Fendahlene: Do You Remember Anything?
Fendahlene bangs out a wake-up call for troubling times
by Jack Rush
Do You Remember Anything? is the latest single from expat-Australian indie rock band Fendahlene, featuring Vienna’s psychedelic rockers Portobello Express. Recorded at Urchin Studios in London with acclaimed producer Dan Cox (Laura Marling, Florence and the Machine, Thurston Moore) and mastered by Fabian Tormin at Plaetin Mastering in Hamburg, the track marks an exciting evolution for the band.
Written as a bold, in-your-face wake-up call, Do You Remember Anything? challenges those seduced by the hollow rhetoric of populists and grifters, as well as those too entrenched in ideology to see the chaos unfolding around them. It’s also a rallying cry for those with influence to stand their ground and resist the pressure to cave under the weight of bullying and bluster. Yet, the song’s lyrics and narrative are crafted with enough ambiguity that some listeners have interpreted it as a tale of personal conflict—particularly between a couple—highlighting the striking parallels between human relationships and global unrest.
Musically, the track signals a shift in Fendahlene’s sound, blending elements of new wave, post-punk, indie, and alt-rock. Anchored by a strong groove, the verses are raw and stripped back, featuring funky guitars and an unrelenting bassline that expands into the choruses. Portobello Express’ lead vocalist, Betty, lends an eerie, David Lynch-esque backing vocal throughout, while a key change after the first middle eight paves the way for an electrifying entrance by Portobello’s lead guitarist, Pat, with explosive riffs and a transition to lush, multi-layered synths. Depending on where you find yourself in the track, you might catch echoes of Bowie (or Arcade Fire’s Reflektor), Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Talking Heads, Blue Öyster Cult, and Gang of Four.
Fendahlene—comprising Paul Whiteley (guitar, lead vocals) and Ashley Hurst (bass, backing vocals)—draw from a broad range of influences spanning 60s rock and soul to punk, garage, and modern indie. After a decade of regular gigs on the Sydney live music circuit, they relocated to the UK. Following a lengthy hiatus, they returned with the critically praised album High and Low and Back Again in 2020, released during the lockdowns and marking their first venture into vinyl. They followed up in 2021 with the EP When the Hit Began, featuring unreleased tracks, before resuming recording in 2023 to tackle their extensive backlog of songs written during the pandemic. In Australia, they are best known for Glebe Point Road, which received significant commercial radio airplay, and for having two tracks featured in a national advertising campaign for Sharp stereos.
Portobello Express is a Vienna-based psychedelic heavy blues rock band that channels the raw energy and melodic intensity of late 60s and early 70s rock, embracing the era’s bold spirit of defying conventions and pushing sonic boundaries.
Have a listen and connect with Fendahlene:
