Italo Horror: Fan Death

"Perhaps it's the timbre of my voice" says Dandi Wind Opaine explaining how .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) achieve their melancholic disco sound, "but I don't try to do things that are dark or light". They could have fooled us. Despite being touted as part of the resurgence in upbeat Italo styled disco alongside Chromatics and Glass Candy in 2008, the band mix disturbed folk melody with elements of pop and throaty intoned vocals with a sharp electric slide. In amongst Horse Meat Disco, Erol Alkan and the Dalston Superstore lurks Steve Nicks and her powerful yet ghostly vocals. 'Reunited' smoothly drawls, 'Cannibal's synthed strings are upbeat ode to all things dance and 'Soon' wouldn't sound out of place in amongst The Knife's addled genius, "we're into folk and classical arrangements and yes, Marta really likes Stevie Nicks" she says, adding that many of their songs have similar harmonies to the ex Fleetwood Mac heroine, "'Power Surge' has about 60 layers of background vocals!".



It isn't just the music. The 'A Coin for the Well' EP is a perfect example of the band's layered work. Not content with quickly lumping a bunch of material out alongside their initial 'hype' Dandi and Marta carefully glitter-glued together the whole package, working on their own artwork, videos and outfits. Were they worried that somebody else might take control if they didn't? Italo inspired dance music slunk back into the clubs as La Roux and Florence took a firmer grip on the pop charts, becoming another electronic underground genre that while cool, didn't really have the same impact as first predicted. "We've only put out two singles we don't really mind what people think" she says, quite rightly refusing to be lumped in with any one set of artists because they have one similar effect or worse, just because they're women, "we're just getting started; our debut EP and Album both come out this year".



In fact, if you already like Fan Death it's probably video rather than either of these records that drew you in. Often directed by Dandi, they mix dark and light again, using Italian Horror and "much more" to produce sharp promos. "I love old Italian horror films and The Goblin, Fabio Frizzi, Morricone scores are definitely an influence" she continues, "and Fellini is a influence for sure - my favorite of his films is Juliet of The Spirits". In the Fellini inspired romp for 'Reunited' the band come into contact with pop stars past and present from a chopper riding Prince to Marylin Manson and a wizened Billy Corgan. The video features performances from Fad Gadget, Lewis Furey, Cockney Rebel and Current 93 showing that the band are part of a thriving community, not chucked out of some well oiled art-disco machine. "We're inspired by most of the people in the video" she explains "and I'm working on the album artwork with my father. He worked with me to sculpt the image that will be the Fan Death album cover. Otherwise I just got an old medium format film camera so I'm using that when I get a chance".



Stepping out from behind the camera for live shows this month, Fan Death and friends are more likely than ever to get the big exposure their songs have been waiting for. A tour with other genre-avoiders Vampire Weekend will see them play two sold out nights at Brixton Academy, 8 other sold out dates from Glasgow to Cambridge and have a quick run around the rest of Europe. In March they'll play US support to Little Boots and a SXSW showcase. "But really, we'd just like do a TV performance somewhere" she says, flicking us another glimpse of Fan Death's wicked lighter side "It's a childhood dream".



Buy 'A Coin For The Well' now

Top 5 Disco Dancing Songs...
1. I am a Disco Dancer - MITHUN CHAKRABORTY
2. Carabina de Ambrosio - QUARTZ
3. I Like to Move It - REEL 2 REAL
4. Controversy - PRINCE
5. 69 times - RICK JAMES

See 'Fan Death' live... if you already have tickets.

5 Feb 2010 De La Warr Pavillion w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out bexhill
7 Feb 2010 Corn Exchange w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out Cambridge
8 Feb 2010 Apollo with VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out Manchester
9 Feb 2010 O2 Academy w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out Leeds
10 Feb 2010 02 Academy w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Sold out! Birmingham
12 Feb 2010 02 Academy w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out! Newcastle
13 Feb 2010 Barrowlands w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out! Glasgow
14 Feb 2010 Picturehouse w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out Edinburgh
16 Feb 2010 Brixton Academy w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out London
17 Feb 2010 Brixton Academy w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - sold out london
19 Feb 2010 Astra w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Berlin
20 Feb 2010 Gloria Theatre w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Cologne
21 Feb 2010 Uebel & Gefährlich w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Hamburg
22 Feb 2010 Ancienne Belgique w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Brussels
24 Feb 2010 Paradiso w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Amsterdam
25 Feb 2010 Olympia w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Paris
26 Feb 2010 Toulouse w. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Toulouse
17 Mar 2010 SXSW - venue TBA Austin, TX

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