5. “Whatever The Weather II” - Whatever The Weather
Released March 14, 2025 through Ghostly International.File under: electronic ambient
Loraine James, the innovative London-based electronic musician, continues to explore the depths of ambient soundscapes under her alias, Whatever The Weather, with the release of her second album, Whatever The Weather II. The album’s cohesive sound, intentional composition, and emotional depth offer a rich listening experience that invites introspection and connection. James’ ability to convey complex emotions through minimalistic arrangements solidifies her position as a compelling figure in contemporary electronic music.
Listen to “Whatever The Weather II” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
4. “Under Tangled Silence” - Djrum
Released April 25, 2025 through Houndstooth.File under: electronic
While I failed to highlight this album when it was released, Under Tangled Silence by Djrum is one I have returned to listen to dozens of times this year. Ambient piano tunes dreamily accompanying soulful strings to the backdrop of raindrops and distorted birdsong, eventually punctuated by staccato rhythms and beats… and that’s just track one! The album evolves in and out of classical music to electronic throughout, and is never far from my turntable.
Listen to “Under Tangled Silence” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
3. “Stochastic Drift” - Barker
Released April 4, 2025 through Smalltown Supersound.File under: electronic
Barker’s second album certainly lives up to the title Stochastic Drift; syncopated beats overlayed giving a sense of drifting between rhythms, staccato snares interspersed with uneven tempos, bells and keys cut short and starting seemingly mid-note, pads giving space to the sometimes seemingly condensed spaces, all lending to a feeling of randomness, measurable but elusive. This is one to be appreciated with good headphones or stereo system. The chaos Barker creates is beautiful, as if the music itself is a fractal, fracturing and growing from the centre. It’s as alien as it is familiar, but never oppressive, scary or dangerous. And don’t worry, after it’s all over you’ll still be here on earth, but will have returned form a journey of discovery, and will be all the richer for this experience.
Listen to “Stochastic Drift” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
2. “On Being” - Max Cooper
Released February 28, 2025 through Mesh.File under: electronic
On On Being Max Cooper has asked his audience to give him themes to work from by asking then questions he would then react to. He asked of them questions such as “What would you like to express which you cannot in everyday life?” and “What is it like to exist inside your head?” In response he has created a series of tracks based on these questions in his own reaction to the answers. Song titles like “I Am In A Church In Gravesend Listening To Old Vinyl And Drinking Coffee” and You Couldn’t Love Me Enough And I’ve Spent My Whole Life Making Up For It” are some of the examples given. The resulting album On Being is a rich collage of shared experience, and a meditative journey through human experience.
Listen to “On Being” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
And my choice for Number 1 Electronic Album of 2025 is:
1. “Landscape From Memory” - Rival Consoles
Released July 4, 2025 through Erased Tapes.File under: electronic/dance
Landscape From Memory is the ninth studio album from Ryan Lee West AKA Rival Consoles. For fans of Rival Consoles’ previous albums, this is a welcome return to the artist’s previous music, but with a fresh new lens, maintaining the expansiveness of releases like Persona (2019) or Night Melody (2016), but also evoking feelings of the half-thought, the dream idea, and the distant memory. Some sounds and phrasing is familiar, while others are a bold new direction.
Landscape From Memory is a journey through swirling keys and harpsichords, deep bass, foreboding and distorted sounds, sudden drops and slow ascents, set to staccato rhythms and metronomic percussion. No doubt it will take many listens to penetrate the many layers of this album.
What makes this my pick for Electronic AOTY2025 is the fact that I keep returning to it (much like all of my top 5), finding new sounds and surprises every time I listen. Rival Consoles’ records all speak to me in this way, but especially Landscape From Memory. It’s also one of the prettiest pieces of vinyl I own, which as trite as it may sound, makes it a joy to look at, hold, and place on the turntable.
Listen to “Landscape From Memory” on:Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal