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Graham Fuller |

That was clever. The original Wet Leg – singer Rhian Teasdale and guitarist Hester Chambers – instantly snagged global attention with a droll novelty single, launched with a knowing faux-rustic video, about a sexy piece of furniture. After scoring a chart-topping multi-genre debut album, the duo recruited three noisy, hirsute male musician-writers and metamorphosed into one of the hottest indie combos on the planet.  

Ellie Roberts |

2025 was another year of flaunting for the ever impressive beast that is female-led pop domination. The now iconic line up of legends and future greats, and their growing class of inspired apprentices, have punctuated the year with defiance and celebration in the form of fantastic pop songs.

Kieron Tyler
“Ace tribute to The Doors” is what the poster says. And after The Fire Doors stroll on stage and blast into “Break on Through (to the Other Side),”…
Ibi Keita
2025 was a somewhat scarce year for fans of punk, hardcore and metal, to be honest, it was a scarce year for most genres as a whole from what I can…
Kieron Tyler
“This is our last concert, ever. And we’d love to do you for now on our last concert ever…” After the words peter out, a ragged, yet blistering, five…

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Tom Carr
Second album from Canadian metallers edged ahead with its graceful yet heavy tones
Sebastian Scotney
Natural harmonics ring out subtly, gloriously, magically
peter.quinn
From haiku to heartstrings: the year's essential vocal jazz recordings
Kathryn Reilly
Imbued with duende, this stellar masterpiece sets the bar sky-high
Kieron Tyler
Fresh slants on the known, in a year when Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy!! was the most startling archive release
howard.male
Documentary adds little to what we know about British rock's greatest solo star
Nick Hasted
Saxophonist's beautiful, bittersweet melodies confront a time of war
Liz Thomson
Authentically Mary
Katie Colombus
Finding strength not in reinvention but in turning inward to listen
Kieron Tyler
Home-counties prog rockers are collected in a box
Kieron Tyler
Intensity, jazz-oriented psychedelia and the joys of recontextualisation
Mark Kidel
A year of wondrous variety
Tim Cumming
One among a new wave of folk artists exploring their music's outer limits
Thomas H. Green
A seasonal slant on the most wide-ranging record reviews in the universe
Thomas H. Green
Alongside a whole heap of other excellent music from the last 12 months
Jonathan Geddes
The American trio's 20th anniversary celebration of 'Howl' did not always convince
Joe Muggs
Softness, resilience and rewriting history in the most glorious possible way
Kieron Tyler
How the Edgar Froese-led trio were integral to inventing the future of music.
Guy Oddy
A dubby trip hop and woozy neo-soul treat
Jonathan Geddes
The Sunderland band played a variety of Christmas classics, with varying success
Guy Oddy
The former child actor's past meets her present
Thomas H. Green
Hokey but entertaining seasonal barndance
Sebastian Scotney
Tasty harmonies from The Sunhouse Singers
Joe Muggs
Strange for something so individual to sound so familiar - but they've done it

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