FANFARLO—“RESERVOIR”

FANFARLO—“RESERVOIR”
By Rick Zeigler

Fanfarlo has been dubbed the “British Arcade Fire” due to their proclivity for sculpting mini-epics, replete with horns, woodwinds, and strings, using an indie-rock template. The accolade is well deserved, but, on the evidence of their debut album, this five-piece can stand on its own. And unlike Arcade Fire, Fanfarlo does not go in for the oft-overused soft/loud/soft/loud structure. Rather, its ambitious, multi-layered pop symphonies rest on Simon Balthazar’s David Byrne-like vocals alongside the band’s many majestic (and frequently folk-based) melodies. Piano is often to the forefront, as on the stomping opener “I’m A Pilot”. The martial beat of that first track then gives way to a horn-driven Motown groove on “Ghosts”.  “Luna” is propelled along by a swift beat, a gorgeous verse and chorus and, midway through, a beautiful slow passage with horns and woodwinds.  “The Walls Are Coming Down” features a French horn/ukelele combination (!!) to charming effect, while the brushed snare, soft horns, and strings of “If It Is Growing” accompanies one of the band’s best melodies. The album goes on like this, mixing and matching instruments and melody lines as if it is seemingly second nature for this band never to produce a duff track. All in all, Reservoir is a summery, uplifting, and sometimes overwhelming treat of a debut. 

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