Softer shades of Neon

Neon Indian frontman Alan Palomo sequestered himself in Helsinki, Finland, to record “Era Extraña.” He did it in the middle of the winter, no less. He said he saw the sun only twice during his stay — a wild change for a Mexican-born Texas native.

The music from his sophomore effort reflects that seclusion. Palomo creates vast, ambient soundscapes with largely emotional evocations, like on the heavy lead single, “Fallout.”

Synth nailed funky cuts on his debut, “Psychic Chasms,” such as “Deadbeat Summer,” but here he generates broader melodies such as “The Blindside Kiss,” a grunged-out yet charming cut of aggressive chillwave.

Palomo utilizes a much less eclectic repertoire than we’re used to, constructing a levelheaded sound that’s more prone to moving outward than up or down. “Polish Girl” and “Hex Girlfriend” plod along more directly than most other tracks but are coolly executed, hiding any sort of lovey angst.

Neon Indian’s emotion succeeds on a level somewhere between the nostalgia of Teen Daze and the sexiness of Washed Out. “Extraña” sounds almost cosmic, creating something of an accessible vulnerability that’s propped up by the steadfastness of his craft.

If it’s musically less ambitious or less intricate, it certainly makes up for that in nuance and realism.