Frankie & The Heartstrings - Hunger

It takes most bands a generation to create an album worthy of the ‘greatest hits’ tag. Sure, there might be the odd one thrown out three albums in to fulfil an overly optimistic major label deal, but even the best bands need time to put together enough material to inspire the required level of emotional attachment. All of which only makes it more starling that Frankie & The Heartstrings seem to have produced their own collection of solid gold classics on the first attempt.

The more hard-hearted critic will complain at the lack of shade - it’s clear Frankie Francis and friends are having fun - but in doing so they’ll miss the point entirely. An album like ‘Hunger’ thrives on its ability to invoke a massive cheesy grin, all the time dropping Scott Walker and F. Scott Fitzgerald references in the background. While many dry and over-thought records are recorded with only the London-centric cynic in mind, this gang of Mackems (and a gang they most certainly are) pack their music with so much unashamed joy it resonates wherever you’d choose to give it time.

It’s a trait that has lineage - from Kenickie (Pete Gofton was once a Heartstring himself) through to The Futureheads - bands capable of quickening the heart they’re wearing proudly on their sleeves. Not every act has to add aching to their quota of cool. And yet Frankie & The Heartstrings are not lacking in their own Orange Juice-loving, Dexys-without-the-dungarees style. It’s no shock that Edwyn Collins handles the production duties on ‘Hunger’ - there’s clearly a love affair going on behind the scenes.

Amongst their peers there’s few quite like F&TH, yet it’s hard to imagine that stepping out into the wilds of 2011 alone will see them come to much harm. From the opening riff of ‘Photograph’ to the ‘oh-oh’ refrain and winning jangle of title track ‘Hunger’ via the gratuitously infectious hook of ‘Ungrateful’, this is clearly a record with more than its fair share of moments to treasure. That’s just the first three tracks, after all.

The fast/slow trade off of ‘Fragile’, dropping into full-on slow-dance territory at times, suggests that if someone feels like remaking Grease any time soon a house band wouldn’t be a problem. ‘Tender’, with its winning yelps, and the jaunty shuffle of ‘That Postcard’ only add to the mirage. Whether you’re of an age where you feel like you’re discovering music all by yourself, or old enough to need more than one pair of rose-tinted spectacles, ‘Hunger’ is exactly the kind of record to inspire such devotion.

A band that seemingly refuse to entertain bad moods might be just what we’ve been calling out for. With Frankie & The Heartstrings even the most melancholic of lyrics has a silver lining. With so much affection packed into their debut isn’t it time to put cynicism to one side? There are indie disco dancefloors to be filled, after all.