Better late than never is what I believe they say, and late it is, the Mumubl.com summary of 2025's best of. Still worth checking out, it's not like albums go mouldy like bread.
If you're not subscribed then the full article is here - https://mumubl.com/blog/albums-of-the-year-2025-for-your-ears-for-your-eyes-26/
We have @rosalia.vt @kpopdemonhuntersnetflix @boniver @circawaves and @soulwaxofficial
albumsof2025 #2025music #musicrecommendations #musicblog #topalbums #vinyl #cd
In an annual tradition, I wrote way too much about 2025’s music and got it in right before the bell on CDM.
Thanks so much @pkirn for publishing! And thanks to everyone who released great music in a year filled with international catastrophe. Keep the heads up.
Read and listen: https://cdm.link/2025-music-in-review/
Tänä vuonna ei ollut mitään yllättävää Spotifyn vuosi paketissa -tiivistelmässä.
#musiikki #Spotify #2025Wrapped #2025music #spotifywrapped #spotifywrapped2025
The complete list of all these albums I've posted about from 2025. It's not an exhaustive list - I did enjoy more than exactly 100 albums (and EPs, and things that might be short albums and might be long EPs) this year, and I'm sure I'll find many more that I missed as time goes along.
It's been an exceptionally strong year for music that I like - particularly for new soul music - and no doubt I'll continue discovering its wonders for years, decades to come.
The list, which for one final time (it never hurts to clarify) is in completely random order:
1. Circuit des Yeux - Halo On The Inside
https://circuitdesyeux.bandcamp.com/album/halo-on-the-inside
2. clipping. - Dead Channel Sky
https://clppng.bandcamp.com/album/dead-channel-sky
3. Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions - Cold Blows the Rain
https://bridgethayden.bandcamp.com/album/cold-blows-the-rain
4. Vaudou Game - Fintou
https://hotcasarecords.bandcamp.com/album/fintou
5. Suede - Antidepressants
https://www.suede.co.uk/homepage/
6. Ethel Cain - Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You
https://ethelcain.ffm.to/wtialy
7a. Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra - Noodle
https://obscureorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/noodle
7b. Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra - Forest Party
https://obscureorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/forest-party
8. Leroi Conroy - A Tiger's Tale
https://leroiconroy.bandcamp.com/album/a-tigers-tale
9. Guerrilla Toss - You're Weird Now
https://guerillatoss.bandcamp.com/album/youre-weird-now
10. Sally Shapiro - Ready to Live a Lie
https://sallyshapiro.bandcamp.com/album/ready-to-live-a-lie
11. Lonnie Holley - Tonky
https://lonnieholley.bandcamp.com/album/tonky
12. Sparks - MAD!
https://sparksofficial.bandcamp.com/album/mad
13. Iestyn Tyne - Carneddi
https://iestyntyne.bandcamp.com/album/carneddi
14. Greentea Peng - TELL DEM IT'S SUNNY
https://greenteapeng.bandcamp.com/album/tell-dem-its-sunny
15. FKA twigs - EUSEXUA
https://fkatwigs.y-o-u-n-g.com/release/470927-fka-twigs-eusexua
16. Use Knife - État Coupable
https://useknife.bandcamp.com/album/tat-coupable
17. Hilary Woods - Night CRIÚ
https://hilarywoodsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/night-cri
18. Kae Tempest - Self Titled
https://store.kaetempest.com/products/self-titled-standard-cd
19. Romance - Love Is Colder Than Death
https://youmustrememberthis.bandcamp.com/album/love-is-colder-than-death
20. Kwashibu Area Band - Love Warrior's Anthem
https://kwashibu.bandcamp.com/album/love-warrior-s-anthem
21. Federation of the Disco Pimp - Gratuitous
https://acidjazz.bandcamp.com/album/gratuitous
22. Erlend Apneseth - Song Over Støv
https://erlendapneseth.bandcamp.com/album/song-over-st-v
23. Ela Minus - DÍA
https://elaminus.bandcamp.com/album/d-a
24. Baxter Dury - Allbarone
https://baxterdury.bandcamp.com/album/allbarone
25. Elkotsh - rhlt jdi
https://heatcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/rhlt-jdi
26. Sandwell District - End Beginnings
