ALBUM: The Jezabels ‘Synthia’

Rating:

After almost a decade of recording and touring together, The Jezabels have returned with their third album, Synthia – crammed full of vintage synths and observational lyricism. “What if I’m a dark, dark girl?” asks vocalist Haley Mary on ninth track ‘If Ya Want Me’ – and it’s an apt question, considering the band are named after a biblical character renowned for false prophesising. These allusions to moral darkness and insincerity are why The Jezabels’ songs make such interesting listening. They take duplicitous, deceptive images and ideas and transform them in to cool, iridescent indie rock tunes. Hayley may be a “dark” girl – but her voice shines like celestial sun on this record.

‘Stand and Deliver’ opens the album with almost eight minutes of angelic synths and echoing drums. Hayley’s shadowy voice asks “What’s a girl to do? Standing the spotlight…” with a conviction which beautifully undermines her anxiety. Second track ‘My Love Is My Disease’ is darker in sound, with its distorted, jagged synths. ‘Smile’ comes with a smart, feminist agenda. “You can call me sexy, call me sexy if you want to” encourages Hayley’s sultry vocals over seductive guitar, but “Don’t tell me to smile if you don’t know me brother….” – a simple, but powerful request. Female emotion has been subtly policed by patriarchal standards for centuries, and the stadium-sized chorus on ‘Smile’ will bring a few moments of empowered relief for listeners who can empathise with this stigma – “Don’t care what band you play for…don’t tell me to smile, don’t ask why I frown…”

‘Come Alive’ features primal drum beats, wicked guitar reverb, and some reassuring words for younger listeners: “When you’re young and you’re lovely, there are voices that pull you down” – but the “allure of the smoke and the stars” will fade in time for you to “come alive”. If you’re looking for full-on synthetic satisfaction, hit repeat on the provocative ‘Pleasure Drive’. Lyrics like “I got a 6-6 baby, I don’t give a fuck” and a edgy bass line will fuel your “one track mind”. ‘Flowers In The Attic’ takes a melancholy turn, and Hayley’s slow vocals have a Lana Del Rey, Honeymoon-esque quality here (the synths are equally as cinematic, too). ‘Stamina’ closes the album and is another seven minutes of soulful synths and smooth vocals – “It’s a small world, but I’m thinking big” sings Hayley – and its the almighty electronics on Synthia which have made these thoughts materialise.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington

Kate Crudgington

Assistant Editor for Gigslutz (2015-2017) Now Co-Founder, Co-Host & Features Editor for @getinherears