Fieh - “Judy Law”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Ari Lennox, SAULT, Remi Wolf

Fieh’s music pays off best when they embrace the weirdness that drives their music versus the smooth polish that often defines R&B-based music. Part funk band and part psych-pop agents, the Norwegian band released III last fall and it is the strongest collection of tracks so far. While Fieh are constantly deviating from any pre-paved paths, III doesn’t feel like it lacks direction. By paring down discordant threads just a tad, the core of Fieh’s groove stand out more. One hand on the railing and the other flying around the air. They’re a band that can appeal to jazz heads and psych rock explorers alike, so expect a varied crowd at their SXSW gig this year. (Kevin McStravick)

2022 Review: Chillwave tones intermingle with smoky-jazz bass and percussion on “Allthetimeevenwhen”, creating a dreamy space, full but never overpowering. That jazz mentality informs Fieh’s songwriting as well, organizing their songs in unique sections versus relying on psych-pop repetition. Counter that with the post-punk riffs that form the backbone of the explosive, appropriately “Grendehus Funkadelic”, a song that still has elements of softness amid synth and guitar dance grooves. Don’t drop early from this one either - the back half of the track is a building psych rock jam that feels lifted from 70s math rock before dissolving into ambient space.