Preview: Fanfarlo and Freelance Whales at the Independent

The Independent is gearing up to play host to a pair of quirky indie combos this Wednesday, as London’s Fanfarlo and New York City’s Freelance Whales make East Austin the next stop on their current US tour. Fanfarlo is supporting their first album Reservoir, a tight collection of songs even though the band occasionally can’t help but wear their influences (think Beirut, The National, Clap Your Hands, et al) on their sleeves. Single “Harold T. Wilkins” is one of the album’s stronger moments: it’s a propulsive tune that will definitely appeal to fans of the aforementioned major-indie bands.

Freelance Whales—who, despite what you may have heard hail from Queens, not Brooklyn—play a less-anthemic brand of indie pop; one that incorporates laptops and synths, is decidedly precious, and indebted equally to The Postal Service and the resurgence in popularity of the banjo. They’ve also got a debut record to push, this year’s Weathervanes, which is sure to please those who like a healthy dollop of sweetness in their pop music.

Fanfarlo [Official] [MySpace]
Freelance Whales [MySpace] [RCRDLBL]