Imagine The Pixies’ frontman Black Francis as a prophet of humanity’s doom. Then imagine that he’s leading his followers on an expedition of interplanetary colonisation. Only the mind of Rowan Davies, the brains behind the lo-fi and offbeat musical project that is Balloon Shed, could have conceived of such a daring and imaginative scenario. The result is his sophomore single ‘Frank Says’, a bouncy, noisy, colourful, and unapologetically raw tune that I was immediately drawn to.
As the Bristol-based artist draws on inspiration from 80s and 90s alternative rock, he also couples that with impactful messaging that is reminiscent of more contemporary musicians like Jeff Rosenstock and AJJ. The result? A unique and hazy musical experience that marries classic sounds with top-notch lyrical depth.
Balloon Shed is set to release a self-titled EP later this year, and I’m highly intrigued to see what he comes up with. I get the sense that he’s an artist who has no issue getting experimental and inventive – and that’s just what we love around these parts! ‘Frank Says’ might need a few listens to be fully appreciated, but once you “get it”, it just clicks!
Serious tune alert! Enjoy ‘Frank Says’ on Spotify now:
