FIBS: Meredith's Nervy New Album Captures Instability

Anna Meredith's latest album, FIBS, marks a significant shift, amplifying the dynamic power of her synth- and guitar-driven band. This evolution moves her music beyond its classical origins into a more immediate and vaguely political territory. The producer, composer, and singer-songwriter revisits her signature fanfare, first heard on the 2012 EP Black Prince Fury, which established her genre-free approach. This sound, a blend of synthesized brass, cello, and rock drums, has been a consistent element in her work, notably appearing on her 2016 debut Varmints and in her score for the 2018 film Eighth Grade. FIBS challenges listeners' assumptions about class, meaning, and volume by integrating diverse musical tropes. The album embodies the precariousness of the current historic juncture, reflecting the chaos and instability of the contemporary moment through its very structure. It stands in contrast to more traditional classical music, offering a loud and nervy sonic experience akin to a constantly updating newsfeed.