A wise friend of mine who runs a niche Instagram account about his vinyl collection recently bemoaned the state of indie rock as being mostly about vibes. As someone who edits another music publication, he has keen insight into decades of trends within the wider music community. He unabashedly loves music and talks about it often outside of his day job, so he’s not just some crank whining about how things were better when he was younger. He wants to listen to good music now!
I share his sentiments. Lots of the albums that arrive in my inbox for review consideration are simply good, but they’re rarely interesting. To be clear, this began before COVID-19 hit, so we can’t blame this milquetoast musicianship on that medical and sociocultural crisis. The Sirius XM brand of indie music currently lacks any manner of coherent vision. Too many groups prefer to make generically above-average music in hopes of landing on Spotify “Indie Chill” mix to earn lots of plays for a single song. Instead of creating the next generation’s musical soundtrack, they opt for artistic complacency.
So when an act like Methyl Ethel comes along bursting at the seams with actual ambition, I am stoked.
Starring Jake Webb and his high, keening falsetto, this Australian group creates quirky, trippy alt-pop with heart and dreams to spare. Entitled Are You Haunted?, the band’s fourth album delivers a heady brew of big pop hooks, sumptuous production, and ample emotions. Released on Future Classic, this nine-song project sets its aims high from the beginning and reaches that zenith without relying on cheesy cliches or over-eager ambiance.
When processing the blend of astounding dance grooves, frenzied arrangements, and dark drama, several sonic predecessors came to mind. Webb’s enchanting vocals immediately conjured up Kate Bush and Florence Welch, right down to his ability to capture your undivided attention. From there, my ears became attuned to thick synth pads and twinkling string sections akin to electro-friendly pop acts like Glass Animals.
I was then enamored with how Methyl Ethel used sketched-out versions of guitar, bass, and drums as texture for the other melodic elements. The comprehensive effect instantly conjured up Talking Heads and Local Natives, especially in how purposeful studio trickery fused to unabashed fun can create such delightful energy. The music exudes artistic flair without it being an exercise in bombast.
That sentiment bears maximum fruit on a track like “Proof.”
Featuring Stella Donnelly (a past member of Methyl Ethel’s touring entourage), the tune evinces a slinky sexuality, especially in how the strings and guitar phrasings converse with the steady drum patterns. “Neon Cheap” flexes raw ebullience of ‘00s dance-punk even as Webb’s lyrics bemoan the state of global political discourse:
“Could be the season of solipsism? Shifting the blame. Pivot like a politician. Who’s on the ballot? Who’s on the ballot? Nobody knows.”
“Kids on Holiday” is a creeping, mid-tempo ballad that slowly spreads its wings and flies into the atmosphere. Webb flexes a penchant for off-kilter sociopolitics with lines like “You raised me like I owned the world. Am I old enough for a coup?” But if the album has any sort of mission statement, it’s “Matters,” as the clattering urgency of the tune’s tempo meets its match in the paranoia of the chorus:
“Harm is at the wide open door. There’s something wrong again, and I’m nervous at the thought of something wrong.”
Are You Haunted? provides an elegant balance of moody, gloomy new wave with rafter-shaking arena-ready pop.
Some tracks compel introspection, others make you prance around the room, while still others encourage intimate activities. It’s goth without the glower, and it can be spooky but never spectral. That’s a hard line to walk, especially when your art rejoices in creating emotional connections with its listeners.
Thankfully, Methyl Ethel effortlessly merges the ‘80s and ‘00s while also pushing those sounds forward into the future. This album is unafraid of pop excess, and it definitely embraces its feelings. More importantly, the songs are aspirational while being disciplined in their artistic endeavors. When you’re driven to create like Jake Webb is, setting clear goals for your music – and absolutely achieving those goals! – just makes sense.
Methyl Ethyl Are You Haunted? is available on Bandcamp.
Header image photo by Xan Thorhoea.