#5DebutAlbums9094 Polvo - Cor Crane Secret Sorely underrated band. Their weird guitar tunings still sound fresh over 30 years on.

#5debutalbums9094 Rodan - Rusty One of the most blistering live bands I saw. Went to 4 shows of their week long only UK tour & suspect I saw them more than anyone else in the country. Their only album hints at what made them special live - post rock but with so much else going on.

"a giant mixing pot of sounds which whilst it could be termed chamber pop takes influence from jazz, folk, Brazilian music, 90s alt-rock, krautrock and disco." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Powder Keg by Clementine March. www.silentradio.co.uk/01/05/album-...

The Sleeping Party by pStan Batcow. A book that I proofread. Look out for luts of typso 😀

What a joy this is. A feast for the imagination, full of the generous humour, wit and wordplay that is the trademark of @benmoor.bsky.social

I naturally think of librarians as heroes and this documentary reinforces that impression. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Absolutely loved season 1 of Pluribus. Fascinating concept about contented hive mind. Beautifully shot & acted, giving the audience the opportunity to ruminate about whether it would be desirable, albeit while focusing upon a character resisting it.

#5albums25 Patrick Watson For a record with different vocalists on each track, this is remarkably coherent. The duet with Martha Wainwright, House on Fire, is a particular favourite.

This should have had the #5albums25 tag.

#5albums25 An enchanting combination of Anatolian folk, psychedelia, soul & pop. This is sure to be in my top five.

A great listen.

Emma Pollock's voice getting richer & better with age. This sumptuous album is every bit as good as anything she did with Delgados.

#5albums25 Likely to be my number one choice. Imaginative, hyper melodic with lyrics that range from heartbreaking to laugh out loud funny. Continues BC Camplight's run of astonishing albums.

Superb imaginings of Klaus Kinski's mind in 1971 when performing a play about Jesus. There is an intermission where the writer discusses the process of writing a book about him. Especially enjoyed the description of writing as "just lonely people typing, punctuated by biscuits."

One of my favourites of 2025.

I really haven't shouted enough about how much I love this album.

"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-...

Excellent "not quite a memoir" - lots of nourishing reflections on aging and memory.

"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-...

#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.

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...

"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-...

#5debutalbums1014 17 songs of stop-start post-punk in 28 minutes on Trash Kit's self-titled debut - a definite contender.

"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-...

#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.

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-...

To say that I am looking forward to taking part in the music journalism panel would be a massive understatement.

"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-...

"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-...

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...

"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-...

"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...

"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-...

"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-...

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.

"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/

More Sparks. Fantastic!

"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/

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.

Digital ID cards are such a terrible & unnecessary idea. Please do everything possible to ensure a massive number of people sign this petition.

"Le Bon sculps great beauty from its jumble of feelings and it confirms her reputation as one of music’s most distinctive artists." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Michelangelo Dying by Cate Le Bon www.silentradio.co.uk/09/26/album-review-cate-le-bon-michelangelo-dying/

"It weaves its spell and is at its absolute peak when the instrumentalists combine at create a rare magic." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Cerys Hafana's Angel: www.silentradio.co.uk/09/22/album-review-cerys-hafana-angel/

10 Favourite TV comedies: Seinfeld Frasier Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? The Phil Silvers Show Black Books The Day Today Fawlty Towers Porridge Curb Your Enthusiasm The Detectorists

"a mature record that manages to embrace the ancient and modern, which is hypnotic in moods, relaxed yet emotive, a journey into his unique and influential world." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Mulatu Plays Mulatu www.silentradio.co.uk/09/21/album-review-mulatu-astatke-mulatu-plays-mulatu/

"even when the words are occasionally indistinguishable the music evocatively fills the void to tell the story." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews The Genesis @handofglory.bsky.social www.silentradio.co.uk/09/19/album-review-the-genesis-a-story/

I like this album rather a lot!

"ALA.NI's voice is a delight, understated and uncategorisable albeit with noticeable jazz and soul inflections." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews ALA.NI's Sunshine Music www.silentradio.co.uk/09/12/album-review-ala-ni-sunshine-music/

Struggling to believe that I interviewed Robert Forster.

Wonderful Martin Parr documentary. Love the vivid nature and humour of his photos - www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Who Owns England? by Guy Shrubsole is a clear account of one of England's biggest problems - massive inequalities of land ownership, all the issues it creates & suggestions for alleviating the situation. A rallying call and well worth a read.