Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.01.2017, Side 18

WHY FUFANU WON
It’s not about balance, it’s a good song. When “Sports” was
put forth at the first panellist meeting there wasn’t a lot of
discussion around it. It was nominated, and everyone was
encouraged to go home and watch the music video. At our
second meeting, the vote was unanimous. “Sports” has
something the others don’t (besides a guitar).
Per one panellist: “There aren’t many other bands doing
this stuff—it’s really crowd rock, like motoric drum beat
and then after four minutes it goes into this dw-dw-ddjjjuu-
www brilliant abstract sound manipulation on the guitars.
But it’s still catchy.”
The song is a single off of their forthcoming album by
the same name. ‘Sports’ (the album) is set for release on
February 3, 2017 and is co-produced by Nick Zinner. “Nick
Zinner on production!” one panellist notes. “Basically this
album just has to work.”
As the single rock presence on our list, Fufanu came
through to represent. But, like we said, it’s not about bal-
ance, it’s just a damn good song.
Fufanu —
“Sports”
Fighting Spirit
Warming up for
a sporting 2017
Words DAVIÐ ROACH
Fufanu have come a long way since
they dropped the Captain from their
title, and even further since they
started out as a minimal techno out-
fit some eight years ago. In the mean-
time, they’ve emerged as the heir to
the throne of Singapore Sling, not only
with their dark tinted rock but also in
their attitude and aesthetics. In a year
where hip hop, reggae and electronic
dance music dominated the scene, a
single guitar based rock band man-
aged to shine through and claim the
track of the year.
A rock song is a song of the year
because Fufanu don’t settle for a lazy
chord progression and regular verse-
chorus structure. Instead, they walk
the less-travelled paths of guitar
rock history on a sonic journey with
a beginning, middle and an end—al-
though not ever in the expected lin-
ear fashion. It starts with a scrambled
hiccupping bass line and warm synth
pads before the monster of a beat kicks
in—motoric and driving, in the NEU!
Krautrock way. Still not satisfied, they
pile on guitar flourishes and electron-
ics adding layer upon layer of different
elements that bounce off and into each
other in a chaotic harmony.
Through it all, the ice-cold vocals
run laps around the guitars while
jumping over rhythmic hurdles. The
track winds down whilst simultane-
ously upping the electronics and echo
effects, experimenting with texture
and structure alike, before upping
everything again for the final spurt
as they leave their competitors in the
dust.
You can’t talk about this track with-
out mentioning what’s also probably
the best Icelandic music video of the
year. All shot in one glorious take,
it features athletes in an old school
80s-looking sports stadium, running
laps, puting shot, and jumping high.
The camera whirls through the field
without cutting, and all the athletes
look like model extras from a Wes An-
derson movie, complete with Adidas
headbands.
If Fufanu are athletes, their pre-
ferred sport is attitude, and this track
has barrels of it. That their much-an-
ticipated second LP will bear the same
name as this monumental single is
no surprise, and it has domestic and
international press and audiences
psyched. Having already warmed
up the stage for Damon Albarn and
Blur, their album is produced by Nick
Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and
it’s being released by the prestigious
label One Little Indian. It all points to
one thing: Fufanu will be running vic-
tory laps in the year 2017.
18
18 The Reykjavik Grapevine Music Awards 2016