https://sandwelldistrict.bandcamp.com/album/end-beginnings
27. Ami Taf Ra - The Prophet and the Madman
https://amitafra.bandcamp.com/album/the-prophet-and-the-madman
28. BC Camplight - A Sober Conversation
https://bc-camplight.bandcamp.com/album/a-sober-conversation
29. The New Eves - The New Eve is Rising
https://theneweves.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-eve-is-rising
30. Half Man Half Biscuit - All Asimov and No Fresh Air
https://halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/new-half-man-half-biscuit-album-2025/
31. Arcane Allies - Mount Adhaphera
https://arcaneallies.bandcamp.com/album/mount-adhaphera
32. Benjamin Booker - LOWER
https://benjaminmusic.bandcamp.com/album/lower
33. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Gush
https://kaitlynaureliasmith.bandcamp.com/album/gush-2
34. Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - Public Works and Utilities
https://warrington-runcorn-cis.bandcamp.com/album/public-works-and-utilities-2
35. Pulp - More
https://pulpmusic.bandcamp.com/album/more
36. Sai Galaxy - Analogue Recital
https://saigalaxy.bandcamp.com/album/analogue-recital
37. HHY & The Kampala Unit - TURBO MELTDOWN
https://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/album/turbo-meltdown
38. Jim Ghedi - Wasteland
https://jimghedi.bandcamp.com/album/wasteland
39. Quinie - Forefowk, Mind Me
https://upsettherhythm.bandcamp.com/album/forefowk-mind-me
40. Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko - Our Calling
https://piersfacciniballaksissoko.bandcamp.com/album/our-calling
41. Annie and the Caldwells - Can't Lose My (Soul)
https://annieandthecaldwells.bandcamp.com/album/can-t-lose-my-soul
42. Pachyman - Another Place
https://pachyman.bandcamp.com/album/another-place
43. ALA.NI - Sunshine Music
https://aladotni.bandcamp.com/album/sunshine-music
44. DARKSIDE - Nothing
https://darkside.bandcamp.com/album/nothing
45. OKO DJ - As Above, So Below
https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com/album/as-above-so-below
46. Authentically Plastic - ROCOCO RUINE
https://hakunakulala.bandcamp.com/album/rococo-ruine
47. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson - What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow
https://rhiannongiddens.bandcamp.com/album/what-did-the-blackbird-say-to-the-crow
48. Hologram Teen - Captain Fluo
https://hologramteen.bandcamp.com/album/captain-fluo
49. Lisa Knapp - Hinterland
https://lisaknappgerrydiver.bandcamp.com/album/hinterland
50. Durand Jones & the Indications - Flowers
https://durandjonesandtheindications.bandcamp.com/album/flowers
51. Dregs - Dregs
https://dreggin.bandcamp.com/album/dregs
52. Nia Wyn - A Pleasure To Have In Class
https://niawyn.bandcamp.com/album/a-pleasure-to-have-in-class-2
53. Ale Hop - Mapambazuko
https://nyegenyegetapes.bandcamp.com/album/mapambazuko
54. Mike Gangloff - April is Passing
https://vhfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/april-is-passing
55. Arp Frique - The Gospel Of Jesamy
https://arpfrique.bandcamp.com/album/the-gospel-of-jesamy-2
56. Abel Selaocoe - Four Spirits
https://w.lnk.to/as4spiAW
57. MICROCORPS - CLEAR VORTEX CHAMBER
https://microcorps.bandcamp.com/album/clear-vortex-chamber-2
58. Moonchild Sanelly - Full Moon
https://moonchildsa.bandcamp.com/album/full-moon
59. Lila Tirando a Violeta - Dream of Snakes
https://lilatirandoavioleta.bandcamp.com/album/dream-of-snakes
60. SAULT - 10
https://saultglobal.bandcamp.com/album/10-2
61. Sudan Archives - The BPM
https://sudanarchives.bandcamp.com/album/the-bpm
62. Blood Orange - Essex Honey
https://bloodorange.lnk.to/essexhoney
63. Clark - Steep Stims
https://clark.bandcamp.com/album/steep-stims
64. Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian - Noor-e Vojood
https://mostafaheydarian.bandcamp.com/album/noor-e-vojood
65. WULFFLUW XCIV - Index_0
https://wulffluwxciv.bandcamp.com/album/index-0
66. MALK - DEEPER, UNDER
https://sweetchunk.bandcamp.com/album/deeper-under
67. Jennifer Touch - Aging at Airports
https://jennifertouch.bandcamp.com/album/aging-at-airports-2
