. Marcela (2019)
• Confidence Man, Daniel Avery - On & On (Again) (2023)
• Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha (2023)

Album of the Year

Probably Chemical Brothers - For That Beautiful Feeling (I bought about three albums that came out this year).

Gig of the Year

Again, it is probably Chem Bros down at 'The Bay Series'. Gwilym was also good in Clwb, as was Gold Panda. Struggling to think of any others.

Mix of the Year

Obvs my All Welsh Colour Run Bangers YouTube playlist but if I had to pick something else, either Teki Latex at HÖR or the NTS show of game music for water levels.

Related post: Top 10 Things I Heard in 2022

Another plug for the old Xmas mixes

As it's a week to go, figured I might as well push the old mixes I used to do at Christmas.

They're collated here on a MixCloud playlist and here are the posts from when they went out 10+ years ago...

• Xmas Mix 2010
• Xmas Mix 2011
• Xmas Mix 2012
• Xmas Mix 2014
• Xmas Mix #5

Nadolig llawen!

Yuletide Bangerz

It's about time I got some Christmas music on here.

As recommended in a recent newsletter from The Fence - top top magazine BTW - Yuletide Bangerz from Jonwayne is in the vein of that DOOM XMAS tape from a couple of years ago. Beats and cut up old samples and that. Particularly enjoyed the Jingle All The Way bits.

9 in 1 (30)

Got to get a few more posts in before the end of the year. Pump those numbers. This'll be the least number of posts in a year ever on Ceefax of Life. Too much life if you ask me. 

Bill Nelson - When The Birds Return

Outsider synth-pop from 1982 that has immaculate vibes. Rinse and repeat.

The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me)

One for the dads.

Barry Manilow - Let's Get On With It

Now, if you told me when I started this blog in 2009 that it would feature Barry Manilow... but things change. Everything changes and nothing changes. Let's Get On With It was featured on a recent episode of Launette's Hour on NTS. Worth a listen like.

Whitney Houston - Love Will Save the Day

I was gonna make the same gag about 2009 but It's Not Right But It's OK is a stone-cold banger. Always has been. Always will be. Love Will Save the Day, from much earlier in her career, well, 1987, also slaps.

Pharoah Sanders - Love Is Everywhere

This is just glorious. Joyous, raw, bordering on ramshackle but not, every note is deliberate. Just wonderful, uplifting, soul-purifying jazz. If you need a pick me up in the God-forsaken world, bang this on. 

LIFECOACH - 90% RAW

Should get something from this century in this list at least. The YouTube description has it as "Chilled, tripping leftfield House/Ambient House" and they've nailed that. Hangover house, maybe? From 2016.

Kraftwerk - Der Telefon Anruf (François Kevorkian Remix)

Right, that's it back to the 80s. Pristine electro, as per.

Osrsbeatz - Great Fairy's Fountain

I don't care, trap remixes of old Zelda OSTs are my jam.

MJ Cole - Slum King

Feel like MJ Cole gets overlooked a lot. Sincere remains a banger of an album.

Related article: You Want To Make Something Real. You Want To Make A Jazz Record.

9 in 1 (29)

Two months off etc and so forth. A promotion and other shite have got in the way of my top priority, this blog, my OG baby.

So, I made this playlist ages ago and prob forgot why, so yeah, enjoy.

hemlocke springs - ‘enknee1

Sounds like about five songs from 20 years ago mashed together into this sugary pop mess. Kinda cool.

Gwilym - Gwalia

Saw them Clwb Ifor Bach ages ago (see note above) and they were v v good. Wouldn't have had the kids being into it, but boy was I wrong.

Red Zebra - I Can't Live in a Livingroom

Scratchy new wave punk that I vaguely recall the boy bouncing around the room to. First band from Bruges to feature on Ceefax of Life?

Iglu - Eisbaer

Chuggy reworking of the Grauzone banger.

Eye to Eye - Nice Girls

Super slick early 80s pop. Western city pop?

Michael Franks - When Sly Calls (Don't touch that phone)

One of the tracks that Rose Matafeo played when she guested on Flo Dill's NTS show *checks notes* over two months ago.

Radiance Feat Andrea Stone - You're My Number 1

More 80s boogie. I'm guessing Do!! You!!! Radio.

Sfire - Sfire1 (feat. Marcela)

The more I hear of SOPHIE's work, the more and more I wish she was still here. Incredible producer. Incredible track. Like so good.

SunO))) - Aurora

Well, I wasn't gonna start a mix with this was I now.