Oh me, oh my, I have been looking forward to this one for a long time. I’m always excited for new chillwave goodness, so 2011 has been one of those years where every couple of months I’ve had a new release to anticipate. And my favorite “chillwave” artist, Neon Indian’s turn is next.
Sophomore releases are always difficult, and in an emerging genre there is always the question of the developing sound: What makes “chillwave” chillwave in the first place? How far are artists allowed to go in expanding the sound before it turns into something else? Already we’ve seen Com Truise change nothing, Washed Out change only one or two things, and Toro y Moi change… well, almost everything. But in Era Extraña, Alan Palomo finds the happy medium between “staying true to the sound” and changing it up.
It’s a deeper and longer record than 2009′s Psychic Chasms, with added discordant noise and more detailed, layered synths. The drumlines are still upbeat and danceable. He’s still got the instrumental tracks every once in a while to spell his songs that do have a vocal part. And though there isn’t quite the heartfelt-anthem/catchy title song like “Should Have Taken Acid With You,” the added complexity and intricacy of the new songs makes up for that lack (I always was partial to “Terminally Chill,” anyway). “Fallout” might end up being that track anyway.
His synths AND his clothes are vintage. That’s hip.
I can tell already that this one is going to be in heavy rotation for a while, perhaps taking Psychic Chasm’s place. A great end-of-summer album that can recall both early June and late August at the same time somehow, and one that you’ll end up still listening to in the colder months due to the wintry synth intro in Era Extraña that successfully evokes Boards of Canada (circa Campfire Headphase). Overall, a very solid sophomore effort that avoids the dreaded slump and puts Neon Indian effortlessly back into the conversation of cool new musical acts. Give this one a listen for sure.
I give it 4.5 Halls out of 5 Oates. 
Streaming on NPR’s website: http://www.npr.org/
SP
09/13/2011
Nice review. Although, in my opinion you underrated Washed Out.