Francis Bowie – a writer, singer, songwriter, painter, sculptor, designer and gallery owner. He proclaims himself as the founder of the new music genre called Intelligent Pop Music or IPM which is an attempt to put some quality, dignity and honor into pop music.
And he puts his theory on the line with this brand new 4 track EP entitled simply, “Francis Bowie”.
To the uninitiated, the album released on the 16th of March 2012, presents Mr. Bowie’s adaption of glitzy electronic synthesizer-based pop. Produced by Michelle Djarling, Michael Bernhard, Kasper Larsen (Kay & Ndustry) on the Interscore DD label, It is clean, meticulous and elegant as is most of the Northern European productions we have become acqainted with in recent years.
FRANCIS BOWIE in action.
The EP opens with the lyrically honey-sweet love song, “Endlessly”. The track actually features deliciously plucked guitar rhythms, light synthesizers, and an emphatic vocal delivery. There are clever multiple music layers in each section to add depth, including a genial keyboard and glockenspiel-esque sound that adds a delighful touch to the all-round driving, melodic force of the song.
“Wasting My Time” opens with a dark string interlude and features a powerhouse synth bass ‘alla’ Depeche Mode, in conjunction with a billowing keyoard arrangement and a big fat kick-drum beat to match. Francis Bowie transports his crystalized vocal deliveries, effortlessly through the verses, and above some really catchy layered harmonies during the choruses.
“Sunny Day” reintroduces the chunky guitar plucking during the intro, while the song dances to a prominent, rolling drumbeat and exhilarant cascades of synth and string orchestrations.
“Silly and Crazy” manifests a broodier and more profound sounding Bowie, which adds a perfectly dramatic climax to the EP. I personally prefer this ‘slower and grittier’ sounding combination, with the agitated vocal intonations sung by Bowie, to the more upbeat arrangements found on the other tracks.
I’m not sure that is really a new music genre or even if the title IPM is perfectly adapted to it, but certainly the album “Francis Bowie” displays impeccable production and musical arrangements, along with clearcut lead vocals and harmonies.
So if you’re a Depeche Mode die-hard, or even fancy current million-dollar selling artists, like Calvin Harris or Owl City, this album will keep you pointing in the right direction.
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BUY THE ALBUM HERE
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