Last stop before the halfway point: also in December here we are with the playlists that tell the most intriguing releases of the last few weeks. One for each section of the site, to feed multifaceted curiosities. Happy listening!
Rock and surroundings
Daniel Avery, increasingly distant from the console and closer to the stages of the big festival gatherings, inaugurates the first winter playlist of this year synchronized on the world of “rockedintorni”, followed by one of the great revelations of 2025, Die Spitz, from Austin, Texas, with their dazzling work. (Claudio Lancia)
Pop music
Last musical fragments of 2025 with the new collection by Melody's Echo Chamber, but also some first tastes from next year: Puma Blue, Gorillaz and the highly anticipated new work by Charli XCX. (Daniel Moore)
Dark corner
Last barrels of 2025, starting with the recent single by the increasingly melancholy Traitrsa name much appreciated by lovers of the goth tradition (in this regard, in the playlist there is space for the return of a historic band, the French Corpus Delicti). If a certain dark nostalgia also resurfaces with i Desinterestthe various Potechkine and Qual play the dark-electro card with an approach electro-body-oriented more current and savvy. Not to be overlooked is the rough post-punk of Morwanone of the surprises of the season. Finally, as always, space for industrial (the abrasive one of Lana Del Rabies), for the more corrosive Ebm (Hocico have re-emerged with a very valid piece) and for black metal, with the celestial melodic twist of Blut Aus Nord. (Paolo Chemnitz)
Electronics
The new records by The Bug, Ikonika (our Record of the Month), Daphni and Kelly Lee Owens lead a long series of proposals for dancing, but not only. Here is our roundup with some of the best releases of the last few months… (Claudio Lance)
Songwriter
The class of Cat Power and the extraordinary beauty of Beverly Glenn-Copeland's songs are some highlights of the first months of 2026 for the songwriter section. (Daniel Moore)
Other sounds
Last round of reports for the current year. Above all, our monthly section choices stand out: the album of the same name by the Ukrainian folk band Zgarda and the autobiographical work by Natasha Pirard. Particularly appreciated were the new adventurous solo work by Nick Storring of Picastro, the third annual release by Kara-Lis Coverdale and the neoclassical by Roger Eno. A varied range of proposals not to be missed. (Peppe Trotta)
Italy
The two excellent new albums by Umberto Maria Giardini and Carmen Consoli, a Christmas song by Lucio Corsi, two beautiful female voices, Emma Nolde and Marta Del Grandi, the new project Si! Boom! Voilà!, these are just some of the proposals that characterize the selection dedicated to the most interesting Italian productions of the last few weeks… (Claudio Lancia)
Jazz
An exceptional end to the year softintroduced however by the sharpest episode e jazzy of the return of the Tortoises. Among the records reviewed on Ondarock in recent weeks, several proposals with a plush touch: the caressing folk of Georgia Duncan, the classic sound of a very calm Aaron Parks, the stylistic mixes of the Brazilian Luedji Luna, in search of dreamy atmospheres. But there is also room for more: wonky jazz, disco-funk, jazz-rap, and the almost avant-prog of Francesca Remigi from Bergamo. (Marco Sgrignoli)
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
