Meet David Bowie's favourite new band

the word on the web

Fanfarlo are doing in 2008 what Gomez did for us in 1998. With plenty of trumpets, twinkly glockenspiels and all sorts of home- made contraptions, they produce lovely, loved-up pop tunes. The London-based unsigned six-piece, fronted by Swedish expat Simon Aurell, have released three singles on Fandango.

They have just finished working on their debut album in Aurell's living room. Fanfarlo even had the nod from David Bowie, who says that "they have that particular knack of being able to create uplifting music that's blessed with a delicious melancholia at the same time". We couldn't agree more. Sonia Zhuravlyova

drownedinsound.com

"Fanfarlo are pretty close to perfection at the moment. Momentum has flung them all together, coalescing around leader Simon Aurell's rather unique perspectives and his gift for utterly righteous, purely lovable popular music."

saidthegramaphone.com

"I'd like to sew it into a card and send it to all my wronged friends, the ones with stolen bikes or broken hearts. Fanfarlo have recorded such pretty, pretty blues."

clickmusic.com

"It's been a good year for indie popsters Fanfarlo. They've toured the world, gained David Bowie's seal of approval and a released a couple of tip top singles, including the gorgeous 'You Are One of the Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us'."

playlouder.com

"They sit alongside Semifinalists as one of a crop of new British bands mapping and defining those dark pastoral territories most recently explored by the likes of Mercury Rev and Grandaddy."

soundbites.typepad.com

"Fanfarlo are from London, and with only three singles have already garnered much praise. Singer Simon has one of those voices that's going to melt a certain type of girl's hearts. Fanfarlo's brand new single 'Fire Escape' is their best yet."

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