Top 10 Albums of 2023 – DJ Swingsett’s Picks

What a stellar year for Music! Many of my favorite releases came in the form of Singles or EP’s, as that is way that the bulk of what I Disc Jockey on my radio, club, and event sets. But of course, plenty of Albums and mini-albums included. Represented here is a wide angle overview of what inspired me, dancers, and listeners from the response and reactions received both on the air and “inna di dance”.

The range and styles on my selection of 10 of my top or faves of the year… Dance Music full of Soul, Jazz, Funk, Dub, and loads of percussion- from slower House and Disco to jumping Jungle and Broken Beat . Here you’ll find mostly warm and bouncy forms of House, Techno, and Broken Beat from Karizma and KNVRM!ND via Baltimore (on Brooklyn’s own Soul In The Horn label- and major Arts collective!); Delano Smith & Norm Talley, and Recloose via Detroit (all 3 hugely influential pioneers and staples of Detroit dance Music), the gifted Attias brothers of Visions Recordings, Switzerland; along with super body moving & authentic roots of early NY Tribal and Afro House from Bang The Drums’ “Push/Pull” mini LP, and Boogie (blend of Funk, Disco, and Soul) of numerous unsung or little know Chicago area groups and vocalists on the uplifting Eccentric Boogie comp.

Jungle and Drum & Bass repped so unbelievably well this year, but 2 standouts for me were the jazz and sun-drenched Sci-Clone LP, featuring wizard producer A-Sides aka Jason Cambridge and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Haines, along with the mighty Timeless Remixes LP- released and reimagined 25 years after this seminal and “true to it’s name” original Album permanently elevated and changed Jungle and D&B, and Dance Music infinitely. The remix LP’s collection of new “excursions on the version” is a sonic kaleidoscope of absolute beauty, angst, dreams, and dope danceable moments. Vibing out to the Past, Present, and Future- all in one mighty Album!

And what about the Family & Friends Vol. 1 compilation LP, you ask? It’s simply an untouchable compilation featuring the highest quality old and new Soul, Broken Beat, Downtempo, and Deep House talent from Australia, including top rankin’ beat makers, Musicians, Vocalists, and MC’s from the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, US, and Japan- literally from all over the World. Literal “family” Husband & Wife knockout combo Inkswel & Erin Buku manage to manage & operate it all, consistently delivering the realness. Peace & Positive Vibes for ’24! Music saves me. I hope it saves you as well.