Illegal Foreign Object

Sometimes, words only get in the way. Such is the case with this list of my favorite (mostly) instrumental albums of 2023. Read on, gentle visitor.

If the COVID hellscape gave us anything, it was artists in lockdown, forced to find new ways to create. With Rites Of Percussion, the former Slayer skin-basher bangs away on everything but the kitchen sink. It’s a surprisingly pleasing listen, something I didn’t think I’d ever feel about a largely percussive album, but at only 35 minutes, it never drones on or feels repetitive.

Required listening: “Initiatory Madness”, “Separation From The Sacred”, “Inner Sanctum”

I love Outkast. To me, André 3000 and Big Boi are the pinnacle of southern rap and hip-hop and didn’t release anything together that wasn’t, at worst, borderline perfection. When André 3000 announced that he was releasing an instrumental album (with the flute taking the lead, no less), I was as excited as I was baffled. Once upon a time, such news would have annoyed me, but I gave up on expectations years ago when it came to art and creative output. New Blue Sun is a beautiful, strange, relaxing listen — it sounds like a man at peace with himself.

Required listening: “I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A Rap Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time”, “Ants To You, Gods To Who?”

Just when I think I’ll never find another album rooted in jazz that’ll stir my soul, something like An Ever Changing View comes along and slaps me in my mouth. This album is audio watercolor — a beautiful, healing record that never gets in a rush nor in its own way.

Required listening: “An Ever Changing View”, “Calder Shapes”

A prolific guitarist and improvisationalist, Bill Orcutt has released 50+ albums since 2011. With Jump On It, after years of scattering his pieces all over the place, the former Harry Pussy noise-rocker puzzles them all back together, delivering a heartwarming, soul-stirring collection of acoustic guitar instrumentals. So raw and bare bones are these recordings that you can hear Orcutt’s breath as he plays.

Required listening: “What Do You Do With Memory”, “Some Hidden Purpose”, “A Natural Death”

Sometimes, all I want is to stare at a wall and get a little hypnotic. If you have a hard time sitting still, this probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but learning to “turn off” has been one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given myself. Off-Piste, an album full of peaceful, meditative instrumentals, is perfect for those moments.

Required listening: “Fresh Snow”, “Sis No Hyp”

I, a Texas-born traveler, once spent four days with my Mrs. wandering the streets of Copenhagen, Denmark. While there, we took endless walks around the city, enjoyed a relaxing boat ride, saw the Copenhagen Opera House, immersed ourselves in the haunting Cisterns in Søndermarken, and had a delicious curry. Jason Dungan, a Texas-born artist, calls Denmark his home. I admit I’m projecting, but Sun Arcs sounds like how I felt during that Copenhagen stay — a trip where a peaceful, aimless wander repeatedly gave way to sun-filled adventure.

Required listening: “Dallas”, “Bloom”, “Fur”

Lovers of Corrosion of Conformity’s “Deliverance” era will love this record. At almost 80 minutes in length spread over just four tracks, Tales Of Demonic Possession isn’t meant for the casual listener — Clouds Taste Satanic chooses to believe that, somewhere throughout this failing society, there still exists those of us willing to invest in something so vast and sprawling. Psychedelic prog-doom never sounded so stunning!

Required listening: “Flames And Demon Drummers”, “Sun Death Ritual”

Late Again is neon-light-shimmering-off-the-raindrops-hitting-your-car-window jazz. It’s funky, cinematic, and wonderfully chill.

Required listening: “Sundown”, “Take A Break”, “Snowdrops”

Venera isn’t one of those albums you put on and forget. A mix of ambient, industrial, drum & bass, free jazz, and post-apocalyptic cinescape, this (mostly) instrumental offering from producer/filmmaker Chris Hunt and nü-metal guitar god James “Munky” Shaffer repeatedly demands the listener’s attention. When received, Venera never disappoints. On “Disintegration”, the Mars Volta drummer Deantoni Parks lends to the controlled chaos.

Required listening: “Alignment”, “Ochre”, “Hologram”, “Triangle”

I grew up on albums like this — albums that refused to be categorized. Minari is everything that I loved about Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas’ Chaco and Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication — it’s jazzy, funky, hip-hop chamber music that doesn’t bat an eye at sliding into a little avant-garde exploration.

Required listening: “El Cielo”, “Monotrondesire”, “Tangram”

Space is most certainly the place on the Circling Sun’s debut album. Pulling from the influence of legendary jazz figures Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, and Alice Coltrane, Spirits is an ethereal streak across the cosmos.

Required listening: “Bones”, “Spirits, Pt. 2”, “Jewel”

That’s it for today, folks. Check back tomorrow for a list of outlaw country revivalists!