Fran Smith
Album: Fran Smith
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.fransmith.com

Fran Smith is an artist that I've been keeping an eye on ever since I first encountered her when she was doing her degree at Newcastle University, where she was a member of a number of ad-hoc and more serious groupings that played in and around the North East.

There always seemed to be a real passion in the music that she produced, something she very much kept alive as she set out along the route of being a solo singer/songwriter. Last year she produced a live EP, "Live At The Sage", which was recorded when she supported Karine Polwart, and confirmed he position as a rising name in the folk world and also saw her being offered a slot on the Fatea Showcase Session Autumn 11:Interactions.

Since then Fran Smith and been into the studio to record her debut proper, "Fran Smith EP" with legendary producer Nigel Stonier taking on the other side of the desk duties.

From opening track, "Ghost Of A Chance" this is one of those EPs that confirms all of those suspicions that you have about an artist. Fran really should really be adding the word, word to the Smith part of her name so that it can far more reflective of her talent.

Whilst this is an innovative EP it's her use of words that really get the attention, the way she puts her phrases together, "All Wild And Wicked Things" carries different connotation to "All Wicked And Wild Things" which may scan better, but which would have been a different song.

"Fran Smith EP" may fulfil the promise, it also shows what Fran is capable off. I really do hope that this is just an early building block on a long writing and performing career and look forward with raised interest to the album's to come.

Neil King