The ShortListen: Francis and the Lights (no. 313)
New York singer returns with short-but-brilliant track
What’s the story? We've been fans of Francis and the Lights, the vehicle of the amazingly-named Francis Farewell Starlite for many years, with his amazing track I'll Never Forget You - later covered by Birdy - still one of the most beautiful things we've ever heard. He is still yet to release a full album - just a few EPs so far, and none since 2013's Like a Dream - but he popped up recently on Chance the Rapper's new album Coloring Book, singing backing vocals on Summer Friends. Now, he's posted a very short track on his Soundcloud, with a lo-fi piano and vocal opening half, which hints at the gloriousness of I'll Never Forget You, before those warm vocals kick in and a completely different end section comes in to finish things off. It's over in a flash, but it's brilliant, with an amazing lyric of, "Such a strange decision, to fight to the finish, only just to say: 'are we finished?'" Just give us new music, and lots of it, okay Francis?
For fans of: Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush
In three words: Short but sweet
