{{Short description|British band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fanfarlo | caption = Fanfarlo at Green Man festival | image = Fanfarlo at Green Man Festival 2010.jpg | origin = London, UK | genre = Indie rock, indie folk,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thompson|first1=Stephen|title=Fanfarlo: Tiny Desk Concert|url=https://www.npr.org/2009/12/16/121503593/fanfarlo-tiny-desk-concert|website=NPR|access-date=6 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220100148/http://www.npr.org/2009/12/16/121503593/fanfarlo-tiny-desk-concert|archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref> alternative rock | years_active = 2006–present | label = Canvasback Music, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group New World Records | website = [https://fanfarlo.com Official site] | current_members = Cathy Lucas<br /> Justin Finch<br />Leon Beckenham<br />Simon Balthazar | past_members = Amos Memon <br />Mark West<br />Giles J Davis }}
'''Fanfarlo''' are a London-based indie/alternative band formed in 2006 by Swedish musician Simon Balthazar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.evolutionmusicpartners.com/composers/simon_balthazar|title=Simon Balthazar {{!}} Evolution Music Partners|website=www.evolutionmusicpartners.com|access-date=2017-01-19|archive-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820011617/http://www.evolutionmusicpartners.com/composers/simon_balthazar|url-status=dead}}</ref> They fuse elements of folk, indie rock and post-punk using eclectic instrumentation including trumpet, violin, mandolin, musical saw, clarinet and saxophone. Since their formation they have released three studio albums and one EP.
== Background == The band, whose name comes from the Charles Baudelaire novella ''La Fanfarlo'', started performing live in small London indie clubs in 2006, and released four limited edition 7" singles on London-based indie labels (one of which is a split single with Sleeping States) throughout 2006–2008.
Their debut album, ''Reservoir'', was recorded in October/November 2008 at Tarquin Studios, Connecticut, USA and was produced by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). The album was released in February 2009 on the band's own label Raffle Bat and later licensed to the Atlantic imprint Canvasback, who released it in the UK and US in October 2009 and in Europe in April 2010.
Their single "The Walls Are Coming Down" was released during September 2009. The music video<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXhQfIZD2c |title=Fanfarlo | The Walls Are Coming Down |publisher=YouTube |date= 18 August 2009|accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref> for the single was directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iainandjane.com |title=Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard |publisher=Iainandjane.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref> and features escape artist Roslyn Walker<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roslynwalker.com |title=Roslyn Walker Official Website |publisher=Roslyn Walker.com |date=2011-01-27 |accessdate=2011-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221134352/http://www.roslynwalker.com/ |archive-date=21 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cafemaroon.com/listening-section/fanfarlo-the-walls-are-coming-down-video |title=CafeMaroon.com |publisher=CafeMaroon.com |date=2009-09-01 |access-date=2011-05-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323142914/http://www.cafemaroon.com/listening-section/fanfarlo-the-walls-are-coming-down-video/ |archive-date=23 March 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> performing the Hanging Straitjacket Escape, a stunt first performed by Harry Houdini in the early 1900s. The stunt was also incorporated into the band's show at Webster Hall in New York on 19 December 2009 (this time by escape artist Michael Lee).
In early September 2011, the band announced on their website that their newest album, ''Rooms Filled with Light'', was finished and posted a video of the first song, "Replicate". The album was released on 28 February 2012 in the United States, and on 27 February everywhere else.
In October 2013 the band released ''The Sea'' EP, which is the first part of a science-fiction/speculative/Utopian concept project. The lyrical content of this whole project presents a discussion about where humanity has come from (potentially), what we have become, and where we are heading. This is spoken of in terms of culture and science. The band have described their current sound as Space Opera meets Spaghetti Western.<ref>Tom Paull Maya, 'Interview with Simon Balthasar from Fanfarlo', Made in Shoreditch Magazine, 26 September 2013. </ref>
On 10 February 2014 the band released their third regular studio album, titled ''Let's Go Extinct'', on their own New World Records label.
