Many a fantastic live band has failed to condense the absolute thrill of their concert experience onto a long-player. Sunderland’s Frankie and crew sadly join that list here with Hunger, a debut of 10 songs that have devastated across the two years or so that they’ve been fiercely touring them.
Make no mistake, these are great songs. The title track alone was a vibrant standout on radio airwaves throughout mid-2010. But here it’s re-recorded, Frankie’s intonation has changed and some superfluous horns are bolted on. Fragile was frenetic live, building and swooping with Frankie’s fringe. But here, baked under Edwyn Collins’ producer’s glare, it feels somehow stripped of emotion; sure, the song is great, but it could be greater.
Still, anyone that can namecheck Scott Walker and Fitzgerald on a debut clearly has big plans. But something, somewhere, has been sacrificed with Hunger. We can only advise that you go and catch them live to get the full dose.
