Think I can comfortably go about 40 deep but only have a strong sense of order for the first 10 or so. It’s been a fine year for the shifty bendy stuff I love. Will probably add more from June too, I’m a bit behind on listening after losing hearing in one ear for a couple weeks.
The Weather Station - Humanhood
Juana Aguirre - anónimo
Lullahush - Ithaca
Jules Reidy - Ghost/Spirit
Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver - Hinterland
Nadah El Shazly - Laini Tani
Oklou - choke enough
duendita - a strong desire to survive
Saya Gray - SAYA
Amaia - Si Abro Los Ojos No Es Real
also
Marina Melo - Ousar Abrir
spill tab - ANGIE
Press Club - To All the Ones That I Love
Quedronol - Together
The Vernon Spring - Under a Familiar Sun
Karman Line Collective - To Be
Thanya Iyer - TIDE/TIED
ESINAM & Sibusile Xaba - Healing Voices
Light-Space Modulator - The Rising Wave
Heith - Escape Lounge
Ora Cogan - Bury Me
Barker - Stochastic Drift
Nazar - Demilitarize
quickly, quickly - I Heard That Noise
Cross Record - Crush Me
Bria Salmena - Big Dog
Lonnie Holley - Tonky
Monde UFO - Flamingo Tower
Macie Stewart - When the Distance Is Blue
Helen Island - Silence Is Priceless
Backxwash - Only Dust Remains
Niis - Niis World
May Leitz - A Touch of Grace
Ralph Heidel - anyways.onto better things
Dyan - Midwest
Elliot Galvin - The Ruin
Wallners - End of Circles
Kylie Dailey - Way Past Taken
Pan Amsterdam - Confines
Foxwarren - 2
Kylie Dailey - Duncan
Not done many shows but got to see the Weather Station and they lived up to expectations.
Just realized they’re the only act on this list I knew about before this year, too. Many thanks to the DiS community for fostering this sort of exploration.
Shearling - Motherfucker, I Am Both: “Amen” And “Hallelujah”…
Despite working for a venue, I’ve missed more shows than seen, for various reasons. Not being able to see Chat Pile (with HIRS Collective supporting), despite having planned for it for months, was a soul crusher.
Wanted to post in the thread recommending one 2025 album, but I think I’ve got three joint favourite albums and not sure how to pick. So, chronologically:
Camille Schmidt - Nude #9
Debut album, released in January, it reminds me of Caroline Rose’s last album - some utterly beautiful moments, along with some catchy subdued synth/indie-pop. Really great/funny/vulnerable lyrics too. Often go back to this album if I’m unsure about what to listen to next.
Lisa Harres - Time As A Frame
They were a guest singer on another album this year, and I thankfully followed them so that this debut album later popped up. Their voice is utterly lovely throughout, along with the music (piano, clarinet, flute, saxophone). I can just imagine watching it being performed in a tiny seated venue in Europe and having it feel like a magical experience. Just beautiful.
Alicia Edelweiss - FURIE
As previously featured in Last Night’s Gig with her face hula-hooping whilst playing the accordion. Feminist Boyfriend is the catchy quirky indie-pop song, but The Fall, the Fly and the Water and I Once Was Young are my standouts - just majestically moving and emotive, with the latter sounding like a secret Soap&Skin cover. Speaking of covers, she also covers Daniel Johnston’s Walking The Cow, and somehow captures his lofi wonder but with an amazing vocal and instrumental crescendo. It’s a strange mix of an album which somehow fits together brilliantly.
If they’re not in my top 3 (or at least top 5) at the end of the year then I’ll be very happy with whatever else has appeared.
Oklou - Choke Enough
Unspecified Enemies - Romance In The Age of Adaptive Feedback
Helen Island - Silence is Priceless
Barker - Stochastic Drift
Los Thuthanaka - Los Thuthanaka
Songs:
Elaine Howley - Hold Me In A New Way
Gavsborg - I’m So Happy To See The Clouds
Feng - Kids From The West
Maria Somerville - Garden
Content Provider - E-System
First time I’m trying to put anything into any kind of list for the year.
Albums
billy woods - GOLLIWOG
McKinley Dixon - Magic, Alive!
Lifeguard - Ripped and Torn
Model/Actriz - Pirouette
Anika - Abyss
Horsegirl - Phonetics On and On
Open Head - What Is Success
YHWH Nailgun - 45 Pounds
Songs not from albums above
The Null Club - Slip Angle
Powerplant - Never Smile
Jeshi - Hurricane
Black Josh - Mossy Tree
The Mars Volta - The Iron Rose
Saya Gray - …Thus Is Why (I Don’t Spring 4 Love)
Fly Anakin - The Times
Djrum - Three Foxes Chasing Each Other
Decius - Ibrahim
I need to spend more time with the Jenny Hval, These New Puritans and Kara-Lis Coverdale records, but suspect they’ll all be contenders for me too come the end of the year.
Gigs
Quite a Rewire-heavy showing here…
Kali Malone @ Rewire, Den Haag
Lyra Pramuk @ Rewire
aya @ Rewire
AKA HEX (Aïsha Devi & Slikback) @ Rewire & Loko, Bristol
Rebecca Black @ Electric, Bristol
These New Puritans @ EartH, London
Sabres of Paradise @ Fabric, London
Finally had chance to think through my favourites of the first half of the year. Albums in descending order and tracks of the year in no particular order:
Top 10 albums Jan-June:
Lonnie Holley - Tonky
S.G. Goodman - Planting By The Signs
Sharon Van Etten - & The Attachment Theory
billy woods - GOLLIWOG
Turnpike Troubadours - The Price of Admission
Craig Finn - Always Been
Charley Crockett - Lonesome Drifter
Jason Isbell - Foxes In The Snow
clipping. - Dead Channel Sky
William Tyler - Time Indefinite
Top Tracks Jan-June:
Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH
Lonnie Holley - Seeds
S.G. Goodman - Snapping Turtle
Blood Orange feat The Duretti Column, Caroline Polachek, Tariq Al-Sabir & Daniel Caesar - The Field