Album Review/ Indie Rock : Neighbourhood Tower’s ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering The Light)’

Neighbourhood Tower is the solo project of Finnish musician and producer Markku Ruottinen. In his latest release, ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering The Light)’, he explores a range of modern rock.

From alt rock to shoegaze to krautrock to electro rock to synth dream pop, he drifts through them all. The album is marked by its atmospheric sensibilities, setting up extraordinary moods and dazing frames that you cannot get enough of. 

There’s a lot of dynamism that you’ll pick up in his songwriting. He has a way of creating intricate details and subtle movements within still oceanic frames. It’s very immersive. Especially because it compels you to look closer, feel deeply and go all the way in. Think Beach House. Tracks like ‘Dance’, ‘Nothing Comes Easy’, and ‘Outer Skies’ have that type of endless soundscape. With atmospheric synthesizers and psychedelic movements, these tracks are swirling scenes of music. The classic rock chords usher in the blues and the cinematic sensibilities. It’s quite enjoyable.

‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ is a smooth drift. The melodic sophistication on this is remarkable. The way that the artist has homogenised sound effects and textures to create a gradient of music is spectacular. The vocals are also used as an instrument, with drifts that tie into the rest of the soundscape. 

There are also a lot of artful blends of pop and rock with electronica. Theatricals with hyperboles that are reminiscent of retro stars like David Bowie. ‘Soul of a Radio’ is a great example of this. The track is wilfully retro. It takes you back to the 1970s and 80s. The experimental and cosmic qualities give rise to trippy sound design, unconventional sonic textures and wondrous production value. 

The title track is a winding journey. It is mellow and long. Starting off with small dots of melody and muted vocals, it is progressive in nature. There are a lot of explorative moments within the song. A romantic aimlessness that comes together organically. It’s moody, shrouded in a dim atmosphere. The vocals and the melodies start to feel like points of light that weave through this dim fog. They leave behind orbs of light that feel so magical in the mind. The psychedelic feel is, at first, muted. But the daze really creates a space for the listener to journey to it, experience its many notions.

‘Soft Bullets’ and ‘No Expectations’ wrap up the album. The former with plush indie rock and dreamy ambience. The latter is more of a melodic rise. It starts with a single melodic line and then disperses to build depth, height, color and dimension. It has a smooth and effortless way that reinforces the stylings of the rest of the album. Wrapped up nicely with melancholic brackets, introspective sensibilities and cerebral lush, it makes for a memorable flow. Listen Now!

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering The Light)’ by Neighbourhood Tower here -