Indie New Prog band Mystery Jets released their fifth album, The Curve of the Earth, on January 15, 2016. The band had been working on the album since 2013 as a follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2012 release, Radlands. Over the years, Mystery Jets have seen changes in their lineup, but their latest incarnation has renewed their creative focus. The Curve of the Earth showcases the band refining their already strong musical instincts in an effort to create the definitive Mystery Jets album.
Mystery Jets was formed in the early ‘90s on Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London, while its teenage members were still in school. They would exchange songs via cassette tapes, each member adding their contributions. The band was so young at the time that on their initial eponymous EP, Blaine Harrison’s voice had yet to break. The current lineup consists of Blaine Harrison (vocals, guitar, keyboards), William Rees (guitar, vocals), Kapil Trivedi (drums), and new recruit Jack Flanagan (bass). Originally named Misery Jets—referencing Eel Pie Island’s location directly under Heathrow Airport’s flight path—the band’s name changed to Mystery Jets due to a misspelling on a drum skin during a live show. The band became known for their legendary “illegal” music parties on Eel Pie. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Hall and Oates, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Jimi Hendrix, and David Bowie, Mystery Jets have crafted a unique blend of experimental, psychedelic, and progressive rock.
For The Curve of the Earth, the band found inspiration in The Last Whole Earth Catalog, a countercultural magazine published between 1968 and 1972 that served as a seminal environmental resource. Blaine Harrison discovered it through a speech by Steve Jobs and was particularly drawn to its ethos of maintaining a sense of innocence. This theme became a springboard for the album’s lyrical content. Since 2013, the band built their own studio in an old button factory, aiming to push themselves beyond their musical comfort zone. As a result, they tempered their usual psychedelic-prog tendencies to create a more direct alternative rock sound while striving for a cohesive concept album rather than a collection of unrelated singles.
The Curve of the Earth explores themes of time, changing friendships, and the shock of no longer recognizing oneself in the mirror. The album opener, Telomere, is a bold, atmospheric track with swirling sonics and earnest lyricism. A telomere is a repetitive nucleotide sequence at the end of a chromosome, essential to cell aging. The song delves into deeper existential themes beyond the typical love story, reaching for something more profound. Its evocative lyrics, such as “the one thing they can’t take away from you, so don’t be afraid,” set the tone for the album’s introspective journey.
Bombay Blue continues the album’s strong craftsmanship, offering a bittersweet acoustic ballad reminiscing about the golden days of youth and love lost over time. Lyrics like “I can see how love becomes the enemy, you say there is nothing you can do, if that’s what you want to believe, but that is what they want you to believe” highlight the song’s emotional depth. Bubblegum is another introspective track that opens with the striking lyric, “I swear someone is leaving messages for me under my feet in the bubblegum on the street.” The song explores the difficulty of letting go of the past and the ongoing effort to grow as a person, all set to a punchy and spacey sonic backdrop.
Midnight Mirrors takes on a sophisticated fusion of funk, reggae, and blues, creating a complex yet engaging listening experience. The track’s wonky, Alice in Wonderland-like feel provides a glimpse into life on the road and the excesses of the concert after-party scene. 1985 is a piano ballad with an interstellar ambiance, contemplating time, memory, and the distortion between perception and reality. The haunting lyric, “Time has passed, and the past is just another place,” encapsulates the song’s evocative nature, making it a standout on the album.
As the album progresses, the band transitions from a more direct sound to impressionistic textures. Blood Red Balloon embraces a trippy, psychedelic feel reminiscent of their earlier work, featuring a captivating a cappella section and a nostalgic nod to the ‘90s. Taken by the Tide starts as a mid-tempo acoustic piece before morphing into a full-fledged rocker, recalling youthful indiscretions and lost teenage loves. It carries a bittersweet yearning for a golden past now irretrievably gone.
Saturnine fully embodies its title, exuding a moody atmosphere with swirling guitar work and a steady, hypnotic beat. The track is awash in psychedelic textures, offering an expansive, immersive experience. The album closes with The End Up, a heartfelt reflection on time, friendships, and the responsibilities of adulthood. It questions whether relationships endure out of fate or mere settling. The song’s poignant acoustic arrangement perfectly complements its contemplative theme, serving as a fitting conclusion to the album.
In their effort to evolve, Mystery Jets deliver a compelling and mature release with The Curve of the Earth. It marks a departure from their previous work, demonstrating growth in both songwriting and musicianship. For newcomers, this album provides an accessible entry point into the band’s catalog, while longtime fans will appreciate its depth and ambition. Mystery Jets have solidified their place in modern indie rock with an album that is both thought-provoking and sonically rich—an engaging start to the year.
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