Episode 243: 1/21/2024: 2023 Review, Part 1

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Half Machine Lip Moves logo with ‘#243’ on it.

We’re back, with our 2023 review special! I never actually got around to making a best-of list for several reasons, but the tracks in this episode would be on that list. This is just the first part; we’ll be back with more next week!

The first block was a set of darkwave, synthpop, etc. tracks by local artists. We followed that with a set of synthpop and futurepop tracks from releases that came out in 2023. Then we played a set of industrial, EBM, and industrial metal tracks from some 2023 releases. Then we played a mix of darkwave and synthpop tracks from 2023 releases. The fifth block was a set of post-punk tracks from 2023, and we closed the show with some shoegaze, ambient, and experimental tracks that came out last year.

PS: yes, there is a lot of background noise in the segues that was coming from a space heater. It was unseasonably cold while I was recording this show (about 10° F/-12° C) and turning the heat off wasn’t an option. Deal with it.

  1. Half Machine Lip Moves Introduction [0:00:00 - 0:07:21]
  2. Skull Family: No Wake (No Wake, 2023, Self-Released) [0:07:21 - 0:12:25]†
  3. The Chores: Clouds of Heaven (In Short Form, 2023, Self-Released) [0:12:25 - 0:15:18]†
  4. Clusters of Fornication: Elegy (Elegy, 2023, Self-Released) [0:15:18 - 0:18:39]†
  5. Vampire Police: Roxanne’s Nightie (Roxanne’s Nightie, 2023, Self-Released) [0:18:39 - 0:22:27]†
  6. Damien Hearse: Basilisk (Crime, 2023, Self-Released) [0:22:27 - 0:26:22]†
  7. Body of Light: Never Ever (Bitter Reflection, 2023, Dais Records) [0:29:43 - 0:33:15]
  8. Korine: Mt. Airy (Tear, 2023, Born Losers Records/Avant!) [0:33:15 - 0:36:10]
  9. Summore: Magic Pill (New Pain, 2023, Self-Released) [0:36:10 - 0:40:43]
  10. Debby Friday: Hot Love (Boy Harsher Remix) (Hot Love (Boy Harsher Remix), 2023, Sub Pop) [0:40:43 - 0:44:31]
  11. Male Tears: Sleep 4Ever (Krypt, 2023, Avant!) [0:44:31 - 0:48:44]
  12. Nuovo Testamento: Love Lines (Love Lines, 2023, Discoteca Italia) [0:48:44 - 0:52:46]
  13. VNV Nation: Before the Rain (Electric Sun, 2023, Anachron Sounds/Metropolis) [0:52:46 - 0:57:28]
  14. Matt Hart: Deep Down City (Deep Down City, 2023, Self-Released) [1:00:32 - 1:04:17]
  15. Godflesh: Nero (Purge, 2023, Avalanche Recordings/Daymare Recordings) [1:04:17 - 1:08:46]
  16. Rabbit Junk: Fight Me, Erebus (Fight Me, Erebus, 2023, Self-Released/FiXT Music) [1:08:46 - 1:12:38]
  17. Espermachine: It’s Gone (Love Apocalypse, 2023, Self-Released) [1:12:38 - 1:15:11]†
  18. Ministry: Goddamn White Trash (Goddamn White Trash, 2023, Nuclear Blast) [1:15:11 - 1:19:50]
  19. Helvete Inc.: The Godhead (The Godhead, 2023, Self-Released) [1:19:50 - 1:22:47]
  20. Treponem Pal: Screamers (Screamers, 2023, At(h)ome) [1:22:47 - 1:26:42]
  21. Soft Riot: Linked Between Two Minds (No., 2023, Possession Records/Wave Tension Records) [1:30:04 - 1:35:00]
  22. Leathers: HighRise (Highrise, 2023, Artoffact Records) [1:35:00 - 1:38:25]
  23. Bedless Bones: Litha (Mire of Mercury, 2023, Metropolis) [1:38:25 - 1:42:35]
  24. Zanias: Simulation (Chrysalis, 2023, Fleisch) [1:42:35 - 1:46:14]
  25. Optic Sink: Modeleqsue (Glass Blocks, 2023, Feel It Records) [1:46:14 - 1:52:23]
  26. Belgrado: Boixar (Intra Apogeum, 2023, La Vida Es En Mus/Bat-Cave Productions) [1:52:23 - 1:56:59]
  27. Home Front: Faded State (Games of Power, 2023, La Vida Es En Mus) [2:00:45 - 2:04:18]
  28. Chain of Flowers: Serving Purpose (Never Ending Space, 2023, Alter) [2:04:18 - 2:08:02]
  29. The Sea at Midnight: Indian Ocean (Too Close to the Sun, 2023, Self-Released) [2:08:02 - 2:13:12]
  30. Black Rose Burning: Night Terrors (Ad Astra, 2023, Self-Released) [2:13:12 - 2:17:26]
  31. Lunar Paths: Glyph (Glyph, 2023, Self-Released) [2:17:26 - 2:19:52]
  32. Morwan: Topoli (Svitaye, Palaye, 2023, Feel It Records/Bat-Cave Productions/Mörtel Sounds) [2:19:52 - 2:26:12]
  33. Old Coke: Vapor Drunk (Seasonal, 2023, Self-Released) [2:29:48 - 2:34:11]
  34. Citrus: Crush (Citrus, 2023, Transylvanian Tapes) [2:34:11 - 2:37:24]
  35. Blonde Redhead: Snowman (Sit Down For Dinner, 2023, section1) [2:37:24 - 2:42:30]
  36. Slowdive: Skin in the Game (Everything is Alive, 2023, Dead Oceans) [2:42:30 - 2:46:17]
  37. Yuni Wa: Circuit (Virtual Mysticism, 2023, Self-Released) [2:46:17 - 2:49:52]†
  38. The Veldt: Everlasting Gobstopper (Illuminated 1989, 2023, Little Cloud Records/5BC) [2:49:52 - 2:54:33]

