Dropping some of the folky elements of 2009's
Reservoir
, London-based outfit
Fanfarlo
move in a more synth-oriented, '80s new wave direction with 2012's
Rooms Filled with Light
. Which isn't to say they've completely abandoned the grand and buoyant pop that made
such a surprise. On the contrary, working with producer
Ben Allen
(
Animal Collective
,
Deerhunter
Gnarls Barkley
),
have crafted a sonically adventurous and somewhat angular album that finds them coming into their own as less
Grizzly Bear
/
Arcade Fire
-influenced also-rans and more of a uniquely addictive neo-new wave ensemble in their own right. Once again showcasing the yearning baritone of Swedish-born lead singer
Simon Balthazar
also feature multi-instrumentalist/vocalist
Cathy Lucas
, who shares lead duties on a few songs. To these ends, we get the sparkly anthem "Deconstruction" and the
Haircut 100
-sounding "Tunguska," with its blue-eyed soul saxophones. Elsewhere, the '80s vibe continues with "Feathers," sounding something along the lines of a midtempo synth pop duet between
David Byrne
and
Kate Bush
, and the bright, rambling "Tightrope," with its driving bassline coming on like a lost
Fun Boy Three
cut. Ultimately, the great thing about the '80s vibe on
isn't that
have aped their idols, but rather that they've found a way to make these Day-Glo, spiky-haired melodies feel utterly contemporary. ~ Matt Collar