In the Post #78: Fanfarlo – Replicate
Fanfarlo appeared to be one of those bands destined for the ‘where are they now?’ pile. Until last week, that is. Releasing new press photos (and imploring the blogosphere “Please stop using embarrassing old pictures of us with 6 members.” on their Facebook page), they’ve also released a new song to the wild, called ‘Replicate’. It’s the first part of a three-part puzzle according to the band’s official Web site; this video piece was filmed by Alex Southam.
It’s good of a time as any to reappear, as the band’s fanbase has been encroached, notably by New York’s Freelance Whales (who, ironically, were Fanfarlo’s support on their 2009 North American tour) and Stornoway, who filled up Somerset House this summer with no problem at all. Without the press photos and just the audio, you might be excused for mistaking Simon Balthazar’s voice for Patrick Wolf‘s. (Well, I sure did. So you are excused.) Patrick Apps is always experimenting with new sounds and filling his music up to the brim with new ideas, and this is definitely showing a new era of Fanfarlo. They’ve lost a band member, but they began with 6, so it’s not like what appeared to be losing an appendage ala the Drums losing a guitarist last year.
This new bent sound fresh yet not overwrought or over-thought out. Hopefully the new album from Fanfarlo – the five piece – will be as welcome as this initial taste. Whether they will offer their new material up for $1 as they famously did in summer 2009 for ‘Reservoir’ remains to be seen.
9/10
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZT2M3YM3PA[/youtube]
Fanfarlo are playing a one-off gig at London’s Hoxton Hall on the 30th of September; beyond some North and South American dates in late October through early November, the band haven’t announced any other tour dates. We’ll be sure to post UK dates once they’re announced.
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