Band of the Week: Fanfarlo

Posted on Jul 29th 2009 12:36PM by Stephen Dowling
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Fanfarlo are a London-based five-piece who sound like an unruly collision between Belle & Sebastian, the Arcade Fire and Beirut.

They are fronted by Swedish-born singer Simon Balthazar, a man whose formative years in Gothenberg helped create the aching, wounded worldview that emerges in Fanfarlo's lyrics -- often set to soaring, life-affirming melodies.

"I always try to write accessible lyrics that people will get and understand, but it always ends up impenetrable," Balthazar says. "I attempt to write deep, serious and difficult stuff, but somehow it keeps coming out as pop."

Pop it might be, but it's weird, warm, woozy pop music. Live, Fanfarlo can be dazzling: Breaking out fiddles, clarinets, ukuleles and brass as a song demands, Balthazar beating at anything nearby with a pair of drumsticks while singing like a world-weary David Byrne. Their recent gig at London's Vibe Bar as part of Levi's One to Watch week showed what a must-see live band they can be -- Balthazar cracking drumsticks against the venue's roof as music whirled around him.

Their 11-track debut album, 'Reservoir,' -- produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, The National) -- was offered as a limited release earlier this year, for the princely sum of $1 (Spinner calculates that as 60p, less than the price of a Snow Patrol b-side, fact fans). It's worth it for 'Drowning Man' alone, a rousing, breathless piano-led epic not a million miles away from the Arcade Fire's 'Rebellion (Lies)'.

Along with a string of festival dates, including Field Day and Lowlands in the Netherlands, the band is preparing a UK tour around the release of 'Reservoir,' which is officially out in September -- though you might have to dig slightly deeper in your pockets this time.