The PCH Beckons

“It’s not about you / My dreams have grown.” Lyrics of a break-up? Most likely. Yet indie outfit Electric Neon Clouds is far from such break-up, as they debut themselves with a four-track eponymous EP. Doses of Walk the Moon, The War on Drugs and ’80s dance music all filter in, and Electric Neon Clouds is a positive addition to the realm of indie rock.

Chances are, these four songs will be listened to via some streaming service, which is more than fine in 2018 (that’s how this reviewer listened). But for anyone reading who can upload songs to cassette tapes, get on it. There is little else these tunes are meant for than a drive to the beach while the sun’s up, car packed with friends and sandy towels. The closer is even called “The Ocean,” and its Pacific Coast vibes are closely rivaled by “I Don’t Know Why.” Both are lyrically decent, but the yearning for seafoam and crisp ocean air makes these two irresistible.

“Elemental,” the tune that throws it back the furthest, is probably the weakest overall, though the notion of an unavoidable connection with someone is absolutely worth singing about–it’s the kind of song that people who are newly in a relationship would likely relate to. Its chorus is not quite as clever as “Two Birds” nor as catchy as “I Don’t Know Why” (which belongs on an Indie Essentials playlist), and, at times, the synth part feels a little too hammer-y, as if it’s aimed at getting non-dancers to dance (a respectable goal). The vocal tone throughout is in the same category as Kanye’s rapping in “Gorgeous,” where it sounds like he’s talking through the phone, but in this case, it all feels like a loud whisper, which could be the singer’s subconscious trying to talk the girl’s subconscious. Maybe that’s reading into it too much; maybe it’s just a vocal effect.

“Two Birds,” the opener, serves the best lyrical dishes. Two favorites are “I wanna step down / It’s a feeling I’ve never known,” and, as seen at the start of this review, “It’s not about you / My dreams have grown.” The second one has a particular sadness to it, as if the universe is admitting that unexpected change rarely passes by without consequences. It’s difficult for the “it’s not you, it’s me” tactic to have weight, yet here we really believe it. Kudos, Electric Neon Clouds. Going back to the former quote, one can only imagine how someone like Justin Bieber feels, after getting so famous so young, he doesn’t really get a chance to not be important and take a break from being known around the world. Not as strong as the break-up line, but still quite good. A second listen of this song surprises with how nonchalantly heavy the lyrics are, especially for such a free-spirited indie tune. In the latter half of the song, a frantic yet beautiful synth part adds the cherry atop the sundae.

A concise EP treat in prep for the holidays, and an enjoyable companion to cruise into the New Year with.