Search - Grand Duchy :: Petits Fours

A Fruitful Collaboration

Bruce Cruickshank | Chino Hills, Ca. United States | 05/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Good Album, but get the digital version

M. B. Dill | 12/23/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is not a Frank Black album! Yes, that is the back of his head on the cover alongside his wife, Violets' face, and yes, he performs on every song, but this is not a Frank Black album. It is a true collaberation and represents an entirely new direction musically. Some have compared Violet to Kim Deal, but that is patently untrue- the only thing they have in common is that they both are females and sing in a very natural, unstudied voice.



When I first got this album, I purchased the hard copy and was completely taken by surprise. Even though I had listened daily to the tracks "Lovesick" and "Fort Wayne", I was unprepared for the wide variety of songs included, and the way the album showcases Violet Clark's talents as songwriter, singer, and musician. Never-the-less, it felt incomplete, though very interesting, until I picked up the three "bonus"/essential digital only tracks, which seemed to make the collection feel more fully rounded and complete.



In an interview, Violet Clark Thompson revealed that petits fours are tiny cakes, usually very fancy, (something I already knew) that originally were made by french pastry chefs at the end of the day, utilizing the heat left in the oven, and one would assume, whatever icings, decorations and so forth might be on hand- a perfect description of this album, which came about as Violet and Charles began to play, experiment and record in the studio, mainly as a means of satisfying Violet's desire to get back into making music after taking time off to bear their children.



With such a varried collection, you might not like every tune, but you are bound to find several you love, and it will definitely leave you wanting another bite of these delicious delicacies.

"

Not just Frank Black's latest solo project!

H. J. Van Eerten | New York, NY | 06/11/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Grand Duchy is not just Frank Black's latest solo project. Instead, Frank Black merely is a band member of a two-person band headed by Violet Clark (who just happens to be his wife)... and Violet Clark, she is in a word spectacular! Part Madonna, part Kim Deal, part Kristin Hersh, but always Violet Clark, she channels various female alt-rock leaders and pop stars but never imitates them. She's having a great time, and Frank Black and the listeners happily go along for the ride. If it weren't for the fact that the album references a lot of indie music (in a good, self-assured way) instead of presenting something entirely new, I would have rated it five stars. But then again, maybe using that as a criterion would make it impossible to rate an album five stars nowadays. Petit Fours succeeds completely in what it sets out to achieve.



The album starts with Come over to my house and from this you might be lulled into expecting Frank Black to be in charge. He's in fine form, and as usual I love the lyrics. "Come on over to my house / I'll make you buckets of tea". He may be ironic in his songs, but he's always sincere and never pathetic. Violet Clark takes over next, continuing the theme and celebrating love in Lovesick: "Don't stop for breathing / leave it when you're older / Listen to that devil on your shoulder / Don't stop for reasons / be a little bolder / Everybody's got their lovesick seasons."



Fort Wayne is apparently the oldest song on the set list. Pleasant, but not really remarkable in my opinion. It did however rightly raise expectations for the forthcoming album when it was played in concerts.



Their age obviously works for Frank Black and Violet Clark. They're veterans of rock and of love and don't mind showing it on this record. Black Suit, the highlight of the album, benefits from this perspective. And the song itself is just plain awesome, with perfect vocal deliveries from both Black and Clark and an insidious post-punk sound reminding me of Killing Joke and Echo and the Bunnymen (or Interpol, for a more recent obvious comparison). "Soul slipping down the coal chute into the alien mine / The boy looks good in a black suit / we all know that he looks divine!" I'll probably never figure out exactly what the song is about, but the glimpse offered by the lyrics is tantalizing.



On the other songs Violet Clark is teasing, jubilant, or just sweet. The album fittingly closes the party with Volcano! Violet Clarks starts with "Is this song starting? / I'm a little confused" before morphing into Kristin Hersh, but by then we're already in on the joke. Everybody on the dance floor, to celebrate love and three decades of alternative music.



I can highly recommend the album. Lately, I have been collecting albums that are good-natured in tone without being flat, boring or embarrassing (although I still like my gloom and doom... albums from bands like Tindersticks, Sisters of Mercy remain more than welcome). When it comes to this, Frank Black always delivers. I do not agree at all with the (otherwise positive) Allmusic review where they call the album a bit long - both Break the angels and Fort Wayne are fine songs.



(this review has been cross-posted from the weblog [...])"