More about: Femur

There’s something in the air in the DIY scene at the moment. As labels get craftier about hiding major label backed artists under the guise of independent artists, bands that are truly out here doing it for themselves are routinely doing it best. A key example; Femur. The darlings of Sheffield’s local scene, Femur have been working away for years, too many years to even be able to count. And now, they’ve unveiled their debut. 

One thing allowed to an artist like this is total control over timing. Femur could have put an album out years ago. In fact, even from their 2017 release ‘Spook’, they seemed primed and ready, with all the necessary tightness of vision to make it happen. It would have been a great album in fact, but 5 years on, they’ve made an amazing one.

From the moment ‘Transatlantic’ pops into power, Femur are asserting themselves. This is by no means their arrival to anyone thats seem them thrashing about the live scene with this level of energy for year - but captured on record, from minute one, People Parts is Femur asserting themselves as a name to know, demanding attention from the psyche rock scene that they could easily dominate. As we barrage into ‘PT.4’, I can't shake the feeling that bands like Idles or even King Gizzard have been very lucky that Femur have been working away in their lane for the last couple of years. 

But even those likenesses aren’t enough. Maybe the best way is to say that Femur are doing everything all these other bands aren’t doing, picking up the gold that King Gizzard dropped when they started making jazz jams and rivalling the guitar chaos of Idles without being anywhere near as insufferable. 

It all comes together best on ‘Don’t Like’ - a track that massively sets Femur apart from your average local scene offering. Taking bold choices at every turn, ‘Don’t Like’ is hypnotic and huge while remaining on the right side of too much. Bringing together all the finest moments of what they have to offer, from Felix Renshaw’s drawling vocals to Eddie Burks’ honestly quite silly guitar shredding - it’s a lot, it’s brave and it’s totally distinct from the one-size-only package that DIY scenes can often slip into. Nothing about Femur could accidentally fall into background noise while you enjoy a Friday pint at your local venue, they demand focus.

When it comes to heavier albums, weaving from psyche to punk to post-punk and back again, it can easily slip into all being a bit samey. There’s only so much you can do with big guitars and yelling. And after seeing more than my fair share of ear-drum bursting live sets from Femur, I did worry that People Parts wouldn’t be the kind of album you’d want to put on and listen through. Maybe it’s what's held them back before, their reputation as very much a live band that needs to be experienced to understand. But on ‘Overt Aggression’, ‘PT.3’ and in the highs and lows of ‘Harsh’, they’ve clearly learnt the power of sparsity, interweaving the chaos with unexpected moments of calm that hints at something beautiful. Sprinkling the album with tracks that you’d add to your daily playlists, that don’t need to come with a headphone warning, there are moments of change to hook in fans far beyond their live audiences. 

The biggest moment of change comes on ‘Greg’s Song’. You’d never expect Femur to finish an album on a solo piano song, in the same way that you never expect to lose a friend. Greg Crosby was a rock in the Sheffield music scene and without a doubt Femur’s biggest fan. He’d have loved this album, he’d buy it in every format along with whatever merch there was and buy the whole band a pint as a thank you for it. Greg believed in Femur as musicians, not just a novelty act you’d want to see thrashing about in a sticky floor basement at Tramlines. And something in the 1:22 piano ballad captures it, sounding like a pat on the back from a good friend that seems to have spurred Femur on this year as they’ve made real, serious moves away from being simply a local band and into gear to become bigger.

People Parts speaks to that, it speaks to a band that is giving it everything and launching themselves. Already known and loved by anyone who’s ever seen them play, this album is them slamming open a door, quieting the room and demanding some attention. Filling a gap for heavier sounds with an undercurrent of something fun you can dance to, the textures here are too numerous and complex to attempt to pull out. But whatever they’re weaving together - it’s made something magic. 

Favourite Track: 'Don't Like'

Add it to...: Your fast-walking playlist

People Parts is out now on Bandcamp, and hits streaming services on 7 October

Issue Four of the Gigwise Print magazine is on pre-order now! Order here.

More about: Femur