Another year, another blog. These are my favourite indie albums released during 2025. It does what it says on the tin this blog. If you like the sound of any of these albums then investigate further. I've given you social links where I found them to purchase digital or physical copies if you want to support these excellent artists. Please read and share the blog on whatever platforms you use to get these recommendations out as wide as possible.
Also here's an Apple playlist with some highlights from the albums to play whilst you read on.
#30 Blackwood Rediffusion - The Rediffusion Times
A trippy lo-fi solo journey over ten well crafted songs with great lyrics. Influenced by the sounds of Brighton and the Welsh Valleys, It doffs it's cap to the alternative musical legends of the past on Misfits: Sounds '25, and calls for the youth to rebel on Rise Up. Other highlights include Strawberry Lemonade, Seventh Son and the final baggy-sized Are Our Spooks Electric?
Social links: Facebook Instagram Blackwood Rediffusion (@rediffusion.bsky.social) — Bluesky
CD available from The Rediffusion Times - elasticStage
Welsh alternative shoegazing duo Warm Coat have been releasing songs for five years. Last year they moved onto EPs and in 2025 they released their debut album - Ambition. The brooding claustraphobic opener Halls sets the scene - the scene being a bit of a dark gothic guitar and synth fest with Ian Curtis lyrics. The album is designed as a journey through the key moments of life ending with a trademark Warm Coat long track on the excellent Becoming Our Parents. Favourites: Halls, Becoming Our Parents, and Making A Living.
Social links: @warmcoat.bsky.social — Bluesky Instagram
Bandcamp: Ambition | Warm Coat
#28 Red Cavalry - Alas, So Long
The twee jangle popsters from Aberystwyth have had a stellar year releasing their debut album along with non-album singles and the Democracy Died EP. Alas, So Long has been at least five years in the making and has rounded up much of the Red Cavalry catalogue of indie love songs. But for every happy love song there are three of lovelorn infactuation of someone unattainable and cursing her boyfriend. Favourites include First Fire, Second Best, Red House, Give Me A Sign and Unread Books.
Social links: Facebook Instagram Red Cavalry (@redcavalry.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Alas,So Long | Red Cavalry
#27 The Way After - Still To Breathe
The Way After are a melodic indie trio currently split between Coventry and London who are planning a full length album for 2026 but to whet your appetite they have released this mini album /EP in September. They are influenced by The Beatles, The Smiths, Elliot Smith and R.E.M. Still to Breathe is a haunting collection of songs with aucoustic guitars to the fore and great songwriting on display. Current Fave: Love Seeks No Easy Way Out
Social links: Instagram Facebook The Way After (@thewayafter.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Still To Breathe | The Way After Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#26 The Beths - Straight Line Was A Line
New Zealand Indie band The Beths fourth album contains many highlights. Title track Straight Line Was A Lie deals with the non linear progression through life. There's ups and downs and circular patterns that occur in every life and album. No Joy deals with the numbing side effects of the singer's medication which she had to ditch. It's very chipper despite the theme. Favourites: No Joy, Metal, Straight Line Was A Lie.
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: Straight Line Was A Lie | The Beths
#25 Keys - Acid Communism
The band Keys from South Wales start to explore their inner space assisted by some great harmonic psychadelic pop. The album and single artwork are awesome too and remind me of the 80s graphics from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The album is named after Mark Fisher's concept of Acid Communism which I think means a rejection of both capitalism and realism, and that tomorrow can be different and better than today.
Social links: Facebook Instagram
#24 Jetstream Pony - Bowerbirds and Blue Things
Jetstream Pony continue their jangly indie pop journey with their second album. The band are based in Croydon and Brighton and release music on Spinout Nuggets. Great music and the lyrics raise this well above bubblegum nothingness. Favourite songs: The Relativity of Wrong, Bubblegum Nothingness, and Look Alive!
Social links: Instagram Facebook @jetstreampony.bsky.social on Bluesky
Bandcamp: Bowerbirds and Blue Things | Jetstream Pony
#23 Threatre Royal - A Change Of Weather
Sixth album from the 5-piece from Kent's Medway Towns. An album with themes about growing up, thinking of the past, dealing with where you, and wondering what the hell just happened. The songs and music is top notch and its available on physical formats on Spinout Nuggets label. Favourite songs: Souvenir, Saturday Son, Into The River, & Welsh Coastal Towns.
