Visuals (album)

Visuals is the seventh, and likely final, studio album by Danish alternative rock band Mew. It was released on 28 April 2017. It is the first Mew album not to feature guitarist Bo Madsen, who left the band after their previous album, + −, and their first album since No More Stories... to be recorded as a trio.

Recording and release

The album was written while on tour for + −. It was recorded and self-produced in Copenhagen with the band designing the visuals for it.
On 24 January 2017, Mew announced the album via their official website, while a song from the album, "Carry Me to Safety", was premiered on Danish radio station P6 Beat.
First single "85 Videos" was released together with a music video on 16 February 2017. On 3 April 2017, the second single "Twist Quest" was shared. Music videos for both singles were directed by Jonas Bjerre.

Critical reception

Upon its release, the album received favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 9 reviews.
Dave Beech, writing for DIY, described it as "a confident release from a seasoned band still harbouring the energies of youth."

Personnel

Mew

Jonas Bjerre – vocals, keyboards, guitar
Johan Wohlert – bass, backing vocals, guitar
Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

Mads Wegner – additional guitar
Marius Neset – saxophone
Bo Rande – trumpet, flugelhorn
Sasha Ryabina – backing vocals