"In an alternate and just universe, Spearmint would be huge. Musically, their songs are hook-ladened and radio friendly while the lyrics are heartfelt, emotional and vulnerable with unique angles." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Chase Me by Spearmint www.silentradio.co.uk/07/21/album-...

First match I watched was the 1974 FA Cup Final in which he scored twice & is realistically why I ended up as a Liverpool supporter. Could certainly had made a worse choice. RIP www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

"In the best possible way, ‘Different When It’s Silent’ is an archetypal Tricky album, full of sonic adventure and an underlying sense of tension... Sanders’ gorgeous voice giving it a whole new dimension." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the new Tricky album www.silentradio.co.uk/07/15/album-...

I tend to avoid anything that could be called "true crime" but London Falling by @praddenkeefe.bsky.social offers so much more. It is especially insightful on London's awkward relationship with dodgy Russian finance, as well as being compellingly written.

"Baker’s voice is understandably the primary focus for superlatives. However, the role of the music, more cinematic than previously, in creating tightly coiled drama should not be overlooked." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews @cinderwellmusic.bsky.social www.silentradio.co.uk/07/13/album-...

absolutely stunning stuff. Recently unearthed live footage of World Domination Enterprises 1988l. Was lucky enough to see WDE several times...the very first Hound God show we played was opening for WDE at Manchester Poly....and they were one of the greatest live bands ever! youtu.be/lkiwT_WoyiU?...

"The ten songs are concise gems, all sticking close to the three-minute mark, with memorable melodies and enough variation within a theme to maintain interest." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Lately, Love Is Dead by Baby Smith www.silentradio.co.uk/07/06/album-...

Two especially excellent DIDs in recent weeks. In this one, Norman Cook uses creative thinking to create a socialist utopia on his island. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... The one with Anna Maxwell Martin was a giddy delight. It felt like @laurenlaverne.bsky.social was particularly enjoying both.

"Politically committed, outspoken and highly passionate. Every bit as importantly, it is a memorable record packed with energy, soaring melodies and memorable tunes." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews No Names by @ianprowse.bsky.social www.silentradio.co.uk/06/25/album-...

Always enjoy the Folk on Foot podcast (a walk, chat & some songs) taking in the widest definition of folk artists. This month's with the excellent Joshua Burnside is a particular delight: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ht...

"Even a rare imperfect Sparks show ultimately is still a joyous occasion. Catch them while you can." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews @sparksofficial.bsky.social at Blackpool Opera House www.silentradio.co.uk/06/16/live-r...

"While not all the 25 tunes on the compilation are complete winners, it has a very decent proportion of absolute scorchers and even the lesser tracks have little variations that raise a smile." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Los Orientales de Paramonga www.silentradio.co.uk/06/14/album-...

"With ‘The Gods Laugh’, Cotton has created an atmospheric and deeply meditative record." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the new album from @alisoncotton.bsky.social www.silentradio.co.uk/06/12/album-...

Even though it's opening shot shows clearly where it is headed, the conclusion to Tip Toe is still horrifying. A potent indictment of toxic masculinity, online misinformation, hatred & rage. Feeling even more timely after events of the past week in Southampton & Belfast.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Kara Jackson - Why Does The Earth Give Us People to Love? Despite seeing lots of recommendations for this, shamefully I'd not checked it out until this week. It is sensational. Great voice & arrangements. A gut punch of a record.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More While it retains the qualities that made her Pixies & Breeders releases such firm favourites, this sees her add new dimensions to her sound resulting in a fresher sound than could have been hoped for.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Maya Ongaku - Approach to Anima Lovely, gentle psychedelia.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B If the prize was for the act that sounds least like their name, these would win hands down. An unholy blend of gorgeous vocals, freak folk, dance & experimental.

"There is a tremendously cosmopolitan quality to ‘The Trumpets of Michel-Ange Volume 2’. A great variety of instrumentation and styles meet with and enhance the quarter-tone trumpet which is the star of the show" @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Ibrahim Maalouf www.silentradio.co.uk/06/07/album-...

The energy usage is a significant reason for being opposed to the AI data centre free-for-all.

I've consumed a lot of Beatles-related material recently but this book by @stuartmaconie.bsky.social has a different angle &, to me, new information. I especially enjoyed the story related to She's Leaving Home.

#5DebutAlbums2026 David Brewis - The Soft Struggles After numerous quality Field Music albums, his solo debut sees him profitably channel chamber pop.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Poor Creature - All Smiles Tonight A real slow burner. With its use of drone, this could be MBV doing country & Irish.

"With their pop nous and polyrhythms thrown in, there is always much to enjoy. Often serious, always fun, ‘Bingo!’ is bedlam, danceable and utterly wonderful." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the new album from La Securite www.silentradio.co.uk/06/03/album-...

