Inside No. 9, Season 4, Episode #49: 2025 in Reflection
This year I have spent more time in bargain bins and secondhand stores than buying new music. That doesn’t mean I haven’t kept my ears open to new releases, but it was definitely a year for dusty vinyl and ancient CDs. That said, it was a nightmare, as usual, to select the shortlist. I like to stick to 24 as it gives me the opportunity to celebrate each 2025 release through advent. But for the recorded mix I’ll keep it short and sweet with nine tracks over 40 minutes.
It is surprising how much hopeful music has come out this year considering how dark times feel. I hope this is representative of most of us rather than the depressing storm of news. This doesn’t take away from all those destroyed by evil this year. It has raised its head and it needs to be felled. Let’s call to alms rather than arms next year and make this place a little better.
This year has seen some incredible music and I have put together a playlist of 9 shorter tracks for you to enjoy but I implore you to uncover the longlist as there is so much to discover. As always I will add my label of the year.
I can’t wait to share 2026 with you. Let’s hope for some better times and send my love to you and your families.
Label of the year
Black Sweat Records
https://blacksweat.bandcamp.com
The First 9 (audio mix)
INI
Artist of the Century
Mike
Showbiz!
LP om 10K
https://mikelikesrap.bandcamp.com/album/showbiz
INII
Breathing Under Water
DJ Counselling
Speaking in Code
LP on Ten Flowers
https://djcounselling.bandcamp.com/album/speaking-in-code
INIII
CRISCO
Earl Sweatshirt
Live Laugh Love
LP on Warner Records
https://store.earlsweatshirt.com
INIV
The Field
Blood Orange
Essex Honey
LP on Domino
https://www.bloodorange.net
INV
Why Keep Still?
James Blackshaw
Unraveling In Your Hands
LP on Amish Records
https://jamesblackshaw.bandcamp.com/album/unraveling-in-your-hands
INVI
Signs
yaz lancaster
AFTER
DL on PTP
https://yaz-j.bandcamp.com/album/after-2
INVII
La Païva
Le Diouck
Grace Joke
DL om Pan
https://lediouck.bandcamp.com/album/grace-joke
INVIII
Corinthians [featuring Despot]
billy woods
Golliwog
LP on Backwoodz Studios
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/golliwog
INIX
Erections of Angels Directed at Me
Iris Our
Victual Bottle Cunt
CD on Recital
https://recitalprogram.bandcamp.com/album/victual-vittle-bottle-cunt
The longlist (The rest)
INX
Karen Schoemer
August
Dromedary Records
https://dromedaryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/august
INXI
Gvoon – Brennung 1
Holger Czukay
CD on Grönland
https://holgerczukay.bandcamp.com/album/gvoon-brennung-1
INXI
The Mute Fortress
Francisco
CD on Ferns Recordings
https://franciscomeirino.bandcamp.com/album/the-mute-fortress
INXII
Marja Ahti, Manja Ristić
Transference
CD on Erstwhile
https://erstwhilerecords.bandcamp.com/album/transference
INXIII
Star Rover
Walter Maioli & John Zandijk
LP on Black Sweat Records
https://blacksweat.bandcamp.com/album/star-rover
INXIV
Passages… À Travers Le Temps
Octavian Nemescu
Metaphonhttps://metaphon2.bandcamp.com/album/passages-travers-le-temps
INXV
Arv & Miljö
Arv & Miljö
Discreet Music
https://discreetmusicgbg.bandcamp.com/album/arv-milj-2
INXVI
On Fractured Ground / Skim Resonance
Annea Lockwood
Black Truffle
https://blacktruffle.bandcamp.com/album/on-fractured-ground-skin-resonance
INXVIII
Destino Scifosi
France
Standard In-Fi
https://standard-in-fi.bandcamp.com/album/destino-scifosi
INXIX
屋根裏 = YaneUra Sept. ’80
Les Rallizes Dénudés
Temporal Drift
https://lesrallizesdenudes.bandcamp.com/album/yaneura-sept-80
INXX
Errant Ear
Brunhild Ferrari
Persistence of Sound
https://persistenceofsound.bandcamp.com/album/errant-ear
INXXI
Double Face
Baron Saturday
NO Label NZ
https://nolabelnz.bandcamp.com/album/double-face
INXXII
Disquiet
The Necks
Northern Spy
https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/disquiet
INXXIII
Dangerous Women (Early Works 1985 – 2005)
Laetitia Sonami
Lovely Music
https://laetitiasonami.bandcamp.com/album/dangerous-women-early-works-1985-2005
INXXIV
Uranus
by Klaus Wiese
LP on Black Sweat Records
https://blacksweat.bandcamp.com/album/uranus
Inside No. 9 is an attempt to share unique narratives through the mixing of 9 songs. Every episode will showcase a new theme, opening up new tributaries of discovery. Inside No. 9 is presented by Peter Taylor, a former features writer for Foxy Digitalis from back in the late 2000s. Peter is a visual artist and musician and has been creating music as MAbH since 2008.
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