Fews wear their influences on their sleeves. The piercing, angular guitar lines suggest they’ve been listening to early Interpol. The stark textures and angsty vocals recall The Back Room-period Editors, who in turn had been listening to Joy Division and the Cure. However, while the Sweden-based band aren’t yet wildly original, they do bring something different to the party.
Mostly, a sense of careering, urgent turbulence, in which they simultaneously sound haunted and exhilarated to be alive. Toy producer Dan Carey has helped capture a sort of urban psychedelic feel to songs about drinking, youth, and city lust for life. The hurtling pace only relents for the convincingly moody Keep on Telling Myself, and sharp songwriting propels 100 Goosebumps into headrushing post-punk pop. Storming motorik krautrocker Ill offers another welcome gear change. Fews sound excited by the prospect of overreaching themselves on a debut that has flaws, but is alive with possibilities.
