Hi Pal.
Under The Lights
There’s no getting around how full October was in terms of music releases, and it’s been really difficult narrowing things down to ten releases. Prepare for some honourable mentions at the end.
RIDERS kicks off this list with their highly anticipated debut album release, TO THE SEARCHING, THE LOST AND THE FOUND. It’s an upbeat indie rock/indie pop album that doesn’t pull its punches. With most of the songs already released as singles, I was glad to find that the album still had a few hidden gems that I adore.
I started listening to Mudhouse back in 2021 and I was pleasantly surprised when they finally announced the release of their debut album. Good Omens is a folk-infused indie rock album that has filled me with a lot of joy in the past month. Please give it a listen.
Progressive power metal stalwarts Theocracy returned with their first album in seven years, and it is easy to see why they are respected on the scene. Mosaic is a beautifully crafted odyssey from start to finish and stands as one of the best albums of 2023 for sure.
When Lucy Grimble releases music, I push it to the top of my listening list because I know it’s going to be an immersive experience. Between The Shadow and The Sun went far beyond all my expectations in quality, depth, and emotional resonance. I love everything about it.
Anyone who is a follower of the Christian indie scene is no stranger to John Mark McMillan as he has consistently delivered high-quality albums for over a decade now. I believe DEEP MAGIC is one of the best albums in discography and given the strength of his body of work; that is a bold statement to make.
Alternative/Indie is often used as an umbrella description sometimes and the eclectic nature of Praise Lubangu’s debut album suits this. With influences from Indie rock, pop, folk, and R&B, In Times Like These is a unique body of work.
Another debut release that I enjoyed this month is Measurelessness by Iconium. Iconium is an indie rock project by Tyler Stitt and it’s an impressive collection of songs with a few memorable tracks.
Raphah, the ambient music project by Andrew Robinson, dropped an album titled Still Journey. It’s every bit as soothing as you’d expect from this genre. I’m also a huge fan of reworked ambient tracks that feature guest artists and there are a couple on this album that are simply outstanding.
A recent indie folk discovery, Austin Koukal, dropped his sophomore album, Awake and it blew me away. I had been following the releases of the singles for a couple of months, but listening to the cohesive project somehow elevates those tracks even further.
The alternative duo, Noplace Home, dropped Project 1920. There are many subtle influences on the record ranging from Brit-pop/rock on some songs to Electronica on others. It’s an engaging album that keeps me coming back to it.
Honourable Mentions
D’JOURNEY by Denise Bamfo (R&B)
So Much to Say (Pt. III) by Johnny Henninger (Alternative R&B)
Pilgrim’s Progress by Second Adam & the New Creations (Indie Rock)
Ringing the Bell of Gleaming Martyrdom by Within Thy Wounds (Atmospheric Unblack Metal, Post Metal)
We Thought We Were Dreaming by BNDSRVNT (Alternative)
Video Interlude
Little Drops
Here are 10 of my favourite singles from October 2023:
Holy by Darla Baltazar, Wes Harris
No One Else In Doubt by Ngoga
Know Your Heart by Ben Trip
Every Breath by Before Flags
The Song of Simeon by Paul Demer
The Great Physician by Jimmy Clifton
Labyrinth of III by Extol
Just Like Jesus by Fox & Foal
Welcome by All For The King
Demimonde by Zane Vickery, Frances Reid Twomey
Looking Forward: November
Obviously, subjects to change because things happen.
All The Ways That I Fail You
by Jonathan Allen Wright (November 3rd)Undivided
by Signum Regis (November 17th)
That’s it for today.
See you in November.
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stismavo@gmail.com