Marika Hackman spent much of this year gearing up for her first album in four years, Big Sigh, which will be out January 12. Judging from the two songs she’s shared from it, this one looks to split the difference between the lush baroque beauty of her debut and the more modern pop styles of 2019’s Any Human Friend. Check out the album’s singles below.
While we wait to hear the new album in full, Marika has given us a list of her favorite albums of the year which include Caroline Polachek, PJ Harvey, Andre 3000, her partner Polly Mackey’s project Art School Girlfriend, and more. Read her list and commentary below.
MARIKA HACKMAN – FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023
PJ Harvey – I inside the old year dying
This record has captured the brooding, rustic magic of PJ Harvey, which is one of my favourite sides to her music. Listening to I inside the old year dying really makes me feel like im being pulled into a different world – wandering through woodlands and looking through fires – but without feeling like anything ive heard before.
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
It took me a little longer to fall in love with this record than it did with Pang, but after a few listens I was fully hooked. I love Caroline Polachek’s meandering melodies combined with a fresh take on noughties nostalgic production and this record stays true to that style. Blood and Butter has fast become one of my favourite songs of hers – bagpipes hey.
Art School Girlfriend – Soft Landing
This album is full of contrasting dynamics. Sweeping crescendos to slow burn lo-fi moments. It’s dark and brooding – tugging you along to islands of big euphoric release. Catchy, timeless choruses melt into sparse electronic landscapes or urgent, relentless verses explode into full band breakdowns.
Ben Gregory – Episode
This record is so insanely diverse and takes you to all corners of the sonic palette. Underpinning it is Ben’s fantastic, explorative song writing – fragments of catchy hook and roaming melodic mumblings intertwining whilst you’re being swatted around the head by punchy arrangements.
Westerman – An Inbuilt Fault
This record has such a timeless quality to it – it evokes some strange wistful nostalgia in me and keeps pulling me back. I absolutely love his voice and the production is perfectly understated yet punchy. My standout track is “CSI: Petralona.”
ML Buch – Suntub
My brother recommended this album to me recently and it sucked me in straight away. The production is super interesting and pulls you in directions you wouldn’t expect and then her voice just cuts through holding so much emotion. I feel like you could place this record anywhere in the last 40 years but also it feels like its carved out its own identity and created it’s own space within which to exist.
Laura Veirs – Phone Orphans
I’ve always been a huge fan of Laura Veirs and this record is a testament to her beautifully simple, honest songwriting. The tracks are all demos recorded into her phone which makes it a super raw listen as if your ear is to the door of a private moment.
Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
Sufjan Stevens is the master of capturing yearning and this album continues with his talent for wistful magic. Its heavy and its hopeful which is one of my favourite combinations.
Alan Palomo – World of Hassle
I love this record because it reminds me of loads of the stuff my parents used to play when I was a kid. It’s got a great tongue in cheek swagger to it – sort of taking the playful sentiment of Frank Zappa but wrapping it up in some serious ’80s sass. It’s very difficult to not smile or foot tap when listening, which to me is the sign of a great record.
Andre 3000 – New Blue Sun
It’s expansive and immersive and defies expectation which is always something I have respect for. I do a lot of printing at home and its the perfect record to have on whilst concentrating on being creative – it has a strange ability to focus my mind and block out all the noisy thoughts.
—
Marika will be on tour in the UK and Europe this spring. All dates:
Marika Hackman – 2024 Tour Dates
Mar 12 – Glasgow, GB Oran Mor
Mar 14 – Manchester, GB Gorilla
Mar 15 – Leeds, GB The Wardrobe
Mar 16 – Newcastle Upon-Tyne, GB The Cluny
Mar 18 – Brighton, GB Concorde 2
Mar 19 – Birmingham, GB Castle & Falcon
Mar 20 – Bristol, GB Strange Brew
Mar 21 – London, GB Hackney Church
Apr 8 – Brussels, BE Botanique
Apr 9 – Amsterdam, NL Tolhuistuin
Apr 11 – Berlin, DE Hole44
Apr 12 – Hamburg, DE Molotow
Apr 14 – Cologne, DE Artheater
Apr 15 – Paris, FR Petit Bain
Check out more Best of 2023 lists here.
