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Frigs’ ‘Slush’ EP is a brilliant brainfreeze

Toronto group’s new EP is out today. Get to know the noise-drenched pack in a new DIY interview.

10th June 2016

Every weekday, DIY’s new music know-it-all Neu brings you one essential new release to get obsessed with. Today’s Neu Pick comes from FRIGS.

Last May, Toronto four-piece FRIGS turned the UK into a sludgy, fuzz-lined mess. Playing The Great Escape and a couple of London shows, their first visit to these shores won’t be forgotten. And today they’re upping the ante with the release of new EP ‘Slush’.

Out via Arts & Crafts, ‘Slush’ is a doom-laden but oddly optimistic introduction. Vicious slabs of noise are offset against open-ended guitar notes reminiscent of Deerhunter and Preoccupations. ‘God Hates a Coward’ finds them at their most sinister, while opener ‘Diana’ gives feedback an unorthodox new home.

Alongside today’s Neu Pick, we spoke to the group about their first UK visit and why the Toronto scene is kicking off.

How was your first trip to the UK, and how many portions of fish & chips did you indulge in?

Frigs: It was very rad. The shows were great, the people were great, the Guinness was great. Ended up down in Brighton for The Great Escape, which was quite the ride. Definitely had at least twelve portions during the two week tour, capped off with a very romantic 4am feast and swim at Brighton beach.

You kept things close to home on this EP by turning your apartment into a studio - did it all go to plan, and do your neighbours now carry a vendetta against you?

Ya, it’s great to be recording in a space where ‘TIME=$$$’ isn’t a thing, and you can explore different avenues pretty freely. The whole thing came about pretty naturally, and we’ve just slowly been upgrading our set-up over the last year, buying cheap gear on the Internet and from friends. We live on a busy street, so the whole neighbour thing is pretty chill. For now…

How did the deal with Arts & Crafts come about?

Everything with those guys has also come about naturally. We’d been talking with them for a little bit, sending them tracks, had them over to our studio etc… We’re very happy to be working with such open minded and creative peeps - they’re all great!

You’ve been flying out of Toronto recently, but what else is going on musically close to home? Is there a ‘scene’ to speak of?

So much is going on here, it’s crazy. Great scene, with really talented people trying to make new sounding stuff. Everyone is super supportive, just encouraging you to “just do you”. Couldn’t think of another place we’d rather be making tunes. Shout outs to HSY, Doomsquad, FOAM, Whimm, New Fries, Blunt Chunks.

FRIGS play the following summer dates:

JUNE
19 Sudbury - The Townhouse *
23 Calgary - Sled Island - Broken City (Patio) %
28 Edmonton - The Buckingham

JULY
01 Vancouver - The Cobalt
02 Nanaimo - Crace House
05 Seattle - Blacklodge
06 Portland - High Water Mark
07 Oakland - Sgraffito
08 Los Angeles - TBA
10 Albuquerque - Gold House
11 Denver - Rhinoceropolis
12 Omaha - TBA
13 Columbia - Cafe Berlin
14 Carbondale - House Show
15 Chicago - The Hideout

AUGUST
06 Toronto- Time Festival
20 Ottawa - Arboretum Festival

* w/ Blue Crime
% w/ Protomartyr, Chastity

Tags: Frigs, News, Listen, , Neu Pick