The clue is right there in the title: are these two Franco-American brothers from LA, whose Gallic pop suggests Phoenix by way of Jedward, indeed faux real? Like rave-pop duo Confidence Man and even Charli XCX, the duo toy with satire and surrealism, amping up the theatrics until the question of whether or not they’re played for pastiche barely matters. Faux Real’s live performances involve the kind of crop-topped boyband choreography not seen since the 90s, along with stunts such as flutes being pulled out of trouser legs and a knowing helping of homoeroticism. Unsurprisingly, they tend to steal the show at any festival they play.
This being arch art-pop of the highest order, it’s tricky to deduce many definitive details about Faux Real’s origin story. Musician siblings Virgile and Elliott Arndt have played in various bands over the years, but started their own project in 2018, having said “the secrecy of it was accidental”. In interviews they are pleasingly gnomic, espousing lines such as “we are the Willy Wonkas of wonky bops” as if they’ve jumped out of the set of Nicolas Roeg’s Performance.
Speaking of those wonky bops, after a six-year slow-build they’re about to release their self-produced debut album, Faux Ever. It’s a high-camp, whimsical collage of Euro dance, perky Joe Jackson-era synthpop, Sparks-sized harmonies and melodrama, plus post-punk, electro, glam rock and more. Concerned you’ll lose track of the irony? As they put it: “There is no place for fear when you are dancing frantically.”
Faux Ever is out on City Slang. The band tour the UK from 20 October to 7 November
