Mutant Zones // best albums of 2023

This took me way longer than expected but here's a list of my favourite albums from 2023.

Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe, Patrick Shiroishi - Dance Of The White Shadow And Golden Kite

AKP Recordings returns with what may be one of their strongest offerings ever, a mesmerising free jazz collaboration between Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe and Patrick Shiroishi, which radiates with magical chemistry from the very first notes of their debut single "Dance Of The White Shadow And Golden Kite". It heralds the upcoming album "Speak, Moment", an entirely improvised affair between three musicians that seem to be at the peak of their careers. If the rest of the album is as good as "Dance..." we may have a classic on our hands. The album is out on March 8th and can be pre-ordered here.

Holograph - Holograph

Holograph is a gothic post-punk band from Cape Town. They came to Dead Wax Records attention by posting singles on their Bandcamp page, which encouraged the label to collect them, add some exclusive remixes and press all on vinyl. The album is submerged in the aforementioned river of goth moods and post-punk guitar work, but the addition of tambourine and keys give it a pop-leaning appeal. I genuinely sounds like something dug up from the crates of the past.

But the vinyl here, and stream it in full below.

Dancing Plague - Fading Forms // video

First single from Dancing Plague new album "Elogium", which will come out on March 22 via Avant! Records. Solid EBM with a gothic tint.

STRFLL - Seance Mixtape

You know who it is. STRFLL delivered this rad mixtape for new netlabel Seance. Featuring some heavy and gritty unreleased tunes, underground favs (Salem and Elusin) as well as his latest D040 cover, the mix is hellride from start to finish, including the wacky schlager intro. Peep it here.

Montoya - Sting Of Regret

Fucking ace new single from Montoya, sampling Heavy Hearts' "A Pale Horse Burns", it's a claustrophobic, emotional tale backed with a sick beat that wraps the whole things into a catchy package. Support the man and buy it here.

TR​/​ST - TR​/​ST EP

The king is back, new EP from TR/ST is here. This is probably the most 80s pop-sounding release from Rober to date, still super melodic, but I'm sure some people may shake their heads. The opener "Robrash" and outro "Slug" are probably the most Trustee out them all, I guess it's an EP that needs some digesting. Give it a chance.

Grab it on Bandcamp here, stream after the jump.