Interstellar - Frankie Rose Album Review

Frankie Rose

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Album Review

If you're old enough to remember bands like Curve, Lush and Mercury Rev, you'll be familiar with the expression, 'dream-pop'. Whilst it might serve to be a lazy '90s term used to describe sad-face indie-music comprised of angelic voices, sparkly guitar riffs and atmospheric melancholia augmented by whooshing synths and the barest amount of self-indulgence, Frankie Rose, now minus her 'Outs' suffix, embraces many of the aforementioned components for this, her sophomore follow-up to her 2010 debut.

"Interstellar" is as apt a title as you could get for the spacey little anthems contained within, all topped off with a sprinkling of cosmic moondust that wouldn't sound amiss on a Saint Etienne single or Rose-Elinor Dougal's last album. Vocally, Rose is similar to Sarah Cracknell and Dougal, but musically pitched in the '90s.

Her advancement from last year's debut full-length foray is noticeable from the moment that the first track, also titled "Interstellar", drifts into earshot with its pretty cinematic melody, before charging onwards like an untethered racehorse. The gorgeous "Pair of Wings" and "The Fall" tread in similar subtle territories, all multi-layered choral vocals and unfussy arrangements, while possible singles "Gospel/Grace" and "Had We Had It" exude a more vibrant personality without wandering off into the field marked 'twee' or 'monotone'.

Where some of the songs fall down is clear - one or two seem unfinished and all too short (the album itself barely scrape 32 minutes in length) and others such as "Night Swim" and "Moon in my Mind" lack a bit of conviction, but overall, Frankie Rose has pieced together an intergalactic and imaginative take on the tried and trusted. A worthy addition to Memphis Industries' already heady roster and a promising live act (on tour during July 2012).

Paul Pledger