THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2025 (SO FAR)
We’re now over halfway through the year and it’s safe to say that 2025 has been… a lot. In the midst of all the chaos, many of us have turned to music for a sense of escape or release. Thankfully, this year has delivered a wealth of remarkable records providing space for solace and joy.
At Some Other Time, we’ve been keeping track of the albums that have truly stayed with us, the ones we’ve returned to time and again. The list we’ve put together is short, but as eclectic as ever, reflecting a wide spectrum of sounds and voices that have caught our attention this year. These are the albums that have shaped our 2025 so far…
EUSEXUA - FKA Twigs
EUSEXUA is the third album from FKA twigs. The record is an instant classic, Ray of Light for a whole new generation. It combines techno and hard dance energy with twigs’ signature sensuality, creating a sound that feels both ethereal and futuristic. A bold, body-moving meditation on desire, identity, and intimacy.
A Paradise In The Hold - Yazz Ahmed
A Paradise in the Hold is a rich, immersive journey from Yazz Ahmed. A master of blending Western sounds and Eastern flavours, she crafts an album that moves like a mirage: shimmering, unpredictable, and deeply transportive. Ahmed’s trumpet is both commanding and spiritual, guiding us through a sonic landscape as sweet as jasmine in the cooling evening air. It’s boundary-pushing, emotionally resonant, and completely knocked our socks off.
Sierra Tracks - Vega Trails
Sierra Tracks is a quietly breathtaking listen from Vega Trails, released via one of our favourite jazz labels, Gondwana Records. Here, Milo Fitzpatrick expands his sonic palette from his debut Tremors in the Static, introducing the cello to create something even more expansive. Cinematic in its scope and rich in texture, the record feels as vast and windswept as the Spanish mountain ranges that inspired it.
Fancy That - PinkPantheress
On this 20-minute romp, PinkPantheress distils a generation’s formative influences into a single record, repackaged perfectly for the TikTok age. Cleverly chosen samples and slick production make this a whistle-stop joyride, fast, fun, and full of feeling. It’s a brief listen, but one that taps directly into the heart of the current cultural zeitgeist.
Hawalat - Charif Megarbane
Our admiration for Charif Megarbane is well documented over here at Some Other Time, and Hawalat is yet another gem from one of music’s most consistently inventive artists. Channelling the spirit of vintage Mediterranean funk, library music, and global psychedelia, it feels like a crate-digger’s dream. Megarbane’s DIY ethos and relentless creative drive shine through every track, making Hawalat both deeply nostalgic and completely fresh.
Lotus - Little Simz
Lotus sees Little Simz at her most vulnerable and self-assured. Over lush production and heavy percussion, she reflects on growth, love, and betrayal with razor-sharp clarity and emotional depth. Perhaps her most fiery record to date, Lotus cements Simz as one of the most complete artists of her generation.
All The Quiet (Part 1&2) - Joe Armon-Jones
All The Quiet sees Joe Armon-Jones weaving jazz, soul, electronic, and dub influences into a rich, immersive soundscape. The album reckons with a future bereft of music, balancing lush, meditative grooves with bursts of vibrant energy. Dub’s deep bass and spacious echoes add hypnotic depth, giving the record a laid-back, self-assured feel. It’s a bold, forward-thinking statement from a true innovator.
viagr aboys - Viagra Boys
viagr aboys is classic Viagra Boys: raw, chaotic, and unapologetically confrontational. The album blends punk with sharp social commentary, delivered through jagged riffs and snarling vocals. It’s loud, messy, and full of darkly humorous lyrics — “I'm subscribed to your mom's OnlyFans; I spent five bucks a month to get pictures of her flappy giblets,” for example. The record is a wild ride that skewers modern masculinity and societal absurdities. With viagr aboys, the band confirm they are one of punk’s most fearless and unpredictable voices.
Sheva - Nadav Schneerson
Sheva is a daring debut from one of the most promising names in UK jazz, drummer Nadav Schneerson. Blending modal, meditative playing with Middle Eastern melodies and contemporary improvisation, the album creates rich, immersive soundscapes. Schneerson’s nuanced drumming drives the music forward, weaving a path between tradition and modernity. Sheva is a heartfelt, confident opening statement from an incredibly ambitious artist.
More - Pulp
More marks a striking return for Pulp — classically sharp and theatrical. Jarvis Cocker sounds as biting and charismatic as ever, delivering reflections on ageing and desire with his signature wit and drama. The production is slick, bridging classic Britpop with the darker, more expansive stylings of Scott Walker. More doesn’t just lean on nostalgia (ahem, Oasis); it proves Pulp still have plenty to say and they’re doing so brilliantly.
