Song of the Day: Farao - TIAF

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “TIAF” by Farao from her 2015 album, Till It's All Forgotten, on Arts & Crafts.

Farao - TIAF (MP3)

Recent Norwegian star Farao, as some reviews point out somewhat sourly, could have given us something a little easier. Her musical skill is unquestionable, and as the solo female electronic musician is more in demand than ever before, and as she clearly knows her way around a blank canvas, she could have crafted some pop as delicious, familiar, and easily digestible as vanilla ice cream. But she didn't. Instead, her debut album, Till It's All Forgotten, is a clear, vocal dismissal of how most other artists might approach their own debuts.

Today's featured song, the title referencing track, "TIAF", has all the individual components of a radio hit: dancing drums, rich synths, good ol' proper rock guitar, spacious church organ ringing ecclesiastically behind easily quotable vocal layers. But everything is looped and off-timed, wobbling and swerving like a drunken Ratatat. The whole album takes what you might imagine a sweaty record label exec would, between mouthfuls of Tums, call "the hits, baby" and shuffles them, combining our favorite ingredients into something entirely original and unrecognizable.

Farao is currently on a European tour, so good news if you're in Norway, bad news for everyone else. But keep an eye out on her website and Facebook page because a sophomore followup to a debut this unprecedented will be definitely turning heads. Also, check out "Bodies", another single from Till It's All Forgotten, below.