68. Barry Hyde - Miners' Ballads
https://lnk.to/MinersBallads
69. The Gentle Good - Elan
https://bubblewrapcollective.bandcamp.com/album/elan
70. Das Koolies - Pando
https://daskoolies.bandcamp.com/album/pando
71. Deradoorian - Ready for Heaven
https://deradoorian.bandcamp.com/album/ready-for-heaven
72. Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End Of The Universe
https://antonyszmierek.lnk.to/ServiceStationAtTheEndOfTheUniverse
73. Two Shell - IIcons
https://twoshell.y-r.co/iicons
74. Adrian Sherwood - The Collapse of Everything
https://adriansherwood.bandcamp.com/album/the-collapse-of-everything
75. Spafford Campbell - Tomorrow Held
https://spaffordcampbell.bandcamp.com/album/tomorrow-held
76. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley - Wake Up Afrika
https://blayambolley.bandcamp.com/album/wake-up-afrika
77. Weirs - Diamond Grove
https://weirs-nc.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-grove-2
78. John Glacier - Like A Ribbon
https://johnglacier.bandcamp.com/album/like-a-ribbon
79. Brooke Combe - Dancing At The Edge Of The World
https://brookecombe.os.fan/
80. Souleance - Kebab Discothèque
https://souleance.bandcamp.com/album/kebab-discoth-que
81. Lael Neale - Altogether Stranger
https://laelneale.bandcamp.com/album/altogether-stranger
82. Hollie Cook - Shy Girl
https://holliecook.bandcamp.com/album/shy-girl
83. Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures
https://ichikoaoba.bandcamp.com/album/luminescent-creatures-2
84a. Erin Hopes - Ketnology: Be My Enemy
https://lostdomain.bandcamp.com/album/ketnology-be-my-enemy
84b. Erin Hopes - Battling the Dead https://soundcloud.com/harmlessrecordsuploads/erin-hopes-battling-the-dead
85. Joy Crookes - Juniper
https://shop.joycrookes.com/
86. MARINA - PRINCESS OF POWER
https://marina.lnk.to/PRINCESSOFPOWER
87. The Sick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe
https://thesickmanofeurope.bandcamp.com/album/the-sick-man-of-europe
88. Me Lost Me - This Material Moment
https://melostme.bandcamp.com/album/this-material-moment
89. Disiniblud (Rachika Nayar & Nina Keith) - Disiniblud
https://smugglersway.ffm.to/disiniblud.OWE
90. Varo - The World That I Knew
https://varodublin.bandcamp.com/album/the-world-that-i-knew
91. For Those I Love - Carving the Stone
https://forthoseilove.ffm.to/carvingthestone
92. U - Archenfield
https://majoranticlimax.bandcamp.com/album/archenfield
93. Rainy Miller - Joseph, What Have You Done?
https://rainymiller.bandcamp.com/album/joseph-what-have-you-done
94. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Yarın Yoksa
https://deryayildirimandgrupsimsek.bandcamp.com/album/yar-n-yoksa
95. The Altons - Heartache in Room 14
https://thealtons.bandcamp.com/album/heartache-in-room-14
96. Nadeem Din-Gabisi - Offshore
https://nadeemdingabisi.bandcamp.com/album/offshore
97. El Michels Affair - 24 Hr Sports
https://elmichelsaffair.bandcamp.com/album/24-hr-sports
98. Loaded Honey - Love Made Trees
https://www.loadedhoney.com/
99. Yazmin Lacey - Teal Dreams
https://yazminlacey.bandcamp.com/album/teal-dreams
100. Laura Cannell - Brightly Shone the Moon
https://brawlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/brightly-shone-the-moon
Yes that's actually 102 albums/EPs/etc. I know. Let me have my round number.
9 track album
One last album from 2025, and then I'm done. Thank you for putting up with me again.
100. Laura Cannell - Brightly Shone the Moon
https://brawlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/brightly-shone-the-moon
Put this on with your Christmas breakfast, or Thursday dinner, or whatever it is you're doing now. It is a Christmas album - the only one out this year (that I've heard) to have particularly grabbed my attention - and it's a traditional Christmas album. But when I say traditional, I don't mean the popular ideas of what 'Christmas tradition' means that have grown up in recent generations. The traditions here are a lot older (as anyone familiar with Cannell's previous medieval-leaning work might expect).
