Frances comes fresh off the back of a last minute call from her manager on safari in Africa: not a phonecall most of us take and certainly not one that results in us heading off to the Radio One Live Lounge to bang out a Justin Bieber cover due to the absence of The Libertines that day (quelle suprise).
And rather good it is too – in a Carole King via Tori Amos (but not as mad) kind of way.
Demonstrating a mature way of looking at matters of the heart the songs drift around the arches of the venue with the pure pure voice pushing them along.
Very afternoon, mainstage, Glastonbury, but perhaps at this point no the worse for that: though such a cracking set of vocal chords – at times they’d make a fine soul tune – are crying out to be taken in more outre directions down the line.
A self-effacing performer – probably not helped by a compadre mistaking her for a friend’s colleague on the way in – there’s an air of polite talent.
Ethereal and rather beautiful, particularly so given the surroundings.
All in it’s a restrained performance, nevertheless hands are clasped in glee by one rather enraptured devotee.
There’s a future here, a bright one, with more adventurous material; mind, we do get a jog through the aformentioned Bieber effort ‘What Do You Mean?’ which, short of Cradle of Filth cropping up, is probably the least likely song expected in such an artist’s ouevre.
Very middle of the week, but certainly enough raw material and, more to the point, raw ability to make Frances a performer worth keeping an eye on.
Words: Vosne Lepro
