Various Artists - Neon Castle LP *restock

Neon Castle hones in on a fleeting sub-genre of early to mid-’80s female fronted ambient folk. For a brief moment, glistening slide guitar, ethereal voices, fretless bass, drum machines and satin sounds all intertwined, conjuring a sound at once familiar and otherworldly—pop structures laced with strange visions. Some songs sway with the warmth of open ranch-land—originating from the same myths Stevie Nicks devoted herself to; others are shrouded with candlelit mysticism, crafted with the very staff Kate Bush might have wielded. Together, these pieces reveal a singular tapestry.

Compiled by Charles Bals—now in his third collaboration with Smiling C—Neon Castle affirms his rare gift for storytelling through sound. Each track unfolds like a scene from an imagined film: castles glowing with noble gas, kingdoms awash in purple haze, wild horses roaming free, hair cascading to the waist. The collection sketches a realm both new and 'upon a time', a world where fantasy takes shape through music. With Neon Castle, attentive listening becomes narrative.

Compiled and designed by Charles Bals

Produced by Smiling C

Tracklist:

1. Judie Tsuke - Shoot From The Heart
2. Sally Townes - Neon Castles
3. Suse Millemann - Patterns
4. Tessa Stivar - Thin Air
5. Skyway - Romeo
6. Karen Ghee - Get Free
7. Amy Levin - Good To You
8. Rainbow Boogie Band - Once In A Lifetime Touch
9. Susan Smith - Flight
10. Susan Smith - Right Before My Eyes