Many folks will know Matt Sewell through his art. Magical paintings of wildlife. Mainly birds, captured in charming, loving watercolour, but also some incredible murals. Others will be aware of Matt’s marvellous musical curation, his collaborations, and compilations, with Caroline True Records, under the slyly psychedelic banner of A Crushing Glow. Only a few knew of his considerable 6-strings chops. Something that Matt finally shared with the rest of us on an excellent E.P., in cahoots with electronic expert, Chris Tate, aka The Gong. The record came care of Jason Boardman’s brilliant Before I Die, and every track on Tonight We Fly was terrific. Moving from gently picked pastoral kosmische to beat-driven “organic” motorik, doffing its cap to Brian and Dennis Wilson, and the dreamscapes of Daniel Lanois, along the way. When I was taking stock of 2023, it was one of the year’s releases that really, really stood out.
Super selections & wonderful words by Matt Sewell.
Timeless techno. This stunner contains all my favourite ingredients for my favourite kind of deep British `90s techno, but not in a throwback way. Absolutely modern and futuristic with a baseline I could listen to infinitum.
The last track of the Petals E.P. on Hessle Audio. Organic, lush, deep joy. Like the Stasis track this is another I have just had on loop this year. I don’t know where but it sends me there.
Todd Russell & The Dangerous Coats / Playa Large
Epic six-string formed drug-chug two-sider from Be WIth Records. Another journey. Man, this bastard can play!
Dope as fuck Kenny Dope 7″ B-side. B-Boys on acid breaking to Can. Thanks to Jadellezee for the heads up.
Exuma / Exuma The Obeah Man
Although originally released way back in 1970 I was introduced to this amazing track via the soundtrack of Jordan Peele’s Nope. Banging, raucous, ecstatic. Anything that starts with “I came down on a lightning bolt!” is gonna be good with me.
Our local hero had another amazing year, with a string of incredible dancefloor and headspace releases. This breaks and bass banger was my pick of the bunch. Big! It was a pleasure DJing with him and Ruf Dug in my humble adopted home of Shrewsbury – turning the ground floor of the House Of Grain pub into a mosh pit! Both of these lovely dudes have remixed a Sewell & The Gong track for 2024 – Keep a look out!
Matthew Halsall / An Ever Changing View
This LP has been all over end-of-year charts, and rightly so, as it is a thing of beauty. A highlight of last year was seeing Mr Halsall and his band playing this live in Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn. A night of incredible music only made possible by the hard work of Chris of SY Gigs. Big up Chris!!
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