Prompted by a tag from KFD in Fatima’s rather impressive rollcall of personal best albums of 2025 to a new album last year from Yasmin Hamdan, I realized there might be other non-English language acts who released interesting and impressive albums in 2025.

I did a quick search for best Arabic albums of 2025 and Arab News had a rather fine collection of 8 different albums which I am listening to now.

Particularly wonderful is a compilation Al Anhar Wal Oyoon – seven womxn artists from across the Arab world. Blending traditional Arabic songwriting with experimental soundscapes, it’s a great listen.

Also really good is ‘Sametou Sawtan’ by SANAM ‘a poignant, unsettled collision of noise rock, free jazz, and Arabic folk that fizzes with tension’.

I’ll probably try to add some more Arabic and Latin discoveries in the comments below. I’d also welcome posting of any of your discoveries from beyond the Anglosphere from 2025