Nap Eyes’ fifth album, The Neon Gate, released in October 2024, marks a significant evolution in the band’s sound, blending their signature indie-rock style with expansive, experimental elements. The album comprises nine tracks, including adaptations of poems by Alexander Pushkin and W.B. Yeats, showcasing the band’s literary influences.
The opening track, “Eight Tired Starlings,” sets a contemplative tone with gently picked guitar and vocalist Nigel Chapman’s meditative lyrics, reflecting on the natural world and the cosmos. This introspective approach continues in “Demons,” a Pushkin adaptation that unfolds like a fever dream, pairing disquieting lyrics with sunny, tinkling keys.
The Neon Gate introduces electronic textures and drum programming, expanding beyond the band’s traditional guitar-driven sound. Tracks like “Dark Mystery Enigma Bird” feature jaunty electronic drums, compressed funky bass, and twinkling synths, creating a trippy, psychedelic atmosphere. Despite these new elements, the band retains their characteristic guitar work, with songs like “Tangent Dissolve” showcasing rapturous shredding reminiscent of Robert Quine or Tom Verlaine.
The album’s penultimate track, “I See Phantoms of Hatred and of the Heart’s Fullness and of the Coming Emptiness,” adapts a Yeats poem into a lush groove, with Chapman’s vocals delivering the poet’s “monstrous familiar images” that “swim to the mind’s eye,” punctuated by … .
While The Neon Gate explores new sonic territories, some tracks, such as “Feline Wave Race,” have been noted for their overly contemplative vibes, with bright plinking synthesizer notes that some listeners may find reminiscent of YouTube bumper music.
The Neon Gate is a meticulously composed, delicately layered, and pristinely produced album that reflects Nap Eyes’ growth and willingness to experiment, offering a rich and immersive listening experience.