Azalia Snail

Neon Resistance

BY Daniel SylvesterPublished Apr 27, 2018

8
The second-most fascinating thing about Azalia Snail is that, over her 28-year career (as a solo artist and one half of LoveyDove), the cult musician has never taken longer than five years between releases. The most fascinating thing about Azalia Snail is that's there's nary a disappointing album in her sprawling discography.
 
This type of musical hustle has served the L.A.-via-Philly musician well, as Neon Resistance, her 13th solo LP, feels too ambitious and inventive to allow room for her to repeat herself. Originally dubbed the "Queen of Lo-Fi," Snail has shown that she doesn't need to rest on her laurels, as this 12-track/54-minute LP beams with joyousness and youthful vigour.
 
At times she cops the shouted-exuberance of Cindy Wilson (of the B-52's) on tracks like "Celeste (Can You Feel It?)" and "Every Day Is Your Day." But although Snail has grown dedicated to poppier avenues, she still manages to keep things strange throughout, adding echoed whispers and Eastern strings to the catchy "Cherry Blossom" and a synth sound pastiche to "Ode to Vega." Although she's mostly known as a cult hero in LA, Snail deserves the national underground stage and Neon Resistance seems to cement this oxymoronic notion.
(Silber)

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