Reviews : Neon Indian : Era Extra

Neon Indian      

Era Extraña

[Static Tongues; 2011] 

 8.0/10 ____________________________________________________________________________________

In 2009, the subgenre frivolously entitled chillwave- think warm, reverb heavy, sample-based music cheaply recorded by male twentysomethings on their laptops- emerged as an interesting, yet questionable, strain of pop music. Critics and listeners groaned and laughed at the genre because of the seriousness its practitioners associated with chillwave. Neon Indian was lumped with a handful of electronic acts into the microgengre, though based on their sunny and lo-fi first LP Psychic Chasms, and equally goofy live show, Neon Indian demonstrate that they are aware of the silliness inherent to chillwave.

Lead man Alan Palomo and co. procured a surprising amount of popularity after the release of Chasms that attracted fans of mainstream indie bands like MGMT and Passion Pit. With the band’s profile raised, Neon Indian’s latest effort, Era Extraña, builds upon the bright, intricate synth arrangements on the first record, but ups the production value in hopes of sustaining and increasing their fan base.

On Extraña, the lyrics are clearer than they were on its predecessor, and the arpeggiated synthesizer instrumental breaks are no longer as indulgent. Along with the immediacy of the record as a whole, the songs themselves are more conventional as well. You can picture a large festival crowd singing along to the wordless chorus on “Hex Girlfriend.” And the upbeat melodicism and fist pumping beat on “Halogen (I Could Be a Shadow)” make for a catchy, life-affirming anthem, despite its lonely lyrical content.

Palomo recorded a majority of the album alone in Helsinki, Finland during the height of winter, and it shows. The theme emptiness is explored on “Halogen. “I could be a shadow/ In the light I'll be behind you.” Longing is another theme present on the album. Palomo describes his discontent for growing up in a time that is aging faster than he is on “Future Sick.”

This record ultimately ditches the nostalgic homespun charm and wit present on Neon Indian’s first LP to focus on more serious subject matter. And while everybody needs to grow up at some point, Neon Indian is best when they are conscious of their juvenility.