Neal Francis sophomore album In Plain Sight offers up a body of work both enchanting and painfully self-aware, recorded entirely on tape with his bandmates. Mixed by Grammy Award-winner Dave Fridmann (Spoon, Tame Impala, Flaming Lips), the album spotlights Franciss refined yet free-spirited performance on piano, an instrument he took up at the age of four. The album came to life over the course of a tumultuous year spent living in a possibly haunted church in Chicago. The result: a portrait of profound upheaval and weary resilience, presented in a kaleidoscopic sound thats endlessly absorbing. In Plain Sight ultimately reveals the possibility of redemption and transformation even as your world falls apart.
When I started the process of writing these songs, I was so emotionally out-of-sorts and really kind of hopeless that Id be able to come up with anything, says Francis. But then I sat down and started working, and embraced whatever inspiration came my way. Sometimes it felt like beating my head against a wall, but I tried to trust that it would lead somewhere. The whole thing was like a weird dreamthis very strange time of terrible, wonderful isolation.
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Neal Francis sophomore album In Plain Sight offers up a body of work both enchanting and painfully self-aware, recorded entirely on tape with his bandmates. Mixed by Grammy Award-winner Dave Fridmann (Spoon, Tame Impala, Flaming Lips), the album spotlights Franciss refined yet free-spirited performance on piano, an instrument he took up at the age of four. The album came to life over the course of a tumultuous year spent living in a possibly haunted church in Chicago. The result: a portrait of profound upheaval and weary resilience, presented in a kaleidoscopic sound thats endlessly absorbing. In Plain Sight ultimately reveals the possibility of redemption and transformation even as your world falls apart.
When I started the process of writing these songs, I was so emotionally out-of-sorts and really kind of hopeless that Id be able to come up with anything, says Francis. But then I sat down and started working, and embraced whatever inspiration came my way. Sometimes it felt like beating my head against a wall, but I tried to trust that it would lead somewhere. The whole thing was like a weird dreamthis very strange time of terrible, wonderful isolation.
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Great music and lyrics! Thanks to a good friend of mine who suggested me his music! I am grateful! I wish he will come in Montreal one day!
Dean F Mitchell
November 15, 2021
I am new to Neal's music I might have even found out about him from a Dualtone email but I have quickly become I big fan. I enjoy every track on the album there are no throw away songs. He uses a lot of analog synths on the tracks which give it a retro feel but it is totally original. Some songs feel a little Elton John piano some songs feel a little Pink Floyd synth but not rip offs. I am also a big fan of lyrics and his lyrics have meaning. I a lot of albums now days have the best songs first and then go downhill from there but every song is enjoyable and my favorite is the last song Say Your Prayers. Sorry I can't give you a bunch of song critic language and I am just someone that stumble onto him and got hooked. I have played it at least once a day since it came out and I never do that with anyone's music. I like groups like Cowboy Junkies and a lot of Folk Rock stuff and my wife is straight Country lover and we both enjoyed the album. If the record label talks to Neal please ask him to play Greenfield Lake in Wilmington, NC we would love to see him. I was reading that this is his second album and the music is so good it sounds like a musician that is on his tenth album. Anyway I hope this helps someone. If you love lyrics and a rocking piano and just a great music then give him try.