New To Me...To You...To Me...To You

or, How To Get Away With Two "25 From 25" Albums Lists Whilst Pretending That Wasn't Your Intention All Along, Part Two.

This is the second of two lists, my very loose criteria being the first time I have purchased an album by these artists, irrespective of whether they've been going for years or debuted in 2025.

Again, loads of albums that either remained on the long list or haven't yet made it off the shopping list and as yet are unheard. Honourable mentions to Brian Bilston & The Catenary Wires (sorry, JC!), Ead Wood, Restricted Code, Oklou, Steve Lane, The Morning Early, SPRINTS and Peter Capaldi (yes, him!)

As yesterday, I've listed my 25 picks alphabetically, rather than in order of greatness, but I will also reveal my favourite at the end.

25 From 25 - New To Me

(click on the links to buy these albums...and more!)

1) The Smile You Send Out Returns To You: Constant Follower

2) Gift Of Sorts: Chris Reeve

3) Dan's Boogie: Destroyer

4) Concrete Rockers: Earl Sixteen & The Co-operators

5) Ellen Beth Abdi: Ellen Beth Abdi

6) Mother Of A Thousand: F.O. Machete

7) Phantom Island: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

8) Om Verda Mi: Lakeshouse

9) Living History: Later Youth

10) LEDLEY: LEDLEY

11) Clients Of Suddenness: Louise Connell

12) A Danger To Ourselves: Lucrecia Dalt

13) Things Must Change: Montjuïc

14) Might As Well Play Another One: Mumble Tide

15) Ways To The Deep Meadow: Ocean Moon

16) A Dawning: Ólafur Arnalds & Talos

17) Desert Queen: Pearl Charles

18) Disturbia: Phonolab

19) Quad 90: Quad 90

20) Concorde: Res One, Upfront, Badhabitz

21) Don't Worry, It's Forever: Sister John

22) Rapture Party: The Joshua Hotel

23) Red Door Open: The Twistettes

24) Last Exit To Music: Xavier Corbera

25) Things Found In Books: Yvonne Lyon & Boo Hewerdine

I recommend each and every one of these albums, but my #1 of 2025 is the stunning self-titled debut by Ellen Beth Abdi.

I was fortunate enough to see Ellen Beth Abdi supporting A Certain Ratio in Bristol last May, and although I recognised her from appearances on the ACR album 1982 and 2023 EP, I was completely unfamiliar with her own songs.

I was at the gig with my friend Mike and we were both blown away by her performance. I told Ellen Beth as much at the merch stand after; she didn't have any records for sale at the time, but I did come away with a jar of delicious marmalade...now that's a USP!

So, when Ellen Beth Abdi's album emerged in May 2025, needless to say that expectations were high...and then surpassed.

The voice is something else, enough to carry the songs, but Ellen Beth handles the entire record with a sure hand, from keyboards and flute to co-production with Joel Anthony Patchett, this does not sound like a first album.

A highlight of the gig was a cover of Spellbound by Rae & Christian, a tribute to Ellen Beth's musical inspiration, vocalist Veba aka Beverley Green. She does the song - and the singer - justice, both on stage and in the studio, sublime vocal loops layering and layering to create a mesmerising whole.

Ellen Beth's own songs are more than up to the challenge of meeting this high bar. Tenterhooks, the lead single, was a perfect example of this but honestly, there's not a single song on the album that I don't want to play again and again. And I have, since buying it.

I can't wait to hear what she does next.

Concert Climax

From a gig perspective, 2025 was fantastic. Here are my lucky 13 of the year:

1st Feb: John Grant / Big Special

6th Mar: Alan Sparhawk / Circuit Des Yeux

22nd Apr: Mark Eitzel

13th May: Andy Bell (Erasure) / Hifi Sean & David McAlmont

9th Jun: Little Simz

11th Jun: Butler, Blake & Grant / Charlie Noordewier

9th Jul: Josh Rouse / Later Youth

24th Sep: Billy Nomates / Cirquemily (Emily Sadler)

30th Sep: Edwyn Collins / The Hanging Stars

10th Oct: Robert Forster & His Swedish Band

18th Nov: Water From Your Eyes / Morgan Garrett

24th Nov: The Sabres Of Paradise

8th Dec: The Charlatans

Click on the links to read all about my experiences. I've not reactivated any of the related Dubhed selections on this occasion, instead opting for a brand new 20-song session.

Sequenced in chronological order of when I saw them, the whole thing kicks off with Shithouse by Big Special, who set the bar impossibly high for all the support acts to follow, though pretty much all of them rose to the challenge. Charlie Noordewier and Later Youth were especially good. 

As for the headliners, John Grant, Hifi Sean & David McAlmont, Billy Nomates and Robert Forster were on my wish list for a long time, whilst Mark Eitzel, Andy Bell and Little Simz were completely unexpected and completely brilliant.

