Customer Reviews

Psychic Chasms

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This debut from the young Neon Indian is superb. I don't usually write reviews about dance/electronic music so I may not have the vocabulary to do this album's sound justice. However, I will say that it has a real low-fi sound. It sounds as if once he created the full song he ran the whole thing through some kind of filter that took out all the clean and polished sound. I've heard the sound described as sounding like it was created in the 80's or 70's (I'm talking about the sound of the songs not the actual music). It's really a unique sound. One song in particular really sounds like it was created in 1981 using a cheap synthesizer and a drum machine - "Mind, Drips." There are so many good songs here, making the album extremely easy to listen to all the way through. I'd say there isn't a weak song on here. Every song is danceable and has catchy hooks, fantastically simple beats, and a real "chill" vibe to it, making it perfect for parties or driving trips. Even though I stress that every song is good, there are a few standouts for me. Those are: "Local Joke", "(If I Knew I'd Tell You)", "6669 (I don't know if you know)", "Should Have Taken Acid With You", and the title track. My favorite right now is "Local Joke", but that will probably change with each listen. I'd say this sounds like a more electronic, danceable, less Brit-pop influenced MGMT. I'd say if you took the beats of the Bee-gees, the singing of MGMT, and the hooks and melodies of early New Order and the more chill Daft Punk you'd have Neon Indian. I hope that's right. It's the best I could do.

Neon Indian is the duo consisting of Alan Palomo and Alicia Cardetta, at one point high school classmates. Neon Indian started posting songs on the internet earlier this year, and immediately created a huge buzz (probably in part because the identity of the band members was initialy kept a secret). Now comes the debut release of Neon Indian. If you wonder about their musical style, think mostly instrumental, but definitely danceable, synth-grooves. Band that come to mind are Ghostland Observatory (minus the electric guitar), New Order and Telex (from the early 80s).

"Psychic Chasms" (12 tracks; 31 min.) kicks off with a short "(AM)" intro, only then to blast into "Deadbeat Summer", perhaps the most conventional track on here (and with full lyrics). After a short and silly "Laughing Gas" instrumental, we then dive into "Terminally Chill", one of those tracks that made so much indie-buzz, and rightfully so. "(If I Knew I'd Tell You") is another short intermezzo (reminding me so much of that groundbreaking band Telex back in the day), leading us into "6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)", a great track. "Should've Taken Acid With You", also a buzz-creating track, is actually one of the weaker tracks on here for me. The next 4 tracks, though, are all one better than the other: "Minds, Drips", the title track, "Local Joke" (my favorite track on here) and "Ephemeral Artery" are in total the heart of the album, and just superb. "7000 (Reprise)" is a short instrumental to close out the album.

In all, I can't emphasize enough how impressed I am with this release (sure to land high on my "end of the year" best albums list), and I can't wait to hear more from Neon Indian. I had the great fortune of catching Neon Indian live at their first gig ever, in September at the Monolith music festival (at the Red Rocks, near Denver), in front of a PACKED audience. Looked like the band was a bit nervous at the beginning, but soon enough the grooves took over and they put on a fantastic set. Finally, if you wonder where you can hear this band, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none, and where this release has been in heavy rotation since its release last month.

Beneath the hazy sonics from this bedroom electro-pop project are well-structured and highly addictive songs, putting it next to Towers of Asia's debut as one of last year's nicest surprises.

...It's pretty legit. I have an overflowing vat of love within me for Neon Indian and whatever it is he is saying here. Which may be nothing; which may make it all the more amazing.

Since the advent of iTunes, I very rarely engage with entire albums. I'll select the song I like that I heard on the radio and that'll be it. I don't remember where first I heard 'Deadbeat Summer' (probably Pandora) but I liked it enough to download it. I percolated in my library for a while, and eventually I investigated further and discovered 'Should've Taken Acid With You,' kind of the official introductory Neon Indian song for most listeners. From there it became 6669(I Don't Know If You Know) and then Local Joke and then I stopped lying to myself and bought the album.

Let me describe it for you. Psychic Chasms does cross genres and subgenres and kind of ends up mostly Electronic, but very psychedelic chillwave. Don't think about it to much, it's lovely and that's all that matters. What I most appreciate about the music is that each song is very distinct, a fully realized idea with a sort of beginning, middle and end. No mucking about here, everything is spontaneous and free of pomp and over analysis.

My favorite song for the end of time is 6669 (I Don't Know If You Know). Maybe not off the cuff, but it was a song that started playing with my mind while I was listening to it. It plays like a story in my mind, I love it, it's beautiful, and it STILL IMPRESSES ME - months after hearing it I still get that deeply visceral reaction to the very end of the song. Damn, it just grabs you and gives you this misty eyed teary sentimentality, tinged with both tragedy and joy. Do you see what this music makes me do? I just used like 12 adjectives and it's not enough.

Local Joke is another song I have great affection for. It's a bit more radio friendly but not by much. The vocals are still buried deep in layers of synth, but it adds to the mood of the song instead of detracting. It also just has the best kind of slow bounce that makes you feel relaxed and ready to strut. I feel awesome listening to this music. Every time.

I could get very silly here gushing like a Beatles girl but I won't. I just encourage you to give it a few listens and let the songs click. They're fun and quick and take you fun places. Wouldn't you like to take acid with this guy? Only if it'd be as fun as listening to this music.

Yes, Heathcliff.

And as crazy as that may sound, I love it.

If you fell asleep watching Heathcliff this is what your dream would sound like.

Perhaps its those 80's era trippy synth sounds he's using, I dont know. Theres not really anything out that sounds like this album though, I know that.

I got hip to this album about a year ago by just listening to electronic music and being aware of whats out/coming out. I have a pretty decent electro collection but this one stands out as one of the gems. It also stands out as one that isn't a carbon copy of something else ive heard. That goes for the tempos, the sounds and the programming.

It is a short album, but I prefer short to long. It leaves less room for filler and there isnt too much of that on here. I can put this on, grab a glass of wine and let it go while I paint. I'd recommend this to anyone into electronic music who wants something a little different and lighthearted.

-author

While Neon Indian fits perfectly into the ever-broadening spectrum of psychedelic synth-pop that is taking the world by storm, I like this band because their music actually sounds like vintage eighties music, especially the vocals of Palomo.

FOR MORE OF THIS REVIEW CLICK HERE

[...]

Throw back synths mixed with catchy song writing and a wry sense of humor, Alan Palomo nails it on Psychic Chasms. With track names such as "Terminally Chill" and "I Should have Taken Acid With You", how could you not be intrigued. Some of the best songs are instrumental and short. Track 5, "(If I knew I'd Tell You)", is loaded with nostalgia, soothing melodies and doesn't even clock in at one minute.

If you are into discovering new music, or like psychadelia with electronic sounds then this band is for you.

I very much enjoy this record and am anxiously awaiting their performance at bonnaroo this year. It is one of the those albums with a chill, relaxed vibe while at the very same time can pick you up and make you want to dance. My only qualm with the vinyl purchase was that there was no accompanying mp3 download as most new records have nowadays, so I can't listen in my car which sucks.

...last night when it was playing while we were having dinner: "It's like a totally f***ed up 80s dance record that has been left out in the sun until it's all warped and warbles when its played."

'Nuff said.

Weirdly fun, hazily nostaglic, psychedelica electronica at a perfectly concise 30 minutes long. Mind, Drips, Psychic Chasms, and Terminally Chill are standouts for me.

For fans of boards of canada,freescha, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Avalanches or casino vs japan.

And pay no attention to that 2 star review. Neon Indian sound NOTHING like Justice.