French Horn Rebellion, Brookyln-based purveyors of ‘Next Jack Swing,’ has been making the rounds supporting their first EP of original material since 2010, Foolin’ Around. The EP, an eclectic array of 80’s and modern funk inspired trips through indie pop, showcases influences that range from Genesis and David Bowie to Daft Punk without skipping a single funkadelic beat.
The title track off the EP, “Foolin’ Around,” sees the duo at their most outlandish extreme blending bright flashes of cheery guitar with heavy synth bass and rich horn sections. It’s a track that yearns for big hair and even bigger padding in the shoulders of your favorite sportcoat. In many ways, French Horn Rebellion does a great job of condensing the cityscape of New York into an auditory medium; “Foolin’ Around” sounds like the type of subconscious soundtrack playing in the background every time you visit the big city with wide-eyed wonder. It’s like Peter Gabriel by way of Prince or Huey Lewis having a jam session with Chic: a discotheque aesthetic chopped up with big, 80’s pop-rock. That said, their latest EP will bring comparisons to similar artists on DFA and Stones Throw, particularly Mayer Hawthorne’s side project Tuxedo, but tracks like “Foolin’ Around” show a dynamic balance between personal voice and the inspiration behind it which will give French Horn Rebellion longevity in the road ahead.
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