A Somewhat Brief Inquiry into “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” by The 1975
The 1975 (via Rolling Stone)
Following the unprecedented success of their 2016 sophomore album i like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, The 1975 announced the arrival of their third studio album in April 2017 before going on hiatus for the remainder of the year. There were floating rumors that this would be the band’s final release, but this was quickly debunked by frontman Matty Healy who aptly stated, “We’re not good enough to quit yet” in an interview with Dork. While there was speculation surrounding an EP release throughout 2017, this was delayed until March 2018 when the band deleted all social media posts dating back to their 2017 Latitude Festival performance. It’s now known that during this time Healy spent two months at a Barbados rehabilitation facility to combat his heroin and benzodiazepine addiction. The band resurfaced in May 2018 with their first single, “Give Yourself a Try,” and announced two upcoming albums titled A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and Notes on a Conditional Form, together forming an era titled Music for Cars.
As a record, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (shortened to A Brief Inquiry) follows its predecessor in terms of its genre-defying, experimental qualities, but while i like it when you sleep... is truly organic and boundless, A Brief Inquiry exemplifies a level of maturity and musical growth for the group that is impossible to ignore. The record was produced entirely by Healy and George Daniel, notably lacking input from Mike Crossey, who had worked on both previous albums. Upon first listen, it’s easy to hear the juxtaposition between the uptempo, bright, explosive melodies emblematic of earlier albums and melodic, more musically diverse songs with clear intent and authenticity. The 1975 continually push the boundaries of genre, and experiment in this album with sounds as diverse as trap beats and hyper-digitized vocals in “I Like America & America Likes Me,” while staying true to their quintessentially British sound with tracks like “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You).”
Considering Healy’s addiction journey, it’s fitting that the album’s lead single, “Give Yourself a Try,” contains a catchy title refrain accompanied by aggressive, punchy guitar riffs and synth hooks. Lyrics are delivered with a playful, almost comical tone despite the all-too-serious subject matter, making “Give Yourself a Try” the perfect first song that contains essential indie and Britpop elements emblematic of a 1975 single. The rhythmic, pulsing electropop beat on the next track, “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME,'' actually arose from an error in the studio while The 1975 and No Rome were working on their 2018 track “Narcissist.” Its position as third on the tracklist reminds the listener that no matter how far they stray into the realm of experimental, genre-defying content, The 1975 have been and always will be a band heavily influenced by classic elements of pop music.
Moving forward, the album takes its first of many dynamic turns with track 4, “How to Draw/Petrichor.” The song begins with 90 seconds of synths and chime-like sounds, only containing three lines of vocals, while the second half pays tribute to the kind of UK garage music the band members grew up hearing on the radio in the early-to-mid 90s. “Be My Mistake” features Healy’s voice over a stripped-down acoustic guitar, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the vulnerability and authenticity behind his words. The song’s lack of instrumentation induces a heightened sense of focus and clarity, showcasing a level of musical growth and maturity. In the album’s fourth single, “Sincerity is Scary,” Healy succinctly addresses communication issues and the superficiality of online connections on top of an experimental, jazz-inspired ballad with an underlying hip hop beat. All three of these songs are on the first half of the tracklist, and contain a level of exploration and diversity in genre that is both polished and refreshing for the listener.
Undoubtedly, the most unsettlingly experimental track on this record is “The Man Who Married A Robot/Love Theme.” A monologue recited by British male Siri about a lonely man who falls in love with the Internet, this track is considered a millennial reprise of Radiohead’s iconic song “Fitter Happier” from their 1997 album Ok Computer. The speculation surrounding this parallel was rampant and consequently addressed in multiple interviews. Healy’s awareness of the Internet’s constant presence when mediating communication in relationships is impressive; it provides the foundation for the entire concept behind this record.,
It’s well known that several tracks on A Brief Inquiry were written during Healy’s time in rehab. In an interview with Pitchfork, Healy points to “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” as an ode to his battles with addiction; he combats his prior reluctance to write about his own struggles by creating a narrative surrounding Danny, expressing his personal experiences through the veins of a fictional character.
Following “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You),” track 13 “Mine” is surrounded by soft trumpets and brushed-snare drumming–undertones of a jazz standard–while “I Couldn’t Be More In Love” employs a slow, emotional arrangement of glittering synths, reminding the listener of 80s pop artists like Phil Collins. With a repetitive, memorable refrain, the album closes with “I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes),” a track previously compared to the Oasis classic “Champagne Supernova.” Healy’s echoing, airy vocals on top of a melodic string arrangement paint a disheartening phrase addressing suicidal thoughts in a rose-colored light. The final instrumental segment of the album builds to an overwhelming crescendo of strings, a collection of sounds that maneuvers through an ominous void of minor chords, finally closing on a major chord that provides a blissful resolution to the entire record.
Thematically, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships explores the characteristic nuances of social media and the ever-developing role the Internet plays in the daily lives of individuals. In fact, Healy got the idea for the album title from an essay that noticed a woman reading on the Tube. Whether it’s a commentary on the superficiality of romantic and sexual relationships, or an upbeat indie-pop song addressing drug addiction, every track on this album has its own place in the boundless sphere of influence that The 1975 occupies in the music world. In under an hour, listeners experience an abundance of sounds and emotions, each track more unpredictable than the next; A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships is a record that builds with a remarkable level of musical growth and maturity while staying true to the essential elements we love and associate with The 1975.
Edited by Adam Light, editor of Reviews
Cover art by Shira Silver