Review

2023 In Review: Day 11 – Crossover and World

By Jung Bae | January 25, 2024

2023 In Review

1. Introduction + Best Album Art
2. Song of the Year
3. Album of the Year
4. R&B and Soul
5. Rock and Alternative
6. Rap and Hip-hop
7. Dance and Electronic
8. Pop and Ballad
9. Folk and Country
10. Jazz and Blues
11. Crossover and World
12. Best Collaborative Work
13. Rookie Artist of the Year
14. Artist of the Year
15. Other Recognition
16. Concluding Remarks

Korean traditional and fusion, a longtime stalwart of this section, didn’t feel quite as prominent in 2023 – albeit not without producing some strong contenders like Sinavi and Soak. That gap was more than filled by the classical, Latin, new age, European traditional, opera, acid, tango, ska, and more that adorned the year.

Notes:

The “Next 10” and honorable mention lists are sorted by artist name. Bolded honorable mentions received particularly serious consideration for the Next 10.
The 2023 Crossover and World Spotify playlist will be added to this post as an update at the conclusion of the series.

Albums

Best Crossover and World Album 2023

Dongyi – 날초소 분석법 (A Method for Capsaicinoid Analysis)

Capsaicinoid Analysis is built on slow, even glacial movements and deliberate buildup. The titular spiciness comes from the exotic harmonies that are created as those pieces interlock and spark, as unpredictable play and technique from double bass, kacapi, waterphone and more constantly enter the fray. “Nong Darm”‘s sheets of sound seem to flow off an edge; a Japanese poem is recited over curious bells and crashing gongs; the imposing string walls and devastating plucks in “Have a Bow to the Ears of the Eastern Mountain” mount suspense at the most imperceptible slope. It’s an incredible degree of originality.

The Runner-up

Pudditorium – Episode: Hope

Pudditorium pared down the ambition of his arrangements in this third full album, settling into an essential core of piano and string chamber. The result was nine gorgeously wintry, wholly focused new-age pieces, taut with gentle tension and brimming with hope. From the lithe elegance of “Green Moonlight Eyes” to the ceaseless bounce of “Time Draws Memories”, some of the year’s most exhilarating melodies and moments are found here.

The Next 10

: Gena – Co-exist Project

: Gyepi Sisters – Ring

: Kwon Wol – Drawer

: Lee Gheun-hyung – Alone..Not Alone

: Lee Heemoon & Cadejo – Gangnam Oasis

: Lee Heemoon & Heosongsewol & Nomnom – Spangle

: Namryoung – About

: Park Sunju – Scattered Melodies of the City

: Sinavi – A Small Ball We Shoot Up, Where Did It Gone?)

: Sumi Jo – In Love

Gena – 공존 프로젝트 (Co-exist Project)

Gyepi Sisters – 고리 (Ring)

Kwon Wol – 서랍 (Drawer)

Lee Gheun-hyung – Alone..Not Alone

Lee Heemoon & Cadejo – 강남오아시스 (Gangnam Oasis)

Lee Heemoon & Heosongsewol & Nomnom – Spangle

Namryoung – 무엇에 관하여 (About)

Park Sunju – 도시 산조 (Scattered Melodies of the City)

Sinavi – 쏘아올린 작은공 어디로갔을까? (A Small Ball We Shoot Up, Where Did It Gone?)

Sumi Jo – 사랑할 때 (In Love)

Songs

Best Crossover and World Song 2023

Sinavi – 쏘아올린 작은공 어디로갔을까? (A Small Ball We Shoot Up, Where Did It Gone?)
Composed by Choi Hyung-wook
Arranged by Choi Hyung-wook, Kim Sung-joon

The frontrunner of an intrepid debut album, “A Small Ball” cradled the explosion of both its Korean-traditional and rock roots in one unabashed melody, which sometimes almost feels like just one note. The rush of daegeum and traditional percussion provides a steely, forthright dimension to complement the buzz of the guitars, carried straight to the operatic and more distinctly Eastern final act.

The Runner-up

Pudditorium – 나에게 손짓하다 (Call Me by Your Hand)
Composed by Pudditorium

Tender and ginger are the opening inquiries of the piano line. Strings layer in one by one as the track numbers two then three minutes, and before long the violin, viola and cello take turns elevating a beautiful, oscillating midsection, pleading and beseeching. It perfectly captures the enrapturing power of Episode: Hope.

