Black Francis and his wifeform new band

Fri 1st May, 2009 in International News

Squashing any hopes that Pixies fans may have had about a new recording from the reformed 90’s legends, Black Francis has revealed his latest (non-Pixies related) creative project – Grand Duchy.

Grand Duchy is a band comprised of Francis and his wife Violet Clarke who played bass on the 2007 release Svn Fngrs. When Fasterlouder got the chance to chat to the great man himself last year he made it very clear that home is where the heart is for him these days, making this project a natural progression for the self confessed family man.

The band are set to start touring the US this May and have just released their debut album Petits Fours. A message on the Black Francis Myspace was quick to dispel any naysayers – “Let’s dispense with nostalgia and focus on the here and now… rather than a safe, family outing, we get an exciting blend of 80s synths and enjoyably uncomplicated indie-rock anthems. It’s [the album] fused with a chemistry and sense of playfulness perhaps normally akin to fledgling lovers, rather than the bearers of a five-strong litter.”

Check out this footage of the band rehearsing and see what you think.

Grand Duchy Rehearsal