Black Francis / Frank Black – Svn Fngrs

• 27th Feb 2008

7 tracks recorded by 3 musicians over 6 days all amounts to 1 hell of a flashback, predominantly to the best of Beck and to others like PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth and of course, almost any Pixies related acts (you know who they are) you care to mention.

Opening with ‘The Seus’ a sublime jangled guitar led track that, with its vocal in particularly, resounds any of the more Chicano style tracks from ‘Odelay’. Harmonica moments interrupt the somewhat indulgent plod along pace of a track that brims with vitality and gets us primed and ready for what follows.

A classic Pixies sound is captured on ‘Garbage Heap’. Subtly and effectively supported by the kinda backing vocal that Ms Deal probably knocks out in her sleep, the open composition of the guitar and its accompaniment instantly draw you in and allow you to enjoy Franks slackassedly delivered vocals that would’ve done Weezer proud.

Opening with a more deliberate, actually sung vocal, ‘Half Man’ maintains the finely balanced mix of instrumentation that precedes it, albeit with notably less imagination, throughout a track that holds few surprises in its perhaps appropriate short lived existence.

‘I Sent Away’ is, with a video doing the rounds on the old WWW, gaining recognition as the first single from this EP. And it’s little wonder why. Urgency and purpose propel every pleasingly predictable lick and sharply snarled syllable and, owing for its clean production, could easily be mistaken for an early Beck rock-out. The seemingly directionless harmonica, the manic vocal, crashing drums…ahhh, how they all mount up to the induction of happiness!

The title track follows with a ‘spank my ass and call me Charly’ kind of immediacy. Damn I wish I played Banjo! Effortlessly gaining and losing momentum in all the right places, this track makes you sneakily and somehow unwillingly headbang along to what just might be my favourite track, despite what could be something of a contrived vocal delivery. Sweet!

Less cacophonic ‘The Tale of Lonesome Fetter’ kicks off with what you fear might be an unrelenting predictability with evenly placed percussion and perfectly structured counterparts. But fear not my fellow fans, because for the first time here, the track drops and flops from the laid out path at almost every opportune moment, to have a little fun with the instruments and the construct that dictates their use. What am I rambling on about you ask, well, all I’m saying is that this track feels more natural, less programmed and maybe more instinctual than all that has passed… ‘kay?

Alas the end is nigh with a closing track that you could be forgiven for taking as a ‘Mellow Gold’ outtake. With its accessible and massively enjoyable chorus, perfectly delivered lyrics and kickass musicianship, I’m forced to retract my earlier statement and to declare that ‘When They Came to Murder Me’ is in fact, in an official capacity, my favourite track from a 20m long godsend. All hail Mr. Black (and I’m not talking about that oh so lovable ego-maniacal scamp Jack either!).