Live Review: Feels & Joan & The Giants have got us running in 'Circles'

We've been longtime fans of Perth duo FEELS and everything to do with the project. They bare their souls in every little aspect of their work, whether it be their music, visual aesthetic or even the excellent work they do behind the scenes with their label WOMPP (Women of Music Production Perth).

Not long ago, they announced their debut record, Water Level, set to be out in late-September of this year through their label. Since then, it's been all guns blazing for the duo, with a personal invitation from Red Bull themselves to head to New Zealand for a week-long studio residency at Red Bull's NZ headquarters. This year also saw the duo make their North-American debut where they were the only instrumental electronic act from Australia to showcase at this year's seminal SXSW in Austin, Texas.

They've already put out two stellar singles this year in 'Piha' and 'Bad4me, and last week, they returned with another taste of the record in 'Circles', featuring Perth indie-pop group Joan & The Giants.

What began as a fun dance ditty with jovial sound design, then became something entirely new for the duo. Rosie of Feels said "We had so much fun recording this in the studio with Grace (of Joan & The Giants). We are exploring a darker side to Feels at the moment and Grace’s haunting vocal tone was a perfect fit for the track.”

The collaboration is a beautifully apt one, and you can hear that it brought out some totally new moods and shades for both artists.

Feels' once again bring expert sound design to this one, crafting a complex instrumental that is complimentary to Grace's voice. Where her voice is beautifully smooth and haunting, Feels have juxtaposed that with staccatoed beats and stabs that I don't know how, but they've made them move with immense fluidity, so it never once feels jarring.

What's already been a huge year for Feels is about to get even bigger with their debut record release looming on the horizon. Until then, sink your teeth into 'Circles'.

Photo via Facebook

Words by CAITLIN MEDCALF

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO

FEELS TEAM UP WITH MISSY ON PERCUSSIVE POP BANGER ‘BAD4ME’

FEELS RETURN WITH ‘CUTIEPIE’ AND GO NATIONAL WITH WOMPP

THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘THEY NEED US’ BY FEELS AND STELLA DONNELLY