Methyl Ethel is an Australian pop trio who quickly became a festival staple upon the release of their debut album Oh, Inhuman Spectacle in 2015.
The Perth locals have been teasing their new album Everything Is Forgotten for months, releasing the tracks “Ubu” and “No.28.” The band teamed up with London producer James Ford for the album. Ford has collaborated with music heavyweights like Arctic Monkeys, Foals and Florence + The Machine.
Finally the album has been released and its got all the psychedelic, pop synth sounds we were hoping for. The second album from Methyl Ethel is a dynamic offering of cognitive dissonance, even when you are dancing along to the tracks the lyrics maintain a level of tension and anxiety. The second track “Ubu” is a perfect example of this theme, where they combine a punchy beat with the lyrics:
“You pull back and you don’t seem right
Your skin is looking deathly white, I wanna see you
Get out and around, have a run or just lounge in the sun
N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-no, I don’t wanna
Force this on you
But I have to do something
Before you go and break yourself
Beyond your, don’t look, doubts”
The album begins with fun and funk offerings to dance to, ready for the festival season. It develops with moments of claustrophobic intensity in tracks like “Femme Maison/One Man House.” The album then concludes with summer inspired tracks; the fun and danceable “Weeds Through The Rine” and the more subdued, dreamlike “Schlager” (a word meaning “hit song” in German).
The album release comes while the band is touring extensively through Europe and the U.S.A. They will be returning to Australia for the six Groovin The Moo festival dates in April and May where they will join Australian favourites Thundamentals, Tash Sultana, The Smith Street Band, Violent Soho and more. They will be performing limited sideshows which are selling out fast before returning to Europe and the UK. You can find out more about their tour dates here.
You can listen to Methyl Ethel’s new album Everything Is Forgotten on Spotify or iTunes now.