Fang

During more than six-year history Fang have released two albums and an EP, two videos and played numerous shows around New Zealand. Over the years Fang been more interested in working hard at producing consistent, quality, left-of-mainstream indie sounds – rather than in the hype associated with a short-lived, high-charting, music career.

Fang were conceived back in 1998 during one of those drunken APRA awards ceremonies. Ben Howe met Andrea Holmes and suggested they get together with his flatmate Sonya Waters. All three already had plenty of musical experience… Sonya in The Insigators and other bands overseas, Ben in Superette and Andrea in Alfalfameo. Andrea used some lipstick to write her name on a paper napkin and soon the new band was in action.

The first EP ‘Employee of the Month’ in 1999 and the first album ‘The Origin of Species’ in 2000 contained the tracks ‘Employee of the Month’ (bFM Top Ten #1), ‘Disphoria’ and a number of other b-net favourites. It was a lo-fi, hi–energy blast of quick fire songs, described by one reviewer as about “technology, cool people and getting back to nature…tougues firmly planted in cheek”.

Other reviews were positive echoing the sentiment that Fang were a “promising outfit”.

During 2001-2002 Fang set to work on their second album called ‘Somewhere Out There’. They also recruited guitarist Francis Hunt (The Stereo Bus, Sleepers Union and other bands), who was eventually replaced by Steve Reay (The Subliminals), who played the guitar on ‘Somewhere Out There’.

The album was released at the end of 2002 to excellent reviews. It was described variously as a “departure” and “a daring imaginative and accomplished trip into other musical atmospheres” or “shiny” and “impressive”. In the year following the release of the album Fang played numerous gigs around New Zealand with Bob Mould, The Chills, The Phoenix Foundation, Pine, SJD, the World Series and numerous other shows.

Fang also contributed a number of tracks to the Arch Hill compilation CD ‘The Hill is Alive’.

During mid 2003 Fang recruited three new members to the band; Brignal Woods (replacing Andrea Holmes), Tom Clark (also of The Fanatics) and Bronwen Robertson.

Album number three ‘Swim Up Stream’ was completed at Arch Hill studios with Ben Howe of the band at the controls. Fourteen new songs were recorded and the first single and video called ‘Can’t Help It’ enjoyed play on b-net radio and C4. The video was directed by Richard Bell (who has also made videos for U2, Beck and others), and features a secret celebrity disguised as a pink Yeti. The new album has a more propelled live band feel than ‘Somewhere Out There’, however, despite this, many of the dark, sparse and atmospheric elements have been retained.

****Somewhere out there is a deep and mysterious sounding album that utilises a lo-fi approach to achieve heavily layered yet delicate songs…delightfully brooding. Rip It Up.

Bronwen Robertson left Fang in early 2005 and Ben Howe also performs as Ben & Greta.