Top 3 records of 2025
WE LOST THE SEA - A Single Flower
This is one of my best albums of the year, and Thorsten did a great interview with Matt about it before their U.S. tour, which I highly recommend watching.
ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF - Iconoclasts
One of those dark and beautiful droning albums you must listen to if you’ve missed it. I’m drawn to melancholic music, and Iconoclasts is one I’ve listened to several times. You can read Stephan’s review about it here.
EF - Give me Beauty… or Give me Death! (20th anniversary)
I’ve already said a lot about this album here, but it’s definitely one of my albums of the year, not only because of the music, but also because of its intention.
Top 5 albums VoS missed in 2024
SWANS - Birthing
Although it’s always difficult for me to choose a #1 album, I feel pretty confident putting this one at the top of my 2025 list, mostly because of its “all-in” approach. When a seven-song album runs nearly two hours, you know there’s no intention to please anyone; it’s as raw as music should be. It’s almost like David Bowie with Blackstar or Leonard Cohen with You Want It Darker, artists who had nothing left to prove, fully aware of what lay ahead. There’s a purity in that kind of art. The difference with Michael Gira, though, and what I think takes even more courage, is that his future is still unfolding.
JESSICA MOSS - Unfolding
This album is one I’ve been spinning a lot since its release! Obviously, as a Godspeed You! Black Emperor fan, I loved her previous album, Galaxy Heart… but for some reason, I heard GY!BE a little too much in the crescendos and overall mix. Of course, when Constellation puts out a new release, you know it will have that signature sound, but I’m more the type to enjoy exploration and that’s exactly what Unfolding offered me! It’s more drone‑ish and had a darker tone in the mix. I might be wrong, but I felt like she had more freedom to do something different on this album. I really like it, and it makes me very curious to hear what she will offer in the future.
MONO - Forever Home: Live in Tokyo with Orchestra PITREZA
Thorsten gave a quite unique interview with Taka in 2024, but in my opinion, MONO’s live album from 2025 is one of the year’s greatest releases — truly a masterpiece! As a fan of cinematic music and Post‑Rock, a live album with an orchestra is something I can hardly not appreciate. I especially love that they focused mostly on songs from their latest release, OATH!
EMMA RUTH RUNDLE - Music from the Bella Vista
She’s always been my favorite girl, and although I love her passionate voice and the distorted acoustic guitar sound, I’ll always be a fanboy of everything she does, especially when she puts herself in such a vulnerable position! My biggest regret is not being quick enough to get my hands on the vinyl edition of this.
TOWN PORTAL - Grindwork
This one is much more energetic and totally for fans of Slint and The Mars Volta! One of my great discoveries of 2025, and I hope, and believe, we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the coming years.
5 other good things in 2025
1. WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY - The third movie in the Knives Out-series. I didn’t really fall for the second one, but I’m glad I gave this one a chance! Daniel Craig is amazing. If you like mystery thrillers, this one is a solid pick, with a nice touch of humor as well.
SLOW HORSES - Season 5 - It’s season 5, but if you’re not familiar with the series, I highly recommend going back to the beginning, you’ll quickly fall in love with all the characters, each of whom has that little something special… and is a little “off” in their own way. Gary Oldman is a lovely motherfucker… hard to explain! Gotta watch it
A COMPLETE UNKONW - Bob Dylan movie - It was released in December 2024, so I’m cheating a bit, but it’s an amazing movie that shows an artist truly standing behind his new songs. Real artists don’t last because they have the best voice; they remain alive because they have something to say.
MY SLEEPING KARMA - Live at Freak Valley Festival - If you’re looking for a great live jam and also a kick-ass festival to attend in the future, check out this live gig. I’ll always praise Germans (and this isn’t flattery toward Thorsten here)… they just have it. They know how to offer the good stuff to real music lovers. You may enjoy my Best of FVF playlist here, but watch this!
