Fanfarlo has three key influences, in my opinion. First, the blaring trumpet and deep lead vocals on tracks like “The Walls Are Coming Down” reminisce of early Beirut (circa The Gulag Orkestar). Then, there’s the anthemic qualities in songs like “Luna”, which conjure artists such as Arcade Fire. And, finally, the theatrics of greats like The Decemberists. Still, I feel safe saying that the combination of influences is just right – it makes their music their own, and it makes an album like Reservoir really, really good.

So, the news is that Fanfarlo is headed this way and will play several shows along the West Coast next month. You can see those dates, preceded by some in the CT timezone, below the track:

Fanfarlo: Luna [mp3]

11/13: Moe’s in Denver, CO
11/14: State Room in Salt Lake City, UT
11/16: Knitting Factory in Boise, ID
11/17: Crocodile Cafe in Seattle, WA
11/18: Media Club in Vancouver, BC
11/19: Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR
11/20: Great Basin Brewing Company in Sparks, NV
11/22: Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, CA
11/23: Echo in Los Angeles, CA
11/24: Casbah in San Diego, CA
11/27: Soho Restaurant & Music Club in Santa Barbara, CA

With the orchestrated hints of Balkan-influence Beirut, and a vocal tenor to match, Fanfarlo takes their influence in a less dramatic direction, at least as it relates to songwriting. “The Walls Are Coming Down” certainly has theatrics, but they’re less, well, flamboyant. It’s more open, and less domineering too; the opposite of which truly allows Beirut to stand out, but it also sets Fanfarlo in an altogether different direction.

I may be going overboard with the similarity here, and Fanfarlo deserves more than a mere comparison. “The Walls Are Coming Down” truly is a brilliant song, and my favorite of the three I’ve heard by the band thus far. The bridge breakdown in the middle is a little pop jam that builds perfectly as the Houdini-like character nears his escape. “The Walls Are Coming Down” (and “Luna”, included below in mp3 format) is off Fanfarlo’s new LP, Reservoir, out now on Canvasback Music.

Fanfarlo: Luna [mp3]