† Local artist

Flyer For January 2024 Full Moon Market. The text on it reads, “January 21, 2024. 6 PM-9 PM. Full Moon Market. Indoor monthly indoor market. At The Labyrinth, 619 South Spring Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. More info at labyrinthlr.com .”

This month’s Full Moon Market is Wednesday, January 24 at 6-9 PM, at The Labyrinth in downtown Little Rock. More details can be found here.

This is a flyer for Vampire Police, Skull Family, and Clusters of Fornication at Vino’s, Friday, February 9, 2024. There is a picture of a girl holding a Valentine. The text on the cap she is wearing says, “Just ghost to shows you” and there is a bat on top of her head. The text on the Valentine says, “Vampire Police, Skull Family, and Clusters of Fornication at Vino’s, 923 West Seventh Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. Friday, February 9, 2024. Doors at 7 PM. Admission is $15.”

Vampire Police, Skull Family, and Clusters of Fornication are playing at Vino’s in Little Rock on Friday, February 9th. More info can be found here.

This flyer has a black background, there is a box of white and black stripes with a large blue dot in the center. The text in the image reads, “White Mansion, Fossils of Ancient Robots, Modeling, and Damien Hearse. At The Rev Room, 300 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas. On Friday, March 8, 2024. Starts at 7 PM, $10 advance tickets, $13 at the door. Go to revroom.com for more info.”

White Mansion, Fossils of Ancient Robots, Modeling, and Damien Hearse are playing at Rev Room in Little Rock on Friday, March 8. More info about the show can be found here.

Flyer for Retro Moderne. The text reads, “Retro Moderne New Wave Dance Party. DJ Hollow, DJ Dreamtime, and Club Nevermore’s DJ 10.29. Benefits Kensett and Judsonia Animal Shelters. Saturday, March 23, 2024. Doors open at 6:30, starts at 7 PM. All ages, $10. At Vino’s, 923 West Seventh Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.”

The next edition of the Retro Moderne New Wave Dance Party is Saturday, March 23 at Vino’s, 923 West Seventh Street, Little Rock. This is a benefit for Kensett and Judsonia Animal Shelters. This one will sets by DJ Hollow, DJ Dreamtime, and a guest appearance by DJ 10.29. This one’s all ages, admission is $10. Doors open at 6:30, music starts at 7 PM. More info can be found here.