Grand Duchy Has Spoken
For those going through a withdrawal of some Pixies magic, Black Francis (along with his wife, Violet Clark) is back with Grand Duchy and their 2nd album, Let the People Speak, which dropped earlier this month. After forming in 2008 and releasing Petits Fours in 2009, this American-meets-alternative-electronic-art rock has been able to creatively craft a sound that is nothing short of pure musical satisfaction.
With 15 songs rounding out Let the People Speak, fans aren’t shorted when it comes to musical mastery. “Geode” is five minutes of synchronized beats and light synth electro-pop grooves that easily transitions into “Shady”- a harder, slightly dark folk rock which only caps out at three minutes. “Silver Boys,” is immediately contagious; that is, stylistically free in form and arrangement despite the heavy synths and layered in vocals provoking a darker undertone.
Let the People Speak has transcended the beginnings of Petits Fours and Grand Duchy’s been able to successfully develop an album that is rich in experimentation while pleasantly astonishing to listen to.
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