Albums Of The Year 2025

After much listening and lively debate, here are our Top 75 Albums of 2025

Want to read more?

Sign up to Electronic Sound Premium to gain access to every post, video, special offers, and more. 100%, all you can eat, no commitment, cancel any time.

Already a premium member? Log in here

ES Staff

The Best of Bergen (Via Tromsø)

byJeremy Allen

The Norwegian press came up with the name Bergen Wave to describe the large number of bands and producers – of all shapes and genres – that developed in the west coast city of Bergen in the late 1990s. We’ve picked out 10 of the best electronic albums associated with the movement, although we’re starting the story in another place at another time…

LLong Reads

15 minute read

Independence Day

byMatt Parker

The first weekly Independent Chart was published on 19 January 1980. We talk to Cherry Red’s Iain McNay and Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis, the instigator and the catalyst, about how punk rock and a garden shed ignited the indie label revolution

LLong Reads

8 minute read

Children Of The Bong: Smoke Signals

byKris Needs

Marking the 30th anniversary of ‘Sirius Sounds’, Children Of The Bong are back with a collection of remixes that reimagine their 1990s psychedelic/acid/dub frequencies for the 21st century

LLong Reads

6 minute read

New Wave Of New Age

byCarl Griffin

Call it ambient, call it deep listening – whatever you call it, the gentle noise and healing power of The New Wave Of New Age is taking over. We talk to some of the artists and labels and hear why this once maligned genre is experiencing such a healthy second wind

LLong Reads

13 minute read

OMD: Bend your Body to the Will of the Machine

byPush

Four years on from the acclaimed ‘English Electric’, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark are preparing to release their difficult 13th album. It’s called ‘The Punishment Of Luxury’ and it’s full of surprises. Are you ready for a bit of bending?

LLong Reads

9 minute read

Editors: Heavy Heavy Monster Sound

byJeremy Allen

With experimental noisenik Blanck Mass now fully ensconced in the ranks, Editors have gone bigger, deeper and darker into electro-industrial territory on their thrilling new long-player, ‘EBM’. Prepare to have your face melted…