Bernard Butler, Norman Blake, James Grant and Josh Rouse sold me their vinyl at the merch stand, signed it for me and proved to be lovely blokes to chat with.

Water From Your Eyes were a revelation. Speaking of which, Edwyn Collins brought tears to my eyes, as did Alan Sparhawk. And the previously unimaginable thought of seeing The Sabres Of Paradise reform and play live was hugely emotional. 

Another first to end the year, with an exceptional show from The Charlatans. 

I already have a clutch of tickets for 2026 and, if this year is anything to go by, it's going to be bloody brilliant.

1) Shithouse: Big Special (2024)

2) Black Belt (Dungeonesse Remix By Jenn Wasner): John Grant (2013)

3) Megaloner: Circuit Des Yeux (2025)

4) Can U Hear: Alan Sparhawk (2024)

5) Nothing And Everything: Mark Eitzel (2017)

6) Celebrate: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (2024)

7) Put Your Empathy On Ice: Andy Bell (Erasure)

8) Lion: Little Simz ft. Obongjayar (2025)

9) Dear Diazepam (Live At Deep Litter Studios, Devon): Charlie Noordewier (2025)

10) The 90s: Butler, Blake & Grant (2025)

11) Arcane Love: Later Youth (2025)

12) My Love Has Gone: Josh Rouse (2005)

13) Moon Explodes: Billy Nomates (2025)

14) Ava: The Hanging Stars (2025)

15) Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation: Edwyn Collins (2025)

16) Good To Cry: Robert Forster (2025)

17) The Mirror: Morgan Garrett (2025)

18) Playing Classics: Water From Your Eyes (2025)

19) Wilmot (Edit): The Sabres Of Paradise ft. Wonder (1994)

20) For The Girls: The Charlatans (2025)

Concert Climax (1:19:12) (GD) (M)

25 For 25, Part Two

Following up from last week's first half, today's 13-song selection rounds out the 25 For 25 highlights of the year so far. 

 

I've been fortunate enough to see two of these artists live on stage in the last couple of months, and with any luck by the time year end comes around, I'll have seen another two, also for the very first time.

 

I had an opportunity to see another this summer, with tickets for a "secret", "intimate" 5k capacity gig in Bristol, which I thought Lady K might be interested in going to. When I broached the subject, she gave me a withering look and said that they were "stuck in the 2010s".

 

I don't know what made me feel older: Lady K's reference to the 2010s - which I consider to be yesterday - as ancient history, or Mrs. K suggestion that a middle-aged man going on his own to a show with potentially a predominantly teen audience might draw attention for all the wrong reasons. I didn't go.

 

I leave you to hazard a guess at the opportunity that I passed up. 

 

Speaking of older, I've previously seen three other of today's featured artists, all who crashed into the public consciousness in the 1980s and/or 1990s. and have released great new music in the past 12 months.

 

Things change over time and my enthusiasm for certain things in my youth may have waned somewhat in passing decades, but my passion for music remains undimmed. 

1) Waiting: Yvonne Lyon & Boo Hewerdine (Things Found In Books)

2) Slow Emotion Replayed: The The (Slow Emotion Replayed EP)

3) Monday Murder: YUNGBLUD (Idols)

4) Rubber Inner Tube: Mark Rae ft. Heidi Haswell (New Town Ghosts)

5) Space Station Mantra: Andy Bell (Pinball Wanderer)

6) Metrosexual Man: Davey Woodward (Mumbo In The Jumbo)

7) Kicking Up Dust: F.O. Machete (Mother Of A Thousand)

8) On The Missing: Later Youth ft. Lissie (Living History)

9) Being Baptised (Piano Version): Manic Street Preachers (Critical Thinking (Deluxe Edition))

10) Portland Town: Heavenly (Portland Town EP)

11) pond song: Wet Leg (moisturizer)

12) Fuckboy: Billy Nomates (Mary And The Hyenas OST)

13) Moonlight Hotel: Charlie Noordewier (Moonlight Hotel EP)

Side Two (45:21) (GD) (M)

Dancing Around To Your Favourite Song

Wednesday saw Mike and I rendezvous for a night in the company of Josh Rouse.

I got held up at work, so I headed straight to Stroud, tired, hot and bothered but looking forward to the show. Waiting outside the Subscription Rooms, I unexpectedly bumped into a couple of colleagues before Mike and his friend Duncan arrived.

After introductions and a short queue at the bar, we took our seats, prepared to be entertained. And entertained we most certainly were.

Support came from Jo Dudderidge, formerly with The Travelling Band, now recording solo as Later Youth. I'd heard of The Travelling Band, but not heard The Travelling Band, so I didn't know what to expect. 

Jo opened up on guitar and returned to it again during the 30-minute set, but mostly sat at a Wurlitzer electric piano, playing both with unassuming ease, letting his rich, warm voice float out above our heads and to the back of the theatre.

