Nap Eyes
The Neon Gate

Amidst many monster releases of this period, Nap Eyes with "The Neon Gate" conquer the top step of the podium of my favorite listens.

Nap Eyes are a Canadian indie rock band originating from Halifax, Nova Scotia, active since 2011 and standard-bearers of Paradise of Bachelors, a North Carolina-based record label, acclaimed by critics and Grammy-nominated.

"The Neon Gate" owes its origins to the acoustic demos that Nigel Chapman (the band's frontman) recorded with the help of a drum machine during the COVID period. Nigel's insights then took on the depth and cohesiveness of a real album thanks to the contributions from other band members: Brad Loughead, Josh Salter, and Seamus Dalton.

The band was able to enhance the emotional heritage of those days, without distorting it but transforming it into a cohesive and collective work. Listening reveals a palpable fragility expressed through lyrics that address topics such as philosophy, physics, and science fiction; unraveling over a bed of anxiety typical of those weeks. All enriched by references and citations both pop and literary, from Nintendo video games to Yeats.

"The Neon Gate" is a post-rock and guitar pop album together, built on long and hypnotic tracks where acoustic and electric guitars merge in an embrace of reverbs and synthesizers. Eight tracks out of ten exceed six minutes, inviting a slow and contemplative fruition, where each song reveals itself little by little to linger long in the listener's ears.

The Neon Gate, so intimate and melancholic, so fragile yet powerful, makes Nap Eyes one of the most original bands in contemporary indie.