Out September 14th, Victoria, B.C.,’s Fever Feel’s debut, self-titled, full length album listens like a wedding party between the entire catalog of The Doors and “I Am The Walrus” on the set of Boogie Nights. In the grand landscape of the EDM takeover, Fever Feel feels like it’s leading the way down a path of rediscovery: the instruments are undoubtedly actual, real, tangible pieces; one of those instruments is an organ (played by Thomas Platt), which adds a layer of experimentation to this already honest rock trio — filled out by bassist and vocalist Landon Franklin and guitarist Logan Gabert; and their music is fairly equally comprised of vocal and instrumental storytelling.
Storytelling, of any kind, is difficult, but Fever Feel rises above the basics of plot by masterfully capturing the sound of an entire decade while still managing to root itself in the modern era. “Who Are You,” the fourth track on the album, is reminiscent of olden days’ recording, with laughter from the band members and radio-esque voice recordings sprinkled throughout the track, but the tinkling bell sounds and overall production of the track don’t let it fall into trite territory.
The sixth track, “Good Morning Babe,” exquisitely mimics The Doors’ “People are Strange,” but the breakdown in the middle of the song brings in the more measured rock influences of today, as opposed to the often (wonderfully) uncontained guitar solos of the 60s. (That’s not to say Fever Feel doesn’t contain some awesomely wild breakdowns: see “Lose Your Mind,” “Spitting Silver,” or “Flowers For Breakfast.”)
The most interesting aspect of this album, though, is how some of the tunes rise upwards of six minutes, a couple are the usual three to four, and the previously mentioned “Who Are You,” which consists mostly of ambient sounds layered above a flowing drum beat, clocks in at one minute and 48 seconds. Yet, none of that seems to matter.
Oftentimes, a wide discrepancy in track-time can be confusing and jarring as a listener — are we listening to a pop album or the great ramblings of rock ‘n’ roll? — but the intricacy that Fever Feel puts in gives each track its own distinct personality that weave together to create a complete persona: think “Inside Out.” Without Sadness, the whole thing just falls apart.
Next to “Spitting Silver,” which opens the album and sets the stage for the incredibly versatile instrumentation to come, the fifth track, “Flowers For Breakfast,” stands out as the shining tune. It starts out, “flowers for breakfast / coffee for tea / would you take a look around / don’t you feel what it means?” I felt like Will Ferrell in “Blades of Glory:” “no one knows what it means, but it’s provocative!” “Flowers For Breakfast” tells a story of lust, creativity, and hunger from the opening note.
Fever Feel is a modern rock album that can just as easily blend into the background as come to the forefront — its undeniable musicality adds a sense of wonder to any occasion and also allows it to take center stage on its own.
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