My annual list of my top 3 LPs and Singles that were released in 2025. The criteria for the singles are that they are from LPs or single releases which don’t feature in the top 3 LP list.
LPs
- DJ Koze – Music Can Hear Us
- Kae Tempest – Self Titled
- Chartreuse – Bless You & Be Well
Others on the shortlist were by Saya Grey (Saya), Oklou (Choke Enough) and Ikonika (SAD).
Singles
- Shell Company – 4U (Luv Thing)
- DjRUM – A Tune for Us
- Oklou – Harvest Sky
Others on the shortlist were H.B.W. by Saya Grey, Looking for ” by NZO and DEER by Kathryn Joseph.
Live performances
2025 was my first year at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, and one of the highlights was seeing High Vis. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a mosh pit but the energy was off the scale.
Other highlights were seeing Speakers Corner Quintet present their tribute to Arthur Russell at RALLY in London, the brilliant Shell Company at Strange Brew in Bristol and Chartreuse at the beautiful Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Mixes
The Bok’s Dubs 2025 Mix by Bok Bok was the soundtrack to my Spring. Still a lot of unreleased tracks on there still to see the light of day!
Radio
I was gutted when Tom Ravenscroft left BBC 6 Music in May, and I stopped listening to New Music Fix. Thankfully, he soon started a new weekly show on Rinse FM which became my staple of 2025. Mary Anne Hobbs also moved to a new slot on a Sunday evening which I prefer to her old daytime show.