BASED in London, Frankie Morrow first formed in January 2022 after childhood friends Frankie, James Smith (formerly Be Charlotte) and Duncan Carswell (formerly The Vegan Leather) met on a train home to Glasgow.
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength, crafting a sound that is warming and inviting; soulful and smooth; and perfect for cosy autumn nights. And now, they’ve laid it down on their debut EP ‘Blue Parrot Backpackers Hostel’.
At the centre of it all is lead singer Frankie; her lush vocals are soulfully delivered over gently swinging indie-folk arrangements that sweep you up in their tender Americana hues and enchanting melodies. Measured in their delivery, the songs maintain a kind of effortless cool throughout; however, when they take off, they hit you straight in the heart, and it’s here that the EP truly shines.
Opening with two preview singles, ‘Sunflower’ welcomes us into their sonic world – it’s a warm, close and intimate introduction that encourages us to dive deeper – while ‘White Rocks’ brings in crunching guitars, warm flourishes of brass, keys and those nostalgic Americana vibes.
The two middle tracks are previously unheard – ‘Satisfaction’ is a raw and intimate duet shared with band member Samuel Nicholson. Imbued with a sense of melancholy and introspection, it’s a moving tale between two protagonists that is elevated by angelic backing vocals.
‘Sydney Skyline (There’s Never Enough)’ is one of the tracks that features an aforementioned takeoff. Continuing in the same vein as ‘Satisfaction’, it opens in stark and contemplative fashion, before lifting off around the halfway mark with a surge of electric guitar and drums – even broaching garage rock territory.
The EP closes with the deeply moving ‘Sirens’ – tugging on the heartstrings with its pared back simplicity – and the triumphant ‘A Sign Of Promise’. More elaborate and ambitious in execution, it finds the singer reflecting on the acceptance stage of a break-up – gorgeous layers of clarinet, strings and sprightly rhythms start to gently form around her vocals before the arrangement takes an unexpected turn into something more emphatic and forceful, as if to mirror the urgency of her own personal revelations. ‘Who am I to judge you?’ she sings as the song builds a near orchestral climax, before fading out to the sounds of St Paul’s bells.
An accomplished collection, Frankie Morrow certainly show more than signs of promise. There’s a seductive feel to the EP, an effortlessness in the way the tracks all glide together so seamlessly; and the hazy, dreamy world it inhabits is warm, familiar and rewarding.
A brilliant introduction for those not yet acquainted with this talented outfit, tune into ‘Blue Parrot Backpackers Hostel’ below.
