- Last year, New York duo Frank & Tony caused a stir with You Go Girl, a series of EPs (later collected as an LP) that were rousing and sublime. Strewn with shadows and burning basslines, the music expressed a taste for both detail and melancholy. Frank & Tony have released exclusively on their own label, Scissor & Thread, until now, with The Gales landing on Mule Musiq. It's a nice fit, since the long running Japanese label has a fondness for deep, liquid electronic music like Kuniyuki, Lawrence, Fred P and DJ Sprinkles, who appeared on You Go Girl. Though The Gales is not as stirring as Frank & Tony's past work, it exudes the signature sound that we've come to expect from both the artist and label.
This 12-inch fits in nightlife's dark corners, which is obvious in the standout track "Amadeo," a blend of sad piano and moonlit pads that struts with a buoyant beat. The title track sounds dull by comparison, with smudged bass tones and opioid keys meandering around a simplistic 4/4. "Only By Moving," also found on You Go Girl, returns to Frank & Tony's slow burn. This time, the track is stripped back to a visceral heartbeat, giving things an intensely introverted feel. You have to really zone in to appreciate it all, but the lack of dizzy flourishes makes the music engagingly raw.
TracklistA1 Amedeo
A2 The Gales
B1 Only By Moving