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It's not that The Fanatics don't like drummers, they just don't need them (unless of course they're short of a beer or three…). This two-piece from Auckland (New Zealand), comprising of David Green (vocals and programming) and Tom Clark (guitar and vocals), has followed proudly in the footsteps of un-likeminded duos Simon & Garfunkel and Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra, captivating lucky listeners throughout the country over the past year. Playing absolutely modernist and delightfully skewed electro-rock, The Fanatics blend dark electronic beats and programmed basslines with taunt angular guitar, and a definite knack for bent pop lurking somewhere in the mix. The resulting sound punches hard, absorbing New Zealand's rich "pop" history of doom, gloom and weirdness (early Headless Chickens, Snapper etc), then updating it with the best of their international contemporaries (The Rapture, Finnish outfit Dead Combo, New York's DFA imprint, Peaches, etc). Live, The Fanatics are quite simply a revelation, proving there is no need for a rhythm section when you have a laptop, a guitar, frenetic energy, and style to burn. Tracks such as "Girl" and "Models" (with it's faultless lyrics "give me models, give me money") have already received considerable exposure via the B-Nets, as will their cover of Snapper's classic tune "Buddy", and with video's for both "Models" and "TV" currently in production, this band's star is surely going to shine brightly. This fantastic mini-album is easily the best New Zealand rock debut of 2004, and The Fanatics are without a doubt one of the finest outfits currently rockin' this little 'ole country of ours. Grab this CD (at a wicked EP price!), and check 'em out live too. Highly recommended. |
