Indian Askin – Lonely Citizen (Album Review) Featured
- Written by Johnno
Who is that guy standing in the corner? He’s by himself and I don’t even think he arrived with anyone. But, how did he know the party was happening? What in God’s name is wearing? WHAT -- is he drinking? That’s not the same colour of party cup everyone else has. Jesus Christ, the music is on and he’s moving like a goddam cult leader through the crowd, swaying beat to beat, gliding with the smoothest shuffle that would make Fred Astaire crap his pantaloons.
I must be his friend. Now.
Enter Indian Askin, headed by Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist Nelson Ayala, whose most recent LP offers a buffet of vibes, lush with serving from garage to indie, dance to some trip-hop seasonings.
The lead off track, ‘Possessed’, feels like a smaller club’s version of Deftones’ ‘Swerve City’ (opening track to 2012’s Koi No Yokan), perfectly percussive to get the noggin noddin’ as a setlist opener. And, as the album carries through, there lies an underlying theme of finding oneself, knowing oneself, even in-and-out of love. Perhaps that’s why the album is called Lonely Citizen. While on a continuous path of self-discovery and getting to know who you are, it can be an awfully lonely road. But a road that can only be walked an individual, with no guide or emotional support sherpa. Yet, Indian Askin supplies snapshots of this journey while the music is the bicycle of the varied terrains of struggles, internal or external.
Maybe that’s why this guy is at the party now, to escape.
As this Canadian ponders upon review, I can’t help but feel similar touches from my own country’s talent poking moments throughout the album. ‘Love & Light’ harkens on the mid-’00s indie dance rock band, Metric, for its signature staccato guitar licks, added with a falsetto vocal through the chorus. ‘Gloomy’ offers mid-’90s trip-hop that are reminiscent of King Cobb Steelie’s Junior Relaxer album, with tin-canned malaise vocals, and subdued instrumentals perfect against a hazy morning backdrop.
Personal favourites on Lonely Citizen are ‘I Like Boys’ and ‘Levitate’. The latter stands out in a 3/4 herky-jerky waltz and a well-placed back vocal line that strings the intended unevenness of the rhythm section together. ‘I Like Boys’ is meant for the alternative club dance floor, perfect for the art school freaks, sung from the perspective of a woman (Funda Sevis) who knows what she wants in a man. Her lead vocals are dead center in the mix, then when accompanied by Nelson’s words, held back in the mix and drawn out – meant to act in servitude and accommodate to what she’s dead set on getting.
Nelson and company present us with an eclectic, but not too dynamic, LP of indie/garage/whatever rock. Find a few fellow lonely citizens you know, invite yourselves to a party, and bring the party wherever your journey takes you.
8.5/10
Johnno