Album Review

Grand Duchy – Lovesick EP

• 2nd Aug 2009

Black Francis’ non-Pixies efforts have met with mixed results in the past, and this husband-and-wife project is unlikely to overshadow the frontman’s day job, though it’s a nice enough distraction.

Francis lets spouse Violet Clark take lead vocals and she holds her own over his signature guitar work on this laid-back effort; the vocals are superb throughout, not least on the understated chorus and cool synth lines abound, giving the track a certain accessible appeal. The B-side recalls much more Francis’ Pixies work, in fact it could almost be a rejected track from Doolittle, but it’s a sweetly slight song and the wordless vocal harmonies make for a pleasant listen.