Petits Fours

Grand Duchy

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: April 14, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blackseal
• ASIN: B001TN13I0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,216 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A joint venture between Violet Clark and Black Francis from The Pixies containing driving bass line and a healthy dose of synth. Excellent vocals from Clark alongside trademark guitar squals from Francis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Album!, May 24, 2009

By	Tankery "Tankery" (New Orleans) - See all my reviews

Frank Black and his wife, Violet Clark have released an incredible album of heavy electro dream pop, if you can fathom that from Mr. Black but Violet plays bass and synth and has a voice that falls somewhere between Emily Haines and Kim Deal, not as cloyingly innocent as Haines, not as barmaid too long Deal, but with an earthy sweetness that will blow you away on all the songs she sings lead.

This album is from top to bottom a great collection of synth pop bliss, with Black's gravelly voice and searing guitar accentuating the electronics so nicely it will blow you away.

It might very well be his most listenable album ever. Don't know where Violet Clark came from but her marriage to Frank brought out the best in him.

Let's just hope this continues...

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fruitful Collaboration, May 26, 2009

By	Bruce Cruickshank (Chino Hills, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Frank Black is known for stream of consciousness lyrics punctuated with pulsating, disonant guitar tirades. In this collaboration with Violet Clark, Black has subordinated his assaultive tendencies to something rather evocative, even intimate while still retaining that trademark rogueish virility.

It is a remarkable departure yet it works superbly owing in large part to Ms. Clark's agile vocals, at times sensual, at times girlishly vulnerable, and her expressive, never excessive hand on the synthesizer. Violet Cark is a beguiling new talent and one can only hope that she and her iconic husband will revisit the musical terrain they have cultivated so fruitfully in this collection.

The 80's expired in a mire of pretention and baroque excess but Grand Duchy's use of certain 80's tropes has produced a collection of intensely imaginative yet visceral songs that will satisfy fans who want to rock as well as those who would rather sit back, listen and let their imaginations soar.