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Review
Prior to Interstellar, her second album, Frankie Rose had toiled in a niche of modern indie-rock which was starting to appear saturated. Moreover, part of the blame for the proliferation of the style in question – sweet’n’sour confections of girl-group harmony-pop and Jesus and Mary Chain-style guitar feedback – could be laid at her door. Based in Brooklyn, she played drums in the initial line-up of Vivian Girls, whose first few records were justified critical smashes, and has also served as sticksperson for the not dissimilar Dum Dum Girls and Crystal Stilts. Even when she graduated to vocalist in her new band, Frankie Rose and the Outs, there was a profound familiarity to the doe-eyed fuzz of their self-titled 2010 album.
A degree of reinvention, perhaps necessary to avoid an impasse, finds Rose diving into the abyss of 1980s chart pop. Gated drums, multi-tracked vocals, innocently fresh sequencers – with the help of producer Le Chev (normally a remixer for bands like Passion Pit), these are the surface motifs of Interstellar. Her songwriting is not greatly altered: tunes most often travel at an energetic tempo, with melodies shining through the thickly applied reverb and helping the likes of Know Me to soar. The presentation, however, recalls the Cocteau Twins during the album’s most abstract moments – final two songs Moon in My Mind and The Fall – and, for the more objectively ‘pop’ turns, The Primitives or even Garbage minus the hard rock parts.
Coincidentally or otherwise, Frankie Rose’s sonic evolution has much in common with the Dum Dum Girls, who were significantly more polished than previously on last year’s Only in Dreams full-length. Rose has greater strength and versatility as a composer, though. Placed next to each other in the running order, the Factory Records-like synthesised indie of Daylight Sky and Pair of Wings’ Kate Bush bombast sound like odd bedfellows on paper, but are linked by way of their creator’s arresting (if heavily treated) vocals and a general lofty ambition. As much as Interstellar is a success, though, Rose might have to switch up styles again next time or risk slipping into shtick.
--Noel Gardner
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Interstellar has me feeling the way Antony Gonzalez (M83) or Jack Tatum (wild Nothing) did putting my prejudice against retro sounding music in a headlock, whilst delighting me with effervescent synths, warm, clean guitar tones, delicate drum machines and gossamer bass lines. Frankie's music sounds great inspite of the fact that it's heavily influenced by 80's synth/dream pop.
The Title track has been compared to The Cure's Plainsong with the synth explosions being the obvious point of reference but i think it's more playful and less overtly epic sounding, pulling you in opposed to flooring you. Know Me can't help be compared to the cocteau twins and the Sundays with the tender vocals, soothing guitar and light synths but it neatly sits along side those bands by pulling all these elements together seamlessly. Night Swim and Daylight Sky's enticingly New Orderesque bass and synths also sound great with Frankie's dreamy voice other the top of them. And there are even moments where this album sucessfully leaves 80's town, take the satie like piano in Apple's For The Sun, or the amiina like ambience to the opening of air Of Wings.
For those already familiar wih frankie Rose's former endeavours this album may sound a little too smooth, considering the vivian Girls or the crytsal Stilts would seldomly be described as pretty, tender or inviting. But even they'd be hard pressed to deny that Frankie's transition to a more accessible sound, is a convincing one and if she has disappointed the riot grrrls and the indie punks she should rest assured that a whole new demographic of listeners is sure to take her to their hearts.
The Title track has been compared to The Cure's Plainsong with the synth explosions being the obvious point of reference but i think it's more playful and less overtly epic sounding, pulling you in opposed to flooring you. Know Me can't help be compared to the cocteau twins and the Sundays with the tender vocals, soothing guitar and light synths but it neatly sits along side those bands by pulling all these elements together seamlessly. Night Swim and Daylight Sky's enticingly New Orderesque bass and synths also sound great with Frankie's dreamy voice other the top of them. And there are even moments where this album sucessfully leaves 80's town, take the satie like piano in Apple's For The Sun, or the amiina like ambience to the opening of air Of Wings.
For those already familiar wih frankie Rose's former endeavours this album may sound a little too smooth, considering the vivian Girls or the crytsal Stilts would seldomly be described as pretty, tender or inviting. But even they'd be hard pressed to deny that Frankie's transition to a more accessible sound, is a convincing one and if she has disappointed the riot grrrls and the indie punks she should rest assured that a whole new demographic of listeners is sure to take her to their hearts.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of my favourite new albums at the moment.
I got Frankie Rose's previous album (Frankie Rose and the Outs) a few months back after it was recommended by Amazon, and thought it was pretty good. But this solo album represents a step up in my opinion.
Frankie Rose was a side-kick in various New York rock bands (Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls). These groups' garage rock is a bit noisey and monotonous for my taste, so I was a bit hesitant before buying the previous album by Frankie Rose and the Outs.
But I found that it was actually rather soothing and melodious. Frankie Rose's music has a haunting, psychedelic quality which puts it a cut above the punkish sound of her previous bands.
Basically her latest album develops this direction even further. Frankie has ditched the grungey guitars for sparkling synthesizers, producing a warmer and more mature sound that places her even more firmly in the category of "dream pop".
But she has fortunately not gone the whole hog towards commercial pop. On the contrary, her music is wonderfully edgy and mysterious. I love it.
