"Some things are too painful to say out loud" begins the irresistibly rhythmic, bittersweet verse of Mystery Jets' latest single, a tale of the dangers of unrequited love and falling for the wrong person. The follow-up to the insanely catchy Two Doors Down, Half In Love With Elizabeth is another dose of blissful, clever, sing-along indie pop, retaining the '80s aesthetic of before.
Everything interacts perfectly, the structure, the vocals, the instruments of the verse playfully vying for position (with endearing smatterings of glossy synths and percussive intricacies), Erol Alkan's pristine, thunderous production, and a chorus, as we're becoming accustomed to associate with MJs, that's instantly memorable. This is a Mystery Jets who hit hard, equipped with hooks that are more like talons, sinking themselves into unforgiving listeners, and choruses that leap out of the speakers with an unrelenting attention-seeking fervour.
I'd advise anyone assembling blockades against Mystery Jets to just give up. This is just one more example of the sort of musically astute, infectious, and utterly accessible sound that has kept Mystery Jets in the music press since the release of second LP, Twenty One, and cemented their deserved reputation at the top of the indie elite. A band at the top of their game in every respect.
share: 
