Just Mustard『WE WERE JUST HERE』Cross Review

Last Updated on 2025-12-17 by a-indie

From Yuuki Takita’s Perspective

The fourth installment of our cross-review series features Ireland’s Just Mustard’s third album『We Were Just Here』.

This time, I conducted an email interview with them and performed a cross-review with Argentina-based RAM.

The interview will be published at a later date, so stay tuned.

There are clearly two points that excite me when listening to music.

Sounds and Beats Beyond My Imagination

The first is sounds and beats that exceed my imagination.

When I consciously or unconsciously select and listen to music that fits my tastes, I naturally have a rough idea of how it will land.

If that’s all there is, my interest in music becomes just whether I like it or not, and there tends to be no development from there.

On the other hand, I feel moved the moment sounds and rhythms with developments I didn’t have within myself or new perspectives are transmitted from my ears to my brain.

Because there’s nothing but possibility there. It becomes both the discovery of new music and an opportunity to discover a new self.

To use the music genre of post-punk as an easy-to-understand example, it’s a music genre that developed by inheriting the flow of London punk while incorporating funk, reggae, dub, ethnic music, krautrock, and more.

The connection from London punk to those types of music not only expanded possibilities and broadened horizons, but the fact that it developed by referring to genres with different roots was revolutionary and inventive.

Such inventions sometimes occur at the artist level, album level, or song level.

For me, the post-punk genre led to developing interest in music like funk, reggae, and dub.

Recalling Other Musical Works

The second point is recalling other musical works.

While being ambivalent with the first excitement point, it’s also a joy to notice and understand the references in the sounds and beats being played.

Knowing the context and lineage of the work itself leads to being able to dig deeper, and when there are references from music genres completely different from the main music, it leads to unexpected connections between multiple elements and understanding of both.

This is especially important when writing reviews like this, and using that similar work as a foothold makes it easier to judge value from an external perspective on the artist themselves and discuss it.

『We Were Just Here』Satisfied Both

And『We Were Just Here』was a work that satisfied both of those excitement points.

It’s a work where Just Mustard played new music beyond imagination, while that new music was a sound that reminded me of albums that are still my favorites today.

Just Mustard, who has been presenting dark, thrilling, and intoxicating music while expanding with electronica based on shoegaze sound, performs experimental, chaotic production reminiscent of Grimes’『Art Angels』.

In addition to that, by developing a noise-covered symphony like THE NOVEMBERS’『Rhapsody in beauty』, my excitement reached its peak and promised that this album would be Just Mustard’s career high.

Roots and Respective Comparisons

If we find common ground between Just Mustard’s『We Were Just Here』, Grimes’『Art Angels』, and THE NOVEMBERS’『Rhapsody in beauty』,

The source that achieved the coexistence of noise, electric, and industrial is none other than Nine Inch Nails,

And each band and artist publicly acknowledges their influence.

Now that we understand Just Mustard’s roots, comparing the respective colors of these three works expands the interest further.

It’s intriguing that while radiating completely different tones, all of their destinations are euphoria.

Just Mustard brought me to the unexpected destination of reevaluating Nine Inch Nails by comparing these two works that transcend the aforementioned nationalities and genres, making it a work that kept me excited throughout listening.

Just Mustard Album Release

3rd Album『WE WERE JUST HERE』

Release Date: October 24, 2025 (worldwide simultaneous release)
Cat. No.: PTSN3061-2J (CD) PTSN3061-3J (LP limited color edition)
Price: 2,900 yen + tax (CD) 6,200 yen + tax (LP)
Produced by: Just Mustard
Mixed by: David Wrench (Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs)
Released by: Big Nothing, Ultra Vybe
Label: Partisan Records
Tracklist:
1. POLLYANNA
2. ENDLESS DEATHLESS
3. SILVER
4. DREAMER
5. WE WERE JUST HERE
6. SOMEWHERE
7. DANDELION
8. THAT I MIGHT NOT SEE
9. THE STEPS
10. OUT OF HEAVEN
View CD on Amazon View LP on Amazon

Just Mustard Japan Tour Details

Event Name: rockin’on sonic 2026
Date: January 4, 2026 (Sunday)
Doors, Start: 12:00, 13:30
Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall, Chiba
Performers: Pet Shop Boys, Underworld, Travis, Wolf Alice, Kneecap, Blossoms, Just Mustard, ZUTOMAYO
Tickets: One-day ticket 19,500 yen On sale now
Official Site: https://rockinonsonic.com/

Just Mustard Band Profile

Just Mustard is a rock band formed in Dundalk, Ireland in 2016. The members consist of Katie Ball (Vo.), David Noonan (Gt.), Mete Kalyoncuoğlu (Gt.), Rob Clarke (Ba.), and Shane Maguire (Dr.).

Their 2018 debut album『Wednesday』was praised by Fader as “intense and lush. Shoegaze meets noise sound,” and by NME as “a two-tone masterpiece,” and was nominated for Album of the Year at Ireland’s Choice Music Prize.

In 2022, they released their second album『Heart Under』on Partisan Records, receiving acclaim from many media outlets including The Independent, Pitchfork, NME, The Daily Telegraph, and Loud & Quiet. On the subsequent world tour, they were selected by Robert Smith to support The Cure, and also performed with Depeche Mode and Fontaines D.C.

On October 24, 2025, they released their third album『WE WERE JUST HERE』. While the previous work『Heart Under』focused on themes of sadness and longing, this work depicts a wider range of emotions and sensations, sublimated into a warmer and more anthemic direction. Pitchfork praised it as “immersive and bewildering,” while NME gave it five stars, calling it “thrillingly unconventional.”

• Instagram
• Bandcamp

Writer: Yuuki Takita

Born in 1991, a freelance writer from Tomakomai City, Hokkaido. After graduating from the same university as TEAM NACS, entered a music vocational school and majored in the writer course.

There, produced three music free papers and conducted everything from artist interviews to editing.

Utilizing that experience, joined a cross music media company with both free papers and web media, where experienced review article writing, editing, and sales.

After leaving the company, changed jobs to become an employee at a major record shop, and also wrote disc review articles for the in-house media.

This triggered the start of activities as a freelance music writer. Currently a salaryman and music writer who dreams of holding an outdoor music festival in his hometown of Tomakomai.

Loves cats, movie watching, and reading. Komatsu Nana and curry & biryani exploration are a lifestyle.

Articles written so far are here
Articles written on other media are here
Twitter: @takita_funky

Writer: RAM

A student studying music composition at Argentina’s National University of Arts. Passionate about writing, discovering music, and sharing and engaging with music. Also works as a software developer.
Website:
Instagram: @ramcst