Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Kelly-Anne Byrne is a soul and disco-loving DJ queen whose you can finding DJing around Dublin. Catch her DJing around Dublin this Christmas and New Year.
See KA’s lists from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
See all of the guestlist choices for 2025.
1.
Baxter Dury – Allbarone
This is definitely the record I’ve listened to the most this year. I think Baxter Dury has reached new heights with this album; the title tune is an absolute belter. I recently saw him at Vicar St and the crowd completely lost it to this song. He’s one of the best live acts around and a special mention should be given to his favourite keyboard player, Fabienne Debarre, their chemistry is unreal onstage.
2.
Annie & The Caldwells – Wrong
A slice of sassy Mississippi soul, I absolutely adore this tune and album. I love the fact that it’s a family affair with this group, with Annie, her husband and daughters all part of the band. Produced by one of the best around, Sinkane, the album was recorded live in a church, and both the vocals and musicianship send a shiver up my spine. I missed them at Cork Jazz Festival, so I’m really hoping they return to Dublin, as they are an exceptional live act.
3.
Pulp – Tina
What an incredible return for Pulp this year with More. This tune just takes me right back to ‘Disco 2000’ and ‘Common People’, listening to it the first time, I felt like a teenager again. I love how the punchy delivery and upbeat music contrast with the lyrics, which are about obsession, loneliness and fantasising about someone who doesn’t exist.
4.
Blood Orange feat. The Durutti Column, Taril Al-Sabir, Caroline Polachek & Daniel Caesar – The Field
Essex Honey blows my mind; it’s a stunning album. It was difficult to choose a favourite track as the record doesn’t drop the ball once, but there’s something about this song that pulls at my heartstrings. I’m a big fan of The Durutti Column and I think the sample of ‘Sing to Me’ works perfectly. ‘The Field’ is mesmerising, for some reason, it makes me think of all the great people we’ve lost in the last few years and trying to come to terms with the finality of death.
5.
Lily Allen – Pussy Palace
I think anyone who has had someone be unfaithful to them, can relate to this track. Lily Allen is such a brilliant storyteller, I can picture this entire scene, the shock, hurt and ensuing heartache after. I also love the sweet, angelic delivery of “I didn’t know it was a pussy palace, I always thought it was a dojo, so am I looking at a sex addict, oh what a low blow”, it would have been a cliché to deliver it in an angry tone.
6.
Lovetempo – Wanna Be with You (Turbotito Remix)
This song melts my heart, if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I stick this is on and everything is cool with the world. Lovetempo is the project of Mattie Safer (Poolside/The Rapture) and the silky vocals of Kate Mattison from the brilliant 79.5, who I saw quite a bit live when I was living in New York. This track takes me right back to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell; it’s such a magical love song.
7.
Gwenno – Dancing on Volcanoes
I’ve been a fan of Gwenno since my days on TXFM and her latest record, Utopia, is one of her finest yet. ‘Dancing on Volcanoes’ reminds of Saint Etienne’s early work, it’s a gorgeous, summery, upbeat track that laments the early days of clubbing in youth and the cathartic effect of dancing.
8.
Little Simz – Lonely
Little Simz delivers, yet again, on her new record Lotus. There are so many beautiful tracks on this album, but Lonely, is one I’ve returned to again and again. I think she perfectly captures the desolate feeling an artist can get if they experience writer’s block. Much of her self-doubt comes from her split from former producer, Inflo, who she has worked with since she was a child. The wonderful thing about Little Simz is that she channelled all that hurt and anger into this magnificent album.
9.
De La Soul feat. Q-Tip & Yummy Bingham – Day In the Sun (Getting’ wit U)
It’s a dark time in the world right now and I feel like we all needed a new De La Soul album to bring us joy. Cabin In the Sky is a true return to form and a brilliant tribute to Dave, Trugoy the Dove. This tune is classic De La Soul: a smooth, sunny groove that lifts the spirits with slick vocals from Q-Tip.
10.
Greg Belson & Jaegorossa – Two Spirits
This has just come out, and I am going to play the shit out of it on dancefloors for the foreseeable. I literally cannot stop listening to this house/gospel gem, which takes us to church and then some!
Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
