The members of The Beths founded the group in 2015, but it was a bit of a wait for their debut. Singer/Guitarist Elizabeth Stokes met Johnathan Pearce in high school, and they met Benjamin Sinclair and Ivan Luketina-Johnston while studying Jazz at the University of Auckland. They gained immediate attention with their rollicking live show, leading to the release of the Warm Blood EP in 2016. After a few years working out tracks on the road, Future Me Hates Me was released in 2018, a record loaded with peppy guitar riffs, charming hooks, and multi-part vocal harmonies. Fans of Courtney Barnett will find lots to love here, similar instrumentation and lyrical content sped up to a heart-racing BPM. “Great No One” begins with a crunchy guitar riff and twee vocals, just try and keep the chorus from getting stuck in your head. “You Wouldn’t Like Me” mixes claps and acoustic guitar with huge power chords and swooning backing vocals, sounding like a more assertive Belle & Sebastian. “Happy Unhappy” begins with lush surf guitar riffs that make way for a spoken word chorus and acoustic breakdown, gilded with delightful backing vocals. This record has sold through many vinyl pressings (this is the 6th!), this version is pressed on transparent magenta vinyl.

• transparent magenta vinyl pressing
• includes printed inner sleeve
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: Carpark Records 2019

reviewed by PETROL GARAGE 07/2019