ARTIST:
NEON INDIAN


ALBUM:
ERA EXTRANA


KEY TRACKS:
FUTURE SICK
FALLOUT
SUNS INTERRUPT
ARCADE BLUES


"take me from these arcade blues, I don't know what to do..."


"Strange Era" is the literal translation of Alan Palomo's sophomore release under his moniker Neon Indian.  I was a big fan of Palomo's debut album, Psychic Chasms, so this was a release I was looking forward to.  Alan Palamo's home town is Denton, Texas which, interestingly makes its way into his music.   How?  Palamo's buzzing electronics have always conveyed a sense of heat to me.  Long hot days, and cool nights:  it sounds (and feels) like the desert.  Even while recording this album in icy Helsinki, the Texas heat sneaks in.


Era Extrana is everything you'd expect from Neon Indian, fuzzy electronics, hazy vocals, and those laser-like twangs that make Neon Indian's compositions so distinct.  However, as most sophomore releases are, it's much more polished.  Palomo doesn't take any major risks in this release, but he does employ some new techniques to his music.



What's most notable is that Alan Palermo can finally add vocals to his musical repertoire.  Where Psychic Chasms utilized more spoken word vocals, Era Extrana finally lets the listener hear Palomo's soft vocals.  Of course, Neon Indian isn't known for vocal ability but it's the perfect addition for this style of music.  The vocals never overpower the instrumentals, and likewise the instrumentals (for the most part) do not overpower the vocals.  So what's left is a lovely combination of equally balanced sounds.  In fact, putting the voice on par with the instruments is always a technique I find interesting because it treats the voice as just another instrument in the mix.  Which when you think about it...isn't that really what a voice is!?  

On a different note, I have to admit that Neon Indian puts on an excellent live show.  I  was fortunate to see Neon Indian at Bonnaroo a few years back and I think it may have been one of his first larger shows because he proclaimed that it was one of the most incredible shows he's ever played.  Indeed it was a little ridiculous when topless indian squalls came out on stage with him...But to Alan's credit, whoever does his light show needs to be commended.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  There was a point where the curtains glittered behind him and red lights buzzed along with the baselines.  It was absurd...but fantastic!


So overall, Era Extrana was a decent listen but if Neon Indian ever tours to your town, I would make it a point to get a ticket.  Because if it's through the light shows, the crowd, or the nudity, this is where Palomo's music comes alive.    

LISTEN:  FUTURE SICK  |  ARCADE BLUES  |  FALLOUT  |  SUNS INTERRUPT

NEXT WEEK:  TUNE-YARDS  |  W H O K I L L