By Sabrina Enriquez
At a young age, Declan Mckenna began releasing music, swiftly entering him into the indie rock scene. Many may recognize him from his hit song “Brazil,” which vaulted him into popularity, making him a recognizable name in the indie scene. He was only sixteen when he released the song, showing his remarkable talent and capabilities. At such a young age, he was able to write an infectious hit song that was also a poignant commentary on corruption. Since then, he has released three albums, including What Happened to the Beach, which was released earlier this year.
Now at twenty-five, Declan continues to deliver indie rock hits. This new album, however, differentiates itself from his other albums with its airy, ethereal, and whimsical essence. While his past albums also carried whimsical elements to them, this album takes it to another level. The album begins with “WOBBLE,” which sets the tone with its airy and ethereal soundscapes. The album continues with songs like “Elevator Hum,” “I Write The News,” and “Sympathy,” which further showcase the album's whimsy tone. A personal favorite of mine, “Mulholland's Dinner and Wine,” immediately captivates listeners with its cinematic entrance. The song, like many others on the album, entertains the audience with its ethereal ambiance. Declan went on to explain in an interview:
“The origins of the title come from an off-license in the UK, but it became entangled with Mulholland drive in LA. The lyrics came from observations driving around the hills there and conversations at strange, hip parties.”
“Breath of Light” and “Mezzanine,” perfectly encapsulate what kind of album this is. “Breath of Light,” feels extremely psychedelic and Declan even went on to state that it’s “the weirdest song I’ve released.” The song is completely strange and weird in the best possible way. Mezzanine on the other hand, Declan states, “kind of feels like one of the songs that leans into the dreaminess. Where ‘Breath of Light’ was kind of going down into Hell, I feel like ‘Mezzanine’ is ascending upwards.” Mezzanine, like Declan states, feels like a dream that one doesn’t want to leave. It traps the listeners in an ethereal and dream-like state. The last minute of the song, specifically, puts you in a trance-like state, with whimsical background sounds that you could only hear in a dream.
The album ends with “4 More Years,” which is a 48-second track that seamlessly suits the style of the album. Like most of the album, it has an ethereal quality and provides a fitting conclusion that leaves listeners mesmerized. This unique album reminds me of why I love Declan’s music so much. He’s unafraid to experiment and create weird unconventional songs, like he stated about “Breath of Light.” He took the whimsical and ethereal elements to a whole new level, not afraid of public opinion. This album has reignited my love for Declan’s music and his quirky sounds.