Lael Neale

Star Eaters Delight – Sub Pop

Lael Neale brings a refreshing vibe to indie rock, with splashes of folk, electronica, and dreamy bedroom pop. Her second release for Sub Pop, Star Eaters Delight, was conceived after she moved back to her parent’s rural farmhouse in Virginia after spending time working in LA. The change of scenery certainly gave her lyrical tone some gravitas, as she has eight concise tracks that explore themes of growth, sacrifice, and existentialism.

The production here is rather lo-fi and atmospheric – the ambient background noise adds a hum that is seemingly DYI, but with attention paid to how the quiet spaces allow for Neale’s voice to shimmer. The instrumentation goes basic with synths from an Omnichord that provides a hypnotic pulse for many of the tracks. It’s slightly trippy and shoegaze at the same time.

Track 3, “Faster Than Medicine,” has a very New Order bass droning, with the playful Omnichord leading the synth charge. It has an edge that recalls Broadcast, with 60s-like vocals. “If I Had No Wings,” (track 2) proceeds with an inspirational/gospel spirit, with church-like organ sound, and slowly builds on the reflective mood. The 8-minute poetic and psalm-like “In Verona,” track 4, has cascades of chimes, a driving drumbeat, and Nico-infused vocals. Perhaps a masked ode to Romeo and Juliet? “Return to Me Now,” (track 7) goes into a 60s folk-rock direction, with guitar and brushed drumming – shades of Melanie and Judy Collins (for the younger ones, just Google them).

My favorites on this eight-track album are: 2**, 3**, 7**, 1**, 4*, and 8*.

– (h)earwitness