Leagues O’Toole’s favourite songs of 2023

Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |

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Leagues O’Toole is a music promoter and label owner with Foggy Notions based in Dublin.

Leagues’ lists from 2022 and 2021.

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Nabihah Iqbal

This World Couldn’t See Us

The references pop out, 80s synth pop, PSB, New Order etc which isn’t uncommon in 2023 but very few can write songs as coldly urgent and crafted as this. The whole album is great, love her. 

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H31R

Down Down Bb

Pronounced “Heir”, randomly stumbled on this on a YouTube rabbit-hole, classic emcee/producer team-up that immediately made me think of that early 00s experimental hip-hop groundswell around Anti-Pop Consortium, Anticon etc, real fast raps and trippy beats. Recommend the album. Great to see the Big Dada label still at it. 

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Cleo Sol

Desire

From the enigmatic Sault scene, Cleo is right up with the greats, Sade, Mary J, the 60s dons. This song is so spacious and calming, it brings the sun out in winter. Sol is Sun in Spanish i think so that makes sense. 

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Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily

Shadow Forces

There’s music that contextualises everyday life, trends and social currencies and there’s music that has the ability to completely change how you feel in the moment. This is 14 minutes of bliss. This is the closest I can come to mediation. Said it before… Arooj is operating on a different level. 

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Lisa O’Neill

All Of This is Chance

This song is a masterpiece within a masterpiece, drawing from Kavanagh, nature, soil, ornithology, and diminishment of the human spirit. The way she changes direction two minutes in and takes us by the hand and sings “Man, walk on the moon, eat with the stars, try and touch the sun, burn, burn, burn.” It actually takes my breath away. 

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Julie Byrne

Summer Glass

Her voice is an incredible instrument to build songs around. I think this was the first single from the album and filled me with summer hope. She’s a superstar sun-kissed songwriter and a bit of a genius. 

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Soda Blonde

Bad Machine 

Soda Blonde feel like outliers in the Irish music scene, as everyone else leans into their dark ancient recesses Soda Blonde activate their emotive pop sensibilities. But they remain poignant throughout. What an incredibly incisive and thrilling direction swerve this single was. 

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Nourished By Time

The Fields

Get this album, it has it’s own unique dreamlike identity. It’s full of fuzzy ennui, urgent beats and creamy melodies. One of the albums of the year it should soundtrack a generation. 

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Space Afrika & Rainy Miller

The Graves at Charleroi (feat. Coby Sey)

These guys are the vanguard, the best new music in Britain, altogether on one beautifully solemn track. The whole album is incredible but Coby’s vocal here is immaculate. 

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Brìghde Chaimbeul

Tha Fonn Gun Bhi Trom | I Am Disposed of Mirth (feat Colin Stetson)

She’s a force of nature, showing us traditional Scottish music is as dramatic, melancholic, and powerful as any modern genre. This collab with Stetson really takes the tune into a spacey swirl. It’s divine. 

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ØXN

Cruel Mother

Four incredible musicians poisoning the new Irish folk slipstream with pure witchcraft. Ellie Myler’s drums might be the secret weapon. 

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John Francis Flynn

Mole In the Ground 

Genius. Let’s make it the new Irish National Anthem. The album is a masterpiece. That’s two out of two for JFF. I dreamed of artists like John Francis Flynn and Lankum for years but here it is. 

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Natural Wonder Beauty Concept

Sword

Close off with this freezing cold collab between Ana Roxane and DJ Python. Deliciously executed headphone music. 

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See all Guestlist of 2023 choices

Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |