Label: Wichita
Released: 8th March 2019
Rating: ★★★★★
It hasn’t been the easiest journey for Indoor Pets in the lead up to their debut album, ‘Be Content’. From changing their band name just as their recognition was on the up, to having all of their gear stolen while on tour; what these four guys from Kent have been through would knock the confidence of most bands. However, instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for themselves, Indoor Pets have made light of these darker times, which resonates blindingly on ‘Be Content’.
The record is chockfull of Indoor Pets’ cartoony indie pop, the production formulated in a way that brings every part of their character to life. Kicking off with the soaring ‘Hi’, the band don’t hold back on their wackiness, from the zig-zagging guitars of ‘Teriyaki’ to the loopy new track ‘Thick’. The concoction of older material next to newer numbers is so cohesive, demonstrating the band’s ability to bring a flawless consistency to everything they do.
There are no fillers here; even the slower songs feel right at home next to their usual fast-paced offbeat quirkiness. On the slower songs, Indoor Pets still conjure up their bold and bright world, persevering through the hard times. ‘Crouch’ is one of these tracks, it’s feedback-laden, a warped lullaby with an instrumental that makes you feel like you’re swimming through radio frequencies. ‘The Mapping of Dandruff’ is the band at their most sensitive and delicate, and ‘Heavy Thoughts’ is their newest ballad, like the younger sibling of fan-favourite ‘Barbiturates’, it’s emotional and impactful, with sing-at-the-top-of-your lungs choruses.
The good vibes come swinging back around with ‘Good Enough’, shimmering with summery indie pop, where Indoor Pets’ signature of contrasting bright-eyed instrumentation with lyrics of uncertainty pack a punch. The record closes on a perfect note with ‘My Amnesiac’, slow in the verse and picking up at the manic chorus; melding together all the intricate elements that the band are so good at cooking up. This is one immensely powerful debut.
