Photo: Xan Thorrhoea

Methyl Ethel sucks us into a world of information overload on “Neon Cheap”

Like everyone else, Jake Webb aka Methyl Ethel had his plans for 2020 scuppered by the pandemic, but he was able to turn his lost touring time into something highly productive. He returns today with the first glimpse of his new material, and his first release since signing with Future Classic, “Neon Cheap”. Webb says:

“Picture yourself scrolling, mind-numbingly at 3am. 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.’” 

From the jump, “Neon Cheap” assaults us with a tropical guitar line, loping rhythm and intoxicating synths, making us feel like we’re in some bustling, neon-lit street in a balmy country far from home. It’s not all bliss though, there’s an inescapable sense of something wrong that comes through in Webb’s voice; distrust, wrongdoing, inequality swirl around his hyper active mind. Methyl Ethel combine all of this into a truly strange song, one that first makes you want to dance in a carefree life-loving manner, but as soon as you open your eyes and ears to the bigger picture, it makes you want to hide away at home. It’s a new signature song for Methyl Ethel, who continues his creative evolution in unpredictably enticing ways.

Listen to “Neon Cheap” on streaming platforms or watch the video below.

“Neon Cheap” is out on Future Classic. You can find Methyl Ethel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.