Fagan and The People

I always thought Andrew Fagan was one of the great singer/songwriters in New Zealand music – a sometimes mesmerising frontperson too; always intriguing – and he had this poetic sensibility as well as the more obviously affected rambling-shaman vibe. I loved The Mockers. And I loved his first solo album – even hunted out his book of poems.

Then he reinvented himself as a broadcaster. I always hoped for more music.

Well, with the news that he’s touring the country offering up his back-catalogue and new songs comes this brand new EP.

To be fair the Fagan & The People EP is more of a “single” – given the standout title track Ancestor is repeated – and in-between we have just three song-slivers. Still, both Stalling and Davilon manage to say more in their short running time than many other songs manage. Mosquito is just a short burst of noise, not even a song.

But that title song – the main sell here – is majestic. It feels like one of the very best songs Fagan has ever offered.

Well, I’m hoping for great things from the shows – and between them and this EP I’m also hoping for another full album. You get the feeling he has it in him. Fingers crossed.