Album review by Jonah Taylor
With If That Makes Sense, Spacey Jane have well and truly stepped into their next chapter. The third album from the Fremantle-based four-piece feels like both a sonic evolution and a deep dive into personal struggles—one that’s as emotionally raw as it is musically ambitious.
Spacey Jane have always worn their hearts on their sleeves, but this time, frontman Caleb Harper goes even deeper. Across the 13-track record, he unpacks childhood wounds, the breakdown of his parents’ relationship, and the tangled web of love, grief, and growing up. The result is a body of work that hits like a confessional and sounds like a band finally stretching out with complete freedom.
The album kicks off with the glistening synths and jittery beat of ‘Through My Teeth’, which immediately signals a shift in sound. It’s a beautifully upbeat opener considering the subject matter—Caleb walking away from the church, unraveling, and stumbling into adulthood. That contrast is something the album handles really well: marrying glittery, expansive textures and energetic rhythms with weighty, introspective lyrics.
‘All The Noise’, the lead single, is a clear standout—an anthemic, propulsive track that tells the story of Caleb’s parents’ relationship and separation. The opening riff could’ve been lifted from an early Bloc Party record. Written in one sitting and road-tested during soundchecks, it carries that raw, livewire energy that Spacey Jane fans will instantly latch onto. It’s upbeat, energetic, and a perfect track to drive to.
Elsewhere, songs like ‘Falling Apart’ and ‘I Can’t Afford to Lose You’ see Caleb digging into childhood trauma and fractured relationships with a level of honesty and detail that makes the heartbreak feel shared. Lines like “It was pretty cold, I was twelve years old” in ‘Falling Apart’ land like a punch to the gut.
But the band never lets the mood stagnate. The production—led by Mike Crossey (The 1975, Arctic Monkeys)—is lush, layered, and full of movement. Guitars give way to synths, drum machines creep in, and the whole thing has a warm, lived-in feel thanks to being run through tape. You can hear the time they spent experimenting and pulling things apart. ‘Estimated Delivery’ is a great example—what started as a drum sample morphed into a Frankenstein’s monster of three drum machines and MIDI-controlled hi-hats, landing in this weird, beautiful middle ground between human and robotic. It feels in the same lane as some recent Gang of Youths and The Killers material—bold, emotional, and ambitious.
Lyrically, this is Caleb at his most vulnerable and self-aware. ‘Whateverrrr’ is a gorgeous moment of emotional contradiction—equal parts childhood memory and melancholic acceptance. But ‘How to Kill Houseplants’ might be the most heartbreakingly honest metaphor he’s ever penned. The line, “I should know how to do this by now, but I don’t. I’ve killed 35 creeping ivies,” is so painfully beautiful. With the combination of an upbeat rhythm section, a classic Spacey guitar riff, and dreamy vocal harmonies, it’s one of many standout moments on the record. The track even features a fade-out that’s delightfully ‘80s in style.
If there’s one thing Spacey Jane prove with If That Makes Sense, it’s that growth doesn’t mean losing your identity—it’s about expanding on it, questioning it, and letting it evolve. They’ve stepped out of their comfort zone, both musically and personally, and the result is an album that feels bigger, braver, and more sure of itself—even in its most uncertain moments.
The phrase If That Makes Sense might usually sound hesitant, like a shrug of doubt—but here, it’s anything but. Spacey Jane’s album makes all the sense in the world.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Saturday 24 May 2025: triple j One Night Stand, Busselton, WA – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 27 May 2025: Meow Nui, Wellington, NZ
Wednesday, 28 May 2025: Meow Nui, Wellington, NZ
Friday, 30 May 2025: Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch, NZ
Sunday, 1 June 2025: Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, NZ
Wednesday, 4 June 2025: Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 5 June 2025: Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – SOLD OUT
Friday, 6 June 2025: Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – SOLD OUT
Sunday, 8 June 2025: Miami Marketta, Gold Coast – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 10 June 2025: Royal Theatre, Canberra
Thursday, 12 June 2025: The Station, Newcastle
Friday, 13 June 2025: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Saturday, 14 June 2025: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – SOLD OUT
Sunday, 15 June 2025: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 17 June 2025: PICA, Melbourne – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, 18 June 2025: PICA, Melbourne
Saturday, 21 June 2025: Hindley Music Hall, Adelaide – SOLD OUT
Sunday, 22 June 2025: Hindley Music Hall, Adelaide – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 24 June 2025: Odeon Theatre, Hobart – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 26 June 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Friday, 27 June 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Saturday, 28 June 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Sunday, 29 June 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 1 July 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, 2 July 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 3 July 2025: Freo Social, Fremantle – SOLD OUT
