Vinyl LP pressing. It is the simple thing that is so hard to do. This is the paradox that musician Lael Neale has lived within throughout her development as an artist. It is the reason she became enthralled with poetry. Poems are a distillation. Lael says, "this challenge to winnow away what is unessential is the most maddening and, ultimately, rewarding part of writing a song." Lael's new album Acquainted With Night is a testament to this poetic devotion. Stripped of any extraneous word or sound, the songs are lit by Lael's crystalline voice which lays on a lush bed of Omnichord. The collection touches on themes that have been thread into her work for years: isolation, mortality, yearning, and reaching ever toward the transcendent experience. Lael grew up on a farm in rural Virginia, but for nearly 10 years called Los Angeles home. Those years were spent developing her songwriting and performing in venues across the city, but the right way to record the songs proved more elusive. She says, "Every time I reached the end of recording, I felt the songs had been stripped of their vitality in the process of layering drums, bass, guitar, violin, and organ over them. They felt weighed down." In a moment of illumination the solution presented itself: do the simple thing. In early 2019, in the midst of major transition, she acquired a new instrument, the omnichord, and began recording a deluge of songs. Guy Blakeslee, who had been an advocate for years, set up a cassette recorder in her bedroom and provided empathic guidance, subtle yet affecting accompaniment and engineering prowess. Limited to only 4-tracks and first takes, Lael had to surrender some of her perfectionism to deliver the songs in their essence. The first song she recorded was "For No One For Now," which calls to mind the agitated beat of driving fast on the freeway against the backdrop of the San Fernando Valley's bent palms. The song contrasts romantic idealizations with the banality of folding sheets and toasting bread. It highlights her oft-thwarted attempts to enjoy the day to day while her mind wanders off toward the dream, the ideal. While Lael returned to her family farm in April 2020, Los Angeles is a player on this album, and "Every Star Shivers in the Dark" is an ode to the sprawling city, the outskirts of Eden. One can envision her walking from Dodgers Stadium to downtown, observing strangers and her own strangeness but determined to find communion with others. "Blue Vein" is her personal anthem, a Paul Revere piece that gallops through the town as a strident declamation. It is an amalgam of thoughts, concerns, and lessons as she nearly speaks the words, unmasked by flourishes, ensuring the meaning cuts through. Normally a morning person, Lael recorded most of these songs in the darkening of the early evening, and so became Acquainted With Night.
Release date:
April 30, 2021
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Internal Bleeding Settle All Scores
Maggot Stomp
October 17, 2025 -
Deaf Havana We're Never Getting Out (Clear)
Universal UK
October 10, 2025 -
Bones Owens Best Western
Black Ranch Records
September 19, 2025 -
Militarie Gun God Save The Gun
Loma Vista Recordings
October 17, 2025 -
The Pogues Rum Sodomy & The Lash [2xLP]
Rhino Records
December 12, 2025 -
Paul St Hilaire w/ The Producers [2xLP]
Kynant Records
September 26, 2025 -
The Red Chord Clients
Metal Blade
October 17, 2025 -
The Telephone Numbers Scarecrow II (Transparent Greenhouse)
Slumberland Records
October 10, 2025 -
Bloc Party Silent Alarm (Box Set)
Pias America
September 26, 2025 -
The Warriors Burn Yourself Alive
Pure Noise Records
September 26, 2025 -
Jay Som Belong
Universal UK
October 17, 2025 -
Biohazard Divided We Fall
Frontiers New Recordings Physical Only
October 17, 2025 -
Vernon Reid Hoodoo Telemetry
Players Club
October 3, 2025 -
Creem Circus Get. Switched. On!
Creep Records
October 3, 2025