Australian group Methyl Ethel have an original take on synth pop and glitchy piano balladry with Are You Haunted? The instrumentals are traditional at its core with many of the songs being built around the piano while contrasted with experimental glitches of electronics and unique vocal inflections.
Methyl Ethel are an Australian group who have been around for almost a decade now but I can't say I've ever heard of the band's music up until this point. I've heard the band's name floating around due to the fact that they were signed to the indie heavyweight label 4AD for their second and third album. The group's sophisticated art rock and indie pop mixed with some glitchy experimentation, and Jake Webb's strong lead vocal presence is surely worthy of indie blog and critical buzz now that I've finally heard it. The instrumentation is pretty strong in general with a nice emphasis on groove but it's safe to say that Jake Webb's emotional and uplifting vocals are the real star of the show. They're extremely distinct, theatrical, and gripping. They are reminiscent of that of a singer like the one from Cold War Kids but one who is not as obnoxiously preachy as he is.
What initially caught my attention from this band is the new single they have alongside Aussie singer songwriter Stella Donnelly. As a fan of Donnelly's I was curious to check it out and was very impressed with the single, titled "Proof." Its central groove is massive, the guitars sound killer, the hooks are super strong and Donnelly and Webb's vocal harmonies sound wondrous together. As an incredible single, it's a song that will undoubtedly stick with me throughout 2022 and is ultimately what got me excited about the band's new album, Are You Haunted? Going into this album, I didn't really have any expectations of what this will ultimately be like. Besides "Proof," I may have heard a Methyl Ethel song in passing but I surely don't remember. When listening though, I find much of these tracks to be quite vulnerable and out in the open. The instrumentals are quite pretty and traditional at its core with many of the songs being built around the piano. Contrasting this are the experimental glitches of electronics and vocal inflections that make the band's music stand out from being a more general indie rock record.
Depending on what track you're listening to, there is a good chunk of these being heavily influenced by synth pop and electro pop. Singles "Neon Cheap" and "Matters" are the more upbeat paced pop tunes that are instant on impact. "Neon Cheap," one of the strongest moments on the album, has some of the best grooves with Webb questioning the general education system in his lyrics. It also has some singing/talking moments that are very Talking Heads influenced (the hand claps and tribal grooves kind of give it away). "Ghosting" introduces the album with a stark, cold piano ballad that has some of Web's best singing on the record, showing his baritone a bit more than usual. The fast paced "Matters" bring a pick me up to the more slower and gradual balladry in the album's track listing. "Kids on Holiday" has the best attempt at pairing piano with electronics and has some really interesting vocal sampling/inflections from Webb. I appreciate the vocal melodies and glitchy electronic breakdowns from "Castigat Ridendo Mores." It's one of the more out there moments on the record and like that Webb and the band are trying new things and expanding their sound to over six minutes. There's actually one quirky electronic breakdown on the track that reminds me of Ian Williams' electronics with his work in his band Battles.
After listening to Are You Haunted? I did not expect all of the classic piano balladry at the core of many of these tracks. It was a nice surprise and I think overall Webb and the band did a great job at creating some interesting art pop and indie rock and provided a variety with these nine songs. I definitely did not get bored or attempted to yawn when I first heard it and that's certainly a good thing. It was actually quite refreshing going into an album not knowing much about it or the band at all. Although I do wish that there were more tracks that are as groovy and immensely captivating as "Proof" or some of the other lead singles, I found myself generally enjoying this whole album. Lyrically though, I can't say I was really moved by the songwriting; Webb can get a bit too abstract for my liking at times but there were some lyrical moments I appreciated here and there. The glitchy electronics and vocal sampling are greatly appreciated and certainly spice things up a bit, even though I would've liked to hear more of that. Overall Jake Webb's vocals are very strong and he definitely carries a huge weight with how this band can stand out from the massive crowd of indie and art pop darlings. Overall, Methyl Ethel have a pretty original style on synth pop and glitchy piano ballads with Are You Haunted? It's a sturdy record that certainly has one of the best singles you'll hear in 2022.
My Rating: 7 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Proof," "Neon Cheap," "Matters," "Ghosting," "Kids on Holiday"
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