Plush - Fed LP

Fulfilling the promise of their pared-down debut, More You Becomes You, Fed is a symphony of Burt Bacharach-inspired pop, blaxploitation-influenced soul and timeless balladeering, bound together by Liam Hayes' uncompromising vision. "My creation has drowned me," he sings in Whose Blues, yet he orchestrates the shifting moods and fast-flowing stream of ideas with skill. Greyhound Bus Station evokes Jimmy Webb's easy warmth. The strings are dramatic yet plaintive, while the keyboards are at times hymn-like, at times audiciously funky. Hayes' vocals swing from a low, defensive shrug to a tender, emotive falsetto.