The Beths know the futility of straight lines. Existential vertigo serves as the primary theme

on the New Zealand indie heroes’ fourth album Straight Line Was A Lie (their first for new label ANTI-), on which The Beths — led by songwriter Elizabeth Stokes — posit that the only way round is through. That even after going through difficult, transformative experiences, you can still feel as though you’ve ended up in the same place. It’s a bewildering thing, realising that life and personal growth are cyclical and continual. That a chapter doesn’t always end with peace and acceptance.