I got Frankie Rose's previous album (Frankie Rose and the Outs) a few months back after it was recommended by Amazon, and thought it was pretty good. But this solo album represents a step up in my opinion.
Frankie Rose was a side-kick in various New York rock bands (Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls). These groups' garage rock is a bit noisey and monotonous for my taste, so I was a bit hesitant before buying the previous album by Frankie Rose and the Outs.
But I found that it was actually rather soothing and melodious. Frankie Rose's music has a haunting, psychedelic quality which puts it a cut above the punkish sound of her previous bands.
Basically her latest album develops this direction even further. Frankie has ditched the grungey guitars for sparkling synthesizers, producing a warmer and more mature sound that places her even more firmly in the category of "dream pop".
But she has fortunately not gone the whole hog towards commercial pop. On the contrary, her music is wonderfully edgy and mysterious. I love it.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At just 32:34 long, little is what it truly is, but masterpiece is the more important word, here and has you wanting more!
Whilst listening to this album, I was reminded of the guitar work of the Stone Roses, mixed with the sund of the Cranberries, a hint of the Yardbirds, a touch of Chris Isaak and, on some tracks, a New Age sound of ... well, I can only describe it as Regina Spektor in an echo chamber or with the big sound production of Phil Spector. Now, my music taste is wide and varied, but I only know what I know; and more esteemed reviewers with differing ears for music will be reminded of other people and bands - some have suggested the Zombies, the Cure (both with a female singer, of course) and Debbie Harry. That's fine by me.
I do not want readers of this review to think that Frankie Rose has nothing original to bring to the party. Although there are a lot of reminders here of others, I think this is a marvellous record, full of all the goodness which came out of the music of the 60's, 70's and 80's, but brought up to date. As a devotee of the Friday edition of the Guardian, which reviewed this album last week (16 March 2012), I read the review, did some investigations on Frankie Rose, caught the previews here on Amazon, listened on MySpace and YouTube and, although I still have more to do, thought it worth trying it out. It is money well spent and the reverb sound just fascinates me.
Of course there are only great tracks on the album - nothing less than brilliance here. Apart from the guitar work, which I love, there are beautiful vocal harmonies, swirling musical soundscapes, the sound of swimming organ playing and blockbuster drum beats. Favourite tracks include the title track, which opens the album. It starts out as very new-age before livening up into an uptempo beauty. "Pair of Wings" is a slow, incessant, almost hymnal incantation of wanting to fly and "Apples For The Sun" is an absolute joy, using piano, organ and voice to blend beautifully.
One thing I am disappointed about is that the prevalence for an increasing number of albums in digi-packs to have limited information and packaging is fully in evidence here. I would have liked some lyrics, because it's tough trying to work out the lyric (I know, I should try much harder), a couple of photos of Frankie and, generally, more information about all that went into the making of the album. Having said that, at well under a tenner, I will survive bravely - in fact, I will luxuriate - on the music itself and her adorable voice.
I love this album so much, I am now going to hunt down the music she made with her other bands - The Outs, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls and the Vivian Girls. Wish this intrepid hunter luck.
Whilst listening to this album, I was reminded of the guitar work of the Stone Roses, mixed with the sund of the Cranberries, a hint of the Yardbirds, a touch of Chris Isaak and, on some tracks, a New Age sound of ... well, I can only describe it as Regina Spektor in an echo chamber or with the big sound production of Phil Spector. Now, my music taste is wide and varied, but I only know what I know; and more esteemed reviewers with differing ears for music will be reminded of other people and bands - some have suggested the Zombies, the Cure (both with a female singer, of course) and Debbie Harry. That's fine by me.
I do not want readers of this review to think that Frankie Rose has nothing original to bring to the party. Although there are a lot of reminders here of others, I think this is a marvellous record, full of all the goodness which came out of the music of the 60's, 70's and 80's, but brought up to date. As a devotee of the Friday edition of the Guardian, which reviewed this album last week (16 March 2012), I read the review, did some investigations on Frankie Rose, caught the previews here on Amazon, listened on MySpace and YouTube and, although I still have more to do, thought it worth trying it out. It is money well spent and the reverb sound just fascinates me.
Of course there are only great tracks on the album - nothing less than brilliance here. Apart from the guitar work, which I love, there are beautiful vocal harmonies, swirling musical soundscapes, the sound of swimming organ playing and blockbuster drum beats. Favourite tracks include the title track, which opens the album. It starts out as very new-age before livening up into an uptempo beauty. "Pair of Wings" is a slow, incessant, almost hymnal incantation of wanting to fly and "Apples For The Sun" is an absolute joy, using piano, organ and voice to blend beautifully.
One thing I am disappointed about is that the prevalence for an increasing number of albums in digi-packs to have limited information and packaging is fully in evidence here. I would have liked some lyrics, because it's tough trying to work out the lyric (I know, I should try much harder), a couple of photos of Frankie and, generally, more information about all that went into the making of the album. Having said that, at well under a tenner, I will survive bravely - in fact, I will luxuriate - on the music itself and her adorable voice.
I love this album so much, I am now going to hunt down the music she made with her other bands - The Outs, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls and the Vivian Girls. Wish this intrepid hunter luck.
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