As we reach the second half of January it feels a little late to be sharing our reflections on the releases of 2025. That said, it feels like a task like this shouldn’t be rushed. The extra time has given us more scope to consider, digest and review an incredible library of work released from our small corner of the world.
Similar to the momentous challenge of selecting our favourite singles, we found the task of reviewing the EPs and albums similarly difficult. There were many who just missed the cut and on another day would’ve been featured.
We are frequently pushed towards singles and short form content but there is something to be said for sitting down and taking a moment to fully appreciate a full body of work. With that sentiment in mind, here are the fifteen EPs and albums that left the biggest impression on our team during 2025. If you missed part one covering 30 to 16 you can revisit it here.
Selections by Aaron Cunningham, Ben Magee, Jonah Gardner, Robert Brown & Will Mac Aoidh.
15. Cosign – Remember When It’s Over
Perhaps the most forward-thinking release of the year, the new project from Martha Greer is a revelation. Elements of Japanese House, lo-fi and neu pop are held together by iridescent vocals and some really exciting production ideas. One to watch for 2026. BM
14. Róise – Television
Róise McHugh has been building momentum for a number of years but 2025 felt like the moment where it all clicked into place. Her debut EP ‘Television’ is steeped with chart ready hooks that are grounded in emotionally charged tales of heartbreak, disappointment and vulnerability. A profoundly intimate record that’s as brave as it is hypnotic. RB
13. Lord Jane – The Lifting of the Fog
A thrilling live act, Lord Jane have already proved more than capable of carrying that same energy into the studio and showed it again on 2025’s Lifting of the Fog. The talents of all five members emanates through each track, with the musicianship particularly evident in the layered guitar lines that have become their signature. Lyrically heavy, and emotive through Clodagh May’s vocal, everything ramps up on the brilliant closer ‘Kaleidoscopes’. AC
12. Makeshift Art Bar – Lackluster Writing Makes Fundamental Reading
Makeshift Art Bar exploded out of the gates in early 2025, turning heads with their first extended release to date. It’s rare for a young band to capture the energy and exhilaration of their live performances so succinctly on wax, but they’ve managed it. Electrifying from start to finish. BM
11. Huartan – Huartan
“Pioneer” seems a loaded word to use, suggesting images of settlers claiming land abroad for king and country. So when I say “Huartan’s self-titled album pioneers an exciting new wave of Gaeilge revival using a powerful fusion of modern stylings and ancient Irish heritage”, dispel any imperial imagery from your mind. Huartan makes it very clear they’re here to exorcise colonialism in all its forms – sounding incredible as they do so. Truly one of the most visionary albums from 2025. WMA
10. Áine Gordon – The Stray
2026 has gifted us a number of incredible debut releases and The Stray is arguably the best of the bunch. Her narrative-driven lyrics and evocative soundscapes capture everyday moments through themes of longing, resilience, and life’s uncertainties. Produced by the inimitable Joshua Burnside, it is a richly rewarding listen that is easy to get lost in and with the always on/frenetic nature of today’s society sometimes that’s all you want. RB
9. Morgana – Party Killer
The news that Saint Sister would be taking a break was met with dismay but every cloud has a silver lining. Without their hiatus, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get a solo release from Morgana MacIntyre. The folk undertones are gone, replaced by a modern electro pop aesthetic. Stylish, fun and sonically interesting, she still delivers on the emotional front too. We’d certainly like to hear more. RB
8. Cloakroom Q – Tune You Have To Dance To
If you only knew Cloakroom Q from their online presence, you might ask yourself if they’re being serious. Maybe you’re looking in on an extremely elaborate bit by a comic troupe. Well, idiot, you’re dead wrong and thirty seconds with their latest album would have proven it. Cloakroom Q are unapologetically themselves: Tune You Have To Dance To takes every musical idea they’ve ever had, builds elaborate but unpretentious works of art out of them and puts said art in front of a funhouse mirror. They’re a breath of fresh air, making grand works of music with impressive authenticity, wit and skill. WMA
7. Beauty Sleep – The Whole Damn Cake
Compared to their debut record, the Whole Damn Cake feels like a truer reflection of the individuals and personalities that make up Beauty Sleep. There is more emotion, more openness and a feeling that they are no longer afraid to be themselves. The best music doesn’t come from sterile rooms or joyless perfectionism — it comes from love, energy, and passion. The Whole Damn Cake has all three in abundance, and it shows. RB
6. Buí – 24
24 feels like handwritten notes and unsent letters scattered across songwriter Josh Healy’s desk, collecting together much of his recent work. However within this format is some of Healy’s best. His raw, vulnerable songwriting is perfectly delivered through the vehicle of lo-fi production and sparsely adorned indie. Full band songs are rare, his writing largely laid bare on acoustic guitars. A criminally underrated songwriter, content to put music out there at his own pace. AC
5. Niall McDowell – Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them
Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them, the first full-length release from Niall McDowell is a beautiful display of world-building and storytelling. There’s a gentle sway both in delivery and genres, as it veers softly between country, folk and singer-songwriter. Highlights include ‘I Know A Woman’ which is jagged beneath its exterior. BM
4. Careerist – Silver Birch Lodge
Six years on from their debut, cult heroes Careerist returned last year with album number two Silver Birch Lodge. The theme of endings runs through many of these songs, reflected in the nursing home referenced in the title. The band’s penchant for dynamics has never left them but here they explore new territory – while slacker road comparisons will forever abound, their reference library now includes the likes of Cate Le Bon and Prefab Sprout. Created through a tentative period for the band, its very release would give cause to celebrate but it’s also an incredible record. AC
3. Junk Drawer – Days of Heaven
Junk Drawer’s second album is one of two halves, but united and threaded throughout by a singular ethos: Cosmic Ulster. That spirit is explored through wit, sharp playing and often loose musical explorations. The first half of Days of Heaven shines with bright guitar playing a la Television, before both the needle and genre expectations at the halfway point – a conscious reset that allows Junk Drawer to bring out their psychedelic oddities in full. It’s the sound of a band unshackled by expectation and confident in their taste and craft five years on from their debut. AC
2. George Houston – TODC
The latest in George Houston’s discography sees the full bloom of his songwriting prowess. Boundary pushing both socially and genre-wise, The Donegal songwriter is political, petty and proud on his fourth LP. Forever one to keep you on your toes, funny and quirky lyricism and off-kilter rhythms are the flavour of the day throughout. BM
1. Joshua Burnside – Teeth of Time
Readers of my review last February are already aware of my thoughts on Teeth Of Time but praise for an album of this calibre bears repeating. An album that takes duality – adulthood/childhood, life/death, modern/traditional – and uses intricate production, composition and storytelling to create a release that’s instantly timeless. Every detail on Teeth of Time feels purposeful, intelligent and considered – like any true work of art should. WMA
Songs of the Year 2025
If singles are more your cup of tea, shoot on over to our Northern Irish Songs of the Year 2025: 50 – 26 countdown and Northern Irish Songs of the Year 2025: 25 – 1 for some inspiration.