I'll leave Cannell herself to describe what you're getting:
“The sound of ancient carols drift through a deep green winter forest. Branches are heavy with snow. Just out of sight is the sound of a strange rural village band processing over the crunchy pebbles of the churchyard and into the medieval church.
Violins and pipe organs glitch and echo, as half remembered melodies sweep towards you on a bluster of icy wind. Traces of familiar festive songs flicker around you, almost cosy but they are distant as you stand, boots in deep snow, alone."
May we all find our way in from the cold this season, be that figuratively or literally. Or both.
9 track album
Still going through this list (in random order) of some of the albums I've enjoyed in 2025.
99. Yazmin Lacey - Teal Dreams
https://yazminlacey.bandcamp.com/album/teal-dreams
What a great year it's been for new soul records. And this includes a great year for British soul records. Yazmin Lacey is unmistakeably from London, and as reflects how many musical influences are blossoming in London, this album takes its sounds from all sorts of roots.
But though the music may be modern, the vocals fit right into the finest traditions of classic soul. Warm and rich, speaking of love and hope and sentimentality (in the best sense of that word). A gorgeous album.
14 track album
Another album from 2025 that I enjoyed, and although this is Christmas Eve, it's not a Christmassy one. You may or may not see that as a good thing.
98. Loaded Honey - Love Made Trees
https://www.loadedhoney.com/
(linking to this is a little awkward - the album is only available either via the usual big streaming services or as vinyl. And there's basically no information at all on the website. I hope they make other forms of purchase available in future.)
Two members of Jungle with songs that they didn't think fitted with Jungle's sound (and they were right). This is lush, cinematic, romantic soul and pop that could have come directly from Philadelphia or Detroit in the 60s and 70s. I'd also point up a broad kinship with David Holmes's Unloved project from a few years back.
It is a gorgeous record, showing a real passion for and knowledge of the period and the style. I missed this when it first came out back at the beginning of summer, happened upon it when winter darkness had set in, and I'm so glad I did.
Another album from this year that I've enjoyed (picked in random order).
97. El Michels Affair - 24 Hr Sports
https://elmichelsaffair.bandcamp.com/album/24-hr-sports
I mentioned the outstanding producer Leon Michels yesterday - well, here he is with his occasional solo project. Well, solo plus various well-chosen collaborators.
This album works together influences from three disparate sources. Firstly, and the root of the name, there's a fascination with promotional music for sports broadcasts, all upbeat riffs and dramatic major chords. Heroic and energetic. Go sports!
The second is soundtracks from 70s Black American cinema. Soulful and very deeply funky, smooth, redolent of a troubled hero who loves his woman and is bad news for the bad guys.
Thirdly, there's Michels own extensive work as a contemporary producer of hip-hop and R&B. Which means this isn't all nostalgia and looking back. It's the kind of attitude I'd associate with modern classic soul labels like Daptone: taking a lead from the past but producing music that it's firmly based in the present.
It's a terrific record overall, and though it's late in this list, it absolutely shouldn't be overlooked.
16 track album
Here's another 2025 album that I've been enjoying (picked in random order).
96. Nadeem Din-Gabisi - Offshore
https://nadeemdingabisi.bandcamp.com/album/offshore
Here, the musician/poet/visual artist/filmmaker/all-round fascinating bloke Nadeem Din-Gabisi creates two characters: Jack Surname George in the Land of Hope and Glory, and Jack Surname George in the Land of Ugliness and Despair. Or two sides of one character.
The reason for doing so is to explore identity and community in contemporary England. Din-Gabisi wraps his creations in flags and asks what that really means, to him as an Englishman who would always consider himself English, who is a passionate fan of the England football team, and who is the son of Sierra Leonean immigrants, using both English and Krio interchangeably in his lyrics.
However, for all the weightiness of the subject matter, the sound of the album is frequently light, joyful. Ultimately, it's celebratory, not through blind patriotism but through an understanding of what is good in society. His vocals are sometimes rapped and sometimes sung - he's a former church chorister - and always with power and grace.
12 track album
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