New Album. 'If You're Not With Us, Then You're Against Us'

2012. This year seems to be synonymous with the end of the world. Well it might all be baloney, but with the huge Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan last year, along with worldwide civil unrest, protests, revolutions, economic crisis etc, it can feel like it's all about to come crashing down around our ears.

It was in this atmosphere that I started writing the songs for this record, and this continued into the recording sessions. The title is a call to arms. A rallying cry to get behind the things you believe in, the people you love, and to stand united.

Inside Neon are part of a 'Gaijin rock' scene here in Tokyo. We are also individuals with families and loved ones who want to make a stand for the things we believe in. You're either with us on this mission, or you're not. Stand with is, or stand against us.  

It's not a paraphrased reference to G. W. Bush's speech as some may have assumed or suggested. That was never in my thoughts, if anything it's a tribute to my heroes Manic Street Preachers.

Conceptually the album is split in two very distinct halves.

The first five tracks (Cosmonaut, The Soviets, Go Kitano!, Radical Citizens, Cold Sunshine) are very much political songs. Referencing my obsession with communism, 3/11, revolution, and fighting the system.

The next five (Losing Gravity, Faith & Time, Angel's Kiss, Shiny Black Star, Buried Alive) are very much personal songs.

If this were a traditional album released on vinyl that that would be your side 1 and side 2.

The album opener and closer (Cosmonaut and Buried Alive) are built around the same piano chords, allowing the tracks to act as framing devices.

So is this our 'concept album'? In some respects it is, as it is not simply a collection of songs, it does have some over arching themes and motifs. 

The album was recorded in just 3 days, but we had been playing and rehearsing the songs for months in advance of recording. This is how we tend to work when approaching recording. The songs are a combination of influences and styles, and represent a different approach to our music and my writing. We have augmented our sound with electronica, but also retained our MUNK style on some of the other tracks.

I would like to personally thank Jakey Slater our producer for the hours he spent in the studio helping me to mix and master it. Also I would like to thank Sorcha Chisholm for contributing her vocal talents on Losing Gravity. Finally thanks to Baz Le Rock for the album artwork.

It's finally here, so are you WITH US or AGAINST US?

Album Credits:

Cosmonaut
The Soviets
Go Kitano!
Radical Citizens
Cold Sunshine
Losing Gravity (feat. Sorcha Chisholm)
Faith & Time
Angel's Kiss
Shiny Black Star
Buried Alive

Produced by The Kitchen Cynic & Rich Loffman

All Songs written by Rich Loffman
*Except Angel's Kiss. Music by Inside Neon / Lyrics by Rich Loffman

Guest vocals on Losing Gravity by Sorcha Chisholm
Bass on tracks 4 & 9 by Jeremy Eastwood

Additional programming by The Kitchen Cynic
Recorded, mixed & mastered by The Kitchen Cynic
Recorded at Deuce Studios, Tokyo. March 2012
Album Artwork by Baz Le Rock

Inside Neon is
Rich Loffman – Vocals, guitar, piano, programming
Teruhisa Yamaura – Guitar
Nat York – Bass
Chris Meggitt – Drums & backing vocals

© & ⓟ 2012 Nitrogen Music. All rights reserved

www.insideneon.com