The set showcased songs from Living History, his debut album as Later Youth, and it was consistently great: Nuclear Love, Hotel Venezuela ("about a couple of lesbians who saved me from a broken heart") and On The Missing.

The album version featured Lissie, and Jo recounted a previous gig at the Sub Rooms as her support. 

"Were any of you of here for that one?" Jo asked the audience.

[silence]

"I thought there might have been one or two of you!"

No Lissie for the live performance, but Jo gave a good account of the song, the entire set to be honest, with endearing introductions and back stories in between. An ear-opening start to the evening.

Then, with a very short break, the stage was cleared and prepped and Josh Rouse arrived for the main event. Again, a stripped back affair, with Josh on acoustic guitar, and occasional harmonica and whistles.

The gig was promoted as "Josh Rouse Plays Nashville", held by many to be his finest album. Back in 2021, I posted a Dubhed selection, whilst freely admitting that I had a smattering of songs but didn't own a single Josh Rouse album. I concluded that "I really need to immerse myself in more of Josh Rouse's music."

I've done poorly in the intervening three and a half years, adding only a handful more offcuts and stray songs to my collection. So, apart from 4 or 5 songs, I sat in the audience, still largely ignorant of the Nashville album, advertised as the focus of the show.

As it turned out, Josh was playing whatever he wanted to play, and so four titles from Nashville (2005) appeared in a 19 or 20 song set. Thankfully, all ones I was familiar with, including the sublime Winter In The Hamptons.

Josh's previous album 1972 (2003) also got a fair shake, the evening opening with Sunshine (Come On Lady), and including Rise, Love Vibration and the title track.

The rest of the performance spanned Josh's debut album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska (1998) through to Going Places (2022). All mostly new to me, all delivered with a soaring grace that was served well by the sympathetic venue.

There were a few covers too. Three songs, Josh introduced "a song I wish I'd written", with an understated version of Ron Sexsmith's Lebanon, Tennessee. A member of the audience* captured the performance and you can find it here.

Later on, we were treated to a vibrant cover of Nick Lowe's Cruel To Be Kind, originally a 1978 B-side for Brinsley Schwarz, before Nick was convinced to re-record it as a solo single in 1979, when it became a global hit. Josh fondly recalled the song as one that meant a lot to him growing up. I'm a similar age to Josh - like many in the audience - and it received a warm reception from us all.

The third and final cover version brought the evening to a close, a beautiful take on Buddy Holly's 1957 smash, Everyday. A wonderful way to end a wonderful set.

After the show, I joined the queue at the merch stand and got to have a brief hello and chat with Josh. Every bit as affable off stage as on.

And I finally got my first Josh Rouse album, on glorious vinyl and signed by the great man himself. 

"They delivered a box full [of Nashville] to me today," Josh had told us earlier. "I'm hoping to sell a few at the end, as I don't fancy lugging them all back to the hotel after the show."

I was glad to help relief Josh's burden!

After such an enjoyable introduction to Later Youth, I also couldn't go home without a copy of Living History. On glorious cream vinyl, to boot. Again, a few words with Jo at the merch stand, and an equally lovely bloke to speak to.

The setlist for the Stroud show hasn't been posted online, but a glance at Josh's gigs either side in Hassocks and Gateshead will give you a pretty good idea, though the Buddy Holly cover appears to have been a one-off.

Given my still-limited collection of his music, today's selection instead features 10 songs from the Stroud show, in the order they were performed. As with my previous Josh Rouse selection in 2021, I've split this into two sides, to replicate the album listening experience. 

I've reactivated links to the 2021 selection, which includes songs such as Rise and Winter In The Hamptons, also performed on Wednesday.

Enjoy!

Side 1 

1) Sunshine (Come On Lady) (Live @ Exit/In, Nashville, Tennessee, 31 December 2003)

2) Henry Miller's Flat (Live @ The Library, The Moorestown Community House, 13 September 2024)

3) Dressed Up Like Nebraska (Live @ Today In Nashville, WSMV-TV) (2018)

4) It's The Nighttime (Album Version) (2013)

5) 1972 (Album Version) (2003)

Side 2

1) Quiet Town (Album Version) (2006)

2) Sad Eyes (Album Version) (2011)

3) Directions (Album Version) (2000)

4) Salton Sea (#OCBPaperSessions!) (2018)

5) Come Back (Light Therapy) (Album Version) (2003)

Side One (17:06) (GD) (M)

Side Two (19:05) (GD) (M)

You can find Tragic Endings (Side 1 & 2) from October 2021 here.

* Many thanks to Peter Dean for the cover photo and clip of Josh's cover of Ron Sexsmith. And thanks also to Mike, who provided the other pic of Josh on stage. Album photos are my own!