Australia's Methyl Ethel Brings Heady Dream-pop to Brooklyn

Photo credits: Xan Thorrhoea

Methyl Ethel is a phenomenon in its native Australia, with the band racking up 25 million Spotify streams and strings of sold out tours. With any justice, Methyl Ethel, the brainchild of front man Jake Webb, will find similar success in America, where the group has already garnered a smaller scale yet no less devoted following.

The band has a truly unique aura, its heady soundscape of abstract/surrealist yet catchy dream-pop and art rock topped by Webb’s very personal yet enigmatic lyrics. Earlier this month Methyl Ethel released its superb third album, “Triage.” The band performs on Friday, March 29, at Elsewhere in Brooklyn - https://www.elsewherebrooklyn.com/

Webb weaves an intimate tapestry on “Triage,” the band’s most fully realized, contemplative album to date. The effort completes a three-disc thematic cycle. On their 2015 debut, the excellent “Oh Inhuman Spectacle,” Webb explored his withdrawal and disconnection from past relationships in pursuit of his art. His journey continued on Methyl Ethel’s intriguing sophomore effort, “Everything Is Forgotten” (2017). On "Triage," Webb takes it all in, examines and explores and comes to terms with all that has come before.

Standout tracks include the new age-tinged "Real Tight," the closest Methyl Ethel has come to a traditional pop song; the infectious hooks of "Scream Whole"; the radiant synth-pop of "Trip the Mains"; and the yearning "Post-Blue."

For newcomers to Methyl Ethel, it’s well worth it to go back and listen to the three albums chronologically and enter the brilliant musical mind of Jake Webb.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Webb.

There’s a sense of closure that seems to permeate “Triage” lyrically, wrapping up an introspective trilogy that began on your first two albums.

I think so. I think the feeling of closure sort of came naturally and it feels nice to articulate it. A life lived involves a lot of triage, sorting through what is most important and what can be left behind.

How would you say you’ve matured musically and personally in the past five years?

Sort of the basis of everything is I’ve always wanted to improve and learn and grow in everything that I do. From the first record to now I can definitely see that there are certain ways and experiments and progressions. Going from working from sort of a pure stream of conscious at the beginning up until this record, which is a blend of both that and sitting down and spending more time on details. Learning to trust your instincts a bit more about yourself musically and growing as a person.

The song “Real Tight” is very catchy and has a new wave vibe. It may just be the closest Methyl Ethel has come to a traditional pop song. Was that intentional in any way?

I wasn’t trying to but that’s when I get the most joy out of what I do. When I can make something that seems like I haven't made it before. As far as influences I’m not really trying to reference anything but I'm always listening to a lot of different music and I love all music. I think when people think it sounds new wave it tends to be more the instruments that I use and the tempos on this album that have drawn those comparisons, which is fine. I love all that music.

There’s a certain beguiling mystery and aura around your music that challenges the listener and makes for a very intriguing experience. Is that something you set out to achieve?

I was talking the other day about how when I was growing up all you had was the liner notes in the CD and a picture, and that's all I needed. I didn't seek out anything further than what I had been given. Now you can find out everything about a band. But sometimes I think too much detail and biography can detract from some things. Right when I started I said I didn't want any biography written about me. I didn’t want anything to interfere with people’s perceptions of the music. I’m happy to report that to this day people still think it’s a woman singing. That’s a good experience, when you can still surprise people.

Regarding personal challenges as a musician, what are your challenges now as you’ve seen success compared to when you started?

I’ve only recently started reflecting on what I have done in the past and I’m careful not to get too nostalgic about it all. But there is always something that seems pure about the first music that you make. Now that I have access to good equipment and to be able to make music in whatever way I want it’s just trying to maintain or find that balance between the wide-eyed amateur and the professional person, but always having the passion to make something really great and honest.