231201 Time Out: The 30 best albums of 2023 (V’s ‘Layover’ is at #19)

> Out of the seven members of Korean super band BTS, V was the last to release his solo music – the artist has admitted to binning several works-in-progress – but boy, was the wait worth it. His debut six-track EP lends his husky, sweet baritone to jazz-leaning R&B tunes with a clear nostalgic influence. Personal favourites? ‘Slow Dancing’, a soulful track that glides as beautifully as its eponymous activity; and ‘For Us’, with its intriguing key change midway through. If you like modern jazz singer Laufey, or even the neo soul legend Maxwell, no doubt you’ll enjoy V’s work too.