Neon

Neon – ‘Hello’ (mp3)

I remember the moment I first heard Neon in ’04. It was the same day my goldfish died, I lost my phone and the boy in the locker above me at school decided it was amusing to fart in my face. But when ‘A Man’ staggered through my radio later that evening, my horrible day was suddenly shot up with a potent mix of sunshine.

Forming in 2001, Neon have strung up whirlwind successes over their time. The Melbourne three piece have traipsed around with Ivy League records, had their first album produced by none other than Steve Mc Donald of Red Kross fame and was even offered an EP release on ex Blur guitarist Graham Coxon’s label. After the release of the EP, Neon went on to rope shining reviews from NME, Kerrang! and BBC Radio 1.

Producing their self titled record in 2005, the band spent the remainder of the year unleashing their intoxicating pop harmonies with punters in the States, the UK and Aus. To the grief of local music aficionados, shortly after the success of their first album, the band fell off the face of the earth. After a two year hangover, thank Zeus the prodigal trio have returned.

For now, fresh label Tangled Beat have put out a limited edition 7”, giving listeners an appetizer of the band’s sophomore album, which is expected to drop at the end of this year. Stapled with mesmerizing pop rock harmonies, the first track Hello is nothing short of beguiling – unhinging melancholic sounds of the days when local bands didn’t have to hurl in synths to get noticed.

Pedestal melodies in the verse offer a lighter sound compared to the band’s back catalogue. But before long, the chorus spills out a barrage of gritty, thundering riffs and it’s back to the sublime sounds of a band that has been truly missed.

Neon, it’s good to have you back.

Hello/Never Again 7” is out through Tangled Beat Records.

www.myspace.com/neontheband