We know these lists are completely subjective and that ranking music can feel a little weird at times but these are the records we’ve had on repeat over the past 12 months. More importantly, in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, highlighting lesser-known and often overlooked artists remains the very essence of our blog. We hope you’ll take the time to dive into the artists and projects you might not know yet.

Like last year, the list is ordered alphabetically, because the “real” ranking changes every day depending on our mood. That said, if you’re looking for a top three, keep an eye on Oklou, Nourished By Time, and Smerz.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and stay tuned next week for our Best Songs of 2025 list.

The 47 EPs, Albums, And Mixtapes that defined 2025 according to HighClouds

Acopia – Blush Response
Addison Rae – Addison
After – After EP 1/2
AMORE – Top Hits, Ballads, etc
Annahstasia – Tether
crushed – no scope
Dean Blunt & Elias Rønnenfelt – lucre EP
deer park – Terra Infirma
Disiniblud – Disiniblud
Erika de Casier – Lifetime
Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Georgie & Joe – What I Made With Joe
Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On
Ichiko Aoba – Luminiscent Creatures
JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
james K – Friend
Jane Inc. – A Rupture A Canyon A Birth
Jenny Hval – Iris Silver Mist
Jim Legxacy – black british music (2025)
Joanne Robertson – Blurrr
Jouska – How Did I Wind Up Here?
Laura Groves – Yes
Lipsticism – Wanted To Show You
Malibu – Vanities
Maria Somerville – Luster
Marina Zispin – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Men I Trust – Equus Caballus / Equus Asinus
Molly Nilsson – Amateur
Neggy Gemmy – She Comes From Nowhere
Night Tapes – portals//polarities
No Joy – Bugland
Nourished By Time – The Passionate Ones
Nuovo Testamento – Trouble EP
Oklou – Choke Enough
Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer
Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
Pearly Drops – The Voices Are Coming Back
R. Missing – Like The Sound Of Injured Love
Raisa K – Affectionately
Rat Heart – Dancin’ In The Streets
Sea Lemon – Diving For A Prize
Smerz – Big City Life
snuggle – Goodbyehouse
Sofia Kourtesis – Volver EP
Sophia Stel – How To Win At Solitaire EP
Yawning Portal – Anywhere

The project brings together a stellar lineup of reimagined tracks, featuring fresh takes from Baths, Cis Angel (Nina Keith’s other alias), The Field, and Daedelus, alongside the already unveiled “Blue Rags, Raging Wind (Kerry McCoy Remix).” Yesterday, they dropped another highlight: “Blue Rags, Raging Wind (Kelly Moran Remix).” Known for weaving delicate piano lines with electronic textures, Kelly Moran -who released her album Don’t Trust Mirrors earlier this month- reshapes the song into something both meditative and kinetic. As she puts it:

“I’m honored to share my remix for Disiniblud as a longtime fan of Rachika and Nina’s music. I was working on this track earlier this year while obsessing over Koreless’s immaculate production on FKA Twigs’ album Eusexua, which inspired me to play around with chopping up the vocal samples in Disniblud’s track to create a glitchy and propulsive pattern. There are so many beautiful, rich textures in Disiniblud’s music and I wanted to stretch them out for the start of the track to allow the listener to sink into an oceanic abyss of ambience that eventually transmutes into pulsating, beautiful chaos.”

They also shared the live cut “Traces in the window,” which closes the EP.

THE BEST NEW RELEASES, UPDATED DAILY? STREAM OUR FORECAST TAPE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY.

Now, just ahead of an ambitious tour across North America and Europe this fall, Disiniblud have unveiled a fresh take on one of the album’s standout tracks, “Blue Rags, Raging Wind” (featuring Amigone). The remix comes courtesy of Deafheaven guitarist Kerry McCoy, who reimagines the piece with pulsing drum and bass rhythms, cinematic synth layers, flickering tremolo textures, and his unmistakable guitar presence. Where the original leaned into neoclassical grace, McCoy’s version surges forward with an almost cinematic energy, making it both a tribute to and a transformation of the song’s theme of childlike joy.

Their debut album, also titled Disiniblud, arrives on July 18 via Domino’s excellent imprint Smugglers Way. Described by the duo as a “wordless conversation,” the album orbits themes of mortality, reinvention through destruction, and the transformation of fractured histories into something transcendent. Keith imagines the collaboration as if she and Nayar’s younger selves packed a satchel, held hands, and dared each other to run away into a world of “wounds and wonder.” The result is a stunning fusion of post-rock, glitchy indie electronica, neo-classical flourishes, and unexpected pop sensibilities. A co-created realm where pain and playfulness coexist, and sweeping transformation blooms from old scars.

Following up to “It’s Change,” already featured in our Best Songs of 2025 playlist, the single “Disiniblud” is a shapeshifting burst of sound: layered vocals, glitchy textures, shimmering builds, and a weighty drop that anchors it all. But what truly elevates it is the music video, a visual poem directed by Chris Osborn and shot on film by Ava Benjamin Shorr. Featuring an all-trans cast and mostly trans crew, the video captures a euphoric, untamed energy with naked bodies racing through sun-drenched Malibu hills. It reminds us of Sigur Rós‘ “Gobbledigook” video in the way it radiates joy, vulnerability, beauty, and freedom. Osborn puts it best: “To prove that we were here, that we have been here, and we will always be here, forever.” It’s a powerful, beautiful piece, both a statement and a celebration.