EP Review: Towards The Sun

2024 is set to be another monumental year for Tamaki Makaurau’s Fan Club. Just last year they claimed a multitude of awards, including the top prize at Raise Up’s New Found Sound, and placing first in the Auckland Central Final of the SmokeFree RockQuest. On stages across the motu they’ve performed with the likes of Ekko Park, Double Parked and Coast Arcade, so over the past months in between shows, the quartet have been crafting their very first EP.

And it’s finally here! The six-track Towards The Sun is out 12th July, produced by Andrew Isdale, and boasts brand new songs as well as several of their gig staples.

My band and I had the prestige of sharing the stage with Fan Club, so needless to say, I leapt at the opportunity to check out what they’ve been up to in the studio.

Beach Weather starts the show with uplifting lyrics of young love, over shimmery guitar lines and summer-esque melodies. The song’s carefree atmosphere and lilting vocals makes this a brilliant one to be played loud in the car while nipping down to the surf.

Alt-rock influences of the 2000’s era evident on almost every track, with grungy guitar tones woven into Brit-rock signatures, thanks to six-stringer Caleb Young.

Lead singer Emma Wagner’s vocals stand out the most on Rough, a bittersweet ballad written in a waltzing rhythm. As she describes the experience of coming off second-best in a relationship, her voice soars to a new level in the last third, aching with emotion.

Bass player Tilly Wells and drummer Thomas Christie play off each other well, proving their rhythmic versatility across the various dynamics and moods. From the beautiful, mid-tempo Westbound, to the quirky and bouncy garage rock tune No Caller ID.

Special mention should go to Westbound, as I believe it’s the EP’s strongest track. The vocals are meticulously produced, reverberating beautifully with a touch of heartache in Emma’s voice. The gorgeous instrumentation paired with Emma’s love-struck lyrics really pull at heartstrings. With the addition of a sampled train announcement, some theatre-of-the-mind is invoked, making one conjure scenes of a backstory to the music.

As the EP progresses, the lyrical tones turn noticeably darker, concluding with the resentment-laden DYK. Where the first half of Towards The Sun is light-hearted and lovestruck, the latter is angstier, and guitars are gruntier and melancholic, particularly on the final song.

I found it hard to not compare this EP to some of Fur Patrol’s releases, mostly because of the 2000’s alt-rock influence, but also their diversity in sound. This ranged from bittersweet to attitude-heavy snarls of “Leave me alone, you’re just another clone”, akin to what the great Julia Deans is sometimes known for. If you cock your head to one side, there are moments where some tunes actually do sound kind of like Fur Patrol.

With vocals featured so prominently as it does on the EP, there are times the experience feels like a solo release instead of a band’s combined efforts. Letting the instrumentals occasionally flourish in the aural spotlight would take listeners to a new level, adding intrigue and elevating atmosphere.

That said, the four-piece have displayed their impressive capabilities in the alt-rock genre, and I have no doubt we can expect many great things from them in the near future.

Towards The Sun has been described as highly anticipated, and so it should be. There’s something here for just about everyone, whether you’re after something rowdy, or if you’re just here to chill.