Fanfarlo’s 3rd album, Let’s Go Extinct took me through time and never let up the energy. The London-based band started in 2006. Their first album, Reservoir (2009) seems more solemn with a less technological sound, while their most recent album, Rooms Filled With Light (2012) has a similar experimental sounds as its follow-up,  Let’s Go Extinct (releasing February 11). However, the vocals and overall style have remained the same throughout, with echoes and soft melodies that can sometimes hypnotize the listeners, when it’s not causing them to tap their feet.

The album opens upbeat with “Life in the Sky.” The piece starts with what sounds like humming and eerie synthesizers, but the mood lightens with harmonizing vocals. Synthesizers seem to be a main characteristic of this album, in comparison to the two previous, and can sometimes sound futuristic or 80’s like.

“Cell Song” follows with a dream-like melody, accompanied with a tambourine. I couldn’t help imagining a 70’s roller skating rink.

“Myth of Myself (A Ruse to Exploit Our Weaknesses)” slows it down to sweet sounding tune. The sound of (maybe?) a ticking clock brings about the experimental sound of the album. And who can resist a little flute action?

Then, “A Distance” combines a saxophone melody and an 80’s synthesizer sound. “We’re the Future” features surf-like guitar chords and “Landlocked” invokes a tribal dance. It’s amazing how Fanfarlo is able to maintain a specific sound and also combine so many musical styles. “Painting With Life” really caught my attention; it’s the first piece that starts with only vocals, “This is where it happened. We used to go here all the time,” and then cue the distorted keyboard and violin. It really sets the sentimental tone of the song, which the violin really just heightens.

The sensual saxophone returns in “The Grey and Gold”, and a piano is introduced in the hypnotic “The Beginning and the End”. Fanfarlo combines all these instruments, which aren’t normally associated with each other, and makes a uniform and beautiful album.

“Let’s Go Extinct” is the embodiment of this beauty. The song lasts close to 6 minutes and is slow and lullaby-like. It was hard not to just lay down and listen peacefully.

Fanfarlo…please don’t go extinct.

North American Tour Dates

Mark Van Hoen (of Black Hearted Brother, Seefeel, Locust, Scala) and Martin Maeers are set to release two EPs (second is yet to be named) and an LP in the coming months for their new project, Children of The Stones.

Joining them on their upcoming LP, The Stars And The Silence (coming March 25th) are Rachel Davies (Esben & The Witch), Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Black Hearted Brother, Mojave 3, solo) and Al Forrester, plus Angus Finlayson, amongst other friends.

The first EP, Extended Play, is scheduled for release on February 18th and includes four tracks and two remixes of the single “The Stars & The Silence.” This debut release is a transcendental spacey voyage evocative of melodic early 80’s synth. Themed, or perhaps plagued, Extended Play conveys a dysphoric bleakness centered around love’s emotions.

“The Stars & The Silence” is mystic lullaby that hypnotizes the listener into a dreamlike state. This first track and single breathes a lighthearted vibe into the otherwise melancholy EP. As expected, the two remixes found on the EP transform “The Stars & The Silence” into slightly more upbeat renditions without straying too far away from the original edit.

The downtempo soundscape of Extended Play continues with “Your Storm” and its plea to save and be saved by, of course, love. The haunting distress that is “Guiding Light” is underwhelming at best. Although most likely intended, the tempo and vocals seem rather disjointed with low monotonous vocals and overpowering electro beats. “Saudade” follows the same trend as “Guiding Light” with a focus on spacey downtempo sounds taking precedent over dull lyrics that will have listeners straining their ears to understand.

Aside from the first single, “The Stars & The Silence,” for me personally, Extended Play falls short. If it wasn’t for the small number of tracks, it would be hard to tell the other songs apart due to too many droning similarities. Although these other tracks didn’t quite do it for me like “The Stars & The Silence,” I can appreciate the technological approach and the creative use of sounds to make this EP.

Extended Play will be released on February 18th.