Encased in a high-velocity ball of sound, Canadian belters Neon Windbreaker don’t piss about in getting to the point. Upcoming EP New Sky clocks in barely over the seven minute mark despite having five tracks on offer, and this paints a fast-paced but incredibly revealing picture of where the noise-rock quintet are coming from. The second release from the band in their three year existence, New Sky follows last year’s self-titled EP in a similar raucous fashion to usual and brings them roaring into the UK next week in support of it. A perfect time to jump in and see what’s making the five-piece tick, no?
It’s the thumping drum riff of ‘Jamesbud’ that kickstarts the new record, and soon Neon Windbreaker are into their typical, pounding swing. They’re a hard band to keep up with, but an easy one to enjoy, and as ‘Jamesbud’ speeds its way into the thirty-second thrash of ‘Younger’, there’s a fleeting sense that the band are going to get more done in seven minutes than many manage in forty. By the time that ‘Nails’ fires into life, you’ve been suitably eased in to the Neon Windbreaker vibe and are pretty likely to be hitting a special level of limb-flailing frenzy. There’s little time to slow down as ‘Nails’ gives way to ‘Pink Suit’ either, which is probably appropriate given that “slowing down” doesn’t seem to be a concept that has made its way into Neon Windbreaker’s universe. The self-titled album closer is perhaps the most relaxed that the band get, and even it is drenched in a distorted power that makes the word “relaxed” seem like the most out-of-place adjective choice this feature has ever seen.
Before New Sky, there was the band’s self-titled debut record, and while the year between the releases has clearly seen the band take a step up in intensity, the inaugural effort is by no means a tentative subject. ‘Telepathy’ stands out as a minute-long leg-shaker, while ‘RA’ is an echoing, effect-laden beast; a stark change from the barebones power of the band’s more typical sound. It works, though, and should the quintet call back to it in future then evidence would definitely suggest it to breed success.
Neon Windbreaker have enjoyed a characteristically rowdy entrance to the world of noise-rock, and it seems they’ve found themselves an environment in which they’ll fit just nicely. As October fades out into November, winter is definitely fast approaching. It’s a perfect time to give this particular five-piece a listen, throw yourself around a bit, go along to one of their live shows and throw yourself around some more. Canada’s done itself proud again in delivering Neon Windbreaker to the world, now let’s just hope they prove to be a strong long-term investment.
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