THE FAUNS
Start The Bus, Bristol | September 26th
The Fauns, nearing the release of their much-awaited second album Lights, are palpably thrilled to be onstage here tonight. Their dream-like indie pop – frequently labelled simply as ‘shoegaze’, which does something of an injustice to the dexterity of their sound, despite being a potent influence – washes over you, forming a warming tonal mass that feels melancholy and euphoric in equal measure.
Having appeared as main support for College’s whistlestop tour of the UK, in the process winning countless new converts, this final leg in their Bristolian hometown is a cherished moment. Their excitement is our excitement, and those assembled tonight seem to understand what makes this band one of the most vital in the city. Their collective charm and the music they compose taps into so many innate feelings and fears; the building of anticipation through the tension of expectation, and the ability to express powerful, blissful release.
The precise production of their last album is subtly replaced by sheer volume. The wall of sound is designed to give you goosebumps, and it succeeds in spades. Fellow Bristolian producer and drummer Typesun is filling in on drums for this tour, adding the necessary velocity and backbeat to their songs. But surely the band’s most notable element comes from the vocals of Alison Garner. Swathed in effects, her words become blurred into impressionistic gestures of fractured syllables, sparkling melody amidst the swelling roar.
On this evidence, The Fauns’ second album will see them pushing forward whilst keeping an eye on the past. It seems certain to cement their longevity in producing the most evocative and beautiful noise coming out of Bristol right now. Let’s see, shall we.
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Words: Philip James Allen
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