The Beths do power pop and they do it very well with the pizazz, attention to detail and inventiveness that hints at their jazz past. The foursome from Auckland, NZ have ridden through a heady couple of years ever since their debut LP ‘Future Hates Me’ gained what seemed to be unstoppable but worthy momentum. Earning high praise from Pitchfork to Rolling Stone, landing support slots with the Pixies and Death Cab For Cutie plus touring relentlessly could have taken its toll but thankfully The Beths seem to have lost none of their fizz or focus.
‘Jump Rope Gazers’ their second album is on the near horizon (released July 10th via Carpark Records) and from the tasters so far it seems that once again the band have locked into their joyous rush of a sound. We’ve already had the speedy riff thumper ‘I’m not getting excited’ and the melodic skip of ‘Dying to believe’ and now comes a third preview single plus video ‘Out of Sight’. Lead singer/guitarist Liz Stokes admits that this song is ‘more fragile than we usually allow ourselves to be’ with its jangling guitars, thoughtful introspection and a lightness of touch found on the best Sarah Records releases. That doesn’t mean ‘Out of Sight’ has less bop, the tumbling beat and luscious hooks take care of that, but it does signal the emotional scope and range that will push ‘Jump Rope Gazers’ up everyone’s end of year listings.
So it may be an idea to get those tickets for their 2021 UK tour asap to catch The Beths and their sound of smiling (however you feel).
See: The Beths new single ‘Out of Sight’ and 2021 tour
