The New Now

Fenech-Soler Flares With Catchy, Orchestral Electropop

By | The New Now – Wed, Apr 6, 2011 1:58 PM EDT

Don't be deterred by the "electopop" categorization: Fenech-Soler isn't all keyboards and fashion statements (OK, maybe a some metallics and textures for good show, but tame in this blogger's opinion).

Made up of Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy, Daniel Soler, and Andrew Lindsay, the U.K. quartet's name comes from bassist/keyboardist Daniel's full hyphenated last name. I'm surprised it's not the lead singer's name for once. Admittedly, the name calls to mind a rare species of bird, or perhaps a mid-priced wine. These guys look like they would enjoy discussing orinthological oddities over a glass of red, right?

Although they've been lumped into the indie camp built by Friendly Fires and Klaxons, there's a sort of orchestral element to their songs that sets them apart. That and the slightest twinge of MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco's lighter tracks. With catchy choruses and crescendoes, Fenech-Soler straddles the line between dancefloor tracks and onstage band music, thus giving them a wider breadth of appeal.

Watch Fenech-Soler play live in (a club called) Heaven for their last U.K. tour date last year:

With lead singer Ben Duffy recently diagnosed with testicular cancer (but caught early, so he has a very good chance of recovering), proceeds from the sale of their latest single "Stop and Stare" will be donated to the Teen Cancer Trust. Unfortunately, their nine-date U.K. tour has been postponed til further notice. Get well soon, Ben!

Fenech-Soler's second full-length album Stop and Stare will be released on April 18, and their Demons EP is available on iTunes now.

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