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(SXSW 2014 flavoured!) Bands to Watch #273: To Be Frank

We continue our SXSW 2014 preview with Martin’s thoughts on a man who reinvented himself, to us music lovers’ delight…

To Be Frank is the pseudonym of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Frank Pescod, who, after a period writing contract music for TV and film, and brands as prestigious as Louis Vuitton, found the desire for the limelight was too strong; To Be Frank was created as a platform to spread his music to a wider audience. Things kicked off with single ‘If You Love Her’, a tender piece of whimsical electronica that showcased Pescod’s delicate, soulful voice and neat way with a minimalist arrangement, but didn’t really go much further. Sophomore release ‘Nothing’ introduced glitchy beats and a more insistent groove, playing on urban r‘n’b stylings but still remaining resolutely downtempo.

Third single ‘Half the Man’ (video at the end of this post), out today, is the sound of Frank really hitting his stride. A more pacey number than previously, with jumpy synth stabs and handclaps keeping things moving, Frank’s dreamy vocal remains the primary attraction, along with a further helping of romantic, almost saccharine, lyrical sentiment. All in all, a tasteful slice of electronic soul. But all this synth-centricity belies a sneaking suspicion that, at heart, Frank is essentially a traditional songwriter, and some of his lesser-known pieces pay testament to his love of simpler instrumentation. ‘Big Frank’, in particular, is a delicate confection of distant acoustic piano and sombre violin, adorned with the just the lightest touches of ambient electronica; in many ways a more interesting listen than his more mainstream efforts.

It’s clear that this is a project in its early stages; the benefit of which is that every release tells us something new about the artist concerned. And with such an intriguing combination of chartbait and esoterica at his fingertips, To Be Frank really is one to keep an eye on.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4cpWpFltbI[/youtube]