Maxwell Farrington

Tin Pan Alley- and classic pop-inflected melodies are just one of the idiosyncrasies of Maxwell Farrington's arty, theatrical alternative songs. His 2018 album Demandez l'Impossible consisted of whimsical, video game-like electronic instrumentals, while his 2021 collaboration with <a href="spotify:artist:42KAnjPbTonpVtu2TOsOcF">Le SuperHomard</a> relied on his resonant baritone voice on a set that drew on common influences such as <a href="spotify:artist:4dMtztditoMOlTzkFdqWRk">Sean O'Hagan</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:04tBaW21jyUfeP5iqiKBVq">Scott Walker</a>. That partnership continued with releases including 2024's somewhat lusher Please, Wait…, which was recorded with classical musicians.

Australian musician Maxwell Farrington left his homeland for Europe in 2013 and was based in Toulouse, France, when he released the playful, trumpet-embellished synth song "Homme Terreste" in 2016. After sharing a few more tracks -- both with and without vocals -- Farrington released an album of chiptune-esque instrumental keyboard compositions called Demandez l'Impossible in March 2018. A few months later, his song "Break My Heart" was included on the compilation L'Ambassade l'Aime Pop, Vol. 1.

In 2019, Farrington met Christophe Vaillant, aka <a href="spotify:artist:42KAnjPbTonpVtu2TOsOcF">Le SuperHomard</a>, at Paris' MaMA Festival after Vaillant heard him sing an a cappella version of a <a href="spotify:artist:35y7CZMg7jbG8Q96JY7dyC">Burt Bacharach</a> song for sound check. The two quickly bonded over a shared enthusiasm for artists including <a href="spotify:artist:4dMtztditoMOlTzkFdqWRk">Sean O'Hagan</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:04tBaW21jyUfeP5iqiKBVq">Scott Walker</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2aVHDjRHRM7dcFkGwahXLG">Lee Hazlewood</a>, and Farrington went on to write lyrics for Vaillant, while Vaillant arranged a song for Farrington. Exchanged demos led to a collaborative album. Before its release, Farrington was featured on a track on Chapi Chapo et les jouets électroniques' album Collector. The Farrington and <a href="spotify:artist:42KAnjPbTonpVtu2TOsOcF">Le SuperHomard</a> full-length Once arrived on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Talitres%22">Talitres</a> in April 2021. Their collaboration continued on the EP I Had It All a year later, and in February 2024, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Talitres%22">Talitres</a> released their second full-length, Please, Wait…. It was recorded at French venue L'Autre Canal with opera and conservatory musicians. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi