After more than twenty years of a rich career, the Finns of H.I.M. bowed out at the end of 2017, leaving gothic rock fans orphaned. Not determined to remain inactive, Ville Valo, the band's singer, went solo in late 2019 and offered a first EP in early 2020. Pandemic helping, he composed alone at home his first album, "Neon Noir", on which the tracks of the EP can be found among others.
On his last albums, H.I.M. was more Pop. "Neon Noir" follows the trend by putting the saturated sounds aside. Most of the tracks are pure pop with sweet melodies sometimes tinged with electro. Only Valo's deep voice evokes a gothic character. The whole is close to what Steven Wilson proposes in solo. The choruses are catchy and the music danceable, showing an obvious commercial potential.
Some songs are more researched, close to the spirit of H.I.M., oscillating between Pop and Rock. 'Neon Noir', 'Saturnine Saturnalia' and 'Vertigo Eyes' are bewitching journeys carried by Valo's deep voice and soaring instrumental parts from which a melancholic force emerges.
"Neon Noir" is a fresh and varied record. Ville Valo totally assumes his pop leanings without losing any of his melancholic charm. Him is no more but his singer opens a new exciting page.