Fanfarlo

I’ve held off of getting involved in this whole digital music trend. Perhaps that is an odd statement for an mp3 blogger. Yet I still haven’t purchased a single track on a digital format, let alone an entire album. I still buy CDs when I can, although this is becoming more difficult given the number of releases are going down the digital only route. are releasing their album on mp3, CD and vinyl. Yet they will likely be the band that finally gets me to buy mp3s.

The main problem I have with mp3s is the perception of value. I find it very difficult to reconcile the idea that a 5MB computer file can be worth the best part of £1, or whatever it is iTunes and their ilk are charging these days. I know that logically it’s flawed, given I’d pay £10 for a ten track CD, but the lack of physical product in my hands makes a difference. So if I’m going to purchase mp3s, it’s going to be because I think they are good value. Amazon’s recent £3 for an album strategy has been a step in the right direction. Fanfarlo are going even further, releasing their entire debut album Reservoir for the tiny sum of $1.

Musically, the lazy comparison would be to point out that the band the closest thing the UK has to an Arcade Fire. These are bold, beautifully arranged songs that soar, swirl and all of that other fancy stuff. It’s a joyous, rousing affair that doesn’t really sound like anything else London is putting out at the moment.

The catch is that the $1 price only lasts until July 4, then it returns to “normal” levels. Which is fine. I doubt you can make much money selling your album for so little forever.

Reservoir is available now for download directly from their website.