Into the final month of new releases for 2025, whaddya got?
Voices from the Lake - II
The long-awaited follow up to their 2012 s/t debut. Hypnotic ambient techno from Donato Dozzy & Neel. This also follows Dozzy’s Magda from last year and sounds just as brilliant.
Confidence Man - Active Scenes Vol One
ConMan’s latest EP is a “hedonistic love letter to club culture”. Two new songs, a few remixes and a Sweely rework of ‘Don’t You Know I’m In a Band’.
Brown Maple- if we were never friends
Emo out of Toledo, Ohio. Has a bit of an early 00s feel to it. Seems good enough on first listen. FFO TRSH, Leisure Hour, Kerosene Heights
Melody’s Echo Chamber - Unclouded
Psychedelic pop rock. Was waiting for this one to be released before I start my laborious AOTY process.
Just the one for me this week.
Stara Rzeka - WYNOŚ SIĘ Z MOJEGO DOMU
Polish experimental band return with their first album in 10 years, leaning more heavily into a bit more of a droney psychedelic folk sound.
Ólöf Arnalds – Spíra
Icelandic singer-songwriter returns with her first album in over a decade; stripped-back folk featuring guitar, charango and her distinctive vocals, mostly recorded in single takes.
Nice. Loved the last one
Laura Cannell - Brightly Shone the Moon
That Laura Cannell never stops. Her 13th solo album is a set of alternative Christmas songs on violin and pipe organ.
36 - a warn static sphere
Hyper prolific solo artist 36 releases what I assume will be more gorgeous, warm ambient music
Various Artists - ISOS five seasons: 秋
Ambient, deconstructed and experimental dance music. Second in the five seasons compilation series curated by the Tokyo-based rave collective Minna-no-Kimochi. Enjoyed what I’ve heard from a quick skim of this.
Various Artists - Batov Records Artists 5
Tis the season for label roundup compilations. Here’s Batov Records’ offering of Middle Eastern funk, beats and soul. Name your price on Bandcamp.
Tom from editors has a new one
Tom Smith - There Is Nothing In The Dark Which Isn’t There In The Light
And new Anna of the north
Anna of the north - girl in a bottle
First one was a classic. This is going to delay my year end decisions 
TEED - Always With Me
Back having acronymised his name from the now totally extinct, Totally Extinct Enormous Dinosaurs. I’m presuming this will be more indiepop housey sort of stuff.
Jade - That’s Showbiz Baby! The Encore
Who the FUCK does she thing she is, CRJ?! The former Little Mixer adds a Side B to her very enjoyable debut solo album
Never been that into his vocal style but I think he’s a great producer.
Swansea Sound - All Is Calm
Heavenly/Pooh Sticks wry janglepop supergroup compile their previous Christmas songs and add a couple of new ones. Vinyl release comes with “Swansea Sound balloons, a hand-stamped paper hat, a ‘carol service’ lyric sheet, a set of cracker jokes about other bands, plus a personalised greetings card signed by members of Swansea Sound.”
L.O.E (last of eden) - Chiaroscuro
Post rock
Lunar Lock - Stay low for a reason
post punk / goth
This French band really like The Chameleons.
Take this nonsense to the worst album covers thread…
