Album Review: The Fauns By The Fauns

New York – The Faun’s self-titled debut is an English record that sounds like something straight out of California. However, it isn’t Best Coast’s west coast; more like Lana’s younger, more ethereal sister. The Fauns makes you want to wear a flower crown and take a long weekend at Coachella. Each of the ten tracks is lengthier and sparklier than the last, filled with dreamily soft voices, mentions of the sun and shimmery guitars. Add to this the Redg Weeks rework of “The Sun is Cruising,” Robert Hampson Tunnel of Love mix of “Lovestruck,” and other bonus mixes, and you have an album that keeps you dreaming of a summer only seen in the movies.

With a few choice guitar pedals and synth patches, The Fauns have achieved a sound that is summery without sacrificing any musical complexity. From the guitar parts that ping from “Lovestruck” like radar to the slow build of the instrumental “Black Sand,” it is clear that The Fauns crafted their sound with care and expertise. Although all the tracks have the same airy characteristics, there is variety in each melody. No song sounds too much like the last, but there is enough overlap to create consistency within the album. It is the perfect mix of uniqueness and similarity.

“Cool Stuff” is a synth-heavy track that exemplifies the rest of the album, showcasing the vibrant dream-like characteristics that the record has cornered. The breathier “Understand” has more emphasis on the individual instruments, but maintains that fit-for-a-Zach-Braff-movie quality. With an outro of seagulls and crashing waves, “Understand” washes the listener right into “The Sun Is Cruising,” a twinkling, sunny tune that picks the pace back up. It’s heavier on the guitar that some of the other tracks, but not in a weighty way, and it is fit to blast whilst cruising down the PCH in a coral pink car. It is followed by “Fragile,” the album’s slow jam. The song isn’t delicate the way its title would suggest, but rather a well layered song, like much of the album. A multitude of sounds are woven together to form an instrumental backdrop over which vocalist Alison Garner whispers lyrics. Garner is best heard on “Come Around Again”, where her voice rings clearest above the tide of glittery guitar. “Road Meets The Sky” features guitarist Lee Woods on vocals as well, and the two voices fit together seamlessly to create one of the record’s most memorable tracks.

The intro to “Black Sand” sounds almost reminiscent of an early The Killers album, but builds into something you might hear at a club or in an indie movie trailer. The excellently crafted instrumental is a break from the sun-soaked first half of the album. “Deranged” brings us back to the established dreamy synth pop. The drum is given more room on this track, as are the guitars, creating a mid-ground between the instrumental and full-band sections of the album.

Lyrically love, requited and unrequited, and the sun dominate. “Come Around Again” is a strangely upbeat song about missing someone and “Lovestruck” is, well, self-explanatory. “Understand” occupies the space between falling in and out of love in which hope is lost. The album swings all over the emotional spectrum, but without losing any energy- even in the slow songs. The brightness is always there, lyrically and musically. The album is bookended by “1991,” a sorrowful, yet dreamy song that gentle decrescendos all that vivacity.

All throughout, The Fauns never breaks character. The band has created an unwavering dreamscape of sound that makes for an excellent mid-summer release.

Hear more at the band’s website.

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Zoe Marquedant

Zoe Marquedant is a Marylander now living in Brooklyn. She recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she majored in Journalism and English literature. She is a freelance journalist, who primarily writes on music and culture. Her work can be seen in Boston Magazine, Highlight Magazine as well as on rsvlts.com, mxdwn.com and Baeblemusic.com. When not writing, Zoe is probably working her way through a new series on Netflix, researching new pie recipes and collecting dumb jokes (e.g. Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and says, "You man the guns. I’ll drive.") Follow her vain attempts at mastering social media at @zoenoumlaut