It's also year end list season, and though the online music writing landscape has maybe never been bleaker, this time of year remains a great opportunity to discover some stuff released in 2025 that I may have missed the first time around. Horse Combinations will be checking in with a list of favorites from this year soon, but for now let's talk about some cool songs I listened to over the last few weeks!
cootie catcher - “Straight Drop”
As mentioned earlier this year, cootie catcher sounds uncannily like the type of band I would have seen opening for Lemuria in a basement in like 2007 and briefly became obsessed with. “Straight Drop” and “Gingham Dress,” the two singles available so far from Something We All Got, out in February, are as strong as anything they’ve released. I’m obviously predisposed to this kind of DIY/twee indie pop but I am feeling bullish as hell on cootie catcher in 2026!
Bobbie - “I Could Call You”
My work as an unpaid shill for Chicago’s best record label Orindal Records continues unabated: check out the first single from their new signing Bobbie, ambient dream pop at it’s finest!
Faint - “Window”
Every time I put on this Faint record I’m like “damn I should be listening to this more.” I’m so glad people are still making gauzy sadcore full of plaintive acoustic guitar lines and close harmonies.
Arthur Russell - “A Little Lost”
I’m in the office working on some spreadsheets listening to Arthur Russell’s Another Thought.
Almost An Island - “Wide Open (In Two Parts)”
Another discovery from another essential year end roundup: Zen Sounds’ 25 Best Ambient Albums of 2025 described Almost An Island’s self titled debut as “Americana-inspired ambient with a post-rock sensibility,” a bunch more of my Manchurian Candidate-style activation words all strung together. It was an instant listen and an instant new favorite, a bunch of warm, sweeping instrumentals full of gossamer pedal steel lines and wordless vocals.
cootie catcher - “Straight Drop”
As mentioned earlier this year, cootie catcher sounds uncannily like the type of band I would have seen opening for Lemuria in a basement in like 2007 and briefly became obsessed with. “Straight Drop” and “Gingham Dress,” the two singles available so far from Something We All Got, out in February, are as strong as anything they’ve released. I’m obviously predisposed to this kind of DIY/twee indie pop but I am feeling bullish as hell on cootie catcher in 2026!
Takuro Okada - "Nefertite"
Dylan told me about this Takuro Okada album a few weeks ago, it’s really cool! A loving appreciation of the music of Black Americans thoughtfully infused with Japanese aesthetics by a beloved Tokyo experimental musician, Konoma gracefully traverses the worlds of instrumental funk, jazz, and hip hop. The shimmering, languid cover of Norwegian jazz legend Jan Garbarek’s “Nefertite” acts as an acknowledgment of outsiders past.
Dylan told me about this Takuro Okada album a few weeks ago, it’s really cool! A loving appreciation of the music of Black Americans thoughtfully infused with Japanese aesthetics by a beloved Tokyo experimental musician, Konoma gracefully traverses the worlds of instrumental funk, jazz, and hip hop. The shimmering, languid cover of Norwegian jazz legend Jan Garbarek’s “Nefertite” acts as an acknowledgment of outsiders past.
Sophia Stel - “All My Friends Are Models”
I first saw this Sophia Stel EP mentioned on Gorilla vs. Bear’s unsurprisingly solid best of 2025 list, the only album in their top 10 I wasn’t familiar with. I’ve been listening pretty regularly ever since, with the wistful, propulsive “All My Friends Are Models” standing out more with every listen.
I first saw this Sophia Stel EP mentioned on Gorilla vs. Bear’s unsurprisingly solid best of 2025 list, the only album in their top 10 I wasn’t familiar with. I’ve been listening pretty regularly ever since, with the wistful, propulsive “All My Friends Are Models” standing out more with every listen.
Adeline Hotel - “Nothing”
Some nice Eureka-by-Jim-O’Rourke-core from the consistently very good Adeline Hotel. His latest, Watch The Sunflowers, is full of beautifully arranged, lushly produced heartbreakers like “Nothing.”
Some nice Eureka-by-Jim-O’Rourke-core from the consistently very good Adeline Hotel. His latest, Watch The Sunflowers, is full of beautifully arranged, lushly produced heartbreakers like “Nothing.”
Anna von Hausswolff - “Stardust”
I’ve always sort of been aware of Anna von Hausswolff but never truly dug into her work, but after seeing ICONOCLASTS featured on several year end lists, including a glowing writeup on The Quietus' list that used a bunch of key phrases that convinced me to push play (“tilted, autre pop music,” "gothic art-pop opus,” etc.). “Stardust” captures what’s so immediately affecting about the record, a sort of modernized take on the arcane drama of Hounds of Love; it features one of the most stunning vocal performances I’ve heard this year plus a pretty cool saxophone solo.
I’ve always sort of been aware of Anna von Hausswolff but never truly dug into her work, but after seeing ICONOCLASTS featured on several year end lists, including a glowing writeup on The Quietus' list that used a bunch of key phrases that convinced me to push play (“tilted, autre pop music,” "gothic art-pop opus,” etc.). “Stardust” captures what’s so immediately affecting about the record, a sort of modernized take on the arcane drama of Hounds of Love; it features one of the most stunning vocal performances I’ve heard this year plus a pretty cool saxophone solo.
Bobbie - “I Could Call You”
My work as an unpaid shill for Chicago’s best record label Orindal Records continues unabated: check out the first single from their new signing Bobbie, ambient dream pop at it’s finest!
Faint - “Window”
Every time I put on this Faint record I’m like “damn I should be listening to this more.” I’m so glad people are still making gauzy sadcore full of plaintive acoustic guitar lines and close harmonies.
Arthur Russell - “A Little Lost”
I’m in the office working on some spreadsheets listening to Arthur Russell’s Another Thought.
Almost An Island - “Wide Open (In Two Parts)”
Another discovery from another essential year end roundup: Zen Sounds’ 25 Best Ambient Albums of 2025 described Almost An Island’s self titled debut as “Americana-inspired ambient with a post-rock sensibility,” a bunch more of my Manchurian Candidate-style activation words all strung together. It was an instant listen and an instant new favorite, a bunch of warm, sweeping instrumentals full of gossamer pedal steel lines and wordless vocals.
That's all for now, we'll be back with more talk of December and maybe some year end retrospective stuff! Who knows!
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