Stereogum's 10 Best Experimental Albums of 2023
In a year where tentpole superhero movies are scored by Haxan Cloak and third-world ambient-jazz woodwind opuses are released by André 3000, does the phrase “experimental music” even remotely carry any weight in 2023? As always, the answer is “Look, I clicked the link, please just tell me about some albums I can listen to at work.” Here are my personal picks for the year’s best in drone suites, improv throwdowns, archival treasures, alien soundscapes, modern classical and more.
Published: December 15, 2023 14:59
Source
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Does Spring Hide Its Joy | Kali Malone | Jan-20-2023, Drone |
| #2 | 12 | Ryuichi Sakamoto | Jan-17-2023, Ambient |
| #5 | No Highs | Tim Hecker | Apr-07-2023, Ambient |
| #7 | Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse | Mats Gustafsson, Joachim Nordwall | Mar-24-2023, Free Improvisation |
| #8 | Tête-À-Tête | Ruth Anderson, Annea Lockwood | Apr-28-2023, Electroacoustic |
| #9 | John Luther Adams: Darkness and Scattered Light | Robert Black | Sep-15-2023, |
| #10 | May 99 | Alan Licht, Charles Curtis, Dean Roberts | Apr-21-2023, Drone |
Markdown
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Does Spring Hide Its Joy | Kali Malone | Album, Jan-20-2023, Drone |
| #2 | 12 | Ryuichi Sakamoto | Album, Jan-17-2023, Ambient |
| #5 | No Highs | Tim Hecker | Album, Apr-07-2023, Ambient |
| #7 | Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse | Mats GustafssonJoachim Nordwall | Album, Mar-24-2023, Free Improvisation |
| #8 | Tête-À-Tête | Ruth AndersonAnnea Lockwood | Album, Apr-28-2023, Electroacoustic |
| #9 | John Luther Adams: Darkness and Scattered Light | Robert Black | Album, Sep-15-2023, |
| #10 | May 99 | Alan LichtCharles CurtisDean Roberts | Album, Apr-21-2023, Drone |