Frant1c is a brand new solo project that has been initiated by Anne-Claire Rallo, running alongside the work she currently undertakes with progressive band Nine Skies. The debut album, A Brand New World, is clearly a very specific work of the heart and was brought to life following the loss of Anne-Claire’s husband and fellow bandmate and Nine Skies guitarist Eric Bouillette.
Frant1c – A Brand New World
Release Date: 27 September 2024
Words: Adrian Stonley
With a number of Nine Skies bandmates assisting and guesting in this endeavour, Anne-Claire Rallo has created an epic tour de force. The album itself, although deeply personal and emotional, is built around a specific conceptual storyline upon which the songs are hung.
The story itself is based around two central characters Charlie, whose vocal parts are sung by Martin Wilson from The Room and Grey Lady Down, and Hope, with vocals courtesy of Helen Tiron from SunQ.
The concept is that Charlie and Hope, two characters who have spent their entire lives together, have been separated. Charlie awakes one morning to find himself in an entirely different place, a completely devasted world.
This sees him go in search of his partner and soulmate, questioning what this world is. Through his journey, undertaken through the songs, he goes on a voyage of discovery through which he reflects upon feelings and questions that are not only personal to him as a character but to us as listeners.
Musically and creatively, A Brand New World is a superbly written and produced Frant1c album.
Do not dismiss it as yet another prog concept album. Lyrically, Anne-Claire has bared her soul and opened herself in many ways to which others will be able to relate, interweaving her own personal moments throughout the storyline.
Though clearly personal to Anne-Claire, it also carries the ability to tug at the heartstrings of many listeners, containing a wide relativity. As a work, it more than stands out and takes the listener on a musical rollercoaster ride that encompasses a mesmerising, touching, and thoughtful journey.
From the spoken word introduction to the Prologue, the Frant1c musicians clearly set out the feel and intent of the album. A sober and sombre storyline is thought provoking with the band inviting us in, and to be “Welcome to a new reality.”
People In Their Cages has a nod to Pink Floyd through the effect of interspersing recorded radio and spoken word interludes into the music. Although, that being said, the music is far from the lush Floyd sound, leaning to towards a harder neo-prog feel.
The songs, however, contain considerable musical styles, and the album provides a variety of sounds and ideas, which is refreshing. This ensures that each part of the storyline is mirrored by a specific musical approach, and though all intertwine perfectly, there is enough variety to ensure that each piece stands out in its own right.
In Where Have You Been?, Nine Lives Saxophonist Laurent Benhamou lifts the piece to another level with an extended sax break reminiscent of John Helliwell (Supertramp) in the melodious, yet powerful manner in which the piece develops.
The longest piece on the album is the thirteen-and-a-half minute epic that is The Ballad of Peggy Pratt. At times thunderous, at others gentle, soft and delicate, the epic storytelling nature of this track bears some resemblance to Fish-era Marillion.
The guitar playing from Alexandre Lamia is exquisite and builds up as he lays down layer after layer of melody as the piece builds. His fingers are dextrous as he seems to make his guitar cry out in ecstasy and pain. This is a quite phenomenal piece and certainly encapsulates what the album is about.
The repetition of the lyric “A forgotten soul” at the end provides a quite haunting and emotional finale to the piece.
Yet despite the nature of the storytelling and subjects within the music and lyrics, the message remains uplifting, indicative that no matter how bleak and difficult times may appear to be, there is always a bright side if you search for it.
One particular element that stands out is the appearance of Eric Bouillette (RIP) on violin during Sweet Confusion. The inclusion of Eric’s violin is clearly indicative that this is a piece that has been long in the making, and the retention of his work here brings the project together.
For though he has passed, Bouillette still provides a gentle musical touch to proceedings and, in doing so, shows that he is still here with us and able to provide positive impetus. Additionally, the delicate vocals of Helen Tiron dueting with Martin Wilson bring an additional emotive level to this song.
Elsewhere, the musicianship is thoughtful, emotional, and inspiring, from hard-driving guitar to delicate flourishes of keys, melodic vocal lines, and technical acoustic moments.
This is quite a remarkable album and certainly one of the top releases that I have heard this year.
The debut album A Brand New World, by Frant1c, is set for release on 27 September 2024, with a second album already in progress.
Frant1c – Lineup
- Anne-Claire Rallo: Guitars, keyboards, piano, arrangements
- Alexandre Lamia: Guitars, keyboards, piano, arrangements
- Eric Bouillette (RIP): Guitars, violin, piano, backing vocals
- Martin Wilson: Vocals (Charlie) Grey Lady Down
- Helen Tiron: Vocals (Hope)
- Andy Rowe: Spoken voice
- Alexis Bietti: Bass
- Johnny Marter: Drums
- Laurent Benhamou: Saxophone on Where Have You Been?
- Steve Anderson: Guitar solo on On The Run
- Guy Marro: Vocals on Come Back To Earth
