Basic Behaviour

Even as they strain between varying poles, Frigs still manage to find moments of great, if sombre, beauty. That’s not basic at all.

The real test that Basic Behaviour had to pass was whether or not these fresh Arts and Crafts signees could harness the lurch and atmosphere of their live shows. Meticulously put together over a 16 month stretch, split between Union Sound in Toronto's east end and the band's home studio space, FRIGS managed to not muck it up. They cast the net and caught it.

These details – textures, feelings and moods translated into sonic imprints – elevate the work to a cohesive and impressive debut. It’s proof that taking time, both in creation and in listening and metabolizing an album, is more valuable than ever.

FRIGS have a rare, impulsive energy that pushes every one of Basic Behaviour’s songs to unexpected places, and a captivating frontwoman in Bria Salmena.

The end result is a band showcasing a sound that’s as raw and uncompromising as ever, though this time with a bit more sheen and polish.

FRIGS have been described many ways: “swamp rock,” “sludge-pop,” “doom and atmospheric gloom.” Most frequently, though, they’re compared to PJ Harvey and Sonic Youth. The Toronto band makes no attempt to mask those influences on its debut LP, Basic Behaviour—indeed, they’re cited in FRIGS’ own press releases—and their presence can at times be stifling, like a fragrance that lingers long after someone has left the room.

Fronted by Bria Salmena's gnarled sing-speak, FRIGS half-convincingly communicate their agitation over piercing shards of noise.