Methyl Ethel has returned with their new single ‘Neon Cheap’. The track has arrived alongside an announcement of upcoming shows in Melbourne and Sydney.
‘Neon Cheap’ is a cryptic electronic bop. Known for their confusing melodies and instrumentals, Methyl Ethel has taken a vocal sample from an Italian folk song, twisting and turning it to fit their own brand of chromatic colour.
The electronic whirring and almost unintelligible lyrics sometimes feel as though they’re being spun through a tape recorder. This new song feels like a fever dream, but the jungle-like percussion develops the track into something you could very easily dance to. The quiet bass line is brought into the mix, bringing something oddly David Byrne to the track. ‘Neon Cheap’ is airy and light in its instrumentals, contrasting with lines like “Shake your head, til your brain cells dead”. It does take a few listens to tune in your ears and fully figure out the lyrics, but I can 100% confirm that it’s worth a few more streams. This new single marks Methyl Ethel’s eagerly anticipated return, written after the tour for the ‘Hurts to Laugh’ EP was cancelled due to the pandemic. This song is the first release following their recent signing with Future Classic. Future Classic’s CEO Nathan McLay stated “Methyl Ethel is an iconic part of the Australian music landscape”.
When I’m working on articles at 2 am, fuelled by coffee and a cold breeze, Methyl Ethel should be my soundtrack. Make no mistake, this track is far from fitting into your ‘lofi beats’ playlist, but is certainly a motivational and striking single. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s exactly what the lyrics are detailing: “Who’s that person that cannot be put into a category?” Methyl Ethel’s Jake Webb said this of the new track:
“Picture yourself scrolling, mind-numbingly at 3 am. Now, instead of scrolling, you’re traipsing some Vegas-like strip. All the events and people you’d normally read about are there as you walk around, inoculated, casually observing. For me, this is ‘Neon Cheap.’”
Perhaps the true meaning of ‘Neon Cheap’ isn’t our coffee-fuelled all-nighters, but it sure feels like the sounds our brains are making so early in the morning. The whole piece carries a groove that you could dance all night long to, perhaps a sign that you really need to go to bed…