The Next 10

: Asian Spice House – Poomba Roomba

: Lee Heemon & Cadejo – Yen Taryang

: Namryoung – Things You See When You Close Your Eyes

: Olot – The Crossroads

: Park Sunju – Neoulmori

: Roots Redeem – Karma

: Soak – The Sun Goes In

: Song So-hee – Infodemics

: U-Sign – Sang-Sa-Di-Yeo

: Youpiri Band – Niliriya

Asian Spice House – 품바룸바 (Poomba Roomba)

Lee Heemoon & Cadejo – 엔벌이타령 (Yen Taryang)

Namryoung – 눈을 감으면 보이는 것들 (Things You See When You Close Your Eyes)

Olot – 기로 (The Crossroads)

Park Sunju – 너울모리 (Neoulmori) (Feat. Lupang Noise)

Roots Redeem – Karma (Feat. Fodor Reka)

Soak – 해가 들다 (The Sun Goes In)

Song So-hee – Infodemics (with Lee Il-woo of Jambinai)

U-Sign – 상사디여 (Sang-Sa-Di-Yeo) (백일몽 (Daydreams))

Youpiri Band – 늴리리야 (Niliriya)

Honorable Mentions

Albums

Band Lineout – 민요의 유혹 (The Temptation of Folk Songs)
Dowonnabi – 백로 아리랑 (Baek-ro Arirang)
Jangeun Bae – 기쁜자루와 피아노 (Happy Bag and Piano)
Ji Park – Blur
Mogwaa – Translucent
Olot – 목이 긴 메아리 (Long-Necked Echo)
Olot – 사이 (Between)
Roots Redeem – 풍어 (Big Catch)
Soak – 소옥, 음악과 사람이 있는 곳 (Soak with Music and People)
Tengger – Tengger
Ultra Modern Folklore – 회황야 (The Gray Wasteland)
Won Da-hee – Ordinary Stories
Yiruma – Non è la fine
Youpiri Band – 날 좀 보소 (Look at Me)

Songs

2nd Moon – 고리 (Guaire)
2nd Moon – 로도스 (Rhodes)
2nd Moon – 산아지타령 (Sanaji Taryeong) (Feat. Oh Dan-hae)
Band Lineout – 니나노 (Ninano)
Big Violin Player – Flower Seed (Feat. Jungwoo)
Byulshin – 축제 (Festival)
Dalyeoun – 휘영청 (Hwiyoungchoung)
Dongyi – Welcoming the Moon Trip
Dongyi – 농담 (Nong Darm)
Dongyi – 해협의 낭만주의 (Romanticism of the Strait) (Feat. Hachi)
Gayageum Ensemble Palette – 물 (Water)
Gena – Cinco
Gena – 제주 연가 (A Song for Jeju)
Gugakingayo – 수궁풍류 (Sugungpungryu)
Gukjeondan – 청단놀음 (Cheongdan Noreum)
Gyepi Sisters – Tourdion: Quand je bois du vin clairet
Hwang Kyungeun – 제조 (Rite of Birds)
Jeon Jin-hee – 흘러가는 것 (Flow)
Ji Park – Blur #3
Jihyun Park – Connecting the Dots
Jo Seon-ah – 새, 짹! (Bird, Chirp!)
Koh Sang-ji & Ahram Kim – Calambre
Koh Sang-ji – Bach: Invention No.4 in D minor, BMV 775
Kwon Wol – 오래오래 (For a Long Time)
LEe Jin-hee – 항해 (Voyage)
Lee Gyu-jae Latin Jazz All-Star – Mi Corazon
Lee Gyu-jae Latin Jazz All-Star – Y se baila así
Lee Heemoon & Cadejo – 멀리 둔 기억 (Beyond the Memory)
Lee Heemoon & Heosongsewol & Nomnom – 싫은 민요 (Killed Damn Song)
Lee Heemoon & Heosongsewol & Nomnom – 어허구자 (Uheoguja)
Lee Jin-ah – 잠결의 슬픔 (Dreams of Sadness) (Feat. Jinho Hong)
LudensKey – 잘 먹고 잘 자고 잘 놀고 (잘잘잘) (Eat Well Sleep Well Play Well (Well Well Well)
Mogwaa – Papaw
Namryoung – 무엇에 관하여 (About)
Pudditorium – 낡고 긴 금속 빛 터널 (Old Long Tunnel with Metallic Glow)
Pudditorium – 너를 간직하다 (Have You in My Mind)
Pudditorium – 시간이 그리는 기억 (Time Draws Memories)
Pudditorium – 초록 달을 품은 눈동자 (Green Moonlight Eyes)
Pungryu – 신시 (Shinsi)
Saeng Ki Bok Deok – 한님아리랑 (Hahn Nim Arirang)
Sinavi – 투견 (Dog Fight)
Song So-hee – 세상은 요지경 (Asurajang)
Soriae – 즐거운생활 (Joyful Life)
Sumi Jo – 마중 (Majung)
Tarzanloca – Smoking Season (들불의 계절)
Tengger – Panaptu
The Ska Jazz Unit – 가자 (Let’s Go)
U-Sign – 공수래공수거 (Gongsoorae Gongsoogeo)
Ultra Modern Folklore – 회황야 (The Gray Wasteland)
Yiruma – Non è la fine
Youpiri Band – 날 좀 보소 (Look at Me)
Yurihwa Quartet- 사랑 너의 눈 속에서 (Love, In Your Eyes)