In a year filled with new musical releases, some of the most captivating discoveries came from the archives. Journalists at The Update Desk have unearthed a treasure trove of forgotten gems, from haunting folk operas to long-overlooked dance floor fillers. Here are the standout rediscoveries that captured our attention in 2025.
The Mamas and the Papas’ 1968 album “Mansions” proved to be a chilling revelation, with its ominous soundscapes and unsettling lyrics presaging the dark turn of 1960s counterculture. Journalist Alexis Petridis described it as “a minor but thoroughly unsettling slice of buried pop history.”
Meanwhile, Katy B’s 2011 hit “Katy on a Mission” became the unexpected soundtrack to journalist Elle Hunt’s summer, as she stumbled upon the song at festivals and house parties, discovering a pop-dubstep classic she had missed the first time around.
Roberto De Simone and Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare’s 1976 folk opera “La Gatta Cenerentola” also captivated listeners, with its eclectic blend of Renaissance and Neapolitan musical traditions. Alasdair Shuttleworth described the work as an “eccentric gem” that celebrates the folklore of De Simone’s native Naples.
Opal’s 2012 EP “You Ready” proved to be a revelation for journalist Jason Okundaye, who was drawn to its “incredibly inventive, playful and sexy” dancehall-inspired sound, despite the relative obscurity of the project.
Ulver’s 2011 performance at the Norwegian National Opera House, captured on the album and DVD “The Norwegian National Opera,” showcased the band’s avant-garde sensibilities, blending contemporary classical, post-rock and synth-pop in a mesmerising live setting, according to Matt Mills.
Elsewhere, Laura Snape found herself captivated by the timeless artistry of Bob Dylan, while Claire Biddle couldn’t get enough of the “extremely stupid but extremely catchy” disco hit “One for You, One for Me” by Italian duo La Bionda.
Safi Bugel, meanwhile, became enamoured with Badly Drawn Boy’s 2000 track “Once Around the Block,” finding charm in its “jaunty but melancholy melody” and “airy backing vocals.”
And Ammar Kalia unearthed a gem in Labi Siffre’s 1972 album “Crying Laughing Loving Lying,” which showcased the singer-songwriter’s “masterful songwriting skills” and cemented him as a “national treasure” in Kalia’s mind.
From long-lost pop gems to forgotten avant-garde masterpieces, 2025 has proven to be a year of rediscovery, as music fans uncover the hidden gems that have the power to captivate and inspire.