Maebe – Brain Paint
Release Date: 22nd May 2026
Label: Ripcord Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Instrumental, Melodical, Math Rock, Prog Rock, Post-Rock.
FFO: Poly Math, And So I Watch You From Afar, Adebisi Shank, LITE.
Review By: John Newlands
Bristol quintet Maebe’s Brain Paint doesn’t just open, it erupts, splattering math-rock colour across your ears before you’ve even had time to blink just like a big hot load of….
Yeea, anyway, it’s the sound of a band completely unafraid of joy, melody, and technical wizardry, all delivered with a cheeky grin and it’s awesome!
This record is drenched in melody, it’s clearly of utmost importance to Maebe. Every track has a hook, a motif, or a melodic thread that burrows into your brain like some sort of riff parasite. These little math-rock earworms crawl into your skull and pop out when you’re washing dishes or folding laundry. It’s like when Stimpy invents the “Happy Helmet” that forces Ren to be relentlessly cheerful. Except, thankfully, I haven’t yet reached the point of smashing myself over the head with a hammer to make it stop.
There were moments where I caught myself thinking, is this a bit cheesy? A bit twee? But the answer arrives almost instantly… absolutely not!! It’s simply clever, uplifting, and unapologetically joyful songwriting. As a metal reviewer, I sometimes forget that music is allowed to feel good. Us metalheads are conditioned to be grumpy, miserable, or at least mildly existential unless we’re listening to power metal (which I never…ever do!!). But sometimes an uplifting melody just feels… really nice and of course, fun!! Maebe get that and lean into that feeling with total confidence.
At first glance, one might assume Maebe have thrown every idea they’ve ever had at the wall to see what sticks. But that’s not the case. There’s a clear thread of cohesion running through the album, a sense of purpose and direction that ties the tracks together. Even when the band are at their most playful, the songwriting feels intentional.
Being math-rockers, Maebe aren’t shy about toying with time signatures or playing with rhythmic structures, but they never let technicality overshadow accessibility. When those rhythmic puzzles are coloured with such lush, bright melodies, the songs never feel overlong or indulgent. Instead, they glide by with an effortless sense of movement.
The musicianship here is top class. Maebe are clearly masters of their craft, and Brain Paint showcases a band fully in control of their instruments and their identity. These are vocal-free waves of joy, composed with precision but delivered with warmth.
Production-wise, Brain Paint is a treat. It’s clear, vibrant, and perfectly suited to the band’s aesthetic. The occasional glitchy digital textures are dotted throughout the release, and they add a playful, modern edge without ever tipping into sterility of a very clean digital production. The album can sound absolutely huge when it wants to, but can also strip itself back to something intimate and pointed.
At 51 minutes, you might expect fatigue to set in, and as a fan of the genre I’m aware that instrumental math-rock can be a lot, even for fans. But Maebe somehow pull it off. They dance happily up to the line of “too much” without ever crossing it. I often hear people say, “I like instrumental music, but I feel like it needs vocals.” I challenge anyone to listen to Brain Paint and still feel that way. There’s so much melody, texture, and personality here that vocals would almost feel like an intrusion.
As instrumental math-rock albums go, Brain Paint is hard to fault. It’s colourful, vibrant, clever, uplifting, and meticulously crafted. If this is your kind of thing, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive in.
One more thing, I bet this is incredible live. Maebe, if you’re reading this… please come to Bergen.
(5 / 5)