Socials: Facebook Instagram @theatreroyal.bsky.social — Bluesky
Bandcamp: A Change Of Weather | Theatre Royal
#22 The Radio Field - Air and Sunlight
The second album from the Dusseldorf Jangle-Meisters surpassing their 2023 debut Don'ts and Dos. They share male / female vocals on most songs and the music is varied enough throughout to keep the attention. Album opener It's Alright is a cheery start reminding the listener "you still have air and sunlight". The second half begins with a whistful melancholy instrumnental that recalls The Smiths before blasting into the stratosphere with the giddy highs of What It Takes. The closer Same mixes indie twangy rock with a wonderful shoegaze ending. When it ends you are tempted to play it again. And you should!
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: Air and Sunlight | The Radio Field
#21 Sparky Bosque - Suffering From Happiness
Oxford's Sparky Bosque is a top tunesmith and songwriter and there are many highlights on his fourth album. Suffering from Happiness has an emotional pull with its lyrics. It's a varied listen with new instruments appearing on each track including piano, grungy guitars, and a hammond organ.
Favourite songs: When You're Around, I'm So Cold, and Detrritus of Life.
Social links: Instagram Facebook Sparky Bosque (@sparkybosque.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Suffering From Happiness | Sparky Bosque
#20 Autocamper - What Do You Do All Day?
Autocamper have released their debut album What Do You Do All Day? Me, I write blogs and listen to jangle pop. Autocamper are Manchester's latest C86 jangle pop band with a hint of The Wedding Present, melodic ramshakle tunes full of guitars, organs and both male and female vocalists. It's got the lot. It even has a song about dogsitting for the vicar's wife. Jangle Pop label Slumberland Records have snapped this up - and the US label must be involved with at least a third of the artists on my list this year. Favourite songs: Again, Proper, Dogsitting.
Bandcamp: ▶︎ What Do You Do All Day? | Autocamper
#19 Mode - Situation
The second album from Adelaide's premier Britpop band, has another batch of fun upbeat indie songs influenced by Blur, Oasis, The Charlatans and the history of recorded music. The final song title's spelling is a clue to the glam rock influence of Slade. Favourite songs: Strahnge Girl, Pictures of You, and Coz I Know.
Social links: Facebook Instagram Marc Garnett (@eotprecords.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Mode Situation | MODE Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#18 Massage - Coaster
L.A. band Massage are a jangly indie dream pop band. Coaster is the name of their third album and their first in four years. They are new to me and I love discovering and sharing indie bands - so into my albums of the year list they go. Favourite songs: Daffy Duck, When You Go, and We're Existential.
Social links: Instagram
Bandcamp: Coaster | Massage
#17 Kevin Robertson - Yellow Painted Moon
Yellow Painted Moon is the fifth solo album from Aberdeen singer songwriter Kevin Robertson and its another great collection of catchy jangly power pop songs. It mixes the sound of Teenage Fanclub with The Bryds. His son Scott plays many of the instruments and joins in on the harmonies. Kevin and Scott are also part of The Vapour Trails who will be coming back with new material in 2026. Favourite songs: We Found The Summer, Kings Of Most Of Yesterday, Of The Night, and The Harbinger.
Social links: Instagram Facebook
Bandcamp: Yellow Painted Moon | Kevin Robertson Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#16 Novelty Island - Jigsaw Causeway
A lofi lightly psychadelic record from Liverpool based Novelty Island. The new album is up there with How Are You Coping With This Century their 2001 debut. The influence of The Beatles 1967 output is strong. At times you imagine that it is George Harrison's guitar and is that Ringo playing some of the drum fills (He's not I checked the album notes). The album has plenty going on with brass, organs, wave samples, and a woozy atmosphere complete with some Tom McConnell's surealist lyrics. Favourites include The Only Train Driver In England, Someone Disappearing, and I'm Glad It's Not Sunny. FAB!
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: Jigsaw Causeway | Novelty Island
#15 The Telephone Numbers - Scarecrow II
Imagine a jangly Belle and Sebastian from San Fransisco and you are almost there with The Telephone Numbers sound. They describe their music as "pure pop for sad people". They use violins and trumpets to great effect thoughout the album and the songwriting is excellent. Favourite songs include The Telephone Numbers Theme, Hemlock, This Job Is Killing Me, and Be Right Down. Their second album is out now on Slumberland Records.
