Firs is worth not missing in the future
Because I am a terrible, incurable scatterbrain, my intention to go check out the promising local electro-ambient combo Firs last night at Silverlake Lounge was thwarted for a variety of reasons (this being L.A., let's blame it on "traffic" and everyone goes home happy). This was a shame, because the band's new 10-inch single, "New Hope in Soft Light," suggests that someone needs to get the band's principal, Jonathan D. Haskell, some film soundtrack work really soon.
Dntel is an obvious reference point from the mix of organic instruments and programmed swirls, but the seasick strings and sad little Rhodes piano lurking about hint at Sigur Rós. The dub-step-ish remix by Larvae on the B-side is even better, inverting the payoff to something noirish and hard-bitten. I've heard they're playing out with two drummers, so the next time Firs is on the town (no new shows yet on its MySpace), it should be a pretty noisy turn.
-- August Brown
Photo: Firs' Jonathan D. Haskell. Credit: Barry Wayne
