A Way Out
Hatchet Head, 2020
9/10
A trio from Brooklyn who have both feet firmly planted in the early days of New Wave and post-punk, Fair Visions offer us 6 tracks on this debut EP where plenty of reverb and firm beats enter the energetic landscape.
“Shitty Love Songs” starts the listen with loads of ‘80s influenced synth in the dreamy, fuzzy setting that takes nods to the early days of post-punk, and “Feels Right” follows with a brighter approach that’s dance friendly in a Joy Division on prozac sort of way.
The back half of the listen is just as excellent, with the bouncy and playful “Coming On”, while “Lay Out In The Sun” benefits greatly from percussion amid a hazy, indeed summery melody that jangles a bit, too. “A Goodbye” then exits the listen awash in synth and dynamic nods to New Wave that an ‘80s kid like myself will never tire of.
If names like Bowie and bands like New Order and Depeche Mode resonate with you, Fair Visions will be your new infatuation, and rightfully so, as A Way Out holds its own against the best of the best of the genre.
Travels well with: The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain; Dexys- One Day I’m Going To Soar