Preview: Fenech-Soler

Fenech-Soler
Manchester Apollo on 1^st December

Looking towards their approaching UK tour supporting Example and the possibility of a second studio album next year, I caught up with upcoming synth-based band Fenech-Soler to talk about their self-titled debut album and plans for the future.

Electropop 4-piece Fenech-Soler are an interesting band. Despite not being that widely known, they are no strangers to some previous success. Their track ‘Stop and Stare’ was named by BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James as ‘Record of the Week’ whilst they have much previous success in remixing tracks for other artists.  In fact, lead singer Ben Duffy helped provide the vocals for Groove Armada’s track ‘Paper Romance.’ Their debut album is certainly underappreciated, with tracks such as ‘Golden Sun’ and ‘Lies’ acting as great weekend anthems and Duffy tells me “after a lot of success in remixing, we are keen to promote the band’s own material.”

Naming acts such as Manchester University’s-own The Chemical Brothers as the inspiration for their debut album, but with other clear influences from genres such as French house on tracks such as ‘The Great Unknown’, I ask Duffy about the direction of the band’s material for the future.  “We would love to release a second studio album for around June of next year”.  However this album will be taking a new direction.  “Whilst we will be maintaining our identity of big choruses, electronic music is changing and we have to adapt.”

I was pleased to hear how the band’s favourite past gig was in Manchester at our own Academy 2 and Fenech-Soler will be returning to the city on the 1^st December to perform at Manchester’s O2 Apollo. With their mixture of sythns and real instruments on stage and top-notch material from their first album, it will be a show not to be missed.