Basically whatever FEWS have been throwing us, we've been spinning. Incessantly. But there's not been much - last year's eight minute epic 'ILL' and 'The Zoo' was about as much as we had to play with, as well as fantastic recent single '100 Goosebumps'. But the album isn't far off, so we fired some questions over to Fred from the post-punk/noise specialists as they ready the release of their debut record Means - out May 20th via PIAS.
Tell us about your shows at SXSW and how they came about - British bands tend to have mixed feelings on the benefits of SXSW taking into account the costs etc.
yeha, it's a gamble really. we felt it was worth it - if we play the shit out of the festival that is. not everyone had visas so we could only play official showcases and we were quite late with getting ESTA's so we only had one chance to show who we were so we did.
How did it go with you getting signed to PIAS, were they scouting you for a while?
we've been getting interest from all kinds of labels before we signed with PIAS but i've been a fan of PIAS for quite some time because their roster is insane. at some point i sent an email to them with just a private link to our song 'The Zoo' with the title 'work with us'. One of the guys at got really into it and dan carey got in touch around that time and we did a 'Speedy Underground' with him and yeah things escalated after that.
Fans on your Last.fm page are crying out for new tracks -what would you tell them to expect from your debut album?
i would say expect quite an intensive album. sex-like.
Tell us about the experience of working with producer Dan Carey on 'Means'
it was pure bliss. we tried not to record too many takes and just nail it in one-takes. it was very important to not lose the 'magic'. he could sometimes be throwing us out and be like 'guys, go out for 2 minutes and have a breather. when you guys come in no one's allowed to talk to each other. i'll press record and you'll do your thing'. he's a genius and a dear friend now.
You've toured with Fat White Family, what sort of experience was that? Did the intensity of their live shows rub off on yours?
it was great but i don't remember too much except that i lost my passport and basically all my belongings after our show in paris so julie at PIAS France had to get it and send it to brussels the following day (i love you, julie). and yes, i think it rubbed off a bit. nice boys.
Is there a defining message behind 'Means' that you're trying to get across to your audience?
definitely but several ones so you need to listen to the album for that.
FEWS play The Great Escape in Brighton May 19th-21st and headline the Sebright Arms in London on 25th May
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