Acquainted With Night by Lael Neal

In early 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, music was the gateway to a door outside my mind. I needed to find new artists to listen to after a string of concerts I had planned was canceled due to the emergence of the pandemic. I went to the Sub Pop and Jagjaguwar websites to find these new bands. One of the first albums and artists I found that fit like a glove was Acquainted with Night by Lael Neale because I am a Pilgrim Too. This updated rendition of the musings of Robert Frost is a must listen.

When I heard the minimalist drone that is Blue Vein, the album opener, I fell immediately in love. The depth of the lyrics and visions painted really took me somewhere, and lying in my bedroom going through a breakup, I cast all my troubles to the ground, lit candles, and listened on vinyl to the angelic voice, the introspective lyrics, and beautiful organ drone and the minimalist low fi back beats night after night. When Every Star Shivers in the Dark started playing, I knew from the first go around this was an album that I would put on time and time again, and I have. I can’t highly recommend you check this woman out enough. Such beauty and true artistry. The videos are super art school too. If you love Joni Mitchell check out Lael Neal’s cover of Woodstock linked below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlvJj_fG2Ek

Listen to the whole album!