Landing on our radar having inked a deal with the continually reliable Warp Records, we were instantly taken with Slauson Malone 1's refreshing and unencumbered approach to songwriting. The aptly-titled 'Voyager' was our first glimpse into the world of multi-dimensional musician and artist, Jasper Marsalis, setting the tone perfectly for his debut LP for the label EXCELSIOR, which arrived in October. Bolstered by one of our favourite tracks of the year 'New Joy', and a whole host of immersive and wonderfully unpredictable pieces of music, EXCELSIOR is easily one of the most unique and exciting releases we've encountered for a long time. Leaving us on tenterhooks for what he'll do next, Slauson Malone 1 was a surefire selection for our Top 20 of 2023. -Holly Mullineaux