The end is nigh. Where did it all go? And how/why did we make it so far? Here's Hindsight 2023 to make absolutely no more sense of the year but at least arrange our experiences of it into some kind of memorandum. Things get ever-more poisonous out there in the world, but the underground keeps ticking away, embattled in the economy of survival, rebuilding and refining, offering new ways to navigate and enjoy.
Amidst all this, World of Echo somehow made it five years in the game, marked the moment with two wonderful anniversary events, released five albums and one cassette (and a couple more things to come before the year is out - watch this space), and generally just tried to keep standing obdurately against the tide. Thanks to all that stood, and continue to stand, firm with us. It's only a record shop of course, but we like it.
And so on to Hindsight 2023 itself. We've arranged our favourite releases into three separate lists - a non-hierarchical top ten short list; a second much longer collection of new releases; and a third set of reissues and archival releases. All three have been brought together online and in a limited (60 page!) booklet pieced together by our lord and saviour, Matthew Walkerdine. A free copy of the booklet can be obtained with purchases made instore/online, or if you prefer, you can buy one independently HERE. A while-stocks-last affair, of course.
And please note, because we had to publish before the end of December, a few key titles missed the cut, so special mention should also go to The Dengie Hundred, Moritz Von Oswald, Ordeal, Turner Williams Jr, Genghis Cohn, Mister Water Wet, Young Druid and Jules Reidy who all would have made the list should time have allowed. Truly 2023 kept pumping right until the end.
Thanks for everything. Keep enjoying the words and the music as best you can. Here for it all and more in 2024.