Frances – Things I Never Said

Hailing from Berkshire, singer-songwriter Frances’s first album serves as an interesting introduction to an artist who has got heaps of potential. Rather unfortunately, shades of Adele, Ellie Goulding and Taylor Swift can be heard throughout the track list, and while this further elucidates her credentials, it also fails to make Things I Never Said stand out in any meaningful way. Granted, most of the numbers on the record descend from a traditionalism in pop songwriting that eschews the heavy production and synth riffs of contemporary pop. But, while these tunes serve as an old-school differential, that doesn’t do much in the way of making Frances look or sound like the next big singer-songwriter.    

Frances has a clear propensity for mainstream balladry. Her voice really shines when a track is stripped back, and this is demonstrated in opener Don’t Worry About Me. The first verse is A capella and it’s the best moment on the album. Considering the success of her singing in this style, it’s surprising that it doesn’t appear on Things I Never Said again. She has a great voice, and creates a raw, intimate atmosphere and emotion when songs feature her and a piano. With No Matter and Say It Again, the artist strays into contemporary pop, and while it works and the numbers are catchy, what makes Frances interesting and different, where her real potential lies, is when she can show off her soulful voice. In Let It Out and Grow we hear a satisfying mixture of introspective balladry and catchy pop that transcend the other tracks on the record.  

There’s no doubt that fans of Frances and mainstream ballads will appreciate this album, and it’s no surprise that she was nominated for the 2016 BRITs choice award, and the BBC sound of 2016 award. She’s a young singer-songwriter with the potential to grow into a fantastic artist. Unfortunately, Things I Never Said feels like the precursor to her evolution into the artist she could be.

Jivan Ward

Things I Never Said is released on 17^th March 2017, for more information or to order the album visit here.

Watch the video for Grow here: