Following singer/songwriter Alex Lahey’s idiosyncratic sophomore LP, 2019’s The Best of Luck Club, the Australian indie hero revels in the absurdity of the suburban gothic on her latest record (and debut for Liberation) – collaborating with songwriters Jacknife Lee, John Mark Nelson, Chris Collins, amongst others – The Answer is Always Yes; ten cathartic tracks of self-discovery and exploration, finding comfort in discomfort.
Opening with Courtney Barnett-esque speak-sung delivery (“Everybody is a bit fucked up, but they think they’re okay…”), ‘Good Time’ is unashamedly upbeat, with invigorating, fuzz-drenched hooks; an ode to post-lockdown nights out at the pub. Following with Nevermind-era, grunge-fuelled riffs, ‘Congratulations’ sarcastically reflects on not one, but two ex-partners getting engaged within an unexpectedly short amount of time from one another – “Congratulations / So happy for your perfect life / There’s something in my eye / I’m doing just fine without you.”
Ruminating on a tumultuous breakup, warm basslines propel power pop anthem ‘You’ll Never Get Your Money Back’, before musically intimate indie ballad ‘The Sky is Melting’ revels in the drug-induced chaos caused by consuming edibles. ‘On the Way Down’, another sardonic breakup song, is juxtaposed by the sickly-sweet lyrics of ‘Makes Me Sick’ (“I like you so much, it makes me sick and I wouldn’t change it!”), whilst ‘Shit Talkin” gets awkward with bubblegum pop melodies and introspective lyrics.
‘Permanent’ is a sombre reflection on the songwriter’s time spent at her childhood home during lockdown; a semi-acoustic lament crescendoing into feedback and fear. Inspired by the TV coming-of-age romantic comedy Heartstopper – adapted from the webcomic of the same name by Alice Oseman – the infectious ‘They Wouldn’t Let Me In’ follows, reflecting on the teenage queer experience with self-aware wit. Of the track, Lahey explains: “I spent a lot of time thinking about my own experiences growing up as a queer teenager…being excluded from conventional romantic rites of passage…feeling like I couldn’t relate to anyone around me… It also makes you realise how absurd everything is.”
Closing with the ethereal title track ‘The Answer is Always Yes’, Alex Lahey showcases her tender and emotive vocal range; realising that life is unpredictable, but we should always stay positive. If you are saying yes, you are experiencing the world and all its quirks. It’s also indicative of the rest of the record; beautifully finding humour in the absurdities of existence.
The Answer Is Always Yes, the latest album from Alex Lahey, is out now via Liberation – order here. And you can catch her live when she tours Europe this Autumn – more info here.
Ken Wynne
@ken_wynne
