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With ex-Dandi Wind at the helm, the two-front women are not only the epitome of style with sequins, tie-die and 80s inspired dresses on show, but also have the songs to back them up. It isn’t style over substance or even vice-versa – it’s a nice balance between the two.
Obviously, having connections with Erol Alkan and dancing about the stage like a girl possessed with the spirit of Blondie and sex appeal, there isn’t much that Fan Death can do but exude cool and embody Peaches’ sentiment “The boys wanna be her, the girls wanna be her”. Songs like “Veronica’s Veil” could slip easily into the ’80s nostalgia’ cache, yet the lyrics use a subtle blending of Biblical references and synthesisers, and “The Constellations” is completely ethereal and eerie – a pretty far cry from the bubblegum pop of the eighties.
There are the inevitable animal noises from the men in audience as catcalls and wolf whistles suggest not everyone is musing on the musical nuances of the set, but oh well. By the time ‘Son Will Rise’ has whizzed through with its tribal drums and Rocky-esque beginning it doesn’t matter.
We grabbed Fan Death for a brief chat, with a slight jet-lagged induced air…
“This is the first night of the tour so we’re pretty excited but only just got off a plane a few hours ago! We’re off to London tonight too. I really liked the girl just on now [Marina and the Diamonds]“.
How does playing in Canada differ from touring the UK? Is there a more receptive crowd?
“I don’t think they’re more or less receptive. It’s different because Vancouver is pretty small. I mean, it’s a really up-and-coming city but it can’t compare to London. It’s weird though – you would think the cities’ scenesters would differ really wildly but nearly all hipsters look the same in any part of the world. It seems like it’s such a small group of people liking the same thing that the fashion thing crosses over”.
Speaking of fashion Fan Death have a pretty unique look: “Yeah, this dress is from a tour that we did of vintage shops and we got paid in clothes. I love this though, it’s really comfortable!” There is an aura of cool surrounding Fan Death – not least due to Erol Alkan’s admiration (manifesting itself in considerable producer help on “Veronica’s Veil”) but how do you manage just to slip onto the radar of Mr. Alkan?
“Well Dandi knew him previously and we just sent him over some stuff and he loved it! So much that he invited us out to DJ in Miami with him – even the airfare was paid for. We got to swim in the sea in Miami for spinning a few discs – it was amazing”
Will Smith would be proud! What type of music did you play?
“Will Smith actually!! I’m loving that old 90’s nostalgia trip. Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff…”
What more could be asked for? An appreciation of Will Smith’s style (before he was a Scientologist and making ‘feel-good’ movies; back when he was chillin’ with Uncle Phil and Jazzy Jeff, and making songs like “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”) which could make Lady Gaga feel inadequate for its effortless cool and songs with catchy hooks taking influence from every era from BC to the 80s to 2009. Amazing.
