"Portugal / I watched your tired sunset / 4 billion years and turning / deserves a little mist..."
The beautiful power pop bewilderment of "Pasteis De Nata" by Nova Scotia to Dawson City, Yukon songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Alex MacNeil, and from his 2025 EP "Far Out Man", tells stories full of wide eyed wanderlust and emotional territories. The artful sonic travelogue navigates through what feels like 70's balladic art rock, 80's power pop distilled from blues rock and broad brushed psychedelia honed with a pure pop prowess. Listening to MacNeil vocal countenance full of footlit theatricality and whimsy, along with his musical collaborators orchestrating their rock narrative with a kind of surfy western noir lean, had me thinking of artists / bands like Nick Lowe, like Graham Parker, like Flamin Groovies and even Squeeze and stellar story tellers like the underrated Al Stewart.
MacNeil, a fixture in the Canadian DIY indie scene has had his hands in a lot of musical pies, fronting Alexander & The Great Ones, collaborating with Willie stratton and Branden Lam and leading his own band, Alex MacNeil and The Revenants and while this seems as if MacNeil is positioning the EP as a solo project I expect their will be a bit of cross pollination with himself and The Revenants as well. Whatever the case is, this sound feels as nostalgic as it does anytime (thus timeless).
About "Pasteis De Nata", MacNeil humorously says that is is about "Processing a break up through an analogy of Portuguese history. Relatable Stuff."
By the way, I love the proggy nature of this song as well, when the lead break and other guitar embellishments happen they really stand out and I flashed the great 70's band Be Bop Deluxe.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://linktr.ee/alexmacneilsongs
https://open.spotify.com/artist/60VLBNPLsm2idunpjA01w5
https://www.alexmacneilsongs.com/about-2
https://alexmacneil.bandcamp.com/track/pasteis-de-nata
Alex MacNeil has been a part of Canada’s DIY rock scene for ages, from Nova Scotia to Dawson City, Yukon. Formerly the frontman of Alexander & The Great Ones and a collaborator with artists like Willie Stratton and Braden Lam, Alex now leads his own band, Alex MacNeil and The Revenants. This Yukon four-piece brings a fresh northern twist to indie rock and powerpop.
Their 2025 EP, FAR OUT MAN, blends 60s pop vibes with a punk edge, all wrapped in Alex’s clever lyrics and catchy melodies. With Jess Van De Broek on keys, Matt Sarty on drums, and Dane Armstrong on bass, The Revenants offer a sound that’s both inviting and energetic. Keep an ear out, Southern Canada—this northern indie power pop band is ready to make an impression.
Alex MacNeil has been a part of Canada’s DIY rock scene for ages, from Nova Scotia to Dawson City, Yukon. Formerly the frontman of Alexander & The Great Ones and a collaborator with artists like Willie Stratton and Braden Lam, Alex now leads his own band, Alex MacNeil and The Revenants. This Yukon four-piece brings a fresh northern twist to indie rock and powerpop.
Their 2025 EP, FAR OUT MAN, blends 60s pop vibes with a punk edge, all wrapped in Alex’s clever lyrics and catchy melodies. With Jess Van De Broek on keys, Matt Sarty on drums, and Dane Armstrong on bass, The Revenants offer a sound that’s both inviting and energetic. Keep an ear out, Southern Canada—this northern indie power pop band is ready to make an impression.
Alex MacNeil, singer songwriter / producer, Canada, Nova Scotia, Dawson City Yukon, multi-instrumentalists, power pop, indie rock, art rock, balladic pop, 60's /70's, "Pasteis De Nata", EP "Far Out Man",
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