Bittersweet indie-pop is a tried and tested sound, one that most guitar driven bands have dipped their toes into at some point. It is a sub-genre that can become tiresome if not executed well, with songs appearing in an almost groundhog day-like frequency. However, when done well, the balance of lightly fluttering sonics alongside moody lyrics, is completely addictive, a juxtaposition that never really fails to get the foot tapping.
Mt. Misery: initially the solo-project of Hartlepool based musician, Andrew Smith, but since a fully fleshed band; pull off their interpretation of ‘happy/sad’ music with a deftness that would make veterans of the genre swoon. ‘Lunch Break’, the latest single from the North East band, details a myriad of interruptions upon the narrator’s office job lunch break. Lyrically, it is mundane, repetitive, altogether lifeless, a success in terms of capturing the life of the 40hr office worker. The video for the track was filmed in, (you guessed it) an office kitchen. A display of DIY tenacity, distractions come in the form of the removal of inflatables from a cupboard, a chaotic application of whipped cream to a bowl, and the band themselves making an appearance at the finale, all filmed on a friend’s phone in one-take.
Not only is ‘Lunch Break’ a testament to Mt. Misery’s devotion to their craft, in the face of mundane responsibilities within the devilish capitalist machine, but a representation of laughing in the face of these seemingly never ending setbacks many DIY artists face. Look out for the band’s sophomore record, slated to appear in November 2024. With the sounds of it, the album will contain heaps more of bittersweet bangers, just as perfect as, ‘Lunch Break’.
Written by Callum Foulds
