- Guardian critics spotlight lesser-heard tracks of 2025 worth discovering
- Selections span folk, electronica, indie pop, techno and trip-hop
- Standouts include Lisa Knapp’s chilling “Long Lankin” and MidnightRoba’s protest anthem “Axis”
- A mix of veteran artists and rising names shows depth beyond the charts
H2: A year for discoveries — why these songs matter
As mainstream playlists tightened in 2025, critics hunted for songs that slipped under the radar. The Guardian’s picks highlight tracks that reward close listening: intimate folk, bold electronica, exploratory techno and crisp pop. These are not viral hits but carefully crafted songs that reveal new layers with each play.
H3: Folk that chills — Lisa Knapp and Long Lankin
At the top of the list is Lisa Knapp’s rendering of Long Lankin, a centuries-old murder ballad reworked with modern dread. Knapp’s soprano mixes purity with menace, while sparse percussion and eerie glockenspiel build a haunting atmosphere. It’s the kind of ancient story made urgent and immediate — a reminder that traditional songs can still unsettle.
H3: Electronica as protest — MidnightRoba and Axis
MidnightRoba’s Axis, featuring Saul Williams, turns electronic textures into a cry for compassion. Operatic vocals, fractured IDM beats and tabla create a restless backdrop for Williams’s urgent spoken-word lines. The result is a political and emotional centerpiece — an elegy for children lost to conflict and an appeal for solidarity.
H3: Intimate and human — Al Olender, Mija Milovic and Jammy
Al Olender’s The Cyclone follows a vivid, wandering narrator through city scenes and small heartbreaks, closing on a crescendo of vulnerable resolution. Mija Milovic’s Not Offended offers a quietly authoritative reflection, led by droning organ and tender strings. Both tracks celebrate the messy specificity of human feeling. Jammy, meanwhile, delivers lo-fi melancholy with Right Time, an under-streamed gem that proves catchy honesty doesn’t need mass plays.
H3: Underground club journeys — Cleyra and experimental techno
Cleyra’s sprawling 17-minute There’s Nothing Happening Between Us is a study in ambient techno endurance. The track drifts from deep, submarine bass to stark drum programming, carrying the listener through a near-hypnotic trip. It’s an ambitious dance piece that prioritizes mood and architecture over radio-friendly form.
H3: New faces and youthful pop — Dom Innarella and Anika
Teen pop prospect Dom Innarella channels throwback R&B in Call Me, using a smooth falsetto and acoustic drum-machine textures that recall early Justin Bieber and Usher. Berlin-based Anika (Annika Henderson) offers Walk Away, a frank, alt-rock-tinged track whose blunt lyrics and jangling guitars turn self-doubt into a sharp, liberating anthem.
H4: How to listen
These songs reward patient listening. Start with Lisa Knapp for intensity, then shift to MidnightRoba for urgency, and unwind with Cleyra’s long-form techno. Each pick points to artists expanding their genres in quiet but powerful ways.
Discovering under-the-radar music like this keeps playlists interesting — and proves 2025 still had room for surprises beyond streaming algorithms.
Image Referance: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/dec/27/best-2025-hidden-gem-underrated-songs
