Neon Indian
VEGA INTL. Night School
Reviewed by: Lauren Rosier
Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo returns with VEGA INTL. Night School, which took about four years to finish. It’s probably his most comprehensive record to date with a mix of reggae, tropical, chillwave, all under the indie rock moniker for which he is known.
The second track on the record, “Annie”, is an upbeat, synth-filled song full of funk, reggae, R&B, and touches of other genres. Palomo really understands and knows how to blend the various genres to create his signature Neon Indian sound. It’s appealing, danceable, and has an infectious groove you cannot deny.
“Smut” brings a generous mix of chillwave, new wave, and funk that highlights Palomo’s sound. He doesn’t attempt to sound like something he isn’t. It reminds me a lot of early Washed Out.
“Dear Skorpio Magazine” calls in the brass section for some of the tune and it sounds fantastic. The track is a little bit indie, funk, and traditional all melded together.
“Slumlord” brings a bit of disco and funk into the mix that works really well and even an 80’s vibe.
With all of that said, one thing I’ve discovered with this genre, sometimes it’s hard to break out and prevent the songs from sounding all the same. The standouts are mentioned above, but that’s definitely one of the challenges.
The 51-minute record is being presented as a double album. Each song is infectious and it is clear that this is Palomo’s music — his funk, synth, reggae, etc.
Rating: Listenable