Social links: Instagram
Bandcamp: Scarecrow II | The Telephone Numbers
#14 Voldo - Box Of Chocolates
Nunny Boy, Kyle, Amanda & Jimmy have returned with a fantastic new album from the Banger Factory after a three year gap since 2022's Melting Pot. The Voldo mix of rock, trip hop, drum and bass, and electro is still thrown in the blender. Voldo remain difficult to pigeon hole. A Scottish Gorillaz is probably the closest reference I can think of to describe their sound to anyone who hasn't heard them before. The songs Astoria, Bitter End, The Crow, and Hurry The Mob Are Coming are my favourites but on Life is Like A Box Of Chocolates you never know what you're gonna get.
Social links: Facebook Instagram Nunny Boy / Voldo 🇺🇦 (@nunnyboy.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Box Of Chocolates | Voldo Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#13 Solar Eyes - Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
Solar Eyes second album is inspired by the Quentin Tarantino's movie Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, and presumably Death in Vegas's The Contino Sessions and Primal Scream's XTRMNTR album. Opening song Murdering Hippies echoing the Scream's Kill All Hippies. It is an album of dark druggy vibes paired with killer sing along indie rock tunes. There are a few narco love songs and some Wild West desert rock. Favourite songs include Mr. Magpie, No Rider on the Horse and An Eagle Flies Alone.
Social links: Instagram Facebook
Bandcamp: Live Freaky! Die Freaky! | Solar Eyes
#12 Yon Mon - You Bedda Believe It
The debut solo album from Roy Fletcher formerly of The Shed Project. He teams up with MC Tunes on the epic opener Better Days, and The Selfie Queen. You Bedda Believe It contains songs about Broken Britain, nostalgia for the past, hope for the future, love, narcissism and war mongers. There are some catchy singles here that instantly put a smile on your face. The Roses and Ian Brown records are nailed on influences here and a great chariety cover of The Stone Roses' demo The Sun Still Shines was also released this year. Favourites: Shine On, Picture This, Better Days & Can't See Me.
Social links: Facebook Instagram Yon Mon (@yonmon.bsky.social) — Bluesky
CD & Vinyl: Yon Mon - You Bedda Believe it – Wax and Beans
#11 La Nouvelle Musique - La Nouvelle Musique
La Nouvelle Musique are a London married couple who have had a prolific year releasing their eponymous debut album, The Premonitions EP, and a couple of stand alone singles. La Nouvelle Musique is Velvet Underground & Nico influenced slice of psychadelic folk Joanna Beck has the most haunting voices you hear this year. Vinyl available from the highly reliable Fruits de Mer label. Favourites: The Mirror, Time Ticks Slowly, and Catalonia.
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: La Nouvelle Musique | La Nouvelle Musique
#10 The Crystal Teardrop - ...Is Forming
The debut albul from the psychadelic rock band from Stoke-On-Trent is a blast. It's trippy, with an elevated pulse. They sound like a hip 60's garage beat combo who should be playing Austin Powers's Electric Pyschadelic Pussycat Swingers Club. Favourites include Nine Times Nine, Last Chance, and Stealing Suggestions. You're gonna dig it. It's a happening, Man!
Social links: Facebook Instagram The Crystal Teardrop (@thecrystalteardrop.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: The Crystal Teardrop...Is Forming | The Crystal Teardrop
#9 Pastel - Souls In Motion
The debut album from Manchester's Pastel arrived in January 2025 almost five years since their first single. Pastel channel the spirit of The Verve rocking out a stadium. This album is a collection of some massive tunes that have graced the early 2020s. My only gripe is the song Run Rabbit Run wasn't included on the album, but it's still out there. Favourites: Isaiah, Deeper Than Holy, Leave A Light On (Velvet Storm).
Social Links: Facebook Instagram
Merch: VINYL // Pastel - Souls In Motion LP | Spirit Of Spike Island
#8 Sandra's Wedding - Arturus Rex
From out of Goole, Yorkshire comes Sandra's Wedding who have released Artutus Rex an orchestral jangle pop album with some beutiful music on it. Weary vocals reminiscent of Paul Heaton and emotional lyrics bring a smile and a tear sometimes simultaneously. The strings players elevate these songs to the next level. (That means they are at Level 2). Favourite songs: Sail Away, Shuck The Pearl, and Good Morning, England.
