Biography
Whether they're sculpting immersive dreamscapes through shoegaze revival or weaving intricate electronic textures, the Fauns demonstrate a singular command of atmospheric depth. Their 2009 self-titled debut showcased crushing, swooning guitars enveloping Alison Garner's gauzy vocals, signaling deep reverence for My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, yet the electronics and sampling woven through 2013's Lights signaled broader ambitions beyond nostalgic revival. Those ambitions crystallized on 2024's How Lost, where dream pop merged with industrial and disco elements to produce a richly cinematic whole.
Originating in mid-2000s Bristol as the vision of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Michael Savage, the project drew from late-1980s and early-1990s shoegaze, childhood film scores, and insistent pop melodies. Drummer Tom Adams joined early, leading to sessions at Portishead's Geoff Barrow studio. The lineup later expanded to include keyboardist Matthew O'Connor, guitarists Lee Woods and Elliot Guise, and classically trained vocalist Alison Garner, whose delicate, breathy delivery suited the ethereal arrangements. After a year and a half of bedroom-studio work, the debut appeared in August 2009 on Savage's Laser Ghost imprint. Word-of-mouth sales exceeded 5,000 copies while earning acclaim for its assured shoegaze reinvention. 6Music's Steve Lamacq became an early champion on air, and composer Clint Mansell delivered a remix of "Fragile" for a limited-edition 2013 Record Store Day single.
Following their Invada signing, the Fauns recorded their sophomore album with producers Jim Barr and Tim Allen. Lights emerged in December 2013 as a more collective effort foregrounding electronic and atmospheric dimensions. Early 2014 support dates included shows alongside Alcest, and Invada reissued the debut later that year. A 2015 remix of the Lights track "4am" surfaced on Powerglove's EP II, after which the band fell silent for the remainder of the decade. When new material began taking shape in 2017, the core comprised Savage, Garner, and drummer Guy Rhys Davies. Guitarist Will Slater, a composer known for his contributions to the David Attenborough series Dynasties, joined in 2019, shifting focus toward prominent dance beats and synths. The band played their first concert in eight years in late 2023 and released the singles "Mixtape Days" and "How Lost," the latter serving as the title track for their third album. Issued by Invada in January 2024, How Lost layered disco, industrial, and ambient textures onto foundations of moody shoegaze and post-rock.
Originating in mid-2000s Bristol as the vision of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Michael Savage, the project drew from late-1980s and early-1990s shoegaze, childhood film scores, and insistent pop melodies. Drummer Tom Adams joined early, leading to sessions at Portishead's Geoff Barrow studio. The lineup later expanded to include keyboardist Matthew O'Connor, guitarists Lee Woods and Elliot Guise, and classically trained vocalist Alison Garner, whose delicate, breathy delivery suited the ethereal arrangements. After a year and a half of bedroom-studio work, the debut appeared in August 2009 on Savage's Laser Ghost imprint. Word-of-mouth sales exceeded 5,000 copies while earning acclaim for its assured shoegaze reinvention. 6Music's Steve Lamacq became an early champion on air, and composer Clint Mansell delivered a remix of "Fragile" for a limited-edition 2013 Record Store Day single.
Following their Invada signing, the Fauns recorded their sophomore album with producers Jim Barr and Tim Allen. Lights emerged in December 2013 as a more collective effort foregrounding electronic and atmospheric dimensions. Early 2014 support dates included shows alongside Alcest, and Invada reissued the debut later that year. A 2015 remix of the Lights track "4am" surfaced on Powerglove's EP II, after which the band fell silent for the remainder of the decade. When new material began taking shape in 2017, the core comprised Savage, Garner, and drummer Guy Rhys Davies. Guitarist Will Slater, a composer known for his contributions to the David Attenborough series Dynasties, joined in 2019, shifting focus toward prominent dance beats and synths. The band played their first concert in eight years in late 2023 and released the singles "Mixtape Days" and "How Lost," the latter serving as the title track for their third album. Issued by Invada in January 2024, How Lost layered disco, industrial, and ambient textures onto foundations of moody shoegaze and post-rock.
Albums
Singles
