Fang Island releases a new digital EP today for the song “Daisy”, culled from the band’s forthcoming self-titled Sargent House album. The single is backed with the Yeasayer remix of “Absolute Place” off their Sky Gardens EP. The anthemic guitar quintet will celebrate their full-length debut with a special album release party hosted by Andrew W.K. at Santos Party House in New York City on February 13th.
Fang Island describes its sound as “everyone high-fiving everyone.” And, the band is currently plotting tour dates in the U.S. to high-five one and all, including a performance during the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, TX. Full tour dates will be announced soon.
Back in December, Pitchfork debuted the quirky video for “Daisy” directed by Carlos Charlie Perez (Li’l Wayne, Vampire Weekend). And, currently, Fang Island‘s music is also the soundtrack to on-air promos for MTV‘s new show, The Buried Life.
Its finger-tapping guitar lines, chanted vocals, triumphant harmonies and overall perky songs hearken to the sort of “Total Music” of the F**king Champs, Jay Reatard, Ponytail, Kraftwerk, Marnie Stern, Thin Lizzy, et al. But, perhaps more so, its songs are like the music in your head at that moment when everything feels just right: that first kiss, that high score on the video game, buying your first small nation in cash… you know, good stuff. Check out MP3s for two new tracks, “Daisy” and “Life Coach” .
Fang Island began, oddly enough, as an art school project while the band members were attending the prodigious Rhode Island School of Design (also the foundation for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savy Fav, Lightning Bolt, Six Finger Satellite and some band called the Talking Heads.) According to guitarist Jason Bartell, the goal was to “make music for people who like music.” That is, music without irony that harnesses its uplifting qualities. Just like a classic rock song or classical symphony can stir us emotionally, Fang Island exists to unlock that spirit.
Fang Island is guitarist Jason Bartell, bassist Philip Curcuru, guitarist Chris Georges, guitarist Nicholas Andrew Sadler, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur. They all share collective group vocal harmonies and the occasional hand claps. While Sadler is also known for his role in the debauched rock band Daughters, it is only his fretboard skill that translates between the two groups.
Fang Island begins appropriately with the sound of erupting fireworks on “Dreams of Dreams” leading into a cascading chorus of ringing guitar notes before the group vocal harmonies chime in with the mantra, “they all are within my reach, they are free.” The second song, “Careful Crossers” launches in beneath the vocals with a chorus of gleaming guitar harmonies smeared over the marching, syncopated rhythm section. Elsewhere, tracks like “Sideswiper” hearken to the metal-laced positivity of Andrew WK. “Daisy” sounds like a unique collaboration between the F**king Champs and Jay Reatard. Throughout the album, it’s like listening to the cool version of classic rock — the type of anthemic pop without the cheesiness — that you wished Journey and Boston could’ve made.
Fang Island’s debut album, Fang Island will be released February 23rd, 2010 via Sargent House.