Frankmusik - Better Off As Two

The antithesis of Ben Fold’s ‘Song For The Dumped’, Frankmusik’s second single is an ode to the joys of being single via the viewpoint of the dumper. ‘Better Off As Two’ (the title makes sense now, huh?) starts off with an oh-so-cool-radio-tuning-in leading into a fairly traditional pop song verse, with old Frankyboy lamenting “all our insecurities (were) tied up in our own fears, how we tried to make our problems disappear”, before the chorus kicks in: and what a chorus it is. Sublimely 80s with 00s production values, the Stuart Price (Les Rhythmes Digitales) influence really shows as the layers of squelchy sounding synths, stabbing piano keys and programmed drums combine to create a lesson in how to write a pop song: ‘B.O.A.T’ has more hooks than an Abu Hamza fancy dress convention. You can practically check your reflection, the production is so crisp. With this and ‘3 Little Words’ in his arsenal alone, Frankmusik would deserve the success he will undoubtedly have. If the album can match these pop masterpieces, then expect to hear him all summer long.