Song of the Day: Fur - Irreversible

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s selection, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Irreversible” by Fur, from the 2012 self-released album Image On The Reverse.

Fur - Irreversible (MP3)

Combining the dark, immediate conviction of With Teeth-era Nine Inch Nails with the frantic turmoil of Turn on The Bright Lights-era Interpol, Detroit's Fur is adept at channeling both the Motor City's metallic chill and the Big Apple's midnight noir into hook-laden bangers. On stage, the band illuminates their otherwise-dark stage with dimly-lit, older model televisions, the image of which effectively embodies their darkly alluring and industrial-meets-emotional sounds. The opening track on the album, "Irreversible" wastes no time bursting out of the gate with pulsing sharp guitar riffs and a driving rhythm section. Coupled with Johanna Champagne's mood-setting keyboard tones, singer Ryan O'Rourke's magnetic, distorted vocal quivers with a caustic intensity as the band increases the song's ferocity, only to cut out suddenly to a dead silence. After a few disarming seconds though, they're back with a vengeance, raving up their instruments to a dark, tumultuous tempest until they suddenly cut out again à la How To Destroy Angels'"The Loop Closes". Thanks to their propulsive rhythm and O'Rourke's gripping performance, Fur have accomplished something few bands can pull off - a song that's as dance-friendly as it is mosh-friendly.

Fur doesn't have any dates booked at the moment, but keep an eye on their Bandcamp and website for more updates. Watch the image-heavy, performance-less video for "Irreversible" below.