It’s a busy Friday night at Liverpool’s Rough Trade for Mystery Jets’ in-store performance of their new album ‘A Hole to See the Sky Through’, out on the 21st of August.
The band is embarking on their seventh album release, arguably their most eclectic effort yet. The pre-released tracks draw you into the complex feelings of hope, loss, navigating your own path, and that feeling of Groundhog Day. The standout tracks for me are ‘Black Sage’ and ‘Doomsday Vault’, which we get to hear live for the first time tonight.
As I make my way up to the venue, there’s a sense of nostalgia in the room. I first listened to Mystery Jets back when I was at university. Their songs were the background track to many of my nights out in Manchester, heading into 42’s through the light-up tunnel with ‘Two Doors Down’ blaring in the background. It’s nice to get a chance to see them live, without the sweaty nightclub feeling.
The gig starts with ‘Serotonin’, a nod to the band’s past, a lovesick song that seamlessly blends in with the band’s newer material. We get a first listen at ‘Doomsday Vault’, an unreleased track that explores the possible end of the world and how we navigate and process these thoughts.
‘Soul River’ comes up next, written in memory of a close family friend. The lyrics in this song navigate the intense feelings of grief, those moments where you wish you could have done more, and the need to keep their memories and spirit alive.
The band then break into their big hits; fans in the room are throwing requests dating back to the band’s earlier work. We’re treated to ‘Bubblegum’, ‘Young Love’, and of course ‘Two Doors Down’. I had my flashback to 42’s the second the song started.
I couldn’t end this review without giving an honourable mention to ‘Anaglypta’, a track from the new album I hope we hear live soon. The track explores the feeling of someone who is trapped in a monotonous slog, in an almost Groundhog Day state. The song draws in that need to break free, feeling something beyond just ‘drowning in the rain’. It stands as an important reminder for us all to incorporate balance, and explore how we break out of that repetitive cycle. This track and the others that we heard tonight make me very excited for the release date to roll around.
‘A Hole to See the Sky Through’ releases on the 21st of August; ahead of the release, you can catch the Mystery Jets at their in-store performances across the UK. The band will be back on the road later in the year for their UK and Ireland Tour.
