Grim

Released in April 2017, 'Grim' serves as the definitive full-length statement from Foster Parents, a duo consisting of guitarist Gregor Fair and drummer John Wood. Though the band has British roots, the album is inextricably linked to the underground music scene of Shanghai, China, where it was tracked over a mere three days in the band's practice space. This rapid recording process contributes to the album's dry, punchy, and remarkably honest sonic profile. The tracks were later sent to England to be mixed and mastered by Matthew Wood, creating a bridge between their immediate environment and a polished, international math-rock aesthetic. The album is punctuated by three parenthetical interludes - (apophasis), (so morose), and (bleak) - which provide a moody, ambient contrast to the high-energy, technical interplay of the primary tracks. It stands as a significant document of the expatriate indie scene in China during the late 2010s.