Quick Hitters:: Fanshaw Dark Eyes

A few years ago when Nic and I were still living in Vancouver, I ran a little Sunday Morning feature that profiled a local band with little to no fan base. One of the most pleasant discoveries I stumbled across was Fanshaw, the moniker for Olivia Fetherstonhaugh.

I kept expecting to see her name everywhere, but I think Olivia had a few things working against any chance of instant success. Trying to pronounce her last name would be one, but the most telling is her desire for perfection. Olivia's debut is finally ready for release on Mint Records but the journey has been long, as the songs have been shaped and reshaped over the last five years.

Luckily, those 5 years have been good to Olivia and her patience has paid off. Her voice is stronger, the arrangements bolder and all that potential has been realized. With tracks like Strong Hips (I compared her to Feist way back in the day, and it seems I'm not alone now), and the support of one of Canada's finest labels, the stars could be aligning for this talented chanteuse. Obviously she could have delivered a record full of catchy hooks (the horn laced O Sailor shines the focus directly on Olivia's vocals but benefits uses galloping drums and a few electric chords), but Fanshaw is more than 70's pop and beautiful vocals.

The opener uses a plucked bass, some eerie harmonies and casts ominous clouds over the record and even when she picks up the pace on the title track, you can't help but think something dark is around the corner. Instead it's the suggestive country tune Vegas, that finds Olivia determined to hold onto her man. The slow moving Nobody is another example of terrific vocal interplay - a skill she's honed as part of The Choir Practice. Fanshaw challenges you with swirling arrangements that float all around your headphones, but ultimately you are rewarded with 34 minutes of music that stands out from the masses and well thought out narratives.

MP3:: Fanshaw - Strong Hips
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/fanshawmusic
BUY:: BUY Dark Eyes

Labels: Canada, fanshaw, Mint Recs, Music, Quick Hitters