Neon Indian – Era Extraña Album Review

“Chillwave’s” new heroes, ‘Neon Indian’ return to your ear holes with 2nd album ‘Era Extraña’

Bursting onto the scene with 2009’s ‘Psycho Chasms’, Alan Palomo (better known as Neon Indian) wowed the electronic crowd, gaining massive critical acclaim for his fresh new interpretation of ‘chillout’ electronica.

Era Extrana continues where he left off, a relaxed affair of an album that puts you in mind of an 80’s disco, full of retro synths and drops, steady beats and a darkened vibe: If you danced to this, you’d sway, in room full of coloured lights, and get lost in the moment. And that’s exactly what you should do. This is a massively creative piece of music. Pulling in elements of M83, Depeche Mode and Toro Y Moi, what we have here is a swirling whirl of “eclectronia” noise that never lets up, although it’s more akin to being buffeted by a gentle breeze, it’s actually quite invigorating and you don’t really want it to stop.

Stand out tracks are Polish Girl, an uplifting piece of Chillwave perfection with a subtle beat, and one of the catchiest riffs you’ve heard in a while, Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow), which definitely leans towards the breathless vocal style of M83, and Hex Girlfriend, a journey of a tune you won’t want to stop listening to.

If you like your music electronic, chilled and are willing to get lost in a sonic landscape, then this album is for you. Even if you don’t, you should give this a go; it gets better with each listen, as you’ll inevitably pick out new elements you haven’t noticed before. It’s like listening to your own musical puzzle.

Excellent.

4 out of 5

By Robin Lewis
Twitter.com/justarobin

Era Extraña is out now on Trangressive records (UK) Pop Frenzy (AUS)

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