• Band / Artist : Francine
• Genre : Rock
• Sample Track Download : Here Comes
• Buy CD : Q Division
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

Let me get this out of the way first. Not wishing to offend, but the name Francine reminds me more of some distant, elderly aunt than a rock band. There I’ve said it and I can now bury that deep down, where it belongs and get on with the task at hand.

This is another one of those unsolicited albums, that’s a joy to receive. I’ve mentioned before, unsolicited stuff makes me nervous, as there is a certain pressure to like it no matter what. Indie Launchpad is designed to showcase the best in independent music, not to lambast bad music. However none of this is a factor with Francine, as this is a great album.

The album starts off with “Stood” which has a very Morrissey sound to it. It’s also a track that meanders a bit, with no real direction, so maybe not the best of tracks to start off an album. The next track “Zeros and Ones” is where the album really starts to take off, with a relaxed, casual feel to it. “Here Comes” has that musical quality that you often see in films, where the character is in turmoil and you watch as they go from place to place, getting their head together. My favorite track on the album has to be “Storrow Driver” with it’s wonderfully simple and light piano accompaniment.

Musically this is a quite eclectic mix of musical styles. At times the production has very Beatles and Beach Boys feel to it, during their inventive, creative phase that blossomed in the mid to late 60s. There’s also the occasional bluesy hint, an early almost Fleetwood Mac sound, which goes to create a very interesting sounding album.

Conclusion : This is an album that almost seems geared to a more mature audience. Whether this is intentional or not, I don’t know, but it’s a perfect calming album, especially when the world is winding you up.