Fanfarlo

Rooms Filled with Light Atlantic**

Farfarlo's first album set them up for everything except major- league success. The London- based band, led by Sweden's Simon Balthazar, bore the hallmarks of an indie-pop group on the verge of something great – but it never happened. Like its predecessor, Rooms Filled With Lightevokes echoes of the likes of Arcade Fire, particularly on Feathers and the string arrangements of the atmospheric Bones. Elsewhere, amid the solid melodies and piano riffs of Deconstructionand Tightrope, there are traces of the playful, slapdash bounce of much- missed Scottish troupe Dogs Die in Hot Cars. The problem with Fanfarlo is a lack of direction. Most of their songs seem to fizzle out feebly, lacking the ingredient needed to make a memorable tune instead of a collection of passably pleasant ones. fanfarlo.com

Download tracks: Tightrope, Lenslife