Sometimes a record feels so deeply baked in sadness, so embroiled in the throes of feeling low, and so readily vulnerable that it gives the listener a pure and cutting catharsis. ‘anhedonia’ is a record that’s impossible to pin down to any genre, but it’s got a feeling to it that’s consistent and revealing. It’s heartfelt and pure with an honesty that seems almost too revealing at times. But that’s precisely how it succeeds, because fi is able to unravel their own sadness, their own desire for change, and their own struggles with their listener.
What sets the record apart isn’t just the emotion of course. There are plenty of singer-songwriters who evoke an array of complex and deep seated emotions with their lyricism. But fi’s words alone, while subtle and deftly written, are only as impactful as they are because of how stupefying and overwhelming the production on this record is. It takes you on a journey with each track, wrapping you in a warm blanket that gives you a sense of protection and comfort from the world around. The lead single, and the album’s closing track, ‘worthless’ is an immediate favourite for most listeners. Here, the backing production is palatial, but there’s a subtle acoustic that gives it a folksy energy which contrasts it beautifully.
It’s in this confluence that fi is able to bring out a fresh and captivating musicality that I’ve honestly never had the pleasure to relish before. More grounded and ethereal tracks like ‘spinning with the world’ highlight fi’s voice like none other. The composure, the modulation, and the sincerity leaves you swooning by the end. ‘anhedonia’ is a special album, one that deserves all the plaudits coming its way. fi carries the perfect blend of emotion, dexterity, and depth that’s captivating for any listener. It has no benchmark, no real influence that I can place as a certain comparison or equivalence. A special project.