With so many new artists bursting onto the scene on a daily basis, it’s not very often that I find myself getting really excited about one in particular. Fenech Soler with their mix of heady pop vocals and dirty electro beats however, are swiftly proving themselves to be one of the few gleaming needles in my overpacked haystack of 2010.
'Battlefields' opens with choral vocals which lull us into a false sense of the innocent before a deep, pulsating bass assaults our senses and takes proceedings to a delectably dirty level. Single 'Lies' also sees a slightly quieter beginning before kicking into a thumping electro beat that jumpstarts the track into life and really gets you itching to move with it. This is a pattern many of their tracks tend to follow but instead of becoming repetitive it creates a sense of familiarity that the listener knows they can look forward to; we know the beat is going to strike us at some point but the fun at the beginning of each track is the anticipation of when. The continually mutating pace of 'L.A. Love' suitably reflects the embittered lyrics whilst the brilliantly booming foundation of 'Golden Sun' juxtaposes lead singer Ben Duffy’s occasional falsetto tones exquistitely. This contrast is something featured fairly heavily throughout and occasionally creates a more stereotypical dance feel, although the grinding beats pull us swiftly back to a sound far more credible and substantial before they can drift into the mediocre.
I could nitpick and say that there are a couple of weaker inclusions on the album, although in reality they’re not bad, just a meander away from the crunking electro we’re indulged with otherwise. 'Stop and Stare' is a pleasant enough electro-pop number but it’s repetitive chorus makes it feel longer than it is and after a few minutes you find yourself longing for the pounding undercurrents that fuel their other tracks. Final song 'Walk Alone' with it’s more obvious synths and slower vocals feels slightly predictable and familiar and is a bit of a disappointing close in rounding up some absolutely storming tracks, though again this is a minor qualm. Overall, this is an album you can listen to again and again (and believe me I have) without wanting to cry from monotony after a couple of plays. That’s an impressive feat even many established bands are unable to boast, and although Fenech Soler’s name may not make a whole lot of sense, their music most certainly does.
This review was originally published on www.culturedeluxe.com
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