Californian Post-Punk Trio Neutrals Released New Video “Wish You Were Here”

“A “Dear John” letter by way of three postcards sent from a Balearic holiday, ‘Wish You Were Here’ reveals that Gary Borthwick wasn’t telling tall tales (Bus Stop Nights EP, 2022) when declaring his love for an Elizabeth Taylor – just not THE Elizabeth Taylor. Unfortunately his feelings for Liz are unrequited and she finds distraction in the flattering attentions of an amorous Flamenco dancer… but are Pedro’s intentions entirely honorable?

Inspired by watching Alicia Jeanine playing my guitar at a show, I bought myself a capo. The very first time I tried it out, this riff appeared. I turned on the tape recorder and here we are.” -Allan / Neutrals

Dream… or nightmare? That’s the underlying question posed on New Town Dream, the second LP from Bay Area trio Neutrals, as guitarist/vocalist Allan McNaughton’s lyrical narratives expand on the world first built on the band’s 2022 EP “Bus Stop Nights,” offering snapshots of mundane lived realities in the “New Towns” that proliferated in the UK during the ’60s and ’70s. While New Town Dream conceptually voices the psychic tension of that era, of being pushed toward the margins and becoming just another cog in a deeply broken machine.

The band’s musical touchstones are squarely situated in the timeline of doomed Thatcherism that followed from the late ’70s to late ’80s. “Wish You Were Here” and “The Iron That Never Swung” jangle with a razor-edged rapid strum to rival The Wedding Present; “That’s Him on the Daft Stuff Again” and “Travel Agent’s Windows” nod to the Television Personalities’ naive, kaleidoscopic mod melodies streaked with cynicism; “Steven Proctor Bus Conductor” slowly unfolds from verses in the dark, rhythm-forward spirit of Josef K to transcendently Pastels-esque pop choruses with sugary-sweet backing vocals from bassist Lauren Matsui. Perfect C86 sounds for often hellish C24 times!

– Erika Elizabeth

Press photo by Mark Murrmann

TOUR DATES

05/05 San Francisco, CA – Knockout w/Chime School & Teini-Pää
06/06 Oakland, CA – The Oakland Weekender at Thee Stork Club