Formerly operating as techno duo, Captain Fufanu, with the addition of live instrumentation – and the band name shortened to a more economical Fufanu (“the Captain was left behind at a rave in Cologne”) – the Icelandic group began working up a dark, metronomic take on 70s and 80s European music.
The rolling, hypnotic, seven minute ‘Circus Life’ – uploaded to YouTube in October – and is formally released as Fufanu’s debut single on the 6th April, backed with shuddering and drolly-titled live opener, ‘Goodbye’.
In the space of one week last November Fufanu became the most talked about new band of Iceland Airwaves, made their UK live debut at JaJaJa Festival and supported Damon Albarn at the Albert Hall – winning the approval of Brian Eno into the bargain.
They repeated the trick in January with crushing sets at Eurosonic and are back in the UK supporting *Bo Ningen in late March & early April as below:
Tuesday 31st March London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen*
Wednesday 1st April London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen*
Thursday 2nd April London, Sebright Arms
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The band’s unusual origins go a long way to explaining how Fufanu have arrived at their exacting sound. Live, the mordant wit suggested by song titles like ‘Plastic People’ and ‘Circus Life’ can shift into thrillingly cold malevolence.
“It is an entirely new band, even though it feels the same,” considers ‘slyph-like’ singer, Kaktus. “There was no certain moment when we realized that this was our sound. We just liked what we were doing and kept experimenting. From [Roskilde Festival 2013] onward, the idea of a new sound for us was born — although leaving techno was not the outcome we imagined. We started to write new music with more live instruments, but still kept on using all of our synths and drum machines. It all happened really naturally.”
Fufanu is: Kaktus Einarsson (vocals)/ Gulli Halldór (guitar/programming).
Watch ‘Circus Life’ video BELOW:
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