Music For Not Sharing Best-of Lists Until 2023 Is Actually Over

January 21, 2024 4:23 AM

It's that time of year again... the time I surface and look around with a sigh and a smile having spent 3 weeks immersed in the Best of 2023 lists from Headphone Commute. As resolutely restrained in its format and delivery (12 unranked lists, albums released in 2023 only, shared sporadically from the 1st January onwards) as it is particular in its choice of genre names, if you can get past the whimsical titles you'll find a treasure-trove of new pathways and inroads to stunning ambient / instrumental / experimental / electronic / modern-classical music.

Music For The Film Behind Closed Eyelids
Music For Bending Light And Stopping Time
Music For Crawling Through Abandoned Cities
Music For Withered Leaves And Lonely Fishtanks
Music For Walking And Not Crying In The Autumn Rain
Music For The Frosty Night When I Miss your Warm Light
Music For Watching The Snow Slowly Fall In The Moonlight
Music For Sonic Installations In The Cavern Of Your Skull
Music For Synergizing The Synapse Of Ideas
Music For Capricious Souls Adrift In Noir-fi
Music For Your Stationary Travels
Music For Being Together Alone

Bonus: the same idea, each year... going back to 2007

posted by protorp (13 comments total)

Headphone Commute seems to be one of the underrated gems of the internet right now - quietly plugging away at the ambient/classical/piano beat, producing lots of great timeless articles. There’s been interviews with some of my favourite pianists on there, for instance. Looking forward to diving into these playlists
posted by The River Ivel at 5:49 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]

I won't exactly say that these broadened my listening, but to be introduced to new albums by both Taylor Deupree and Sigur Rós that I didn't know about is quite wonderful enough.
posted by scruss at 6:39 AM on January 21 [1 favorite]

I wish Bandcamp did custom playlists for this sort of thing. I'd love to put a sampler of these albums on in the background...
posted by ropeladder at 7:55 AM on January 21

"I will not comment on the business trends of Spotify or Bandcamp or even Moog – the market will decide."

weak.
As for the music: thank you for posting these! The lists reminds me of the type of music I sought out via The Silent Ballet ca. 15 years ago. I will have a listen to a some of these!
posted by bigendian at 8:04 AM on January 21

https://open.spotify.com/user/headphonecommute?si=swAjIA-_R123CHGdTp6-_Q Spotify playlists.
posted by Keith Talent at 9:43 AM on January 21 [4 favorites]

now with actual link!
posted by Keith Talent at 9:48 AM on January 21 [1 favorite]

Headphone Commute Bandcamp page.

The first playlist features Max Richter so that's an automatic listen from me.
posted by zenon at 2:46 PM on January 21 [3 favorites]

Wow! Some 'best of' music lists with artists I actually recognize and listen to. Plus a lot of names I don't recognize, so many new sounds to explore. Excellent (and thanks)!
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 3:48 PM on January 21

Fantastic find! Thank you for many hours of listening.
posted by the sobsister at 6:50 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]

can't favorite this post enough!
posted by niicholas at 7:08 PM on January 21

Mod note: [btw, this post has been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog]
posted by taz (staff) at 5:58 AM on January 22 [1 favorite]

What an amazing set of music. A lot of it is right up my alley already, so I will be sure to check out more.

Thanks!
posted by bananapancakes at 8:15 AM on January 23

This is incredible stuff, thank you very much for sharing this!
posted by spacediver at 9:16 AM on February 3