#5debutalbums2026 David Lance Callahan - English Primitive 1 After numerous tremendous albums as part of The Wolfhounds & Moonshake, his solo debut sees him developing his own mutant Eastern, Western blues, folk, post-punk style.

Excellent evening at the wonderful Chorley Theatre with @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social giving a charismatic talk about his new book, Punk Rock Ruined My Life, followed by a conversation about matters Fall & House of All with @stephenhanley6.bsky.social & @hanleypa.bsky.social

#5DebutAlbums2026 Anna B Savage - A Common Turn An introduction to an extraordinary voice. in/FLUX saw her go to the next level but, nevertheless, this is a very good debut.

#5DebutAlbums2026 Personal Trainer - Big Love Blanket Storming debut with bucketloads of memorable tunes.

#5debutalbums9599 Novak - s/t Simpler times when Novak was synonymous with a post-rock band rather than an anti-vax tennis player. The way they incorporate flute & glockenspiel into their sound separated them from other groups of the era. This still sounds wonderful.

#5debutalbums9599 Wonky, junkshop electro pop from Solex. One of the most inventive acts of the period & there's still nothing that sounds like it.

"its piano melodies offer an ideal blend of introspection and uplift that complement his understated voice. It is evidently a highly personal project for Bryant and proves to be his most fully realised." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Tracy Bryant's The Well www.silentradio.co.uk/05/18/album-...

#5debutalbums9599 The dissolution of Rodan led to a varied range of offerings: Retsin's folk leaning, Rachel's neo-classical, June of 44's post-rock & The Sonora Pine's complete mishmash. Retsin & Rachel's most likely to feature on my list.

#5debutalbums9599 Beulah - Handsome Western States When Your Heartstrings Break may be my favourite album of the period. Until now, I'd thought it was Beulah's debut but it turns out this came earlier. It hints at the emotional power-pop perfection that was to follow but is not as fully realised.

A fascinating account of the fluidity between classical music, pop & the avant-garde with a side order of post-war history. A detailed guide but @elizabethalker.bsky.social wears her knowledge lightly.

"‘Cine-Pop’ is an excellent debut indicative of a special talent to be enjoyed now but with the enticing prospect of what is to follow." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews Radhika's new album. www.silentradio.co.uk/05/13/album-...

#5debutalbums9599 A distinct take on indie pop. Stuart Murdoch's best collection of idiosyncratic songs. Guaranteed to be in my top five.

"There is no defined musical template to ‘A Moment In My Eyes’. It has a welcome sense of adventure with none of its eleven tracks sounding alike." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews My Precious Bunny's A Moment In My Eyes www.silentradio.co.uk/05/11/album-...

#5debutalbums9599 Helium - The Dirt of Luck Fuzzy post-punk with a pop sensibility. Likely to be in my top five.

A wonderful book by @robinince.bsky.social. Small doses of science but larger amounts of humour & empathy. It has certainly added to my understanding of ADHD & neurodiversity, especially of the devastating self-criticism that can go with it.

#5debutalbums9599 The Delgados - Domestiques They would become my favourite band of the late 90s / early 00s. While their debut isn't as fully realised as later works, the likes of Under Canvas Under Wraps & Sucrose are pretty mighty.

#5debutalbums9599 US Maple - Long Hair In Three Stages The title sums up this joyfully crazy collection of skronky, wayward guitar-led post-rock.

"Shadow Child has the quality of a novella or a slim volume of poems. In that time, it covers rich and varied terrain related to its theme." @andrewneal66.bsky.social reviews the new album from Abigail Lapell www.silentradio.co.uk/05/02/album-...

#5debutalbums7579 I've always loved the title track. Having finally checked out the album, it is of a uniformly high standard.

#5debutalbums7579 Such an important record in developing my music tastes and worldview as I entered my teens.

#5debutalbums7579 William Onyeabor - Crashes in Love Wonderful keyboard sounds, horns & grooves. Probably won't make my top five but it is a close contender.

#5debutalbums7579 This stands up so well. Wall to wall classics. Picking a top 5 is becoming ever more difficult.

#5debutalbum7579 Magazine - Real Life Another of the least orthodox post-punk entries that it took me ages to appreciate but which I now adore.

I loved this. Robyn Hitchcock's memoir of a formative year, 1967, the music & his time as an inmate at boarding school, how that music inspired the rest of his life.

Today as I was about to catch a train, for the first time I was directly abused for wearing a mask. A guy shouted "twat" at me, unless he was describing himself. It probably wasn't the time to engage him in a discussion of why someone living with cancer might want to protect themself from viruses.

If not at the level of Dead Man or Ghost Dog, this is still a very enjoyable Jarmusch movie. Love the motifs linking the three stories and the quiet humour.