Melanie Baker - Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous Review

A stunning execution of ideas shaped and honed into an assured and confident debut album that weaves between the push and pull of humour and heartbreak. 

A big factor that surrounds the release of a debut album is building a sense of trust and imprinting an authentic voice across the project, across Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous Newcastle’s own Melanie Baker introduces herself as the latest original voice to make a big splash, but with her impact it is more akin to a tidal wave. 

Two years onwards from her 2024 Burnout Baby EP which saw her primed for various support from UK radio stations, plus experiences touring with Maximo Park and Heidi Curtis which has seen Baker build a steady reputation for a fierce live show. 

Across its twelve song offering and brisk 33 minute length, the album is a magnifying glass into Baker’s world, giving the feeling that we are seeing through her own eyes. Doors open and we step into teenage bedrooms before taking another exit onto the set of an old school rock music video. In Baker’s own words she describes it as: “I’m learning about who I am, what I want to say, and how I want to exist” which gives the warmth of an artist finding her feet and one that is bound to blossom. 

Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous is the essence of ragged glory, slacker-pop resisting clinical perfection, injecting humour and charm. ‘AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH’ fires the album off in the right direction, Baker’s vocals explode into life and we don’t look back from here. ‘Sad Clown’ is the sound of defiance, our protagonist understands theres nothing wrong with going down, but it is the getting up that counts; “I’m on the mend, I’m doing better, things just feel bleak in November” she sings against the backdrop of towering guitar, that sends off reverberations of Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan. 

‘HAHA!’ can best be described as ready made for the live stage, it may only be a debut but Baker is intentionally or maybe unintentionally making indie anthems here. Rarely does a groove like this permeate so deep into the brain, you’ll have that ear worm lodged in there until 2027. 

Nothing about Baker feels beyond you or me, you could fit right into her shoes, this lived experience resonates and is a key factor into how this album wraps around you, requiring your full attention for the twenty first century experience: “My brain hurts, I get up I feel worse same shit same nerves” she howls on ‘Why Would I Want To Be Just Like You?’ amidst swirling guitar. This carries right on into ‘My Head Fell Off Last Night’ as the track absolutely rips in oblivion capturing the catharsis of a depressive episode.

‘Real Life’ is absolutely tantalising, standing tall as one of the albums finest moments. A track that lures you in, flying the under the radar to eventually hit you like a ton of bricks. 

Unafraid to shift the controls, in what has only been described as a tour de force so far. ‘City Strange’ is downtempo, mellow and utterly lovely, give Baker the time to shine against a gentle melody and her voice stands up to the test. It is a song that achieves the rare feat of touching upon a universal experience, the paranoia of seeing your town as a sinking ship, “demolition skyline, those tower blocks are running out of time, they’re gonna knock ‘em all down build a pretty little town”. 

‘Bye Bye, Loser Blues’ represents a significant tone shift in the album, Baker opts for the sound of harmonica led gentle acoustics and is all the indication you need that she has the skill to channel many different sounds in a loud and quiet sense. The track is somewhat resigned, you could call it a comedown or acceptance as explosive guitars no longer create volatile emotions. It’s a track that steers the project away from wallowing territory, and could be Baker’s very own “all things must pass moment’ 

It’s incredibly apt that the albums final breathe is a confident shout of “You’ll get better”. 

Packed with enough heart, desire, solidarity and unifying spirit to be better than all the rest, Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous’ is a fantastic full length introduction to what we can only strongly suggest will go onto be one of indie’s most unique voices.