Tag: Matthew Halsall An Ever Changing View

Top 25 albums of 2023: #’s 5 – 1

Here we go with my favorite albums of 2023.

#5: Sound Cipher – All That Syncs Must Diverge

This is a cool synthwave album of cinematic sounds that often catches you off-guard. It’s the soundtrack to a movie you’ve never seen, but want to find just from hearing it. It might exist in another dimension, or on a dark web torrent stream. Either way, it’s one of the neatest records I heard all last year.

#4: Mandy, Indiana – I’ve Seen a Way

Speaking of cool synthwave, Mandy, Indiana‘s debut album was a stunner on multiple fronts, as it covers not only synthwave, but also cold wave, dance punk, goth, and general chaos. They’re quickly becoming one of those “bands everyone’s talking about,” so don’t miss this record.

#3: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – PostDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation

Only King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard could get away with naming an album something like that. It was their return to thrash metal, this time built around one of their favorite subjects – protecting our fragile planet. It was one of the best metal records of the year.

#2: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Land of Sleeper

This album held my top spot for a long while, as it’s a powerful stoner / psych / cosmic rock record that hits hard with shredding guitar, pleading vocals, and roaring drums. It’s all about dreams, death, and what-the-hell-are-you-doing-with-this-life-you-have-that’s-gone-like-a-flash-of-lightning-you-git introspections.

#1: Matthew Halsall – An Ever Changing View

Simply put, this is the most beautiful record I heard all year, and it’s a prime example of why you should always read old e-mails. This sat in my e-mail box for about four months before I finally got to it. I’m glad I didn’t delete that e-mail in a big purge, because Halsall’s album of ambient jazz, field sounds, and slight trip-hop touches is one of those albums that changes the attitude of the room wherever it’s played.

Thanks for reading and for sticking with me another year. Onto 2024!

Keep your mind open.

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Review: Matthew Halsall – An Ever Changing View

To simply put it, trumpeter / composer / bandleader Matthew Halsall has created one of the most beautiful albums of the year with An Ever Changing View.

Combining jazz with spiritual music, world music, ambient electronica, and maybe a touch of synthwave, An Ever Changing View drifts like a bird gliding over the waters of the album’s cover, or caresses you like wind through the grass on the album cover’s foreground. Halsall has described his writing process for the album as “hitting the reset button,” and “a real exploration of sound.” Both are accurate, because the album instantly resets you wherever you are and during whatever you’re doing. It’s also like finding an oasis or a garden or a library or a back room chill lounge when you need any of those things the most.

After a brief intro (“Tracing Nature”), the record gives you a nice hug and invites you to have a cup of tea and just forget about everything for the next eight minutes with “Water Street.” Harp, flute, trumpet, and hand percussion all meld in perfection. The title track clicks and snaps with late night jazz beats and Halsall’s trumpet echoing from some rooftop club where they have cool drinks and warm people.

Jasper Green‘s Rhodes organ on “Calder Shapes” is as smooth as melting wax and Matt Cliffe‘s alto sax is practically the voice of a jazz crooner. “Mountains, Trees and Seas” is instant stress relief, and, I dare say, perhaps the sexiest song on the whole album. I’m not saying the song will guarantee you’ll get laid, but it will certainly enhance the mood. Liviu Gheorghe‘s work on the Rhodes organ is superb throughout the whole track.

If you somehow need further resetting, “Field of Vision” is just over a minute of bird song and harp-like field recordings. “Jewels” might be the closest to a “dark jazz” (Is that even a thing? If not, Halsall might’ve invented it right here.). “Natural Movement” is a splendid, toe-tapping mix of Halsell’s trumpet, Sam Bell‘s congas, and harp work by Alice Roberts. Lastly, Chip Wickham‘s flute on “Triangles in the Sky” picks you up from the ground and Alan Taylor‘s simple, snappy, yet subtle beats carry you along as you stroll down the street about two inches off the pavement.

You need this record. Heck, everyone in this day and age needs this record. It soothes the soul. It’s probably going to be the most gifted music I buy for people this Christmas season.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Mark at Clandestine Label Services.]