Seawind of Battery is the ambient, cosmic experimental project of New York-based musician Mike Horn. In 2024, Mike released his sophomore album, ‘East Coast Cosmic Dreamscaper,’ alongside his collaborator Jarrod Annis, on Charlottesville’s WarHen Records. In addition to his music, Mike also hosts the bi-monthly radio show ‘Battery Operated’ on CAMP Radio, airing on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.
As the years pass, I tell myself I’ll be more selective about the music I buy, but somehow, the problem only grows worse. If loving music and spending a ridiculous amount of money on it is a crime, then I should be serving a life sentence.
With all the “best of” year-end lists out there, I’ve decided to focus instead on some Hidden Gems — albums that deserve more attention and are unquestionably among the best of 2024.
Many of the albums that have been widely recognized this year—like Hayden Pedigo’s Live in Amarillo, Texas, Prairiewolf’s Deep Time, Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, and Andreas Werliin’s Ghosted II, Nala Sinephro’s Endlessness or any of The Modern Folk releases—have understandably made their rounds on numerous lists.
However, I wanted to share a few recommendations and dive into albums that might not have crossed your plate amidst the insane amount of great music this year. With that in mind, I’m excited to present my personal selection of hidden gems, curated down to 30 standout releases (31 if you count the two albums released by one of the artists mentioned). Enjoy the journey!
Talk West – Bartlett Square [Aural Canyon]
Dylan Golden Aycock’s compositions, with contributions from Gary Peters and Brian Pryor, drift with a cinematic quality that evokes nostalgia and spacious introspection. Bartlett Square by Talk West extends this atmosphere into a vivid mosaic, where the subtle hum of field recordings blends seamlessly with rich instrumental textures. Each track feels like a living, breathing landscape, as ambient sounds—wind, footsteps, distant conversations—intertwine with the music, creating a dynamic, immersive experience. The result is a journey through a place that feels both personal and wide-ranging, where every layer tells a story and every sound evokes a memory.
ZONK by Zonk [Island House Recordings]
Zonk’s self-titled release is a wild ride of raw, electrifying improvisation. Guitarist Paul DeHaven and drummer Robin Chestnutt create an essential experimental rock album, where their instruments collide and unravel in a frenzied, unpredictable mix that’s been shaken up in a noise vortex, resulting in a sound that’s both disorienting and exhilarating. The album’s intense compositions are driven by fuzzed-out guitars and chaotic drumming, delivering a relentless and exhilarating listen.
Jeremy Kizina – our ghosts follow [Island House Recordings]
Jeremy Kizina’s our ghosts follow is a vast yet intimate collection of introspective, guitar-driven instrumentals designed to encourage deep reflection and act as a warm blanket. The album evokes a strong sense of place, with Kizina’s melodies moving seamlessly between harmonious, dreamlike passages and more intense, emotive moments. There’s a haunting beauty throughout the record that invites listeners to detach from reality, losing themselves in its atmospheric, meditative soundscapes.
Flock – Flock II [Strut]
Flock II is a captivating jazz record that thrives on its brevity and blends intricate rhythms to create a dynamic, intoxicating experience. The album shifts effortlessly between introspective passages and more energized, complex percussion, maintaining a fluid sense of movement throughout. The music’s inventive structures and emotive atmospheres welcome listeners to explore its depths, leaving a lasting impression with each carefully crafted piece.
Universal Light’s debut album is a stunning blend of string improvisations that conjure a lush, boundless world—a place I’d happily call home, settling there permanently. Mike Gangloff and Jesse Sheppard, alongside cellist Kaily Schenker, weave haunting, folk-inspired melodies with deep, resonant drones, merging classical, folk, and avant-garde elements. The result is one of the most enchanting and truly unique releases of 2024.
Jake Acosta – Indumentum / The Salt Clef
Jake Acosta quietly dropped two albums in September, The Salt Clef and Indumentum, both of which flew under the radar yet reveal his ongoing evolution as an artist. Each record opens with punchy, noise-driven energy before unfolding into mesmerizing passages, where disorienting feedback melds with kosmische-inspired synths and hypnotic grooves. Acosta constantly takes the listener on a cosmic rollercoaster, a journey he navigates with unmatched precision. His work keeps you on your toes, shifting effortlessly between jagged, experimental rock and out-of-body, introspective moments, demonstrating his rare talent for balancing chaos and contemplation.
Old Names is the musical project of Kyle Hurley, and his album A Forgiving Place is an evocative blend of ambient and experimental sound. Acoustic guitars, synths, and field recordings converge to create a rich and dense landscape, while Hurley seamlessly combines organic instruments with electronic layers, incorporating layers of melodica, glockenspiel, and cassette samples. The album strikes a balance between moments of stillness and gentle, rhythmic pulses, offering an Americana-tinged journey that feels both appropriately intimate and boundless.
Levi J. Burr – Bucolic Confection
Levi J. Burr’s Bucolic Confection is an entrancing fusion of Americana and ambient undertones, where earthy acoustic guitar intertwines with cosmic electronics to create a surreal, otherworldly soundscape. Drawing from the rich tradition of primitive guitar playing, Burr’s warm and personal style is his secret weapon, pulling you in so closely that it often feels as though you’re in the same room with him, sharing the moment. Through layers of synthesizers, pedal steel, and electronic effects, the album blends the nostalgic warmth of folk with the vastness of space, offering a contemplative journey that feels both grounded and transcendent.
Future Museums – Born Organic Vol. 1 [Aural Canyon]
Born Organic Vol. 1 by Future Museums, the work of Neil Lord, is a soothing tapestry of ambient textures, where soft, undemanding guitar lines quietly weave through tranquil soundscapes. The music exists in a state of gentle repetition, designed to create a calm ambiance rather than draw focus or provoke strong emotion, offering a backdrop to concentration or relaxation without imposing itself. This record is yet another beautiful brushstroke in Neil Lord’s ongoing, infinite sonic tapestry, adding to his legacy of serene, immersive compositions that subtly guide the listener into a space of quiet reflection and undistracted contemplation.
Refuge by High Water Haze, the instrumental project of Brian Bienkowski, is a stunning, unassuming gem that quietly tugs at the heartstrings. Played with delicate precision on acoustic guitars, mandolin, pedal steel, and more, this ambient country record captures the spirit of wide-open landscapes and quiet reflection. Recorded DIY in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Refuge feels like a sonic retreat from the noise of the world—a beautiful, understated masterpiece that deserves to be heard by those seeking solace in its peaceful, organic landscapes.
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