All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Dec. 5

December 5, 2025

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  • The episode focuses on new music released on December 5th, featuring in-depth discussions on albums by Dove Ellis, Melody's Echo Chamber, and Tom Smith, alongside a lightning round of other releases. 
  • The hosts noted the significance of the December 5th release date coinciding with year-end list season, with NPR Music planning to publish its best albums and songs of 2025 next week. 
  • The conversation highlighted several artists whose new work evokes comparisons to established acts, such as Dove Ellis being called the 'next Jeff Buckley' and T E E D aiming to capture the feeling of early Depeche Mode. 

Segments

Year-End Lists and Guest Favorite Album
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(00:00:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Erin Wolf of Radio Milwaukee selected Saya Gray’s album ‘Saya’ as her essential album of 2025.
  • Summary: The episode opens by noting it is list season, with NPR Music’s best albums of 2025 coverage coming next week. Erin Wolf named Saya Gray’s ‘Saya’ as her essential album from Radio Milwaukee’s list. Stephen Thompson hinted that Saya Gray might feature in NPR Music’s upcoming coverage.
Reviewing Dove Ellis’ Debut
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(00:02:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Dove Ellis’ debut album ‘Blizzard’ is characterized by chamber pop elements, comparisons to Jeff Buckley, and a frenetic energy reminiscent of blog-era bands like Beirut.
  • Summary: Dove Ellis’ debut album, ‘Blizzard,’ was self-produced and recorded in London and Liverpool. The Western Ireland singer-songwriter has been compared to Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, with vocal influences also noted from Fran Healy and Rufus Wainwright. The music blends passionate vocals with a nervy, frenetic energy, sometimes incorporating traditional elements like the concertina.
Melody’s Echo Chamber Album Analysis
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(00:08:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Melody’s Echo Chamber’s fourth album, ‘Unclouded,’ features rich, swelling strings and a throwback Phil Spector wall-of-sound aesthetic modernized by producer Sven Wonder.
  • Summary: Melody’s Echo Chamber is the project of French singer Melody Prochet, who initially collaborated with Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. ‘Unclouded’ is praised for its modern take on throwback sounds, anchored by rich string arrangements that balance Prochet’s airy vocals. The album conveys a new mindset of falling in love with life again, exemplified by the track ‘How to Leave Misery Behind.’
Tom Smith Solo Reflection
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(00:18:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Tom Smith’s solo debut, ‘There Is Nothing in the Dark That Isn’t There in the Light,’ is a reflective work capturing the spirit of R.E.M.’s introspective moments and addressing career inflection points.
  • Summary: Tom Smith of Editors released his first solo record, reflecting on his whirlwind career over the last 20 years. The tone is described as reflective, carrying a torch for thoughtful balladeers like Matt Berninger and David Gray, with vocal comparisons to Nick Lowe. Tracks like ‘Endings Are Breaking My Heart’ address the difficulty of closing chapters in one’s career.
T E E D’s Electro-Pop Return
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(00:22:48)
  • Key Takeaway: T E E D (formerly Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) returned with ‘Always With Me,’ featuring propulsive electro-pop hooks that evoke the feeling of early Depeche Mode.
  • Summary: T E E D is the new moniker for producer Orlando Thomas Edward Higginbottom, whose third album is ‘Always With Me.’ The record features catchy, smooth electro-pop reminiscent of 80s synth-pop bands like New Order and Depeche Mode. Higginbottom aimed to evoke the feeling of listening to Depeche Mode for the first time without directly imitating their sound.
Voices from the Lake Ambient Techno
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(00:29:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Voices from the Lake’s second album, ‘II,’ is highly enveloping ambient techno ideal for concentration, featuring propulsive yet shifting instrumental soundscapes.
  • Summary: Italian ambient techno producers Voices from the Lake released ‘II,’ their first album in 13 years, described as both a continuation and reinvention. The music is fully enveloping and propulsive, suitable for deep concentration tasks like studying. The instrumental nature of the music is noted for activating deeper brain pathways rather than just pop pleasure centers.
Lightning Round Quick Picks
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(00:33:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round highlighted HTRK’s remix/cover project ‘String of Hearts,’ Ben Mark’s psych-tinged ‘Who Cares Wins,’ and composer Isabel Waller-Bridge’s instrumental album ‘Objects.’
  • Summary: HTRK’s new project, ‘String of Hearts (Songs of HTRK),’ is a collection of remixes and covers by other artists. Ben Mark’s ‘Who Cares Wins’ was noted for its pops of psychedelia amidst his blend of jazz, electronic, and soul textures. Isabel Waller-Bridge, known for her work on ‘Fleabag,’ offered ‘Objects,’ an album of soft, patient instrumentals.
Favorite Songs of the Week
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(00:38:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Erin Wolf’s favorite songs were two tracks by Dove Ellis that evoked strong, emotional memories, while Stephen Thompson chose ‘Wrecked’ by T E E D for its mesmerizing, melancholic synth-pop hook.
  • Summary: Erin Wolf chose lead tracks from Dove Ellis’ ‘Blizzard,’ noting they made her feel emotional and allowed her to revisit intentionally abandoned memories. Stephen Thompson selected ‘Wrecked’ by T E E D, praising its beautiful hook and the comfortable, nostalgic yet current feeling of the synth-pop track.