Andrew Neal
LightNews LightNews
andrewneal66.bsky.social
Andrew Neal
@andrewneal66.bsky.social
190 followers 230 following 140 posts
Carer. Writer and new releases editor at Silent Radio. Music, books, ephemera.
Posts Replies Media Videos
andrewneal66.bsky.social
I really haven't shouted enough about how much I love this album.
December 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"a prime example of how sparse musical backing can highlight the intimacy, fragility and unique qualities of the human voice, even more so when the voice is as special as Arnalds’."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Ólöf Arnalds: Spíra
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/26/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – OLOF ARNALDS: SPIRA
Björk once described Ólöf Arnalds as “somewhere between a child and an old woman.” Clearly, this was not intended as an insult and it neatly encapsulates the charms that she brings to her fifth album,...
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
Excellent "not quite a memoir" - lots of nourishing reflections on aging and memory.
November 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"Selenites, Selenites! expertly mixes a variety of styles but what unifies the record is its mood. While the groove can switch between chilled and boisterous, its disposition is always optimistic.
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews @jimitenor.bsky.social
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/23/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – THE JIMI TENOR BAND: SELENITES, SELENITES!
News flash! In case anyone has failed to notice, it is horrible out in the wider world. Despots in charge, anger, poverty, wars, pending environmental catastrophe and the dystopic possibilities of AI....
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
#5debutalbums1014
If all the songs on Caitlin Rose's debut were of For The Rabbits' standard, this would have been a shoo-in for my top five.
November 14, 2025 at 6:31 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
One of my favourite novels of recent years. Even though the characters don't look as I'd visualised them, this adaptation captures their charm, modesty & humour so well:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Leonard and Hungry Paul
Quiet lives, big hearts. A gentle, meandering tale of friendship, board games and finding your way in the world. Starring Alex Lawther, Laurie Kynaston and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"Its best moments, of which there are plenty, are utterly intoxicating."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Nusantara Beat's debut album:
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/13/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – NUSANTARA BEAT: NUSANTARA BEAT
While group names can often be random, Nusantara Beat has chosen one that encapsulates its ethos. Nusantara means all the islands that make up Indonesia and dates back to when kings wanted to unite th...
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
#5debutalbums1014
17 songs of stop-start post-punk in 28 minutes on Trash Kit's self-titled debut - a definite contender.
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"they magically capture the energy and exuberance of the 1960s... absolutely splendid."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Thee Headcoats & Thee Headcoatees
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/10/album-...
ALBUM REVIEWS – THEE HEADCOATS: THE SHERLOCK HOLMES RHYTHM’N’BEAT VERNACULAR & THEE HEADCOATEES: MAN-TRAP
“One chord is good, a second is alright, three is a crowd, four will end in a fight.” These words from ‘The Friends of the Buff Medway Fanciers Association’ perfectly summarise Thee Headcoats’ music. ...
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:42 AM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
#5debutalbums1014 Liz Green - O Devotion! (2011)
A highly distinctive voice, the sort of sound it is easy to imagine coming from an old radiogram. In the running for my top five. As a sidenote, her Marc Riley session version of Bowie's Five Years is something else.
November 9, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
mrjamesob.bsky.social
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
To say that I am looking forward to taking part in the music journalism panel would be a massive understatement.
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"John Darnielle confirms his place at the pinnacle alongside Willy Vlautin of The Delines and Colin Meloy of The Decemberists as longform writers who bring their novelistic prowess and detail to song form."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the Mountain Goats:
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/05/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: THROUGH THIS FIRE ACROSS FROM PETER BALKAN
Conceptually the most elaborate of their 23 albums, ‘Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan’ sees The Mountain Goats embark on a full-blown musical. It tells of a small crew consisting of Captain ...
