Faux Real Faux Ever (Crystal Clear)

It's hard to pin down Faux Real. The Franco-American duo, comprised of brothers Elliott and Virgile Arndt, have been steadily broadening the scope of their project. Their high-octane DIY performances, involving matching cut-up boiler suits lined with fringe, barefoot dance routines, and crowd-splitting high- kicks, are taking on a more established and ever more unhinged form — think Iggy Pop meets campy Eurodance boyband. Humble beginnings between Paris and London birthed their first self-titled EP in 2020. Dubbed “Anti-Rock” by early onlookers, Faux Real showcased a keen ear for hooks and anthemic songwriting. The ensuing pandemic had the pair looking inwards and digging their way into a glossier pop sound. Recorded between Paris, Provence, London, New York, and Los Angeles, Faux Ever is the boiling down of countless demos, and honors Faux Real’s love of puns. Opening track and initial single “Faux Maux” (a play on the acronym for “fear of missing out” that doubles up as french for “fake aches”) is an ode for the introverts who revel in the comfort of staying in and missing the party. They’re unafraid of injecting silliness with severity: songs like “99 Ghosts” and “Walking Away From My Demons” address psychological turmoil with deadpan humor. The contradictions between order and chaos, between the visceral and the artificial — that’s where Faux Real truly shines.