“No Joy” is the name of the song, and to illustrate this joyless state, The Beths have settled the associated video clip in a squeaky kindergarten. Singer Elizabeth Stokes rolls kneading rubber, brushes violet circles and sings: “Wanted to Cry But I Couldn’t” while the rest of the quartet grins.
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This creates a conclusive image of a depression, from which you don’t come out, just because everything is nice and colorful on the outside. The kindergarten is also a beautiful metaphor for the indie rock that the New Zealand band has been playing since its foundation in 2014, because even on Straight Line what a lie, your fourth album, they refuse to grow up steadfast.
Schrammelgitarren, the drums always nice to the one, the groove rather wooden, but the four voices devour to wonderful cascades. These harmonous songs were and are the USP of the Beths, and while Stokes analyzes the relationship with her mother (“Mother, Pray for Me”), she paints as it is to just stay lying down and to be eaten by mosquitoes (“Mosquitoes”), and generally think a lot about life. “Keep You Alive,” she sings, the bell bright melodies collide spectacularly with the more introspective content. The Beths are ripe for preschool.
This review was first published in the MusikExpress 09/25.