Izzy reviews the Britpop-inspired, often bizarre but nevertheless exciting debut from Coventry band FEET.
FEET are a Coventry-founded band that seem to be going from strength to strength, flipping the idea of Britpop on its head. After bagging a support slot with Declan Mckenna a few years back (impressive for a band that had just a handful of songs to their name), the band have now released their debut album, What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham. The record is as energetic and intriguing as its bizarre name suggests, successfully showcasing the band’s ever developing sound.
Since the release of their first EP, Petty Thieving, FEET have been rather quiet in terms of new music. Although that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy; as well as supporting Declan Mckenna they played at numerous festivals during the summer and, from the looks of it, are gaining a lot of new fans along the way. Most importantly, FEET has also had time to finish university and work on perfecting an eccentric new sound. What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham includes a new, re-imagined Petty Thieving (the very song that elevated the band to their early success) which fits more with their newer tracks Ad Blue and English Weather.
'The band have also been praised for helping to redefine Britpop, which is clear on this album; it has the energy of a Blur record but with a post-punk twist'.
What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham is a task for the senses, unapologetically spinning and bouncing its way through the world of music. Listening to the album feels slightly like you’re walking through one of those wonky houses you find at amusement parks. The band have also been praised for helping to redefine Britpop, which is clear on this album; it has the energy of a Blur record but with a post-punk twist. The album opens with what can only be described as a psychedelic-SpongeBob sound which dips in and out throughout the remainder of the record. FEET have undoubtedly shown that they’re more than just another filler indie band.
The album is a mix of super energetic and mellow tracks, with lyrics describing day to day life in the most angsty way possible. From Dog Walking to English Weather, FEET seem to show every part of ordinary life and somehow manage to make it sound interesting. Petty Thieving, the band have explained in previous interviews, is about a friend who would often shop lift for no apparent reason – it explores how nobody would suspect someone who was too ‘clean cut’ to steal. The simplicity of the lyrics, coupled with an underlining metaphor sometimes thrown in, are what makes these tracks impossible to get out of your head.
'The album is a mix of super energetic and mellow tracks, with lyrics describing day to day life in the most angsty way possible'.
It seems that the only way is up for this band, with an upcoming UK tour at the end of this month – including Nottingham on the 30th October – and a debut album that has been commended for helping redefine Britpop. What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham is an album not to be missed – especially with a name so peculiar only the band themselves could possibly explain it. Or perhaps they can’t explain it either.
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