Francis And The Lights

Francis And The Lights is an electro-funk act with an oddly gothic affect, though that doesn’t seem to affect the songs’ relentless propulsion. Frontman Francis Farewell Starlite, in particular, comes off as a black-clad brooder, but while his appearance suggests Front 242, his band’s music—complete with falsetto, stabs of synthesizer, and bass as fat as it is loud—suggests a wicked cross between Prince and Antony & The Johnsons. 2010’s It’ll Be Better brings the house lights up, but an undercurrent of tragic romance still runs throughout the album’s brief running time.

Updated 03/08/2011