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"a highly focused and impressive blast of desert psych."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Yenbatt by Noura Mint Seymali:
www.silentradio.co.uk/11/02/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – NOURA MINT SEYMALI: YENBATT
Noura Mint Seymali’s third album and her first in nine years is a highly focused and impressive blast of desert psych. ‘Yenbett’ is a successful blending of tradition with innovation. A Mauritanian gr...
www.silentradio.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
This captures the joy of being in a group for the sheer enjoyment of it surprisingly well. Also a strong critique of the awful patriarchy & brilliantly acted. Very emotional.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Riot Women
No apologies - just noise. Five fierce women crank up the volume to get their voices heard. Sally Wainwright's riotous drama with Joanna Scanlan, Tamsin Greig and Rosalie Craig.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"It is an album whose sounds are almost possible to feel and touch, half an hour that is quietly overwhelming."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Hilary Woods' Night CRIU via @sacredbones.bsky.social @stereosanctitypr.bsky.social
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/28/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – HILARY WOODS: NIGHT CRIU
Following two densely atmospheric instrumental albums, her latest record sees Hilary Woods making a welcome return to a song-based structure and giving primacy to her voice. ‘Night CRIÚ’ takes as its ...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"a fascinating account of a studio’s role in one of music’s most productive and creative periods."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Chris Connelly's book about Cargo Studio.
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/22/book-r...
BOOK REVIEW – CARGO RECORDING STUDIOS 1977 – 1985 BY CHRIS CONNELLY
For those with an interest in music from the punk era and its varied aftermath, Cargo Studios has legendary status. John Peel confided that he would often play a track, having not previously heard it,...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"It makes for a richly textured record, its melodies often lending it a sepia quality."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Cubzoa's Unfold In The Sky @bellaunion.bsky.social
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/20/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – CUBZOA: UNFOLD IN THE SKY
There is a strong sense of place to Cubzoa’s debut album, ‘Unfold In The Sky’. Jack Wolter takes the listener to his current home (Brighton), his previous home (the Isle of Man), Barcelona and even ou...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"Twenty years on, Field Music’s eponymous debut sounds remarkably fresh and timeless."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the
@fieldmusicmusic.bsky.social reissue:
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/19/album-...
ALBUM REVIEW – FIELD MUSIC: FIELD MUSIC
Reissues are an ideal opportunity to take stock and evaluate a group’s career. It is twenty years since Memphis Industries issued the first, self-titled Field Music album. Over the ensuing period, the...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
Not sure I've ever read a music autobiography in which the author has been so self-critical. Stylistically, an easy read but emotionally tough yet compelling.
October 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"Its biggest revelation is how well their disparate voices combine... random pieces colliding yet works as an enjoyable mystery tour where it is never clear what might happen next."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Long Fling
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/07/album-review-long-fling-long-fling/
ALBUM REVIEW – LONG FLING: LONG FLING
It takes considerable chutzpah to preview your first, and it is claimed only, album with what proves to be the record’s most awkward and wiry song. That is what Long Fling do with ‘Flung’ which starts...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:56 AM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
More Sparks. Fantastic!
October 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Andrew Neal
silentradio.bsky.social
"Shows the value of gently probing, drawing out connections & contradictions... pairing these thoughts with imaginative arrangements and music of minimalist beauty works a treat."
@andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews @theantlers.bsky.social
www.silentradio.co.uk/10/02/album-review-the-antlers-blight/
ALBUM REVIEW – THE ANTLERS: BLIGHT
A glance at a record’s list of songtitles often offers an indication of its type of music. The Antlers’ ‘Blight’ is deceptive in that respect. In addition to the title track, there are songs called ‘C...
www.silentradio.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
Well worth a visit to the Harris Museum, Preston for the Wallace & Gromit exhibition. Lots of models & sketches which made me want to watch all the films/shorts again plus some early works where it is easy to see Nick Park's style develop. It's free as well.
September 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
andrewneal66.bsky.social
Digital ID cards are such a terrible & unnecessary idea. Please do everything possible to ensure a massive number of people sign this petition.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · Sep 26
One of the unexpected things I've learned from my advocacy for trans people is how malignant parts of the State can be, how it can misuse data for positively evil purposes. It's taught me people can't be safe with a digital ID card and so I've signed this. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards
We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.
petition.parliament.uk
September 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM