Photo by Pax Martyn

With “Mutuals”, fib are embracing their surroundings as east Atlantic coast expats to the fullest. Since relocating to Philly after forming together as a band in the Pacific Northwest a half decade ago, early listeners of the four-piece may have been privy to a sonic mutation in their sound as they’ve begun to dissect the jittered post-punk angles heard within their 2021 self-titled EP into weirder splices. It’s made them a natural fit for the Julia’s War roster, headed by the frontman of They Are Gutting a Body of Water — and perhaps more audibly, the former frontman of Jouska — Doug Dulgarian where everything is always far more than left of center. Akin to that Philly-to-Baltimore cross-section which has grown Animal Collective, Tomato Flower, Spirit of the Beehive, or the departed PALM, the region’s eccentric indie spirit travels through the frenetic fretwork and acerbic time sig shifts dialed through avant-pop melodies within the first single from the four-piece’s debut full-length, Heavy Lifting. “Pour some sugar on it,”  vocalist and guitarist Gage Nelson dares you at one point, as if dousing even the sweetest substance on them will just make the music react all the more psychedelically.

fib’s Heavy Lifting will be release April 25th on Julia’s War.