Fanfarlo
Reservoir

Campus Correspondent CD review by Stephen Capps,
Union University

Last year, Vampire Weekend was a very pleasant and fresh new sound, but this year, Fanfarlo takes this honor with its debut full-length Reservoir. Thank you, England, for Fanfarlo because every song on the album is enjoyable, complex and catchy. As is becoming the custom in indie music, there are much more than drums, bass, guitar, and vocals on this album. Say hello to mandolin, glockenspiel, brass, reed instruments, accordion, keyboard, auxiliary percussion, saw and much more.

They work cohesively to make tightly knit songs rather than just having unique instruments for the heck of it. The first track, “I’m a Pilot” features group singing, upbeat, and almost orchestral sounds, which is in sharp contrast to the last track, the mostly acoustic and instrumental “Good Morning Midnight.” However, this helps to exhibit the band’s ability to be diverse and retain artistic integrity in the process. For the Beirut or Arcade Fire fans, this is similar enough to instantly love, but different enough that it’s far from a rip off. Other fans of alternative or indie music, or music in general, are also likely to enjoy.