Townsend Albums Of The Year 2025 (So Far)

Alex Needham
Jul 18
5 min read

We’re halfway through 2025, and if the year so far is any clue, music is charging ahead - breaking genre boundaries, reworking the past in fresh ways, and leaning hard into storytelling. From long-awaited comebacks to unexpected experimental gems, in no particular order, these are Townsend’s favourite album releases of the year... (so far).

Viagra Boys - viagr aboys

Viagr Aboys is the fourth album by the Swedish band, released in April 2025 after they left their old record label to start their own, Shrimptech Enterprises. The album marks a new creative direction, with a looser, more playful tone that lead singer Sebastian Murphy called “simple and stupid” on purpose - stepping away from heavier political themes and instead blending everyday life with a sense of absurdity. It features singles like 'Man Made of Meat' and 'Uno II', the latter named after Murphy’s dog. Critics responded very positively, and the album received strong reviews for its bold, offbeat style.

"In typically nuanced Viagra Boys fashion, viagr aboys also acknowledges the widely felt appeal of abandoning society in a world where “everybody’s worried about the future”. - NME

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Blue & White Marble Vinyl and CD.

The Horrors - Night Life

The Horrors’ sixth album, Night Life, shows the band switching things up again with a fresh lineup and a new sound. Even after nearly 20 years, they’re still all about experimenting and pushing their music in new directions. While it’s a different vibe, the album keeps that same intense energy and passion The Horrors are known for.

"The expansive eight-year journey of Night Life has all the making of a record destined for its time in the sun". - When The Horn Blows

Available at The Horrors Official Artist Store on Vinyl and Numbered Deluxe CD.

Mogwai - The Bad Fire

Mogwai’s The Bad Fire, released in January, is a deeply personal and surprisingly hopeful album born out of tough times, especially for keyboardist Barry Burns, whose daughter was seriously ill during its making. Swapping their signature loud build-ups for more melodic, synth-driven tracks, the band leans into warmth and clarity without losing their emotional punch. It’s a quieter, more mature Mogwai.

"While old-school fans may lament their softening, the Glasgow band swap rage for refuge as they face personal strife". - The Guardian

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Clear Double Vinyl, Cassette and CD.

Steven Wilson - The Overview

Steven Wilson’s eighth solo album, The Overview, arrived in March. Made up of just two long tracks that clock in at 42 minutes, the album takes its cue from the “overview effect” felt by astronauts seeing Earth from space. It marks a return to Wilson’s progressive roots, blending sweeping musical sections with modern sounds like electronic textures and post-rock characteristics. There's even a lyrical contribution from XTC’s Andy Partridge on the track 'Objects Outlive Us'. Bold, immersive, and unmistakably Wilson, The Overview is the kind of album that demands deep listening.

"The music is beautifully wrought. It takes a few listens to grasp the arc of each suite, but it really works after you’ve had time to process it. Give it a go". - The Prog Mind

Available at the Steven Wilson Artist Store on Vinyl, Blu-Ray and CD.

FKA twigs - EUSEXUA

EUSEXUA is FKA twigs’ third studio album, released in January. Blending avant-pop, club, and experimental sounds, the album explores themes of healing, identity, and joy through dance. The name “Eusexua” comes from a word Twigs made up to describe a euphoric, flow-like state on the dancefloor. Featuring collaborators like Koreless, Jeff Bhasker, and Stargate, it mixes techno, house, and DnB across 11 tracks. Critics praised its strong production and emotional depth.

"Twigs’ third album brings club music into her sensual, supernatural world. It’s a masterful pop-star moment for the artist". - Pitchfork

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Clear Vinyl and CD.

Ezra Furman - Goodbye Small Head

Ezra Furman’s tenth (seventh solo) album, Goodbye Small Head, came out on May 16th. It’s a bold, dramatic mix of orchestral prog-rock, art-pop, blues, bossa nova - all centred around themes of losing control, mental health and emotional overwhelm. Co-produced with Brian Deck, the record features real band dynamics, strings on most tracks, and some creative sampling for added texture. Critics praised its lyrical depth and cinematic energy.

"Furman captures the primal power of music. These are songs to be swept along by and inhabit completely". - Silent Radio

Available at the Townsend Store on Berry Vinyl and CD.

Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End Of The Universe

Manchester poet and producer Antony Szmierek released his debut album, Service Station at the End of the Universe, following a rapid rise that began with his 2023 breakthrough single 'The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Fallacy'. Known for blending sharp, poetic lyrics with infectious beats, Szmierek has earned praise for capturing both the grit and beauty of modern British life. After being named BBC 6 Music’s Artist of the Year and performing on major platforms like Later… with Jools Holland and Glastonbury, he now delivers a dancefloor-driven album full of wit, warmth, solidifying a style that's all his own.

"Service Station At The End Of The Universe isn’t the mark of an artist finding his sound, but a confident, authentic trailblazer who knows his craft inside out". - NME

Available at the Antony Szmierek Artist Store on Vinyl and CD.

Doves - Constellations For The Lonely

Doves’ Constellations for the Lonely, released in February, is a moody, slightly proggy album that sticks close to the band’s classic sound - cinematic, layered, and full of atmosphere. Songs like 'Renegade' and 'Strange Weather' bring sweeping arrangements and a slow-burn intensity, making it a solid, immersive listen that feels more like a continuation than a reinvention.

"An intricate and masterful record from a band at the top of their game. Still a familiar sound for old fans to enjoy, yet still open to exploring new terrain". - CLASH

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Orange Vinyl and CD.

Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH

With every release, Turnstile have grown, but this record feels like a real leap. They’ve leaned even further into melody and structure without losing the raw, kinetic energy that made them unmissable in the first place. The result is a bold, confident album that’s equal parts cathartic and euphoric. Tracks like 'I CARE' and 'NEVER ENOUGH' hit like modern anthems, while 'SOLE' and 'DULL' show a more expansive, textured side to the band. There’s a melodic depth running through this record that elevates it beyond their hardcore roots, and for me, it’s their most complete work yet. Catching their Glastonbury set online sealed it. The new material was electric live - powerful, polished, and emotionally charged. Turnstile are evolving fast, and Never Enough is proof they’re not just keeping up with the moment - they’re defining it.

"The biggest band in hardcore grows big enough to encompass electronic rhythms and flute meditation. Its new album winks to outsize expectations but answers to a higher calling". - Pitchfork

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Red Wave Coloured Vinyl and CD.

Little Simz - Lotus

"Lotus" is the sixth studio album from UK rapper Little Simz, dropped on 6 June. It was produced entirely by Miles Clinton James, marking her first full project without longtime collaborator Inflo after a public legal and creative split. The record blends hip‑hop with jazz, punk, soul, punk-tinged flair and even Afrobeat touches, and features heavy-hitters like Obongjayar, Moses Sumney, Michael Kiwanuka, Sampha, Wretch 32. Critics have praised its emotional honesty and genre-blurring, marking it another strong entry in her career.

"The rapper strips back the polish for her most vulnerable, soul-searching project yet – one that hits hard, even when it drifts". - NME

Available at the Townsend Store on Limited Edition Electric Pink Double Heavyweight Vinyl and CD.

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