Viren Neel - “Runaway Lovers”

According to legend, Viren Neel comes from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Unfortunately, this is all of the intel we have on him. Luckily, there is a body of music that one can explore in order to catch a glimpse into his thoughts on politics, society, and the psychology of the human mind and spirit.

The track that we would like to bring to your attention is entitled “Runaway Lovers” and, at first listen, connoisseurs of indie music may catch glimpses into the finer parts of even the best Lord Huron songs, as well as momentarily resemblances to Fleet Foxes. The first few bars of the song are used to foreshadow the melody by means of “oh-oh-oh’s” and they are truly magnificent, bringing an immediate lift to the spirits of all who hear. Of course, this is also a reminder that we live in a world where we must seek out these constant lifts of our damaged spirits. In any case, Neel’s tenor is simply fantastic as he attempts to “create an atmosphere of adventure, tension, and love in the face of eminent demise.” So, although the melody might soothe, its lyrics have not been penned to do the same. But if you’re anything like us, that might be exactly what you look for in a song.

In the last third of the track, Neel ventures into his falsetto and it is truly glorious. This is where those Lord Huron comparisons really start to hit home. “Runaway Lovers” practically picks up right where “I Will Be Back One Day” left off, but the clincher here is that Neel uses his song to tell the tale of Bonnie and Clyde– which, as far as we’re concerned, should pretty much double his immediate fanbase. Press play and find out.

-TM