FM Belfast Knows How To Make Friends

MP3: FM Belfast - "Par Avion"

I gave this a spin. I gave it another. Then, I gave it another. And after it plays this time, I'm going to play it again. It's a simple electro pop song, nothing too fancy. It's simplistic, and that's where the hook grabs you. With horns that sound like they came off the last National album or from the somewhat whimsical-natured style of maybe a Sufjan Stevens jam, FM Belfast prevents this from totally becoming a uniform synth pop song. It's also certainly refreshing to hear some brass in a song like this one. Again, I'll admit that electro pop is not my forte, but I can honestly say that this song is, more than anything else, fun and absolutely enjoyable. It's not weighed down with emotion, it's just the warmth of the summer on a cold winter's day (kind of like the one we're in right now).

Reykjavik, Iceland's FM Belfast began as an informal duo in 2005 but has grown to include anywhere from 3 to 45 performers (including members of múm and Benni Hemm Hemm). The group is primarily a quartet, however, with core members Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir, Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson, Árni Vilhjálmsson and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason (say that three times fast).

The group has received a great deal of buzz over in Europe and was one of the most talked about acts at last year's SXSW. Their debut album, how to make friends, is set for a spring release here in the U.S.



how to make friends Tracklist*:
1) Frequency
2) Underwear
3) I Can Feel Love
4) Tropical
5) Pump
6) Par Avion
7) VHS
8) Lotus
9) Optical
10) Synthia
11) President

*this is the current European release tracklisting, it may include additional songs/a new tracklist

And check out the trippy video for "Par Avion" below...