Dream… or Nightmare?
That’s the underlying question posed in “New Town Dream,” the second LP from Bay Area trio Neutrals. Guitarist/vocalist Allan McNaughton’s lyrical narratives expand on the world first built in the band’s 2022 EP “Bus Stop Nights,” offering snapshots of mundane realities in the “New Towns” that proliferated in the UK during the ’60s and ’70s. Conceptually, “New Town Dream” voices the psychic tension of that era, depicting the sense of being marginalized and becoming just another cog in a deeply broken machine.
The band’s musical touchstones are rooted in the era of doomed Thatcherism, spanning from the late ’70s to late ’80s. Tracks like “Wish You Were Here” and “The Iron That Never Swung” feature a razor-edged rapid strum reminiscent of The Wedding Present. “That’s Him on the Daft Stuff Again” and “Travel Agent’s Windows” nod to the Television Personalities with their naive, kaleidoscopic mod melodies tinged with cynicism. “Steven Proctor Bus Conductor” transitions from dark, rhythm-forward verses in the spirit of Josef K to transcendent, Pastels-esque pop choruses with sugary-sweet backing vocals from bassist Lauren Matsui. Perfect C86 sounds for often hellish C24 times!