New Fries

Toronto-based experimental no wave band New Fries lean into post-punk repetition and lawless testing of established limits, with a sound that's constantly threatening to implode at any moment. Their pushing of boundaries -- including clashes of bass grooves, dubby and delay-saturated vocals, and noisy electronics -- reached new levels of excitement and anxiety on their 2020 full-length Is the Idea of Us. New Fries came together around 2013, formed by Anni Spadafora on guitar and vocals, Jenny Gitman on drums, Tim Fagan on bass, and synth player Ryan Carley. They quickly produced some raw demos, but would work for over two years on their 2016 debut, Fresh Face Forward. After a few lesser releases and Carley's departure from the band, New Fries drastically switched up their approach, changing instruments and songwriting roles for their dark and cacophonous 2020 album Is the Idea of Us. ~ Fred Thomas