Frankie & The Heartstrings are an inspiring independent force.
The band have continually sought to re-invest in the area that spawned them, even opening their very own record shop, cafe and arts space in Sunderland.
New album 'Decency' arrives on July 10th via their own PopSex Ltd imprint, and it's a terrific blast of DIY guitar pop. Short, sharp songs which get straight to the point, it's an enthralling return from a band who seem to play by no rules but their own.
Frankie & The Heartstrings will launch the record with a series of UK shows – but before then, check out singer Frankie Francis giving his thoughts on the week's releases.
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iLL BLU feat James Morrison – 'Lonely People'
'Hey, remember James Morrison, yeah? How can we make him sound current, we've got this balleric house track that needs a vocal, it's gunna be big over the summer, nice one. Let's stick him on it, hopefully it will be a hit in America, God knows we all want that, we'll be able to make some serious dosh if that happens' This is how I reckon this track came about. I did like the video for this most out of all the tracks. I hope the guy whose treatment got commissioned rinsed them for as much money as he could.
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Lucy Rose – 'Like An Arrow'
This is a perfectly pleasant track. I did like the production, even the what sounded like keyboard horns towards the end of the track. I doubt this is the best track on her record but I'm sure it's not the worst either.
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Prides – 'Messiah'
This video is a bit like Father Ted and Top Gear at the same time. The house I grew up in was next to a vicarage, and my footy used to go in the vicar's garden all the time, he hated me and once used the word 'CODSWALLOP' in a rant at me, the first and only time I've heard that word used.
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Years & Years – 'Shine'
This is 2015. Does this band actually have any personality at all? What's the name of the bass player? They probably don't have one. I'm sure this band will be massive and then in five years time no one will remember who they are. This year's Clean Bandit, NEXT PLEASE.
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DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge – 'You Know You Like It'
This track is called 'You Know You Like It' – like what, exactly? In the video there appears to be a monkey on Tinder. I don't like the song. Can you say that? This is the kind of music that makes me want to scoop out my internal organs and throw them into the manky street outside my house. And there's loads of dog shit in my street at the moment.
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Little Mix – 'Black Magic'
Another obvious attempt to have a hit in America from a pop machine. I'd be happy with a hit in Cumbria. At one point in this video the Little Mix girls throw spells at someone. However, if you reverse the video it looks like the person is having tummy trouble but farting lovely Disney sparkly pump clouds. I expect this will be a huge hit. Another shite feel-good song that will be played 3 times an hour on Radio 1 to gloss over real life and make everyone listening that bit more brain dead.
Thank you, good night!
Frankie x
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Frankie & The Heartstrings will release new album 'Decency' on June 10th. Catch the band at the following shows:
July
10 Newcastle Cluny
11 Sunderland Pop Recs Ltd
12 London Oslo