Infinite Shuffle

As everyone started churning out their various Best of 2009 lists, I recognized the bulk of what was being mentioned. But there was one band that caught my eye that I’d never heard of before — Fanfarlo.

I think I first started hearing whispers about this London sextet around November or so, but I didn’t know much about them and basically wrote them off. Then their debut album, Reservoir, started popping up on the various year-end lists — one of my favorite music bloggers tabbed it as his favorite of the year, while another trusted source had it in his top 10 — so I was forced to take notice.

When I first started playing it, I wasn’t really blown away, but I didn’t dislike it either. As the disc went on, it grew on me.

The second listen really solidified it for me, and by the third go-around, I was sold.

As both of the aforementioned bloggers noted, there is an unmistakable Arcade Fire influence here, but it’s tamer — in a good way — and all the rough edges are smoothed out. To a lesser degree, Fanfarlo has a Beirut vibe going on as well, but it comes across more accessibly here.

This album didn’t drop in the States until late September, so I don’t feel so bad that it took me a couple months to discover it. But I’ll be sure to be on the lookout for their follow-up.

Between their MySpace page and their official website, you can hear seven of the 11 tracks on this album, plus a bonus track. An added treat on their MySpace page is the video clips of Fanfarlo covering such acts as Neutral Milk Hotel, Smashing Pumpkins and Bonnie Prince Billy.

I don’t really have a favorite song at this point, and since there are so many tracks available elsewhere, I figured I’d post one that wasn’t on another site.

Fanfarlo – Fire Escape