The Decliner

I thought I was going to be original in describing the music put out by Francis and the Lights, but I suppose it’s inescapable to make a connection between Peter Gabriel and Prince (everyone else seems to have).

Still, there’s a little more to the group than that. There is a good deal of fresh arrangement in tracks like Night Watchman, which gives their music longevity. They first appeared on the radar with the release of Striking in 2007, followed up by A Modern Promise last year.

The group has been playing in venues around NYC, and they will likely start to get more exposure as they open for groups like Les Savy Fav and attend SXSW later this month. The recognition would be well deserved, as there is a lot of good material here that deserves a full album.

You can visit the group’s website-slash-blog, where many of their tracks are available to download for free. Also, be sure to check out their scrolling mini-applet which showcases the band’s total budget.. watch the numbers trickle down on such items as cab fare, batteries, and per diem.

It actually made me sort of nervous to watch the scrolling numbers subtract after each paid gig. I think someone in the band recently received a traffic ticket (new east driving school), and I see recurring charges for a “doughnut plant.” Also, $15 ATM fees? ouch. Track below.

Francis and the Lights — The Top