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: Arturus Rex | Sandra's Wedding
#7 Soft Hearted Scientists - The Phantom of Canton
Welsh psychadelic prog pop band The Soft Hearted Scientists have been releasing albums for 20 years, but I only discovered them on previous album Waltz of the Weekend. The Phantom of Canton is another top album of surrealist lyrics, expansive trippy tunes interspersed with compacted pop gems, under the influence of The Beatles & Super Furry Animals. With a running time of 87 minutes and 16 tracks you certainly get value for money here. Despite the length this album doesn't drag, time flies, and occassionaly ceases to exist. "An hour of my time spent with you is sublime". Favourites: We don't have favourites but Wonder Girl and Hello Hello are good introductions to the album. Or for the more adventurous try The Canyon (Smile of the Sun Eyed Woman).
Social links: Facebook Instagram
Bandcamp: The Phantom of Canton | Soft Hearted Scientists
#6 MICHIE - Explore
The studio wizard formerly known as the John Michie Collective continues his sonic adventures with 16 songs condensed to 40 minutes. It is a headphone record as there's so much going on here you'll be drawn in again and again. Your postman probably won't be whistling this but they might chill out to it if they're hip enough. It's a brilliant experimental album crammed with catchy moments that have a tendancy to leap in unexpected directions and many of the songs are sub two minutes, blink and they've gone mixing into the next idea. Words don't do it justice so just put it on and explore it.
Social links: @MICHIEmusic | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree
Bandcamp: Explore | MICHIE
#5 Shapes Like People - Ticking Haze
Following the trio of brilliant albums from The Shop Window, reviewed in this blog in the previous years, Carl Mann began writing songs for a new project which he thought would suit a female singer. He asked his wife Kat to record the demos and they quickly decided the new line up was complete. They share vocal duties on some tracks and the record is influenced by many genres from jangle, indiepop, shoegaze and the great female fronted bands of the past. If you like The Sundays, Mazzy Star, Cocteeau Twins etc then you will love this new duo. Carl and Kat have already recorded a follow up for 2026 so there's plenty more pop treats to come.
Social links: Instagram Facebook shapes like people (@shapeslikepeople.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Ticking Haze | Shapes Like People Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#4 Andrew Johnson - Exercise In Style
Exercise in Sytle is an exceptional album from the prolific Andrew Johnson. It's an entertaining ablum that came together in 2025 trying to avoid the cliches of your average middle-aged singer songwriter. There are some remarkable songs here that prove Andy's at the top of his game. Inertia is a great lament performed and produced in the style of a Bond theme and the final acoustic track Paths of Desire is equal parts sweet, sour and creepy. Atomic Mushrooms - the theme to the year's greatest post apocolptic comedy music show is another sensation tune - imagine the Rob Collins of The Charlatans going acid funk bonkers. Favourite songs: Inertia, Death to Yacht Rock, Exercise In Style, Paths of Desire & Atomic Mushrooms.
Social links: Instagram Facebook Andy Johnson (@andyshoebox.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: Music | Andrew Johnson Interview on the Daft Pom Show
#3 The Cords - The Cords
Jangle all the way - introducing The Cords a Scottish sister duo steeped in the blissed out C86 jangle pop tradition. The Cords are very young, very talented and have released a debut album full of georgeous catchy short pop songs full of harmonies, guitars and energetic fun. They have supported Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, The Vaselines, BMX Bandits and The Primitaves already and they are well matched with those indie legends. Definitely ones to watch and listen to.
Social links: Instagram Facebook
Bandcamp: The Cords | The Cords
#2 Senses - All The Heavens
The difficult second album opens with the sound of an orchestra tuning up, some phat beats, chiming guitars and a sampled quote. And we are straight in with the first of ten excellent songs from the Coventry band. All The Heavens includes more electro and dance elements than Little Pictures Without Sound and channels the soulful and experimental spirit of Primal Scream's Screamadelica with the addition of Spiritualized and indie guitar athems. The quality remains high throughout whether its a blissed out heartbroken track or a pumping banger.
Social links: Instagram Facebook senses (@sensesforever.bsky.social) — Bluesky
Bandcamp: all the heavens - CRC002 | senses
Merch: The Lathums - Official The Lathums Store - Shop Exclusive Music & Merch
My previous Album Of The Year blogs
