If you decide to give this album a try, it will probably be the strangest thing you hear this year

Fractured Whole is by an American musician Megan Mitchell, going by the name of Cruel Diagonals.

The thing to understand is the whole album is a collage of sampled sounds of her voice, all electronically distorted, stretched and twisted. There are no other instruments to be heard which at times is difficult to get your head round

Opening track, Penance, is like a Latin mass being conducted in a warehouse full of synthesizers which are being tested to make sure they still work.

Full of unsettling electronic soundscapes topped with the wordless soprano type voice it has the feel of an aural art installation rather than a musical album

It’s a challenging listen and depending on how Avant Garde you like your art; it is likely to be a step too far for many. However, considering what they have achieved and how it was constructed you have to admire the courage it takes to attempt something this daring.

 We now come to an early front runner for album of the year. Black Bay is the album from the collective band of musicians know as Silver Moth.

It’s very likely that due to the circumstances surrounding its creation (a global pandemic, enforced isolation) this will be a one off.

Just six songs long the album showcases a very talented band of musicians who each bring a flavour of their own band/solo work to the table but still construct something special to this band.

From the 15 minute epic of Hello Doom full of slow burning post rock chaos and guitar feedback to the almost spiritual Gaelic Psalm and its poetry reading to the beautiful female vocals on The Eternal this is a special album.

The opening track Henry is full of chiming guitars and ethereal voices with a building wall of noise that fully takes off before drifting back to earth.

Bella Union also deserve praise for a superbly packaged album, I’ve got the clear vinyl and even the sleeve with the artwork is stunning

Chances are it will take something special in the rest of 2023 to top this album