Miami Horror: For When Sophistication Gets Old

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Miami Horror's "Holidays" is a simple way to satisfy a retro dance-pop fix without going on YouTube for a self-inflicted Rick Roll. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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courtesy of the artist

Miami Horror's "Holidays" is a simple way to satisfy a retro dance-pop fix without going on YouTube for a self-inflicted Rick Roll.

courtesy of the artist

Naturally, underground music often gravitates toward experimentation and the abstract. That's understandable, and more often than not, it feels great to dive into a difficult album and swim a few laps. But when sophistication gets old, Miami Horror's debut album makes a perfect vacation spot.

"Holidays" can be taken at face value, meaning it's devoid of fine print. And though this track could fit snugly in a modern club setting, it also subtly references dance-pop's forefathers with some light pianos and a beefy synth solo. It's a simple way to satisfy that retro fix without dusting off some old Bee Gees LPs or going on YouTube for a self-inflicted Rick Roll.

Neon Indian's Alan Palomo stands at the front of the mix and lays down a guest vocal summoning the heyday of disco. He's never sounded so sharp: His words, of course, focus on a crush, but the infatuation seems to be based on a chance meeting. Palomo doesn't even know where this girl is from, but he's pretty blunt about needing her now. Ah, youth! Thirty-five years ago, "Dancing Queen" suggested that anybody could be that guy, and it's nice to know things haven't changed much since.