Reviewed : Mystery Jets - Radlands

Eel Pie Island has never quite been the same since the Mystery Jets upwards thrust into Indie, and they’ve come a long way since the famous island parties also.

Back in 2006 the band released ‘Making Dens’ on the brink of the NME awards tour alongside the established Maximo Park, (winning their first Brit award) Arctic Monkeys and the always audacious We Are Scientists. They hit a modest #32 in the UK album charts but gathered a loyal following from TV exposure as well as the release of ‘The Boy Who Ran Away’ and  re-release of ‘You Can’t Fool Me Dennis’. The band then parted company with Henry Harrison and began to tour the U.S.

They returned with ‘Twenty One’ in 2008, produced by DJ Erol Alkan and featuring Laura Marling on ‘Young Love’ the album had a new romantic 80’s feel and reached #42 in the album charts. Regardless of chart positions the band went on to release ‘Young Love’ and massive indie hit ‘Two Doors Down’ which led to performances at RockNess and the Reading & Leeds festivals that same year.

Suffering from the second album curse the band then parted company with record label 679 and signed with Rough  Trade records to then announce third album ‘Serotonin’, still firmly on a pop vibe ‘Flash A Hungry Smile’ was released as a free download before the releases of  ‘Dreaming Of Another World’ ‘Show Me The Light’ and title track of the album ‘Serotonin’. The album again reached #42 in the UK album charts leading them back into the studio to the now released ‘Radlands’.

The album starts gently sombre, speaking of ‘shit shaped holes in the sky’ Blaine obviously touching the subject of heaven and delving deeper lyrically. Significantly the first track on the album is titled ‘Radlands’ which has a Californian type intonation that influences the whole album. ‘You Had Me At Hello’ is a deep based love song committing to then letting go instantly, something most 18-30 year old are conscious of continuously in life. It feels that in only two tracks the Mystery Jets found their hearts and began to feel the music that they are creating, Blaine and William intense throughout.

‘The Ballad Of Emerson Lonestar’ has a desert feel, telling a story astronomically speaking. Questions of love once again arise slow and steady but left open ended with the lines ‘This time I want to show how it feels/This time love is real’. ‘Greatest Hits’ has a 70s Stealers Wheel sound, telling the same story…Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right ‘Greatest Hits’ is a greatest hit.

I’ve never been to church to praise but I imagine ‘The Hale Bop’ is what it would sound like, choir like vocals backed catchy chorus with Christian rock based guitar brought slamming to the ground by ‘The Nothing’ a track still within the four walls of church. Repent sin and acceptance of everyone around us, the album is said to be influenced by a meeting with a missionary named ‘Sister Everett’ who is mentioned further on through the album in the medium of music.

‘Take Me Where The Roses Grow’ is haunted by a current unknown female vocal, fathomed in lust but composed within each other with both vocals entwining beautifully. As previously mentioned ‘Sister Everett’ is dedicated to a missionary, organ based again accompanied by unknown female vocals. William was said to be on the edge of converting religiously which would answer why so much is asked of her. Towards the end of the track a choir joins leading into ‘Lost In Austin’.

Heaviest of the 11 tracked album ’Lost In Austin’ eases in but promptly bursts into a cataclysm of vocals, drums and a very prominent guitar. It’s what feels like a premature finish, 6 minutes and 20 seconds of build and drop, of guitar solos and screaming vocals which I feel would end ‘Radlands’ superbly alas ‘Luminescence’ follows. To the end again, stripped back to band and guitars leaving me with a glowing feeling inside and ignorant to suggest the earlier finish.

Mystery Jets came through with ‘Radlands’, a different direction hugely influenced by religion and the deep south. An album I feel on the right journey would be the perfect partner. No matter where ‘Radlands’ charts the boys can be happy as I am. A welcome addition to an ever growing collection.