Live: Frankmusik at Concorde2! - Brighton Events & News Magazine

Concorde 2, 2nd December 2009

Vincent Frank, aka Frankmusik, is not one for keeping his private life private. The trancey ‘Time Will Tell’ and the twitchy ‘Better Off As Two’ were both written for his muse and very ex-girlfriend, Olivia. Unsurprisingly perhaps, Vincent is now estranged from her after discussing her abortion in a national newspaper. He wrote songs for her in an attempt to win her back – unsuccessfully. However, with the help of former Madonna collaborator and electronic whizzkid Stuart Price, he’s created music that marries his love of ‘80s synths with a classic pop sensibility.

On a rainy Wednesday evening, the very foundations of the old Concorde 2 building seem to be reverberating to the eardrum splitting, nosebleed inducing sound of Killa Kela, the support act for Frankmusik. After which a water fight ensues between the stage crew and the crowd which is wedged densely, restricted and confined in the sold out venue. Claustrophobics enter at their peril. Moisture drips from the ceiling, echoing the downpour which relentlessly continues outside. Sparkly clad girls with drenched hair stand around like so many crushed flowers.

Eventually, Vincent Frank bounces on stage and, as if there’s too much sugar in his diet, rushes through a bleeping synth tune – the adoring audience start dancing in one movement, all somehow joined together. Frank is just the hottest thing at the moment due to the current vogue for electro pop with acts such as La Roux and Lady Gaga achieving huge success. Each song makes the requisite sharp-edged, Casio- based noises. The skittering beats compliment Frank’s adrenalized singing style, which brings to mind Mika and Morten Harket, without the vocal range. The riff for ‘When You’re Round’ is taken from the Stranglers’ ‘Golden Brown’ and ‘Time Will Tell’ samples MARR’s ‘Pump Up The Volume’. He launches into Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’ and then ‘Three Little Words’ – each song, the joyfully appreciative audience sings along with verve.

Vincent appears to be genuinely moved by the adulation – at one point, he says “I couldn’t have done this a year ago. This is awesome. Last year I was working in a jeans shop.” The single ‘Better Off As Two’, especially, is greeted with wholehearted singing. Frank comments “Keep that up and they’ll hear you in Hastings.” The finale is a cover of The Pet Shop Boys song of self-flagellation, ‘It’s A Sin’.

There is something oddly detached about Vincent’s music – it is impersonal, aloof, lacking in emotion – slightly misogynistic. In spite of all this, the music is enjoyable and the audience’s reaction to it, nothing short of passionate. As I walked away from Concorde 2, in front of me were six members of the audience, soaked to the skin in the pouring rain, arm in arm, singing “I’m sorry but did I mention / I’m better off with you / ‘Cause now I think it’s time that you understood / We’re better off as two”. Their singing was heartfelt as they disappeared into the night. This is the true testament to Frankmusik.