After a two-year wait and a pandemic in between, The 1975 is back with their new album
latest work “Being Funny In A Foreign Language”; and she does it in her best version, with a
solid disc that differs from the previous ones by its uniformity. If there is something about the fifth
The Englishman’s work is a common thread based on a direct pop, where you can notice the
presence and the incorporation of renowned producer Jack Antonoff (Lana del Rey,
Bleachers, Taylor Swift…), that if there was even the slightest idea that this one could put
the band’s sound at risk, that option has been completely discarded.
As usual, we are confronted with the homonymous introduction that opens every
disc. This time The 1975 distances itself from the classic opening and takes us to a song
totally different, with pianos that inevitably remind us of “All My Friends”.
of LCD Soundsystem while Healy divulges on post-modernism and the burden of being
young at present.
“Happiness” is undoubtedly a song that has already given a lot to talk about since it was released.
release in August and that goes far beyond a composition that reminds us of
the perfect song of the 80’s, and if this album is characterized by anything, it is for its freedom.
oozes. In “Looking For Somebody (To Love)” we see a steady synthesizer beat.
a scheme full of ambient sounds that ends up inducing the listener into
to a powerful song with the group’s most characteristic sound. While in
“Part Of The Band” is a more folk-like arrangement, and “Oh Caroline” is undoubtedly one of the most popular.
the candidates for the first place in the podium; a theme that catches you in those riffs at the most
Lionel Richie style with a corpulent bass line.
There is no end to what frontman Matty Healy can imagine. I could write
on the failure of society, sedentary lifestyles and the problems of the First World, the
digitalization or capitalism, as I could also dedicate a ballad to you.
proving that he is in love to the hilt. Far from that overwhelming tracklist
from his 2020 “Notes On A Conditional Form”, “Being Funny In A Foreign Language”,
Besides having half as many songs as the previous full-length, it seems to be playing again with the
tongue-twister” length of the titles, something already present in “I like it when you sleep, for
you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” in 2016, although not at that level. And it is
precisely to this disc that is the one that they are closest to in 2022, far and away and without
a trace of instrumental tracks worthy of being played at a rave (such as that distant “Shiny
Collarbone” from 2020), environmental themes (“How To Draw/Petrichor” from 2018) or that “The
Man Who Married a Robot/Love Theme” narrated entirely by Siri, the virtual assistant from
Apple.
The duo of singles “I’m Love With You” and “All I Need To Hear” show what the company has been doing for many years.
mentioned in the title: that someone in the band is in love and that everything we
The concept that is created around that concept is contagious to the rest. Exceeding four minutes,
thematically, the first one follows in the wake of that “Me & You Together Song” and the action of
fantasize about an idyllic relationship. “All I Need To Hear” slows the tempo with Healy facing off.
at the piano, accompanied by little more than a soft electric guitar to talk about the attachment
anxious and the need for constant validation in order to move forward.
With fun airs, a brilliant melody and an acoustic atmosphere that stands out from the rest.
of all begins “Wintering”, another of the unreleased songs. To its refrain is added a
synthesizer that later grows with an electric plucking from Adam Hann, hand
Healy’s always right, both on stage and in real life. And it is under this
intimate and ethereal atmosphere when the ninth track, “Human Too” arrives. Again,
over three minutes, it brings us back to the real and carnal world with the title, even though it
synthesizers that at times can make this song a bit of an overdone song.
repetitive. Along with the preview, “About You” could be said to leave authentic airs.
legends, still present, such as Bon Iver or Sufjan Stevens. The penultimate cut
begins as would David Bowie’s “Heroes”, further evidencing the need to
a mind as thoughtful, restless and colossal as that of the British frontman in a
society as it is today.
This is timidly joined by some saxophones, which the band now also carries in its
sounds like the one on the album with which they were presented in society.
in 2016, which brings us to the closing of “Being Funny In A Foreign Language” with “When We
Are Together,” which places the band outside of their native country, mentioning Walmart, Central
Park and New York; we could very well be looking at the continuation, this time being
a dream come true, what Healy was talking about in 2020 about settling down with
someone, cooking and changing diapers, falling back into the “Me & You” spectrum.
Together Song”, although it doesn’t quite make you smile.
If one thing is clear, it is that The 1975 that many people wanted with a leader is back.
backed by three brilliant members in George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross
MacDonald. But beyond that, and more than more than the 2018 and 2020 jobs, it has.
the quartet’s ability to reflect its time, something that is well recognized by their
(mostly young) followers and has brought The 1975 (if they weren’t already) to something that will be
to worldwide stardom. All under the reins led by someone who is increasingly
cleaner and healthier, hardly over thirty years of age, and who for the last few years has been
is considered the spokesman for the millennial generation.
