The latest record from electro-funk outfit Franc Moody provides a much needed ray of sunshine in 2020.
The lead-up to Franc Moody’s second album Dream in Colour was full of anticipation. They inject a unique sound into their music, giving every track a distinct identity. This feels slightly paradoxical: each track is incredibly distinct in terms of how it sounds, and yet each retains the sound which undisputably makes it Franc Moody’s.
Opening the album is Dream in Colour – the unique bass and synth sounds lead this first track and set the record up to be something exciting. Franc Moody combine funk from the late 70s and 80s and merge them with a modern electronic sound. The melody is repetitive, but what I think is important to note with Franc Moody is that their music is led by rhythm, with the sole purpose of getting people moving. Therefore, even though there isn’t much melodic variation within songs and the lyrics themselves aren’t particularly complex, they fit perfectly alongside the other instruments.
Night Flight comes halfway through the album and musically leads into Night Flight Reprise, despite the fact that the songs aren’t consecutive. The Reprise is a beautiful instrumental track with a clarinet leading the slow, thoughtful melody which implies night-time, and synth sounds which almost replicate the engine of a plane. It is clear that Franc Moody put an incredible amount of thought and passion into their music, and this is depicted in the clever connections between the tracks themselves and the track titles.
'The melody is repetitive, but what I think is important to note with Franc Moody is that their music is led by rhythm, with the sole purpose of getting people moving'.
She’s Too Good for Me has made its way into my all-time favourite songs. It combines simple lyrics with a catchy melody and an unforgettable bassline. One thing to note about Franc Moody is that they sound exactly the same live as they do recorded – when I saw them at The Bodega in Nottingham, this song was incredible, and the energy that is put into the production is replicated on stage. She’s Too Good for Me is one of those songs that will always compel me to turn up the volume on my speaker and dance; there’s something about the gentle keys at the beginning before it leads into the main bassline and chorus melody that I constantly find exciting to listen to.
Grin and Bear It is different from Franc Moody’s other songs as the lyrics describe not ‘grinning and bearing it’, but how it’s okay to open up about your mental health – the message is to talk to your friends and family and not suffer in silence. This is made clear through lyrics such as ‘brother, tell me what’s going on in your head’, ‘brother, tell me what’s been eating you up’, and ‘don’t grin and bear it, try to share it’. I personally find this a very comforting song, reminding the listener that you don’t have to take your troubles on alone. It’s quite a clever thing to implement such an important message into your music through catchy melodies and a groovy bassline, as people want to re-listen, and thus hear the lyrics again.
'It is clear that Franc Moody put an incredible amount of thought and passion into their music, and this is depicted in the clever connections between the tracks themselves and the track titles'.
This is a Mood and A Little Something for the Weekend are the penultimate and final tracks on the album. They immaculately bring the album to a close and reflect on some of the aspects of other tracks. For example, This is a Mood has the lyrics ‘it’s been a while since you smiled’, incorporating some ideas from Grin and Bear It. A Little Something for the Weekend is an instrumental track with some simple vocals dotted throughout, and the electronic – almost techno – sound exhibited in this track reiterates the feel-good atmosphere which is created at the start of the album.
It is no doubt that Franc Moody’s album is exactly what we needed at the start of this decade. With their two most popular tracks, Dopamine and Dance Moves, exceeding 20 million streams between them, it is clear that Franc Moody are making their way into the lives of many, acting as a soundtrack for their happy memories. Each track is polished and has its unique own identity, establishing them as a band which people will be listening to in decades to come, proving that funk is timeless and will always make people feel good.
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