Miracle

Dialing back some of the lush grandeur that characterized his 2019 debut, Englands Francis Lung offers up a compelling sophomore set that falls somewhere between the sensitive early-70s power pop of Emitt Rhodes, the melancholic introspections of Elliott Smith, and Field Musics tight craftsmanship. That may seem like a lot of cult hero names to drop right out of the gate, but while were at it, toss in crafty pop auteurs like Van Duren and Todd Rundgren and youve got a good idea of where Lung sits in his musical tendencies. Recorded between rural Wales and the artists home studio in Manchester, Miracle is reflective and deeply personal in the way classic singer/songwriter albums often are, pairing a strong sense of melodicism with gently experimental flourishes that result in a satisfyingly layered work. Like Rhodes and Rundgren, Lung takes the one-man-band route here, playing and singing every part on the album aside from the string sections which come courtesy of player/arranger Robin Koob. The highlights abound, ranging from punchy guitar and piano pop gems like Bad Hair Day and The Let Down to elegant balladry like the excellent Blondes Have More Fun. Thematically inward-gazing, Lung reflects on matters of loneliness, substance abuse, and mental health, though the music comes across as inspired rather than overtly dour. In the process of writing, arranging, and recording Miracles fine architecture, he seems to have overcome, or at least come to terms with, many of the demons he set out to face. ~ Timothy Monger

元ウー・ライフのメンバー、フランシス・ラングによるソロ2作目。セルフ・プロデュース、さらにストリングス以外の楽器をみずから演奏したという、まさに彼自身の音楽性のみが色濃く出た内容。ギター・ポップ、オルタナ・ロック、カントリーから、フォークまで音楽性の幅は広く、そして何より少し捻くれたメロディーが美しく素晴らしい。ナイーヴな声も魅力的で、ポップ・ジャンキーにはたまらない作品ですね。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二