Bitch Prefect – ‘University Fiend’: A lo-fi anthem of listless disillusion
Australian indie quartet Bitch Prefect have made a niche of crafting lo-fi, languid anthems that distil the ennui of suburban life. ‘University Fiend’, a track off their 2013 album Bird Nerds, is no exception to this trend. With jangly guitar work, deadpan vocals, and a desiccated sense of humour, the song distils the aimless drift of young adulthood with a carefree charm that is both affecting and wryly humorous.
Lyrically, ‘University Fiend’ is a portrait of the student experience—not the inspirational, life-changing time of potential that is normally sold to us, but a time of drift and half-commitment instead. The sarcastic repetition of the chorus, “He’s a university fiend / He’s gonna learn everything”, is a testament to the disconnect between ambition and reality. Behind the minimalist chords and off-the-cuff delivery is a sense of resignation that is quietly apparent, a sense of going through the motions while questioning whether any of it is actually meaningful.
Musically, though, Bitch Prefect go all-out with their lo-fi aesthetic of raw, unfinished guitar work and a garage-rock mentality that is perpetually on the cusp of collapse. It’s this very informality that is the song’s strength—the gruff textures and offhanded delivery mimicking the shrugging existence of the lyrics. The song is never in a hurry to finish itself off, much like the aimless drifting of the university fiend it follows.
For fans of The Clean, The Go-Betweens, or later acts like Courtney Barnett, ‘University Fiend’ fits snugly into a heritage of Australian indie that locates the poetic within the mundane. Bitch Prefect may not be revolutionising the wheel with this track, but their ability to refine a communal experience into a few simple chords and a raised eyebrow makes it a quiet gem.
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