2025 feels like quite a good year for people listening to music and new music especially. Even if the economics of the industry continue to seem awkwardly tilted in a way that is slowly draining the supply side, some indie labels seem to be able to live off their steaming revenues. Only for now though, while AI bots, songs and playlists are lurking around like that raclette cheese smell.
Musically though, the album album made a bit of a return in 2025. Topping most lists were Rosalía and her 12 language kaleidoscope of styles, and Geese delivering not only a chaotic indie rock album but also a rising cultural monument in Cameron Winter’s Carnegie Hall solo performance in December. Then there were Bad Bunny‘s bomba bouquet, Wednesday‘s small town romance rock, Patrick Watson losing and finding his voice, Turnstile fan-faring through Europe, and Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga of course.
Somewhat overlooked – the mighty Wu-Tang Clan released a new album in April: Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman produced by RZA and Mathematics and it is actually quite a fantastic listen! Wet Leg followed up their phenomenal debut with moisturizer which also went down smoothly. John Glacier released Like A Ribbon, a truly wonderful album album all the way.
Household names, that left their mark. Naturally Team Poule’s focus rested somewhat off the beaten tracks, and there were quite a few great albums by artists without churning marketing machines behind them that gave direction to the twelve calendar months of 2025 and will continue to guide beyond.
In no particular order.
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Is Tropical – Cola Spirit | London, UK | Axis Mundi Records | February 2025 (Spotify)
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Ten Fé – Still in Love | London, UK | Some kinda love, Oyster Entertainment | January 2025 (Spotify)
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ThiQ – The New Cats | PAINT / Allah-Las offspring from Los Angeles, California | Grape Street Inc. | April 2025
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Pencil – Bohemian Clutter EP | London, UK | self-released | May 2025
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Rumpistol – Nebula | Copenhagen, Denmark | The Rust Music | June 2025
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The Circling Sun – Orbits | Auckland, New Zealand | Soundway Records | July 2025
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Charif Megarbane – Hawalat | Berlin, Germany | Habibi Funk | July 2025
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Search Results – Go Mutant | Dublin, Ireland | Knob Polish | May 2025
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Stray Fossa – Blossomer | Munich, Germany | Broken Palace | August 2025
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Brooke Combe – Dancing At The Edge Of The World | Glasgow, Scotland | Modern Sky UK | January 2025 (Spotify)
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Overmacht – Magonia | Jacco Gardner does not miss, by way of Valencia, Spain | Abstrakce Records | September 2025
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Nitrada – Everything That Is Not Counted Will Be Lost | Hamburg, Germany | 2nd Rec | June 2025
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Palace Winter – Confessions of Mr. Nowhere | Copenhagen, Denmark | self-released | April 2025 (Spotify)
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Peel Dream Magazine – Taurus | Los Angeles, California | Topshelf Records | October 2025
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Fitness Forever – Amore e Salute | Napoli, Italy | Elefant Records | November 2024
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If you are now thinking, damn I wish I knew about these records sooner, do not worry but follow the official Poule d’Or playlist over on, err, Spotify. It is updated regularly and contained all these tracks at some point last year. For more info, click here.
Join the Poule d’Or mailing list – updates once or twice a month with new music, concerts and just general music things Poule.
Also, as you have made it this far, you do seem to enjoy a good list, so maybe check Team Poule’s picks for calendar years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 … and try finding those vintages on Spotify: 2010, 2011 and 2012.
