Review Summary: Perfectly executed, The Sun & the Neon Light is much more interesting than it originally would have been if it was executed poorly.
At first listen, The Sun & the Neon Light seems more like a soundtrack to a movie or video game than an ordinary album. However, this is certainly not an ordinary electronica album. Consisting of a combination of not-so-deep house beats, minimalistic electronics, and some strings, the listener is immediately taken in by its surprisingly expansive atmosphere. The music takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster, a smooth one that rolls along through the darkest alleyways, to the brightest fields, and to distant planets. It is a journey that needs to be felt, and as the story unfolds, the mind conjures vivid imagery in return. The story that the album weaves is completely enticing, and it is impossible to put down the book for even a second.
Every song tells a distinct story, and the cleverly titled song names often summarize the story within. For example, the first track (‘Outskirts’) sounds exactly as expected; it feels foreign and strange, as if stepping onto an unfamiliar planet for the first time. Continuing the example, ‘Dusty Boots’ feels like a walk through the old west, and ‘Solo City’ feels like an independent walk through an unfamiliar city. Somehow, despite the seeming lack of connection between the invoked feelings and images from songs, the album still flows together seamlessly. Perhaps this is because The Sun & the Neon Light is an adventurous album. It does not necessarily need to make sense; it just needs to take the listener somewhere where the imagination can soar. However, with the clever use of minimalism, this adventure is never forced upon the listener, but is merely suggested.
It is difficult to define this album. Although it is partly house music, the beats are barely deep enough to provide any punch. With the minimalistic electronics, it barely sounds like a dance album since the synthesizers are never as jumpy or blatant as typical club trash. One admits that the album becomes more familiar with each track, but even then, it never quite reaches the point where it loses intrigue. Or in other words, it never transforms into typical dance music, but always stays on the cutting edge. Ultimately, it does not matter in the slightest what you call this. The Sun & the Neon Light is a fascinating album from start to finish, and is definitely worth your time.
Recommended Songs:
- Outskirts
- Duke
- Charlotte
- Karma Car
