In a year of new releases, some of the most thrilling musical moments came from the past. Journalists and critics have shared their personal journeys of rediscovery, unearthing everything from paranoid 1960s folk to long-lost dancehall EPs and synth-pop oddities that defined their listening in 2025.
From Sun-Kissed Harmonies to Dark Prophecies
For many, the year was marked by startling finds that contradicted established narratives. Alexis Petridis encountered a side of The Mamas and the Papas far removed from their sunny hits. The 1968 track Mansions revealed an ominous sound and a mood of stoned paranoia, eerily presaging the dark turn of the 1960s counterculture. The song's chilling aura is compounded by the group's earlier track, Strange Young Girls, which seemed to depict the kind of lost souls later manipulated by Charles Manson.
Meanwhile, Elle Hunt experienced the "Katy B effect" after repeatedly stumbling upon the 2011 pop-dubstep anthem Katy on a Mission. First heard at a 4am Glastonbury set and later at Brighton Pride, the track's unique blend of exuberance and foreboding provided a fresh connection to a moment in British culture she had previously missed, offering a potent second wind for revisiting the 2010s.
Eccentric Gems and Overlooked Masterpieces
The discoveries spanned genres and geographies. Alastair Shuttleworth finally delved into Roberto De Simone's 1976 Neapolitan folk opera La Gatta Cenerentola after years of loving a single, darkly pounding track from it. The work, based on a 1630s version of Cinderella, celebrates Naples's musical traditions from the Renaissance villanella to the wild tarantella.
Jason Okundaye uncovered a hidden treasure in dancehall with Opal's 2012 EP You Ready. Stumbling upon the track I Said It at a party, he was captivated by its inventive, playful, and sexy energy, noting how little-known the EP remains despite Opal's recognisable voice within the genre.
In the realm of experimental music, Matt Mills found a pinnacle recording by the ever-evolving Norwegian group Ulver. A secondhand shop discovery of their 2011 CD/DVD The Norwegian National Opera revealed an immersive and mystifying performance that combined avant-garde music with enigmatic video projections and interpretive dance.
Personal Revivals and Cinematic Earworms
For some, 2025 was a year of belated appreciation for legends. Laura Snapes detailed a "Damascene conversion" to Bob Dylan, spurred by the film A Complete Unknown and cemented by a live show in Leeds where pristine renditions of classics like Desolation Row felt like witnessing foundational art.
Cinema also provided a gateway to rediscovery. Claire Biddles found herself repeatedly playing La Bionda's 1978 disco track One for You, One for Me after it featured over the credits of the film The Brutalist. She described the song's squelchy synth and addictive catchiness as an irresistible, smooth-brain rush.
Other journalists found gems in unexpected places. Safi Bugel became enamoured with Badly Drawn Boy's Once Around the Block (2000) after hearing it in a Serbian park, charmed by its jaunty melancholy. Ammar Kalia rescued Labi Siffre's 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying from his father's attic, moving beyond the known anthem (Something Inside) So Strong to discover a masterful songwriter.
Synth-Pop Paranoia and Pop Reinvention
The year also highlighted the enduring power of synth-pop and pop reinvention. BBT compared two versions of Don't Be Seen With Me: the original 1982 recording by Oppenheimer Analysis, with its portentous, stiff bearing, and Avalon Emerson's 2025 cosmic techno cover, which is psychedelic and relentless. Both were deemed equally compelling interpretations of a paranoid dancefloor story.
Finally, Dave Simpson had a humorous mix-up that led to a double discovery. Preparing for a new band, he learned Dua Lipa's 2017 electro-pop hit Be the One, only to find the group actually meant The Ting Tings' 2008 indie-pop song of the same name. He now champions both as gems in their own right.
Even Shaad D'Souza gave Dido's 2003 album Life for Rent a fresh listen, moving beyond the well-known ballads to appreciate its harried Balearic grooves and dejected, stark moments that suggested a broader artistic range than often remembered.
These personal journeys underscore that musical discovery is a never-ending process, with the past continually offering up new revelations, forgotten classics, and unsettling presciences that resonate powerfully in the present.
