Sounds on the Ground #11: Fol Chen
By: Dan Monsell
What's the deal? Fiercely lighting up the blogosphere (you know sometimes we write something like that about "the blogs", but in honesty we don't really actually know what it means - don't tell anyone though yep?), Fol Chen are a mysterious Californian five-piece who burst hard into our ear-line with the sleazy-pop excellence of super single 'Cable TV' early this year. A band who often cover themselves in masks for photo shoots and issue "transmission" press release that are more fantastical fiction than statements of actual information, they do take the time to do us some favours on their MySpace by explaining themselves as "like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Boards of Canada and Pulp (mostly)."
An amalgamation of influences aside, Fol Chen are most strikingly a truly joyful and dance filled proposition managing to also remain wonderfully cryptic, compelling and full of sparkling originality along the way. There's also a darker edge to them at times that lets some of the tracks groove more darkly, sexily and downright filthily (certainly showing their Prince influence there). It's also a bit beat-based; almost krauty experimental rock too. Like Liars for instance, a band who have not only done remixes for the band, but also share members with them too.
Going over something of a storm at SXSW this year, live they come complete with black strips across their eyes, and clothing from the future (we gots to get us some of them...) which sounds like a great time by all accounts. In summary, in a time where it's very easy to meld pop and electro and many many other things and get it very wrong, Fol Chen emerge freshly original, interesting and fun as hell in a way that'll make you smile, move your feet and think all at goddam once. Who'd have thought it? AND they're in the UK in June, and their album (out on the Sufjan Stevens founded label Asthmatic Kitty) is a concept record about an evil force trying to close down a progressive Long Island radio station. Sounds like a winner to us.
What can I listen to? The band's debut album Fol Chen Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made is out now on Astmatic Kitty. They also have a trio of singles, the excellent motel sex tale of 'Cable TV', and the equally excellent 'The Believers' and 'No Wedding Cake'. If you're just cruising and shiznit, hit up the MySpace, Last.fm, blah blah for quick bites.
When can I see them live? Do I see a rockfeedback date in there? Do I? I do? See ya there! There are also shows with Wavves over in the 'States, and a tour of London in June.
8 Jun 2009 The Windmill - London
9 Jun 2009 Barden's Boudoir - London
10 Jun 2009 Pure Groove (In Store) - London
10 Jun 2009 Hoxton bar and Grill - London
11 Jun 2009 Rockfeedback @ The Lexington - London
12 Jun 2009 The Beat Happening sessions / Camden Lock - London
13 Jun 2009 Dirty Bingo vs. Loud & Quiet @ The Macbeth - London
We all know music peaked in 1994, so give me a sound-bite about how we could compare them to some kind of obscure band from the Britpop era: Carter the Unstoppable Sex machine having a masquerade ball style sex party with The Wonderstuff. In a room full of more sitars, saxophones, keyboards and interesting sounds than you can shake a log-type stick at.