Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo (from the novel 'La Fanfarlo' are a London based indie pop band whose debut album 'Reservoir' was released (after a year of recording in Conneticut) in February of 2009. In an attempt to make their music more widely available, the album is available until 4th July for $1.

Under prized producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, The Twilight Sad), Reservoir displays instrumentally dense indie rock, with a full Arcade Fire feel to their sound. The influence of Katis is clear throughout, and like the sounds of The National and The Twilight Sad, Fanfarlo do a fantastic job of keeping each instrument's recording concise, whilst including more than your average folk band.

Ultimately there is a twee pop lightness and air of youth to their work, and particularly to Swedish guitarist and vocalist Simon Balthazar's fragile vocal part. The band draw another similarity, whether intended or not, to London based folk band Mumford & Sons particularly in vocal sound and structure.
They have recently played dates at SXSW Festival, and they spent the March of 2009 on a UK tour with Snow Patrol. You can pick up the album for a dollar below, or two of the album highlights for nothing whatsoever.

Reservoir for $1.
Fanfarlo - Luna
Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot

The Twilight Sad, Scottish singers and some epic newgazing.

I was sifting through my Itunes again recently, and came across a band which i used to listen to back in November, called the Twilight Sad. I believe i discovered them late summer 2008 after investigating further the top last.fm similar artist to a then favourite Frightened Rabbit. The main similarity they possess is the desperate Scottish accent which shines through their honest and emotion filled singing, although they depart from Frightened Rabbit, the unconventional folk pop band in a number of ways.
Ultimately, despite certain stereotypical, but not necessarily bad scottish indie rock (scottish music has always been one of my favourites) overtones, they are a shoegazing band. Supposedly The Twilight Sad spent two years perfecting their loud, semi-ambient effect encompassed by their combination of deep, swirling noise and raw folk psychedelia. They begin often in a catchy but reflective light, before either at a distinct point, or up a gradual slope, descending into loud folk shoegaze with a wide range of crashing folk percussion.
I own the album Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters, which with its rather pessimistic name, sums up well the kind of effect this album had on me. Rather than being an album i simply discarded and never heard again, as i'm sad to say I end up doing with many, the collection of tracks hit me hard enough that when i listened again i was vividly taken back in time to my first listen, and the profound effect opener 'Cold Days From The Birdhouse' dealt me. This track is the highlight, it's distant depression and openness, and it's stunning ambient outro is one of the best Scottish rock sections in music. I can't talk this track up enough.
Recently, the band have a new album, which i am yet to purchase called 'Killed My Parents And Hit The Road' and are spending their April in support of the brilliant and widely respected Mogwai. 2009 could potentially see bigger things for a band who, have spent 2006-7 and 8 building up to what should be a progression in terms of sound and composition.

Cold Days From The Birdhouse (mp3)

The Twilight Sad (Amazon)