Sex, Fear - Sex, Fear Presents:
by Quentin Holle
I spend a lot of my time within the music scene of Madison, using most of my spare time to either hang out at WSUM, work on things for EMMIE online, or just go to local concerts. Over time I’ve heard plenty of music from local bands, but nothing has ever resonated with me as much as Sex, Fear’s debut album. Sex, Fear Presents: delivers a rousing performance that rivals the work of some of the best modern alternative rock bands like Black Country, New Road, black midi, and Squid.
Possibly my favorite part of Sex, Fear Presents: is the group’s slick instrumentals. Each song is accompanied by great guitar riffs and drum rhythms that really drew me into the album.
On “Matt’s Song,” Sex, Fear is at it’s best. I wasn’t paying too much attention the first time this song came up on my “Release Radar” playlist on Spotify a few months back, and I was in shock when I saw it was Sex, Fear’s most recent single.
This song was my introduction to Sex, Fear, and is seriously one of my favorite tracks of the last few months. “Matt’s Song” has spectacular vocals that are delivered in a very powerful way that reminded me of the work of Geordie Greep of black midi. On top of the great vocals, the track features a stunning guitar riff that has been stuck deep within my mind ever since I heard it for the first time. It’s such a beautiful track that I have been coming back to listen to time and time again since its release.
I love Sex, Fear’s fun and witty lyricism on their songs, which pairs nicely with their terrific instrumentals. On “Funko Pop” (one of my other favorite tracks off of the album) the group talks about their obsession with branded plastic figurines in a hilarious while also profound way. On the bonus track “Chicken Dinner,” another great, completely serious instrumental is paired with lyrics which are a bit less serious- the bandmates half-singing about their love for chicken dinners. Each and every one of their songs has an extreme level of charm that keeps me coming back for more.
Sex, Fear Presents: is a stunning debut album that far exceeded any expectations that I had. It’s one of the best debut albums I’ve heard in a very long time. I’ve loved all of their work so far, and can’t wait to see what they do next. They’re a truly special group that you should keep an eye out for.
Highlight Tracks:
Marooned
Matt’s Song
Funko Pop
Ostrich
Chicken Dinner