In 2016, Balthazar collaborated with King Knut, as SWOON, and released the single "Heatwave".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2016/02/fanfarlo-offshoot-swoon-premiere-debut-single-heatwave-listen/|title=Fanfarlo offshoot SWOON premiere debut single "Heatwave" — listen|date=2016-02-10|newspaper=Consequence of Sound|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-19}}</ref> Since 2015, Lucas has been the lead singer and guitarist for the psychedelic pop group Vanishing Twin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/vanishing-twin-the-age-of-immunology/|title=Vanishing Twin: The Age of Immunology|website=Pitchfork}}</ref>
==Members== * Cathy Lucas – violin, keys, mandolin, glockenspiel, vocals, musical saw * Justin Finch – bass, vocals * Leon Beckenham – trumpet, keyboards, glockenspiel, melodica, vocals * Simon Balthazar – vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, saxophone, clarinet
==Former members== * Amos Memon – vocals, drums and percussion (2006-2013) * Mark West – guitar, vocals, keyboard (2006-2009)
==In popular media== On 24 September 2009, the song "Ghosts" from the band's debut album, ''Reservoir'', featured in episode 6 of season 6 of ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/greys-anatomy/goodbye-2-1292966/#notes |title=Grey's Anatomy: Goodbye Episode Summary on |publisher=Tv.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02 |archive-date=27 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227025815/http://www.tv.com/shows/greys-anatomy/goodbye-2-1292966#notes |url-status=dead }}</ref> The band's 2007 single "Fire Escape" featured in episode 4 of season 6 of Fox's medical drama ''House'' on 12 October 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/house/instant-karma-1299129/#notes |title=House: Instant Karma Episode Summary on |publisher=Tv.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02 |archive-date=17 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117084635/http://www.tv.com/shows/house/instant-karma-1299129/#notes |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 15 February 2010, the band made their US television debut appearance on the ''Late Show with David Letterman'' performing their single "Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for a Very Long Time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=8HHUg5tLl_ETUXOTKlnfAF9b1Teun_1O |title=Late Show Video - Fanfarlo |publisher=CBS.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref> They have subsequently also performed on ''Last Call with Carson Daly,''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carsondaly.tv/video/Fanfarlo-perform-on-Last-Call-W|title=Carsondaly - Otro sitio realizado con WordPress|website=Carsondaly|language=es-VE|access-date=2017-01-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911211823/http://www.carsondaly.tv/video/Fanfarlo-perform-on-Last-Call-W|archive-date=11 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and on French TV channel Canal Plus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canalplus.fr/c-divertissement/c-album-de-la-semaine/cid324871-adls-fanfarlo.html?vid=334354 |title=Ghosts - Album de la semaine - Interview de FANFARLO - Question 1 |publisher=Canalplus.Fr |date= |access-date=2011-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614223955/http://www.canalplus.fr/c-divertissement/c-album-de-la-semaine/cid324871-adls-fanfarlo.html?vid=334354 |archive-date=14 June 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
Their song "Atlas" is featured on the soundtrack of 2010 film ''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse''. The song was re-recorded in Austin, Texas especially for the film and was documented in Episode III of their web series, ''Under the Reservoir''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Their song "Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for a Very Long Time" featured in the soundtrack to the 2010 film ''Going the Distance''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-the-distance-mw0002021917|title=Going the Distance - Original Soundtrack {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2017-01-19}} </ref> The song "I'm a Pilot" is featured in the NBC series ''Chuck'' season 4 episode 24.
==Web series== In March 2010, video artist Brian Gonzalez followed the band on their third time playing the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas that resulted in a four-part web series entitled ''Under the Reservoir'' which premiered on their site 14 June 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://countmeoutblog2.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/video-fanfarlo-under-reservoir.html|title=Video: Fanfarlo "Under The Reservoir (Episode 1)"|website=countmeoutblog2.blogspot.co.uk|date=14 June 2010 |access-date=2017-01-19}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''Reservoir'' (2009, Raffle Bat/Atlantic/Canvasback) * ''Rooms Filled With Light'' (28 February 2012) * ''The Sea'' EP (14 October 2013) * ''Let's Go Extinct'' (10 February 2014)
===Singles=== * "Talking Backwards" (2006, Fortuna POP!) * "You Are One of the Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us" (2007, Label Fandango) * "Fire Escape" (2007, White Heat) * "Harold T. Wilkins" (2008, Felt Tip Records, split single with Sleeping States) * "Drowning Men" (2009, Moshi Moshi Records) * "The Walls Are Coming Down" (2009, Moshi Moshi Records) * "Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait a Very Long Time" (2010, Atlantic Records) * "You Are One"/"What Makes You Think You're the One" (2010 Record Store Day exclusive – limited to a pressing of 3,500 units, Atlantic Records) * "Replicate" (2011, WGM) * "Deconstruction" (17 October 2011, Canvasback/ATL; together with a 15-minute track "Reconstruction", as mp3 downloads only) *"Shiny Things" (2012, digital download)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://fanfarlo.com Fanfarlo.com] – Official page * [http://www.myspace.com/fanfarlo Fanfarlo MySpace page]
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Category:Rock music groups from London Category:Musical groups established in 2006 Category:Indie rock groups from London Category:Atlantic Records artists